Major Arena Soccer League

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search

<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>

Major Arena Soccer League
File:2021 Major Arena Soccer League logo.svg
Country United States (12 teams)
Other club(s) from Mexico (2 teams)
Confederation Confederación Panamericana
de Minifutbol (CPM)
Founded May 18, 2008; 15 years ago (2008-05-18)
Number of teams 14
Level on pyramid 1
Domestic cup(s) U.S. Open
Current champions San Diego Sockers (2022)
Most championships San Diego Sockers (6)
TV partners Twitch[1]
Website maslsoccer.com
2022–23 season

The Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) is a North American professional indoor soccer league. The MASL features teams playing coast-to-coast in the United States and Mexico.

MASL is the highest level of arena soccer in North America.[2] MASL players generally earn salaries ranging from $15,000–45,000 per season, but former USMNT and MLS star Landon Donovan earned as much as $250,000 to play one year in 2019.[3][4]

History

The league was organized as the Professional Arena Soccer League on May 18, 2008, as an offshoot of the Premier Arena Soccer League (PASL-Premier), the largest amateur league in the United States. The league was originally nicknamed "PASL-Pro" to distinguish it from PASL-Premier.[5] The first league game was played on October 25, 2008, in front of a crowd of 3,239 at the Stockton Arena, in Stockton, California, with the California Cougars defeating the Colorado Lightning 10–5.[6] In 2011, it was announced the professional league would officially be referred to as simply PASL, while the amateur league would still be referred to as the PASL-Premier.[7]

On March 17, 2014, one day after the 2013–2014 Major Indoor Soccer League Championship finale, United Soccer Leagues President Tim Holt announced "a number" of teams would not be returning to MISL the following year.[8] In April 2014 it was officially announced that six teams (Baltimore Blast, Milwaukee Wave, Missouri Comets, Rochester Lancers, St. Louis Ambush, and Syracuse Silver Knights) joined PASL for the 2014–2015 season.[9][10]

The league announced a change in its name from the Professional Arena Soccer League to the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) on May 18, 2014.<[11][12] This represents a merging of the MISL and PASL names. MASL fielded 23 teams for the 2014–15 season.[11][13]

Split and re-merger into the MASL

In February 2016, the current owner of the Baltimore Blast, Ed Hale, announced his intentions to leave the MASL and form a new league, the Indoor Professional League.[14] Hale was later announced as the chairman of the league, and Sam Fantauzzo, former owner of the Rochester Lancers, was announced as the first commissioner of the league. The St. Louis Ambush, Baltimore Blast, and Harrisburg Heat announced plans to join, along with the expansion Florida Tropics SC.[15][16] In July 2016, the MASL was reformed as a new not for profit entity 501(c)6, a new entity separate from the previous MASL, LLC.

In August 2016, the new MASL announced that the Blast, Heat, and Ambush would return to the MASL while the Tropics would join the MASL as an expansion team.[17] This effectively ended the IPL split with the MASL.

In a repeat of the 2015-16 Newman Cup the Baltimore Blast would go on to once again defeat Soles de Sonora 2–1.

Launch of M2

In October 2017 it was officially announced the Major Arena Soccer League 2 (M2) would launch in December 2017. The M2 serves as the developmental league for the MASL. The initial lineup of this league consisted of former MASL clubs Chicago Mustangs, Waza Flo, the reserve teams for the Ontario Fury, San Diego Sockers, former PASL clubs, and new expansion teams.[18]

High-profile players

In the 2018–19 season, the MASL saw an influx of players to the arena game with past MLS experience,[19] headlined by the additions of Landon Donovan to the San Diego Sockers, Jermaine Jones to the Ontario Fury, and Dwayne De Rosario with the Mississauga MetroStars.

End of the 2019–20 season

Like many sports leagues, the MASL ended its regular 2019–20 season early because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[20] In May, the league announced that it was looking at conducting its playoffs in a centralized location.[21] However, this did not take place, and the remainder of the season was cancelled.[22]

Formation of the Major Arena Soccer League 3

On July 20, 2020, the MASL launched a new semi-professional/amateur developmental league known as M3 (Major Arena Soccer League 3) set to kickoff in 2021.[23][24][25] The anticipated conferences expected to play were to be in the North East, Mid-Atlantic, South East, Great Lakes, Central North, Central South, Heartland Conference, Mountain North, Mountain South, Southwest, Pacific North, and Pacific South regions. The Omaha Kings FC, Sunflower State FC, Grand Rapids Wanderers FC and Muskegon Risers SC were announced as the first members of the league.[26] However, the Risers were dropped from M3 and replaced by the Springfield Demize and Wichita Wings 2. The league launched their new website on January 30, 2017.[27]

Teams

Locations of teams in Major Arena Soccer League
          Blue pog.svg Eastern Conference          Red pog.svg Western Conference
Team City/State Arena Founded Joined Head Coach
Eastern Conference
Baltimore Blast Towson, Maryland SECU Arena 1992 2014
2021a
David Bascome
Florida Tropics SC Lakeland, Florida RP Funding Center 2016 2016 Clay Roberts
Harrisburg Heat Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex Equine Arena 2012 2012
2021a
Pat Healey
Kansas City Comets Independence, Missouri Cable Dahmer Arena 2010 2014 Leo Gibson
Milwaukee Wave Milwaukee, Wisconsin UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena 1984 2014
2021a
Giuliano Oliviero
St. Louis Ambush St. Charles, Missouri Family Arena 2013 2014 Jeff Locker
Utica City FC Utica, New York Adirondack Bank Center 2010 2014
2021a
Hewerton Moriera
Western Conference
Chihuahua Savage Chihuahua, Chihuahua Arena Corner Sport 2019 2021b Everardo Sánchez
Dallas Sidekicks Allen, Texas Credit Union of Texas Event Center 2012 2014
2018c
Ricardinho Cavalcante
Empire Strykers[28][29] Ontario, California Toyota Arena 2013 2013 Jimmy Nordberg
Mesquite Outlaws Mesquite, Texas Mesquite Arena 2019 2019
2022d
Antonio "Tatu" Pecorari
Monterrey Flash Monterrey, Nuevo León Arena Monterrey 2013 2013
2022e
Mariano Bollella
San Diego Sockers San Diego, California Pechanga Arena 2009 2009 Phil Salvagio
Tacoma Stars Kent, Washington accesso ShoWare Center 2003 2010
2015f
Adam Becker
Notes

a – Suspended operations following the 2019–20 season due to COVID-19, and rejoined the league for the 2021–22 season.
b – Chihuahua joined the M2 for the 2019–20 season and then suspended operations following the season due to COVID-19. Originally planned to rejoin the M2 for the 2021–22 season, the MASL membership of the Soles de Sonora was transferred to the Savage instead.[30][31]
c – Dallas suspended operations following the 2016–17 season; they rejoined the league for the 2018–19 season.
d – Mesquite suspended operations following the 2019–20 season due to COVID-19, they rejoined the league for the 2022–23 season.
e – Monterrey suspended operations following the 2014–15 season; they rejoined the league for the 2017–18 season. Monterrey suspended operations following the 2019–20 season due to COVID-19, they rejoined the league for the 2022–23 season.
f – Tacoma moved down to the PASL-Premier for the 2013–14 season, played in the WISL in the 2014–15 season and then rejoined the MASL near the end of the 2014–15 season (in 2015) replacing the Seattle Impact.

Champions

North American Finals

Season Champions Score Runner-Up Playoffs / Host
2008–09 Stockton Cougars 13–5 1790 Cincinnati Stockton, California
2009–10 San Diego Sockers 9–8 La Raza de Guadalajara San Diego, California
2010–11 San Diego Sockers 10–6 La Raza de Guadalajara Cincinnati, Ohio

Ron Newman Cup

Season Champions Score(s) Runner-Up Playoffs / Host
2011–12 San Diego Sockers 10–7 Detroit Waza Flo San Diego, California
2012–13 San Diego Sockers 8–6 Detroit Waza Flo San Diego, California
2013–14 Chicago Mustangs 14–5 Hidalgo La Fiera Hoffman Estates, Illinois
2014–15 Monterrey Flash 6–4 (OT), 4–6, 4–3 (OT) Baltimore Blast Monterrey, N.L., México (2-game series with mini-game tiebreaker)
2015–16 Baltimore Blast 7–4, 14–13 (OT) Soles de Sonora Hermosillo, Son., México (2-game series with mini-game tiebreaker)
2016–17 Baltimore Blast 2–4, 9–8 (OT), 1–0 Soles de Sonora Hermosillo, Son., México (2-game series with mini-game tiebreaker)
2017–18 Baltimore Blast 4–3 Monterrey Flash Monterrey, N.L., México
2018–19 Milwaukee Wave 5–2 Monterrey Flash Milwaukee, Wisconsin
2019–20 Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021 San Diego Sockers 7–3, 5–6 (OT), 2–1 Ontario Fury Ontario, California (2-game series with mini-game tiebreaker)
2021–22 San Diego Sockers 6–3, 4–3 Florida Tropics SC San Diego, California (2-game series with mini-game tiebreaker)

Attendance

Season Games Total Average Playoffs Games Total Average Reference
2008–09 58 76,888 1,326a 2009
2009–10 87 58,801 676b 2010
2010–11 84 59,128 704c 2011
2011–12 96 63,003 656 2012 6 7,211 1,201 [32][33]
2012–13 151 146,193 968 2013 11 19,006 1,727 [34][35]
2013–14 159 214,552 1,349 2014 10 23,889 2,388 [36][37]
2014–15 223 546,705 2,451 2015 19 88,513 4,658 [38][39]
2015–16 198 480,019 2,424 2016 24 93,004 3,876 [40][41]
2016–17 170 466,832 2,746 2017 19 77,186 4,062
2017–18 176 446,913 2,539 2018 12 49,198 4,100
2018–19 204 462,670 2,268 2019 12 41,756 3,480
2019–20 178 454,670 2,554 2020
2021 17 19,519 1,148d 2021 5 7,311 1,462d
2021–22 139 256,709 1,847e 2022 13 24,218 1,862e
Notes

a – Does not include 28 games where attendance was not reported. The PASL 2008–09 regular season consisted of 86 games total.
b – Does not include 8 games where attendance was not reported. The PASL 2009–10 regular season consisted of 95 games total.
c – Does not include 10 games where attendance was not reported. The PASL 2010–11 regular season consisted of 94 games total.
d – Due to COVID-19 only 17 out of 41 games this season where attendance was recorded. In the Ron Newman Cup Playoffs only 5 out 14 games recorded attendance.
e – Does not include 2 regular season games where attendance was not reported; the MASL 2021–22 regular season consisted of 141 games total. Does not include 5 playoff games where attendance was not reported; the 2022 Ron Newman Cup Playoffs consisted of 18 games total.

Sponsorship

The official game ball was made by Puma SE through the 2016–17 season. Starting in the 2017–18 season, Mitre became the official ball sponsor of both the MASL and M2.[42][43]

Broadcast rights

Select 2018-2019 MASL matches were broadcast on Eleven Sports Network in the United States.[44] Some matches are also broadcast regionally throughout the United States.[45] All matches since 2016–2017 season are archived on MASLtv, the MASL's YouTube Channel

Staff

Commissioner

Keith Tozer

Office of the Commissioner

Shep MessingChairman
JP DellacameraPresident of Communications/Media
Lindsay Mogle – Director of Communications/Team Services
Jon Ramin – Vice-President of Operations
Werner RothAdvisor
Dennis Fry – Chief Financial Officer
Ken Stanley – Content Director
Ryan Cigich - Head of MASL Officials
Jesse Meehan - Operations Manager[46][47]
Pete Richmire – League Statistician, Social Media
Óscar Sánchez – Spanish Content Manager
Phil Lavanco – Video Production Manager

Executive committee

Lane Smith (Tacoma) – President
Bernie Lilavois (Ontario) – Vice-President
Shelly Clark (St. Louis) – Secretary
Phil Salvagio (San Diego) – Treasurer
Mike Zimmerman (Milwaukee) – Member-at-Large

Former/defunct teams

Team City/Area Arena Years Played
Atletico Baja Tijuana, Baja California Unidad Deportiva Tijuana 2015–17
Anaheim Bolts Anaheim, California Anaheim Convention Center 2011–13[48][49]
Arizona Storm Glendale, Arizona Phoenix Sports Centre/Arizona Sports Complex 2011–13
Bay Area Rosal Livermore, California Cabernet Indoor Sports 2013–14
Calgary United FC Calgary, Alberta Stampede Corral/Calgary Soccer Centre 2008–11
California Cougars Stockton, California Stockton Arena 2008–11
(as Stockton Cougars 2008–09)
Cedar Rapids Rampage Cedar Rapids, Iowa U.S. Cellular Center 2015–18
Chicago Mustangs[50] Hoffman Estates, Illinois Sears Centre 2012–17
Cincinnati Kings Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati Gardens/GameTime Training Center 2008–13
(as 1790 Cincinnati 2008–10)
Cincinnati Saints Cincinnati, Ohio Tri-County Soccerplex 2013–14
Cleveland Freeze North Olmsted, Ohio Soccer Sportsplex 2013–14
Colorado Lightning Fort Collins, Colorado Budweiser Events Center 2008–09
Denver Dynamite Denver, Colorado Denver Sports Center/Parker Fieldhouse/Denver Bladium 2008–10
Edmonton Drillers Edmonton, Alberta Servus Centre/Edmonton Soccer Centre South 2008–11
El Paso Coyotes El Paso, Texas El Paso County Coliseum 2016–19
Hartford City FC Hartford, Connecticut XL Center Never Played
Hidalgo La Fiera[51][52] Hidalgo, Texas State Farm Arena 2012–14
(as Rio Grande Valley Flash 2012–13)
Illinois Piasa Pontoon Beach, Illinois Soccer For Fun Arena/The Sports Academy/The Field Sports Complex 2010–14
Kansas Magic[53][54] Overland Park, Kansas EPIC Indoor Sports Center 2011–12
Kitsap Pumas Bremerton, Washington Olympic Soccer & Sports Center 2010–11
Laredo Honey Badgers Laredo, Texas Laredo Energy Arena[55] Never Played
Las Vegas Legends Las Vegas, Nevada Orleans Arena/Las Vegas Sports Park 2012–16
Louisville Lightning Louisville, Kentucky Mockingbird Valley Soccer Club 2009–12[56][57]
Mississauga MetroStars Mississauga, Ontario Paramount Fine Foods Centre 2018
Ohio Vortex Canton, Ohio Cleveland Metroplex Events Center/Canton Memorial Civic Center/Gameday Sports Center/Pinnacle Sports Complex 2009–13
Omaha Vipers Omaha, Nebraska Omaha Civic Auditorium Never Played
Orlando SeaWolves Kissimmee, Florida Silver Spurs Arena 2018–2020
Oxford City FC of Texas Beaumont, Texas Ford Arena 2012–15
(as Texas Strikers 2012–14)[58][59]
Prince George Fury Prince George, British Columbia CN Centre 2009–10
Real Phoenix Glendale, Arizona Barney Family Sports Complex/Arizona Sports Complex 2012–13[60]
RGV Barracudas FC Hidalgo, Texas State Farm Hidalgo Arena 2014–16, 2017–19
Rochester Lancers Henrietta, New York The Dome Center 2014–15, 2019–20
Rockford Rampage Rockford, Illinois Victory Sports Complex 2012–13[60]
St. Louis Illusion Glen Carbon, Illinois The Game Arena/Dellwood Indoor Soccer Arena 2008–10
Sacramento Surge Sacramento, California Off the Wall Soccer Arena/Estadio Azteca Soccer Arena/McClellan Park 2012–16
Saltillo Rancho Seco Saltillo, Coahuila Autonomous University of Coahuila/Deportivo Rancho Seco 2013−16
Saskatoon Accelerators Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Credit Union Centre/Henk Ruys Soccer Centre 2008–10
Seattle Impact Kent, Washington ShoWare Center 2014–15
Soles de Sonora Hermosillo, Sonora El Centro de Usos Múltiples 2015–20
Springfield Demize Springfield, Missouri Lake Country Soccer 2010–11
Texas Outlaws North Richland Hills, Texas NYTEX Sports Centre/Arena Athletics/TCG Arena 2008–10
Toros Mexico Tijuana, Baja California Arena Furati/Parque UniSantos 2010–14
(as Revolución Tijuana 2010–12)
Tucson Extreme Tucson, Arizona Tucson Convention Center Never Played
Tulsa Revolution Tulsa, Oklahoma Cox Business Center/Expo Square Pavilion 2013–15[61]
Turlock Cal Express Turlock, California Turlock Soccer Center 2011–20
(as Turlock Express 2011–19)
Waza Flo Flint, Michigan Compuware Arena/Taylor Sportsplex/Melvindale Ice Arena/Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center 2008–16
(as Detroit Waza Flo 2008–15)
Wenatchee Fire Wenatchee, Washington Wenatchee Valley Sportsplex 2008–09, 2010–11
Wichita B-52s Wichita, Kansas Hartman Arena 2013–15[62][63]
Winnipeg Alliance Winnipeg, Manitoba MTS Centre/Garden City Soccer Complex 2009–11
Youngstown Nighthawks Youngstown, Ohio Covelli Centre Never Played

References

  1. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. 11.0 11.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. http://www.9news.com/sports/us-mens-arena-soccer-team-takes-on-mexico-in-denver/477964046[bare URL]
  19. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  46. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  48. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  49. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  50. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  51. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  52. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  53. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  54. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  55. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  56. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  57. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  58. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  59. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  60. 60.0 60.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  61. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  62. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  63. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links