Jeff Cooper

Now that the Team Owners Association has officially announced their intentions to break away from USL and strike out on their own, there are more than a few questions facing them.

From a fan's perspective, more professional soccer options in the US and Canada seems like a good thing, though the TOA must get themselves ready to play and disseminate their product quickly if they have any chance of succeeding.


And so, to Messrs. Saputo, Cooper, et al., I submit the following five questions:


1. Who's the eighth team? (or, What happened with the Rowdies?)

When the TOA/USL drama first began, the Tampa Bay Rowdies, set to start play in 2010, were listed among the TOA faithful; the resulting fallout now has the Rowdies on the side of USL, meaning that the TOA only has seven teams. USSF certification normally requires at least eight teams, or the promise that more will join shortly to push a league over the magic number (a waiver). Jeff Cooper made noises about other groups looking to invest in the TOA, so perhaps the new league does have someone lined up to step in. But who? And where?

2. Will the league be broadcast?

USL did an excellent job with their first division product last year by making all of the games available for free online through USL Live. They also had a TV deal with FSC, which meant that most weeks at least one USL game was broadcast. Will the TOA be able to secure a similar deal, and will they replicate the USL online efforts? While I worry (a lot) about what the split means for professional soccer in the US and Canada, I would like to see the TOA league play. Without a broadcast set up, the new league might as well take place on Mars; no video dissemination would make it that much more difficult to market and that much more difficult to establish as a serious competition (at least in the minds of the casual soccer fan).

3. Are the Impact sticking around?

The Montreal Impact have been tagged as an MLS club in waiting, yet they're clearly one of the TOA leading franchises. If the Impact do make the leap to MLS, what would that mean for the TOA league? With Vancouver already set to move on (though they've apparently committed to operating a second division club once they do), the TOA could be hurting for clout and money in just a few years time.

4. What role does MLS/SUM play?

We know they have one, so we're curious; is MLS/SUM lurking in the background of this little split, ready to step in at some point with a marketing plan, or official relationship, or something else? SUM is the gorilla in the room whenever it comes to soccer in the US, because they drive the economics of the game more than anyone else. Just assuming due diligence, it makes sense to think TOA approached SUM, and that some kind of relationship was struck. As for Major League Soccer's part, there's a million different ways that could go, from none at all to partnered. If it's the latter, would that mean something for player movement?

5. Are your clubs stable?

The Minnesota Thunder are in a bad, bad place financially, yet they are listed among the TOA's member clubs. If the Thunder are forced to fold, which doesn't seem beyond the realm of possibility at the moment, is the TOA set up to replace them (and then still get to at least eight clubs eventually)? We know Vancouver (gone next year), Montreal (probably gone soon) and one or two other clubs in the group are healthy, but what about everyone else? Miami FC has big money backers, so we should assume they're in for the long haul, though the club has struggled to draw. Without the backing of USL and the organizational structure it provides, the new league must shoulder the administrative costs as a group. It won't be simple, it won't be cheap, and it could stretch already tight budgets even tighter.

Rumors are flying on all fronts today, and my guess is that things will continue to solidify in the coming days. It's beginning to look more and more like one of the major players in the TOA plans is Jeff Cooper, so look for news out of St. Louis. Hopefully some of that news will provide answers to these questions.