San Antonio awarded an NASL Franchise for 2012
James Hope on 4 October 2010 in Crocketteers Soccer, Crocketteers.com, Expansion, General, NASL, STAR Soccer Complex
NASL MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SAN ANTONIO TO JOIN NORTH AMERICAN SOCCER LEAGUE (NASL) IN 2012
Ownership Group Led by San Antonio Businessman and Philanthropist Gordon Hartman
OCTOBER 6, 2010 — The North American Soccer League (“NASL”) is proud to announce the admission of a new member team based in San Antonio, Texas, which will begin playing in 2012. The expansion team was organized by native San Antonian Gordon Hartman, who recently developed the 14-field STAR (South Texas Area Regional) Soccer Complex and neighboring Morgan’s Wonderland, the world’s first-ultra accessible family fun park designed specifically for children and adults with special needs and the entire community to enjoy.
“We welcome San Antonio to the NASL. As we continue to expand the NASL and collectively grow professional soccer in the United States, San Antonio is a natural market with a vibrant business community and soccer fan base. With community leader and successful businessman Gordon Hartman leading the charge, we have added a tremendous owner and partner to our league and are sure the team will follow San Antonio’s winning tradition. And like FC Edmonton, which became a member of the NASL in November 2009 and begins play in April 2011, we are confirming San Antonio and other expansion teams with at least one season’s lead time so that we give the NASL and our teams the necessary time to prepare and launch successfully,” said Aaron Davidson CEO of the NASL.
“We’re delighted to have secured the rights for an NASL team in San Antonio,” Hartman said. “We will be working aggressively to finalize the details so we can share all the specifics as soon as possible.”
Hartman said he and his ownership group have pursued a San Antonio pro soccer team for two main reasons. “First, we strongly believe there’s a growing interest in and demand for soccer in our community,” he said. “Second, we believe the synergy between the professional soccer team and STAR Soccer will be very beneficial to the long-term success of Morgan’s Wonderland.”
About the NASL
The North American Soccer League (NASL) was established in November 2009. The NASL member teams include: Carolina RailHawks, Crystal Palace Baltimore, FC Edmonton, Miami FC, NSC Minnesota Stars, Montreal Impact (joining MLS in 2012), Puerto Rico Islanders, Rochester Rhinos, AC St. Louis, FC Tampa Bay Rowdies and Vancouver Whitecaps FC (joining MLS in 2011). The NASL is in the process of applying to the United States Soccer Federation for sanctioning as an independent second division league starting in the 2011 season. The NASL and its member teams are committed to building on their long tradition of providing a high level of soccer to fans across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
About STAR Soccer
Located in Northeast San Antonio, the $10 million STAR Soccer Complex is Texas’ newest and most spacious soccer venue. Proceeds from STAR Soccer help support Morgan’s Wonderland. The non-profit park designed with special-needs individuals in mind and STAR Soccer were created through the vision and leadership of The Gordon Hartman Family Foundation. For more information, visit www.soccerforacause.com, http://www.starsoccersa.com/, http://www.morganswonderland.com/ or http://www.hartmansa.org/.
10 Comments to San Antonio awarded an NASL Franchise for 2012
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Pro soccer is finally in the Great City of San Antonio. Cheers fellowa.
Welcome to NASL, San Antonio! Looking forward to seeing you guys come to Tampa!
The Mob will be waiting to welcome you to the NASL. Let us know when you get a supporter group. http://ralphsmob.ning.com/
Welcome aboard San Antonio! Congrats!
And Jeff of the Mob, they already have a supporter’s group. You posted that comment on their website(this one).
This is great news! congrats to all the supporters and more so to the crocketteers for all the hard work. Man I can’t wait
All right use!
See you S.A shnooks cross the line of battle in 2012 ;P
MON THE RAW
COME ON AZTEX!!!
HELL YES !
Glad to see the work has paid off !
Looks like I’m coming back home just in time …
well done.
congratulations
Congratulations to James, Rich and the rest of the Crocketeers in your announcement. We in Chantico’s Army have enjoyed our time with you and I personally look forward to seeing your team in action. If the Aztex and the SA team play each other, all the better.
Your group has been instrumental in getting this done, and you should all be very proud.
Congrats from Austin on getting a club. Can’t wait to see you at a Texas showdown with the Aztex.