Chattanooga FC might go pro, too
Chattanooga’s soccer scene saga has taken another twist.
Chattanooga Football Club representatives were in New York this past week, meeting with other National Premier Soccer League clubs to discuss the possibility of launching a new division that would be considered professional next spring.
CFC co-chairman Tim Kelly told the Times Free Press on Sunday morning the meetings went “very well,” but he did not want to comment further because of the developing nature of the situation. Kelly said more details might be released in the upcoming weeks.
The NPSL — which is affiliated with the United States Adult Soccer Association and is considered an amateur league — currently has 98 teams, with Los Angeles United FC set to join as an expansion team in 2019, according to the NPSL’s website.
According to a story published last week on frontrowsoccer.com, at least 14 teams were expected to be represented in New York for meetings Thursday and Friday. In addition to CFC, representatives from Asheville City SC, ASC San Diego, Boston City FC, Detroit City, FC Arizona, Hartford City FC, Jacksonville Armada FC, Miami FC 2, Miami United, Milwaukee Torrent, New Orleans Jesters, New York Cosmos B and Virginia Beach were expected.
According to the story, the league could include 10 to 16 teams.
“We have a good number of teams prepared to make it happen in 2019,” NPSL chairman
Joe Barone told frontrowsoccer.com.
The expectation is the league would participate in a longer season similar to the schedule for United Soccer League Division III franchises.
Chattanooga has become the epicenter of the amateur-professional soccer conversation in recent weeks, with the debate heated by the announcement of a new USL Division III league that will begin play in 2019. A new franchise in Chattanooga was announced as one of the founding members, with former CFC general manager Sean McDaniel named president and general manager of the club.
CFC has been flirting with the possibility of going pro for a couple of seasons, originally looking into the National Independent Soccer Association as well as the USL. Development of the NISA seems to have stalled, though, and CFC pulled out of consideration for that league in March.
In addition, Kelly said last month the USL is “not a sustainable business model,” and the club’s board decided to remain in the NPSL to attempt to continue the league’s growth and develop a pro option within it.
When asked if the new Chattanooga USL team’s announcement sped up the process, Kelly told the Times Free Press, “Absolutely.”
This year marked CFC’s 10th season of competition. The club has won seven conference championships and has been national runner-up four times, most recently in 2015.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress. com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3.