New Obscure League: Arena Soccer League


The sport of indoor soccer is already playing in obscurity and now there is a new league planning to launch in 2022.  The newly named Arena Soccer League (ASL) is planning to start play with ten teams.  Philadelphia, Chicago and Detroit are rumored to be in the league.  The start date of April 2022 seems to indicate that the league will play a spring/summer 36-game schedule and not be in direct competition with the current Major Arena Soccer League (MASL). 

Arena or indoor soccer is played indoors on a hockey rink surface on turf instead of ice with plexiglass and dasher boards as the playing area.  The sport began in 1977 with the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) and has survived through several different leagues over the years.  The MASL currently has 17 teams spread across the United States and Mexico.  

Arena/indoor soccer is a difficult sell, especially in cities with hockey franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL) or minor leagues; however, a spring/summer schedule could help for those not wanting to endure the heat of summer to watch the outdoor version.  The Continental Indoor Soccer League (CISL) which played a summer schedule from 1993-1997 but was not able to survive.  The reason given for the league's failure was due to differences between teams which were also owned by National Basketball Association (NBA) and NHL owners.  

It appears that the ASL is going to try again where the CISL had failed.

  

 




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