Major Indoor Soccer expects more growth

At time when some leagues are contracting or even disappearing, the Major Indoor Soccer League is growing.

MISL, which includes the Chicago Storm franchise, now has has nine franchises, up from six a year ago. The new teams are in Newark, N.J., Orlando, Fla., and Monterrey, Mexico.

It's a bold series of moves these days, when the National Lacrosse League canceled its season and the Arena Football League watched its Nashville franchise fold and its team in Austin, Texas drop to the AFL's minor league.

"Not too many leagues can claim they are adding 50 percent more teams," MISL commissioner Steve Ryan said. "This is a very exciting time for our league, our fans and our players."

Things could get even better.

"We have an application in from a city in the Midwest and I think we will add another two to three member clubs next season," Ryan added.

The MISL, in a variety of forms, has been around since 1984. Its strongholds have been in Milwaukee and Baltimore -- the season opened last weekend with a sold-out game in Baltimore, where the blast beat the Philadelphia Kixx.

The Chicago Storm plays at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates and other franchises play in Stockton, Calif., and Detroit. The Storm opens a 30-game schedule at home against the California Cougars at 7 p.m. Saturday.

But the moves into New Jersey, Florida and, most notably, Mexico, are significant for the league, which also has enhanced its television package through a deal with Fox Soccer Channel.

The New Jersey Ironmen will play at the new Prudential Center, which also houses the NHL's Devils. The Ironmen will open with four road games before getting to play the home opener on Dec. 1.

"The first indoor soccer game was played in Newark in 1885," Ryan said of a three-game series between the United States and Canada for the Newark Cup. "We're trying to secure that Cup for opening night at the Prudential Center.

"There's large Portuguese and Hispanic communities in Newark, and a tremendous grassroots soccer system in place. We also have former national team goalkeeper Tony Meola, one of the greatest of all American players, on the Ironmen."

In Orlando, the Sharks will play in the Amway Center, also home to the NBA's Magic. The California Cougars' home is a 3-year-old arena in Stockton.

"We certainly have got first-class buildings that our teams are playing in," Ryan said.

Taking the game to Mexico is the biggest and, perhaps, most uncertain step. While soccer is the national sport there, the indoor version doesn't have a strong foothold there.

So MISL made sure the owners of La Raza -- Monterrey has a population of about 4.5 million -- played up any possible tie-ins with the Mexican national team. That included a series of exhibition games between La Raza and an all-star club featuring several players from the Mexican outdoor squad.

The majority of La Raza players will be Mexican.

"We have developed a strong affinity in the Hispanic community and we think La Raza's visits (to U.S. cities) will be a real stimulus in the Hispanic community," Ryan said.

MISL also has secured an affiliation with the Professional Arena Soccer League, which has nearly 75 teams playing in small markets across the United States and Canada. The idea is to grow the indoor game even further, establishing a resource for player and officiating development and testing of rules and equipment.

Six PASL players were selected by MISL teams in the most recent draft.

"We have players representing 25 nations, from as far away as Ghana," Ryan said. "Our player population percentage is mostly from the U.S., and second is Mexico, third is Canada. This year, several teams scouted in Brazil and three clubs invited Brazilian players."

Ryan, in his eighth year as MISL commissioner, previously worked for the NHL. He has an extensive background in marketing and administration, and he knows where to look for inspiration while running his league.

"What our teams are doing are taking the best practices from the best four sports leagues -- the NFL, NHL, NBA and Major League Baseball -- and integrating them back in," he said.