USL purchased by NuRock Soccer Holdings

The United Soccer League announced on Thursday that NuRock Soccer Holdings had purchased the organization from Nike.

http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/359940.html

From the official release, it appears that not much will change in the short-term for the Tampa-based USL. Tampa Bay and New York franchises are still scheduled to begin play in 2010, with Vancouver and Portland scheduled to move up to Major League Soccer in 2011.

From the release, it could be inferred that Atlanta and Birmingham, Ala. would be likely destinations to replace the Whitecaps and Timbers when they move on, as NuRock owns the rights to acquire two USL First Division teams in those two markets. NuRock currently runs a Premier Development League franchise in Atlanta.

As for Nike Soccer and Umbro, both will continue their relationships with the USL, Umbro continuing as an official sponsor and exclusive supplier of match balls for USL’s professional and amateur leagues and Nike Soccer as an exclusive sponsor for USL.