Major Arena Soccer League

The Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) is a North American indoor soccer league representing the highest level of professional arena soccer in the world. The MASL features teams across North America, with teams playing coast-to-coast in the United States and Mexico.

Major Arena Soccer League
FoundedMay 18, 2008 (2008-05-18)
CountryUnited States (15 teams), Mexico (2 teams)
ConfederationConfederación Panamericana
de Minifutbol (CPM)
Conferences2
Number of teams17
Level on pyramid1
Domestic cup(s)U.S. Open
Current championsMilwaukee Wave (2018–19)
Most championshipsSan Diego Sockers (4)
TV partnersMASL TV Live on YouTube
Regional Broadcast Networks (NBCSC, NBCSW, ATTSN, WPNY)
Websitewww.maslsoccer.com
2019–20 season

History

The league was organized as the Professional Arena Soccer League on May 18, 2008, as an offshoot of the Premier Arena Soccer League (PASL-Premier), the largest amateur league in the United States. The league was originally nicknamed "PASL-Pro" to distinguish it from PASL-Premier.[1]

In 2011, it was announced the professional league would officially be referred to as simply PASL, while the amateur league would still be referred to as the PASL-Premier.[2] The first league game was played on October 25, 2008, in front of a crowd of 3,239 at Stockton Arena, with the California Cougars defeating the Colorado Lightning 10–5.[3]

On March 17, 2014, one day after the 2013–2014 Major Indoor Soccer League Championship finale, United Soccer Leagues President Tim Holt announced "a number" of teams would not be returning to MISL the following year.[4] In April 2014 it was officially announced that six teams (Baltimore Blast, Milwaukee Wave, Missouri Comets, Rochester Lancers, St. Louis Ambush, and Syracuse Silver Knights) joined PASL for the 2014–2015 season.[5] [6]

The league announced a change in its name from the Professional Arena Soccer League to the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) on May 18, 2014.[7][8] This represents a merging of the MISL and PASL names. MASL fielded 23 teams for the 2014–15 season.[9][10]

Split and re-merger into the MASL

In February 2016, the current owner of the Baltimore Blast, Ed Hale, announced his intentions to leave the MASL and form a new league, the Indoor Professional League.[11] Hale was later announced as the chairman of the league, and Sam Fantauzzo, former owner of the Rochester Lancers, was announced as the first commissioner of the league. The St. Louis Ambush, Baltimore Blast, and Harrisburg Heat announced plans to join, along with the expansion Florida Tropics SC.[12][13] In July 2016, the MASL was reformed as a new not for profit entity 501(c)6, a new entity separate from the previous MASL, LLC.

In August 2016, the new MASL announced that the Blast, Heat, and Ambush would return to the MASL while the Tropics would join the MASL as an expansion team.[14] This effectively ended the IPL split with the MASL.

In a repeat of the 2015-16 Newman Cup the Baltimore Blast would go on to once again defeat Sonora Suns 2-1.

Launch of M2

In October 2017 it was officially announced the Major Arena Soccer League 2 (M2) would launch in December 2017. The M2 serves as the developmental league for the MASL. The initial lineup of this league consisted of former MASL clubs Chicago Mustangs, Waza Flo, the reserve teams for the Ontario Fury, San Diego Sockers, former PASL clubs, and new expansion teams.[15]

High-Profile Players

In the 2018-2019 season, the MASL saw an influx of players to the arena game with past MLS experience,[16] headlined by the additions of Landon Donovan to the San Diego Sockers, Jermaine Jones to the Ontario Fury, and Dwayne De Rosario with the Mississauga MetroStars.

End of the 2019-2020 Season

Like many sports leagues, the MASL ended its regular 2019-2020 season early because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[17] In May, the league announced that it was looking at conducting its playoffs in a centralized location.[18]

Teams
Locations of teams in Major Arena Soccer League
          Eastern Conference          Western Conference
Team City/Area Arena Founded Joined Coach
Eastern Conference
Baltimore Blast Towson, Maryland SECU Arena 1992 2014 Danny Kelly
Florida Tropics SC Lakeland, Florida RP Funding Center 2016 2016 Clay Roberts
Harrisburg Heat Harrisburg, Pennsylvania New Holland Arena 2012 2012 Pat Healey
Kansas City Comets Independence, Missouri Cable Dahmer Arena 2010 2014 Leo Gibson
Milwaukee Wave Milwaukee, Wisconsin UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena 1984 2014 Giuliano Oliviero
Orlando SeaWolves Kissimmee, Florida Silver Spurs Arena 2018 2018 Tom Traxler
Rochester Lancers Rochester, New York The Dome Center 2011 2014
20195		 Doug Miller
St. Louis Ambush St. Charles, Missouri Family Arena 2013 2014 Hewerton Moreira
Utica City FC Utica, New York Adirondack Bank Center 2010 2014 Ryan Hall
Western Conference
Dallas Sidekicks Allen, Texas Allen Event Center 2012 2014
20181		 Simon Bozas
Mesquite Outlaws Mesquite, Texas Mesquite Arena 2019 2019[19] Tatu
Monterrey Flash Monterrey, Nuevo León Monterrey Arena 2013 2013
20172		 Mariano Bollella
Ontario Fury[20] Ontario, California Toyota Arena 2013 2013 Jimmy Nordberg
San Diego Sockers San Diego, California Pechanga Arena 2009 2009 Phil Salvagio
Sonora Suns Hermosillo, Sonora El Centro de Usos Multiples 2014 2014
20194		 TBA
Tacoma Stars Kent, Washington ShoWare Center 2009 2010
20153		 Nick Perera
Turlock Cal Express [21] Turlock, California Turlock Soccer Complex 2011 2011 Chris Handsor
Notes

1 – Dallas suspended operations following the 2016–17 season; they rejoined the league for the 2018–19 season.
2 – Monterrey suspended operations following the 2014–15 season; they rejoined the league for the 2017–18 season.
3 - Tacoma moved down to the PASL-Premier for the 2013–13 season, played in the WISL in the 2014-15 season and then rejoined the MASL near the end of the 2014–15 season (in 2015) replacing the Seattle Impact.
4 - Sonora suspended operations following the 2017-18 season; they rejoined the league for the 2019–20 season.
5 - Rochester joined in 2014 and then suspended operations in 2015; in 2018, the Lancers re-joined in the MASL2, and rejoined the MASL for the 2019–20 season.

Champions

North American Finals
Season Champions Score Runner-Up Playoffs / Host
2008–09 Stockton Cougars 13–5 1790 Cincinnati Stockton, California
2009–10 San Diego Sockers 9–8 La Raza de Guadalajara San Diego, California
2010–11 San Diego Sockers 10–6 La Raza de Guadalajara Cincinnati, Ohio

Ron Newman Cup
Season Champions Score(s) Runner-Up Playoffs / Host
2011–12 San Diego Sockers 10–7 Detroit Waza Flo San Diego, California
2012–13 San Diego Sockers 8–6 Detroit Waza Flo San Diego, California
2013–14 Chicago Mustangs 14–5 Hidalgo La Fiera Hoffman Estates, Illinois
2014–15 Monterrey Flash 6–4 (OT), 4–6, 4–3 (OT) Baltimore Blast Monterrey, N.L., México (2 game series with mini-game tiebreaker)
2015–16 Baltimore Blast 7–4, 14–13 (OT) Sonora Suns Hermosillo, Son., México (2 game series with mini-game tiebreaker)
2016–17 Baltimore Blast 2–4, 9–8 (OT), 1–0 Sonora Suns Hermosillo, Son., México (2 game series with mini-game tiebreaker)
2017–18 Baltimore Blast 4–3 Monterrey Flash Monterrey, N.L., México
2018–19 Milwaukee Wave 5–2 Monterrey Flash Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Attendance
Season Games Total Average Playoffs Games Total Average
2008–09 58 76,888 1,326* 2009
2009–10 87 58,801 676** 2010
2010–11 84 59,128 704*** 2011
2011–12 96 63,003 656 2012 6 7,211 1,201
2012–13 151 146,193 968 2013 11 19,006 1,727
2013–14 159 214,552 1,349 2014 10 23,889 2,889
2014–15 223 542,411 2,432 2015 19 88,513 4,658
2015–16 198 476,347 2,405 2016 24 93,004 3,876
2016–17 170 466,832 2,746 2017 19 77,186 4,062
2017–18 176 446,913 2,539 2018 12 49,198 4,100
2018–19 204 462,670 2,268 2019 12 41,756 3,480
2019–20 178 454,670 2,554 2020

* Does not include 28 games where attendance was not reported. The PASL 2008–09 regular season consisted of 86 games total.

** Does not include 8 games where attendance was not reported. The PASL 2009–10 regular season consisted of 95 games total.

*** Does not include 10 games where attendance was not reported. The PASL 2010–11 regular season consisted of 94 games total.

Sponsorship

The official game ball was made by Puma SE through the 2016-17 season. Starting in the 2017-18 season, Mitre became the official ball sponsor of both the MASL and M2.[22][23]

Broadcast rights

Select 2018-2019 MASL matches were broadcast on Eleven Sports Network in the United States.[24] Some matches are also broadcast regionally throughout the United States. [25] All matches since 2016-2017 season are archived on MASLtv, the MASL's YouTube Channel

Staff

Commissioner

Joshua Schaub

Office of the Commissioner

Ryan Cigich - Head of MASL Officials
Alan Balthrop - League Statistician
Jon Ramin – Vice-President of Operations
Jeff Husted – Digital Content, Media/Public Relations
Jeff Menard - Director of Corporate Partnerships
Jesse Meehan - Operations Manager [26][27]

Executive Committee

Lane Smith (Tacoma) – President
Bernie Lilavois (Ontario) – Vice-President
Shelly Clark (St. Louis) – Secretary
Phil Salvagio (San Diego) – Treasurer
Mike Zimmerman (Milwaukee) – Member-at-Large

Former/defunct teams
Team City/Area Arena Years Played
Atletico Baja Tijuana, Baja California Unidad Deportiva Tijuana 2015–17
Anaheim Bolts Anaheim, California Anaheim Convention Center 2011–13[28][29]
Arizona Storm Glendale, Arizona Phoenix Sports Centre/Arizona Sports Complex 2011–13
Bay Area Rosal Livermore, California Cabernet Indoor Sports 2013–14
Calgary United FC Calgary, Alberta Stampede Corral/Calgary Soccer Centre 2008–11
California Cougars Stockton, California Stockton Arena 2008–11
(as Stockton Cougars 2008–09)
Cedar Rapids Rampage Cedar Rapids, Iowa U.S. Cellular Center 2015–18
Chicago Mustangs[30] Hoffman Estates, Illinois Sears Centre 2012–17
Cincinnati Kings Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati Gardens/GameTime Training Center 2008–13
(as 1790 Cincinnati 2008–10)
Cincinnati Saints Cincinnati, Ohio Tri-County Soccerplex 2013–14
Cleveland Freeze North Olmsted, Ohio Soccer Sportsplex 2013–14
Colorado Lightning Fort Collins, Colorado Budweiser Events Center 2008–09
Denver Dynamite Denver, Colorado Denver Sports Center/Parker Fieldhouse/Denver Bladium 2008–10
Edmonton Drillers Edmonton, Alberta Servus Centre/Edmonton Soccer Centre South 2008–11
El Paso Coyotes El Paso, Texas El Paso County Coliseum 2016–19
Hartford City FC Hartford, Connecticut XL Center Never Played
Hidalgo La Fiera[31][32] Hidalgo, Texas State Farm Arena 2012–14
(as Rio Grande Valley Flash 2012–13)
Illinois Piasa Pontoon Beach, Illinois Soccer For Fun Arena/The Sports Academy/The Field Sports Complex 2010–14
Kansas Magic[33][34] Overland Park, Kansas EPIC Indoor Sports Center 2011–12
Kitsap Pumas Bremerton, Washington Olympic Soccer & Sports Center 2010–11
Laredo Honey Badgers Laredo, Texas Laredo Energy Arena[35] Never Played
Las Vegas Legends Las Vegas, Nevada Orleans Arena/Las Vegas Sports Park 2012–16
Louisville Lightning Louisville, Kentucky Mockingbird Valley Soccer Club 2009–12[36][37]
Mississauga MetroStars Mississauga, Ontario Paramount Fine Foods Centre 2018
Ohio Vortex Canton, Ohio Cleveland Metroplex Events Center/Canton Memorial Civic Center/Gameday Sports Center/Pinnacle Sports Complex 2009–13
Omaha Vipers Omaha, Nebraska Omaha Civic Auditorium Never Played
Oxford City FC of Texas Beaumont, Texas Ford Arena 2012–15
(as Texas Strikers 2012–14) [38][39]
Prince George Fury Prince George, British Columbia CN Centre 2009–10
Real Phoenix Glendale, Arizona Barney Family Sports Complex/Arizona Sports Complex 2012–13[40]
RGV Barracudas FC Hidalgo, Texas State Farm Hidalgo Arena 2014–16, 2017–19
Rockford Rampage Rockford, Illinois Victory Sports Complex 2012–13[40]
St. Louis Illusion Glen Carbon, Illinois The Game Arena/Dellwood Indoor Soccer Arena 2008–10
Sacramento Surge Sacramento, California Off the Wall Soccer Arena/Estadio Azteca Soccer Arena/McClellan Park 2012–16
Saltillo Rancho Seco Saltillo, Coahuila Autonomous University of Coahuila/Deportivo Rancho Seco 2013−16
Saskatoon Accelerators Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Credit Union Centre/Henk Ruys Soccer Centre 2008–10
Seattle Impact Kent, Washington ShoWare Center 2014–15
Springfield Demize Springfield, Missouri Lake Country Soccer 2010–11
Texas Outlaws North Richland Hills, Texas NYTEX Sports Centre/Arena Athletics/TCG Arena 2008–10
Toros Mexico Tijuana, Baja California Furati Arena/Unisantos Park 2010–14
(as Revolución Tijuana 2010–12)
Tucson Extreme Tucson, Arizona Tucson Convention Center Never Played
Tulsa Revolution Tulsa, Oklahoma Cox Business Center/Expo Square Pavilion 2013–15 [41]
Waza Flo Flint, Michigan Compuware Arena/Taylor Sportsplex/Melvindale Ice Arena/Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center 2008–16
(as Detroit Waza Flo 2008–15)
Wenatchee Fire Wenatchee, Washington Wenatchee Valley Sportsplex 2008–09, 2010–11
Wichita B-52s Wichita, Kansas Hartman Arena 2013–15 [42][43]
Winnipeg Alliance Winnipeg, Manitoba MTS Centre/Garden City Soccer Complex 2009–11
Youngstown Nighthawks Youngstown, Ohio Covelli Centre Never Played
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References
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