Crystal Palace Baltimore and Tampa to join new professional soccer league

The Tampa Bay Rowdies and Crystal Palace Baltimore have joined the new professional soccer league announced last week, beginning play in the United States and Canada in April 2010.

The addition of Tampa Bay and Baltimore brings the new league to nine teams, as they join the owners of the Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina Railhawks, Miami FC, Minnesota Thunder, Montreal Impact, St. Louis Soccer United and Vancouver Whitecaps. The league has submitted an application to the United States Soccer Federation for sanctioning as a Division II Men’s Outdoor Professional League.

A name for the new league will be announced next week. The new league is also active in its search for a full-time commissioner and will introduce an extensive marketing campaign in the coming months.

“Tampa and Baltimore joining our efforts is a testament to our game plan, our current ownership strength and our promise for the future. Our new league, together with Tampa and Baltimore, will be another major step forward in the growth of soccer in the United States and Canada and will provide a important opportunity for players in these countries,” said Joey Saputo, Chairman of the Board of Governors and President of the Montreal Impact. “The ownership groups of both teams share our common vision for soccer in North America and we are thrilled to welcome them to our new league.”

“With this new league, which consists of some of the most established teams in North American soccer, we are excited about our team and collective future and the opportunity to make a significant impact on the beautiful game,” said Andrew Nestor, owner and president of the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

“Crystal Palace Baltimore is pleased and honored to join and be a part of what we see as the future of North American soccer. We are particularly excited about this league, especially when you look at the quality of the owners and the impressive history of the clubs,” said Pete Medd, co-owner of Crystal Palace Baltimore. “We are proud to be one of the founding members and believe it’s the right league at the right time for us and for soccer in North America.”