MISL: Strike TWO!

The Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) announced it is folding effective May 31, 2008.
News Blurb:

Major Indoor Soccer League shuts down

WESTPORT, Conn. (AP) -- The Major Indoor Soccer League has shut down after seven seasons, and is considering restructuring.

The league, which had been in operation since the 2001-02 season and had nine teams in the 2007-08 season, ceased operation last weekend. That came a few days after commissioner Steve Ryan resigned.

Former league chairman John Hantz, owner of the Detroit Ignition, said Monday that the league is considering restructuring that would allow longterm growth and expansion.

In addition to Detroit, the league had teams this season in Baltimore, Chicago, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Newark, N.J., Orlando, Fla., Stockton, Calif., and Monterrey, Mexico.

Here's the MISL's semi-believable promise to return "meaner and leaner" or something like that:

WESTPORT, Conn. (Monday, June 2, 2008) - The Management Committee of the Major Indoor Soccer League today announced the MISL ceased operations effective May 31, 2008. The MISL Management Committee has begun formal transition planning and restructuring as they consider moves, which they believe will help lower costs and attract additional owner/operators. A decision on the future structure of the League will be forthcoming in the next couple of weeks.

"We are considering structural changes that will bring us greater efficiencies, while also allowing long term growth and expansion of the League," said John Hantz, former Chairman of the MISL, and Owner/Operator of the Detroit Ignition.

This day marks the end of one era and the start of a new era for the sport of Professional Indoor Soccer.

This is actually the second time the MISL has folded. The original semi-successful MISL folded back in 1992. I remember attending games in the 1980s with huge crowds. There was no MLS back then, so indoor soccer was the only game in town. Plus indoor soccer is fun to play and fun to watch. A shame it couldn't keep the popularity going.

In a crazy-hot city like Phoenix, indoor soccer is probably our best bet for pro soccer --becuase its played indoors. God bless the Phoenix Inferno and Phoenix Pride for trying to make a go of indoor soccer back in the day. The only way Phoenix is getting MLS is if some big-bucks owner decides to build a soccer-specific stadium. Hey Steve Nash! Bring MLS to Phoenix.

Anyway, some sort of pro indoor soccer will be around next year. Long time team Philadelpha Kixx promise to be back.
Good luck re-forming MISL. But don't come back as the semi-pro outfit that was your most recent incarnation.