SYRACUSE — The formation of the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) was formally announced during a press conference May 19 in Baltimore, Md. The new league, consisting of professional indoor soccer teams from the Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL) and the former Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL), including the Syracuse Silver Knights, was formed to […]
SYRACUSE — The formation of the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) was formally announced during a press conference May 19 in Baltimore, Md. The new league, consisting of professional indoor soccer teams from the Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL) and the former Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL), including the Syracuse Silver Knights, was formed to create a new “super-league,” organizers say.
The new league will feature the top professional indoor teams in the United States and Mexico, league leaders contend. The 24-team league will be divided into four 6-team divisions based on geography. Each team will play 10 home games and 10 road games, and three teams from each division will make the playoffs.
“It’s nationwide now. You are all over the country,” Syracuse Silver Knights President and Head Coach Tommy Tanner said in a news release. “We have one united front. To me, it’s a super league. From the soccer side, they [the franchises] are all pretty good. Now, you’ll have to make it successful on the business side.”
The MASL said it will reveal several other new elements in mid-June, including the new league logo, rules, and other key components that will shape the future of the sport of indoor soccer. Team schedules and the league’s playoff format will be released at the beginning of September.
The league is divided into four divisions. Unofficially, the East Division includes the Syracuse Silver Knights, Rochester Lancers, Harrisburg Heat, Baltimore Blast, Detroit Waza, and Cincinnati Saints.
Syracuse Pro Sports, LLC owns and operate the Syracuse Silver Knights in the MASL. The 2014-2015 season will be the team’s fourth consecutive season playing at The Oncenter War Memorial Arena in downtown Syracuse.
The MASL will begin play on Oct. 25. Syracuse’s first game is on Nov. 15.
In addition to Tanner, the Silver Knights front office includes: Jonathan D. Ramin, general manager; Allen Laventure, VP of sales and marketing; Peter S. Ramin, VP of operations; Douglas C. Taylor, CFO; and Anthony Meola, manager of ticket sales & fan services.