USL Expands to Puerto Rico
Publié : 26 novembre 2003 8:47
http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/64724.html
Islanders newest A-League franchise
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Tuesday, November 25, 2003
BAYAMON, PUERTO RICO - United Soccer Leagues, in conjunction with the city of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, introduced the Puerto Rico Islanders as the A-League's newest expansion franchise at a press conference at Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium, the club's home field, Monday afternoon.
"We are excited to welcome Puerto Rico to the USL family," said USL CEO Dave Askinas. "The Islanders presented us with a unique opportunity to continue to expand our horizons internationally and enhances our link to the Caribbean beyond the handful of players who play in the US and Canada with our other franchises. We feel that USL has played a critical role in developing the game in both the US and Canada and that through the Islanders, the Puerto Rican soccer federation and the city of Bayamon, we will be able to do the same in Puerto Rico and the greater Caribbean area."
Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium is currently undergoing a renovation to be converted from baseball to be soccer-specific and is part of an overall three million dollar project that also includes a recreational park and road improvements. The two-month field renovation is nearly complete and will be ready for the start of the 2004 season. Bayamon is a major city within the greater San Juan metropolitan area with the stadium within 20 minutes of San Juan International Airport.
Vitor Hugo Barros was also announced as the Technical Director/Head Coach of the club and is expected to bring in some Brazilian and Argentinean talent to accentuate their roster noted Islanders President Joe Serralta, who also serves as President of the Puerto Rico Futbol Federation. Trials for the team are anticipated to begin the second week of January at the Efrain Calcano Alicea sports complex.
The franchise, with permission from the governing bodies of FIFA and CONCACAF, is the first outside of the US and Canada for USL, which began as a five-team indoor league in the southwest in 1986. USL first expanded to Canada in 1997 when the A-League and its member franchises in Vancouver and Montreal became members of USL. Joining them as an expansion franchise in 1997 were the Toronto Lynx, who are tentatively scheduled as the opponent for the Islanders' home opener.
Bayamon Mayor Ramon Luis Rivera also expressed hope that the addition of the A-League franchise to the city would help develop lower levels of the sport in the region.
Islanders newest A-League franchise
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Tuesday, November 25, 2003
BAYAMON, PUERTO RICO - United Soccer Leagues, in conjunction with the city of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, introduced the Puerto Rico Islanders as the A-League's newest expansion franchise at a press conference at Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium, the club's home field, Monday afternoon.
"We are excited to welcome Puerto Rico to the USL family," said USL CEO Dave Askinas. "The Islanders presented us with a unique opportunity to continue to expand our horizons internationally and enhances our link to the Caribbean beyond the handful of players who play in the US and Canada with our other franchises. We feel that USL has played a critical role in developing the game in both the US and Canada and that through the Islanders, the Puerto Rican soccer federation and the city of Bayamon, we will be able to do the same in Puerto Rico and the greater Caribbean area."
Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium is currently undergoing a renovation to be converted from baseball to be soccer-specific and is part of an overall three million dollar project that also includes a recreational park and road improvements. The two-month field renovation is nearly complete and will be ready for the start of the 2004 season. Bayamon is a major city within the greater San Juan metropolitan area with the stadium within 20 minutes of San Juan International Airport.
Vitor Hugo Barros was also announced as the Technical Director/Head Coach of the club and is expected to bring in some Brazilian and Argentinean talent to accentuate their roster noted Islanders President Joe Serralta, who also serves as President of the Puerto Rico Futbol Federation. Trials for the team are anticipated to begin the second week of January at the Efrain Calcano Alicea sports complex.
The franchise, with permission from the governing bodies of FIFA and CONCACAF, is the first outside of the US and Canada for USL, which began as a five-team indoor league in the southwest in 1986. USL first expanded to Canada in 1997 when the A-League and its member franchises in Vancouver and Montreal became members of USL. Joining them as an expansion franchise in 1997 were the Toronto Lynx, who are tentatively scheduled as the opponent for the Islanders' home opener.
Bayamon Mayor Ramon Luis Rivera also expressed hope that the addition of the A-League franchise to the city would help develop lower levels of the sport in the region.