After only 3 years, Ottawa Fury will close their NASL chapter this Saturday at the end of their last game of the season. FC Edmonton will remain the only Canadian team in in the NASL next year. Ottawa Fury today announced the team will join the United Soccer League (USL) for the 2017 season. �We�re excited to be joining the fastest-growing soccer league in the world. The USL�s goal is to be the top second division in the world and we are thrilled to be part of it. Our growing and loyal fan base deserves and can expect a very high caliber of play and tremendous competition�, said Fury FC President, John Pugh. "The USL is a strong professional league that�s getting stronger and I know our fans will be impressed", said Fury FC Head Coach and General Manager Paul Dalglish, who coached the USL�s Austin Aztex in 2014. �The competition is intense, the caliber of play is high and the brand of soccer is fast-paced. It�s going to be exciting for Fury fans next season and exciting for the players to feel their energy at TD Place.� The USL completed its 2016 season this past weekend, as the league saw its attendance rise by 33 percent to almost 1.5 million fans. The 29-team league has previously announced Reno 1868 FC and the Tampa Bay Rowdies as expansion clubs for the 2017 season, with Nashville SC set to join the league in 2018. (Source: Ottawa Fury).Statement from NASL Commissioner Bill Peterson on the announcement made by the Ottawa Fury FC earlier today: �As a league in North America, the NASL operates in an environment where owners are free to take their clubs wherever they choose. All we can do is acknowledge that reality and move forward with our business, which is exactly what we�re doing right now. We have never had a stronger and more unified group of owners who are committed to the league�s model, its structure, and its long-term vision. With a half-dozen serious expansion discussions in progress, the league looks forward to adding new owners who share in the Board�s vision. We have ambitious plans for growth, and we�re proud that the flexibility of the NASL model remains an extremely attractive proposition for investors seeking to become part of an authentic, competitive soccer league. While we don�t want to take anything away from what is sure to be another exciting postseason, we�re focused on ensuring that, in 2017, the NASL is one of the most competitive soccer leagues around�. (Source: NASL)
