NEW YORK (July 12, 2012) ̶ The North American Soccer League (NASL) today announced that the New York Cosmos have joined the NASL and will begin league play in the 2013 season. The NASL Board of Governors unanimously approved the Cosmos’ membership during its meetings this week in New York.
It’s been nearly 30 years since the Cosmos, an iconic global soccer brand, have played in a professional league. Yet throughout the absence from the pitch, the franchise has maintained a loyal and dedicated fan following. The team expects to announce more details about its stadium, ticket sales, soccer operations staff and players in the near future.
The New York Cosmos would be a post-modern cultural critics wet-dream, if post-modernity was still a thing: the recreation of a former team in a league also called the North American Soccer League, the pet project of Englishmen nostalgic for an era in which the Cosmos were the biggest team in American Sahker.
The move makes some sense, as there is at least now a precedent for teams gaining “promotion” to Major League Soccer (the Cosmos desired home) from the NASL. Well, one precedent: the Montreal Impact. And as Jason Davis wrote on this site earlier this month, MLS hearts NY.
Still, the NY Cosmos have seen some “restructuring” over the last year, including changing of owners (Middle Eastern company Sela Sport) and management. As Ben Massey pointed out:
Anyway, this is happening…
Glad to see them join the NASL. Hopefully the Cosmos bring more recognition to the league. Can’t wait to see them play in Edmonton. It’ll be interesting moving forward
Pomo is “still a thing.”