Northern Super League to launch in April 2025

[BigBadBorto]

On 5/25/2024 at 12:01 PM, Ozzie_the_parrot said:

Delusional I think is the word you are probably searching for unless they have found somebody with very deep pockets willing to underwrite the whole thing.

Yeah - if the CPL has $1.2m salary cap and several teams are struggling to break even and the average attendance is 3-4k, how does the $1.5m salary cap for the new women's league make sense?  Are they expecting larger crowds than the CPL?  I can't see that happening.  If Matheson thinks the league will be top 5 in women's attendance in year 1, she is out to lunch and makes me question her whole business model.

[narduch]

Apparently the league name is being announced today. 

 

 

[mtlfan]

 

Montreal gets a team.

https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2024/05/28/montreal-aura-son-equipe-professionnelle-de-soccer-feminin

[narduch]

Article says minimum salary is $50k

[red card]

5 hours ago, narduch said:

Article says minimum salary is $50k

That would make it in line with NWSL's minimum with accounting for the currency differential. Average NWSL salary is around US$65k.

USL W Super League hasn't stated it's minimum and has no salary cap but men's USL Championship min is US$20k. WSL also has no min but it has been reported the lowest paid players make around C$35k. Average salary is about C$82k.

So, P8's player talent floor has the potential to be largely on par with the top leagues.

Other reports say they won't play in one stadium but will likely rotate between Saputo, CEPSUM and Claude-Robillard.

League season will be 25 matches from April to November with 4 teams making playoffs.

Co-owner Jean-François Crevier money appears to be coming from selling the Crevier service stations in 2022. Isabèle Chevalier is on Radio-Canada's show Dans l’œil du dragon. Others involved were former Alouettes president Patrick Boivin and Amy Walsh.

Also of note is that Crevier is the jersey sponsor of L1Q's St. Laurent.

Edited May 28 by red card

[chalms04]

https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/article/new-womens-soccer-league-to-be-called-northern-super-league/

[chalms04]

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/northern-super-league-name-announcement-1.7215577

 

 

Edited May 28 by chalms04

[Unnamed Trialist]

Here's the full email I got from the CSA, full details (huge congrats to Matheson, and all the owners coming in, I did not think she'd do it):

Toronto, ON (May 28, 2024) — Canada, the wait is finally over. Women’s soccer in this country will reach new and exciting heights on the platform it deserves next spring.

Diana Matheson, CEO and Co-Founder of Project 8, revealed today Northern Super League as the official name for Canada’s highly anticipated professional women’s soccer league. The Northern Super League will kick off its inaugural season in April 2025 with six founding clubs from key markets nationwide.

Matheson further confirmed that clubs based in Ottawa and Montreal will join previously announced franchises in Halifax, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver.

“We are thrilled to announce this update to soccer fans across Canada as we take a big step toward our season opener in April 2025. After years without a professional women’s domestic soccer league, the Northern Super League and its six founding clubs will fill a significant void in Canada and bring about meaningful change coast to coast. We are proud to launch with a name that will instill pride in all those who play and love the game. With a brand that is fresh, we welcome all who want to be a part of this exciting moment in Canadian sports history." - Diana Matheson, CEO & Co-Founder, Project 8

All six Northern Super League clubs are owned and operated by independent ownership groups. Northern Super League is launching with the support of its founding corporate partners, Canadian Tire Corporation, DoorDash, CIBC and Air Canada.

“Congratulations to everyone involved in the exciting evolution of the newly-named Northern Super League. Canada Soccer remains steadfast in its support for professional women’s soccer in our country, and we will continue to work alongside Diana and the staff to ensure a successful kickoff next April." - Kevin Blue, CEO and General Secretary at Canada Soccer

Competitive Format and Compensation

The Northern Super League will feature a 25-game regular season schedule followed by playoffs and a National Championship in Fall 2025. All clubs will operate with a salary cap structure and minimum salaries aligned with established leagues worldwide.

While creating a home for Canadian players remains a key focus, the Northern Super League will also feature world-class international talent to help elevate the overall quality of play and drive further development.

Additional details on league executives, player signings, and league scheduling will be announced in the coming weeks.

"Canada Soccer is thrilled to support the launch of The Northern Super League, Canada’s new professional women’s soccer league, debuting next spring. This is a significant milestone for women’s sports in Canada, and we look forward to cheering on these talented athletes. Here’s to a bright future for The Northern Super League!" - Peter Augruso, President, Canada Soccer

The Story Behind the Brand: Spirit of Canada Inspired Name and Emblem

A significant void in available pathways stunted the development of women’s soccer in Canada, and the Northern Super League will be the ‘big bang’ in the industry, kickstarting an entirely new universe next April. By intentionally omitting “women,” the league firmly declares its ambitions to be equal to other leagues in professional sports, inviting all who love the beautiful game and who want to be a part of the growth in professional women’s sports to feel included. “Super League” communicates the elite calibre of players expected to fill club rosters. The vibrant Aurora Borealis inspired the league colour palette and the serpentine-style font symbolizes dynamic team play on the pitch. The four-pointed north star finally signifies the league's strength, vision, and steadfast presence to cement itself as a beacon for what sport can and should be in Canada and beyond.

The Northern Super League brand was developed by Canadian creative agency Broken Heart Love Affair.

Limited Northern Super League Merchandise

A limited amount of official Northern Super League gear, including high-quality sweatshirts, hats and T-shirts featuring the new logo and brand elements, is now available for fans to purchase at www.NSL.ca. Products are available in baby, youth and adult sizes, with bilingual options.

About Northern Super League

Northern Super League is a new Canadian professional women’s soccer league, which currently consists of six clubs in key Canadian markets and is set to kick off in spring of 2025. The league is built by players and supporters of the beautiful game with best practices from around the world and aims to further Canadian excellence in sport, equity and inclusion. For more information and updates on the Northern Super League, please visit www.NSL.ca.

 

[shermanator]

Ottawa is in

 

[narduch]

Amazing branding. Love the league name.

Also kudos on getting a Quebec team before CPL.

[red card]

No max salary but there is a marquee-player exemption that will enable each team to sign one player for an exceptional salary, only $75k of which will count toward the cap. So, this will help get Canada and other country's national team players.

Matheson believes there will be dozens of Canadian women currently abroad who will want to return to play at home for a variety of reasons, including greater potential to build and monetize their personal brand

Matheson has told owners they will need to invest $8-10m over the first 5 years, not including the costs of upgrading infrastructure. She also said they are a bit small for big guys to invest today and some people who are currently in the business of pro sport may not see what is possible.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/article-project-8-shrinks-to-original-six-as-new-northern-super-league/

[Watchmen]

Interesting comment from James Sharman that no "Canada" or "Women" in the league name might make it easier to market.

 

[Kent]

Great news that they've got a name and have rounded out the original 6 teams!

They need to get Edmonton in the mix ASAP though because as it stands the "Women's Super League" is further north than the "Northern Super League". I'm not knocking the name, I just had to check the coordinates of the cities involved because it's always shocking to remind yourself how far north the UK is relative to Canadian cities.

Lattitude of the cities with teams in WSL and NSL.

Manchester (WSL) - 53.48 N
Liverpool (WSL) - 53.41 N
Leicester (WSL) - 52.64 N
Birmingham (WSL) - 52.48 N
London (WSL) - 51.51 N
Calgary (NSL) - 51.04 N
Brighton (WSL) - 50.82 N
Vancouver (NSL) - 49.28 N
Montreal (NSL) - 45.50 N
Ottawa (NSL) - 45.42 N
Halifax (NSL) - 44.65 N
Toronto (NSL) - 43.65 N

Edmonton would edge out Manchester in this list if they had a team, at 53.55 N

[narduch]

 

 

[shermanator]

1 hour ago, Kent said:

Great news that they've got a name and have rounded out the original 6 teams!

They need to get Edmonton in the mix ASAP though because as it stands the "Women's Super League" is further north than the "Northern Super League". I'm not knocking the name, I just had to check the coordinates of the cities involved because it's always shocking to remind yourself how far north the UK is relative to Canadian cities.

Lattitude of the cities with teams in WSL and NSL.

Manchester (WSL) - 53.48 N
Liverpool (WSL) - 53.41 N
Leicester (WSL) - 52.64 N
Birmingham (WSL) - 52.48 N
London (WSL) - 51.51 N
Calgary (NSL) - 51.04 N
Brighton (WSL) - 50.82 N
Vancouver (NSL) - 49.28 N
Montreal (NSL) - 45.50 N
Ottawa (NSL) - 45.42 N
Halifax (NSL) - 44.65 N
Toronto (NSL) - 43.65 N

Edmonton would edge out Manchester in this list if they had a team, at 53.55 N

Have you paid any attention at all to Edmonton and their complete lack of support for professional club soccer?

[SthMelbRed]

2 hours ago, narduch said:

 

 

As a lifelong Whitecaps' supporter, I don't like this.

[Cblake]

Do you think that playing 25 games during the first season means 12 home, 12 away and one neutral, exposing the league to other markets around the country?

[red card]

 

[Kent]

3 hours ago, shermanator said:

Have you paid any attention at all to Edmonton and their complete lack of support for professional club soccer?

Yeah, I wasn't serious about that. I was just taking the opportunity to talk some geography. I don't think northern-ness is the number 1 criteria for deciding which expansion team should be next. 

[Colonel Green]

1 hour ago, red card said:

 

I think the relatively unhindered trade system is fine in the big North American leagues where the players are making high six figures at a minimum, but in low-paying leagues like this, it makes sense to give players more of a say in the process as the default.

Not going with the draft model will be interesting to see the effects of long-term. The potential negatives in terms of league competitiveness are probably greatly lessened right now given how small the league is.

Edited May 29 by Colonel Green

[nolando]

I'm late to the party, but does calling it NSL possibly leave it open to having American clubs at some point? Seattle, Portland, Detroit, Buffalo, etc.?

[Ozzie_the_parrot]

Maybe it's more that it makes their initials NSL rather than NWSL?

[Gian-Luca]

9 hours ago, nolando said:

I'm late to the party, but does calling it NSL possibly leave it open to having American clubs at some point? Seattle, Portland, Detroit, Buffalo, etc.?

This was my first thought as well when I heard the name.

I would also have preferred that the S stood for "Soccer" rather than "Super".

[mtlfan]

I do hope that there will be no games at CEPSUM as it has football lines.

[red card]

12 hours ago, nolando said:

I'm late to the party, but does calling it NSL possibly leave it open to having American clubs at some point? Seattle, Portland, Detroit, Buffalo, etc.?

Last thing the US needs is a third D1 women's league. Though, given the closed leagues & USSF league classification standards, USSF has little legal standing to block a third D1 league.

Seattle & Portland are already in NWSL. Spokane is in USL WSL. Detroit & Buffalo could have easily got teams in USL WSL if there was an interested owner.