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Number of American soccer clubs documented for this season: 15 (You can see all of these clubs)
For the selected season, this site documents and maps all "top tier" American soccer clubs in the NASL (North American Soccer League). Note that we do NOT cover reserve teams.
Founded: 1974 [folded 1984] Stadium: Memorial Stadium Stadium Address: 900 East 33rd Street, Baltimore, MD 21218 League: NASL (North American Soccer League)
History: The San Diego Sockers were one of the most successful indoor soccer teams in the sport's short history. The team won ten championships in both the original Major Indoor Soccer League and the North American Soccer League. The team began as the Baltimore Comets in 1974 but moved to San Diego as the San Diego Jaws in 1976. After a one year stay in Las Vegas, the team returned as the San Diego Sockers in 1978.
The San Diego Sockers, one of the most successful indoor soccer teams in a number of national leagues, kicked off in 1974 as the Baltimore Comets. Within a year, the team packed up for a cross country move to San Diego where they were renamed the San Diego Jaws. After a few rocky seasons, the Jaws departed for Las Vegas in 1977 but moved back to San Diego in 1978, where they were finally dubbed the San Diego Sockers.
Boston Minutemen
Founded: 1974 [folded 1976] Stadium: Alumni Stadium Stadium Address: Perimeter Rd, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 League: NASL (North American Soccer League)
History: The Boston Minutemen were a soccer team based out of Boston that played in the NASL.
The Minutemen started well, winning the Northern Division title in their first season and drawing over 9000 fans a match to Alumni Stadium, good for 5th highest in the league. They lost in the playoffs to eventual league champion Los Angeles Aztecs. When Eusebio came to Boston in 1975 (by which time the team had relocated to Nickerson Field) it seemed as though things would continue to look up. Though the team would win the Northern Division title again for the second time in as many seasons, attendance curiously fell to around 4000 - half of what it had been. In the playoffs the Minutemen lost to Miami in extra time.
For the 1976 season, team owner John Sterge announced the Minutemen would relocate again, this time to Harvard Stadium, but that deal collapsed before the start of the season and the team ended up playing in a hodge-podge of grounds: Schaefer Stadium in Foxborough, Veteran's Memorial Stadium in Quincy, and Sargent Field in New Bedford. By this time Sterge was having financial difficulties (which ended in action by the Securities and Exchange Commission) and was compelled to sell off many of his players, including Eusebio, who went to the eventual champions Toronto Metros-Croatia. Attendance plummeted, the Minutemen lost their last 12 matches, and after the season they folded.
Notes: Stadiums used: Alumni Stadium (1974), Nickerson Field (1975), Schaefer Stadium (1976), Veterans Memorial Stadium (1976), Sargent Field (1976).
Dallas Tornado
Founded: 1967 [folded 1981] Nickname: The Tornado Stadium: Texas Stadium Stadium Address: 2401 East Airport Freeway, Irving, TX 75062 League: NASL (North American Soccer League)
History: Dallas Tornado were a soccer team based in Dallas that played in the NASL. The franchise was one of the original clubs that played in the United Soccer Association, one of the two precursors to the NASL, in 1967. In fact the USA was made up of international clubs playing in U.S. cities as American teams. The team that played as the Dallas Tornado were Dundee United of the Scottish Football League.
Notes: Stadiums used: Cotton Bowl (1967-1968), P.C. Cobb Stadium (1969), Franklin Field (1970-1971), Texas Stadium (1972-1975, 1980-1981), Ownby Stadium on the SMU campus (1976-1979).
Denver Dynamos
Founded: 1974 [folded 1975] Nickname: The Dynamos Stadium: Mile High Stadium Stadium Address: 2755 West 17th Ave, Denver, CO 80204 League: NASL (North American Soccer League)
History: The Denver Dynamos were a soccer team based out of Denver that played in the NASL from 1974 to 1975. After the 1975 season, they moved to Minnesota and became the Minnesota Kicks.
Notes: Stadiums used: Mile High Stadium (1974), Jefferson County Stadium (1975).
Los Angeles Aztecs
Founded: 1974 [folded 1981] Stadium: East Los Angeles College Stadium Address: 1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez, Monterey Park, CA 91754 League: NASL (North American Soccer League) Winner of cup(s):
History: The Aztecs are remembered for their mixed success and were sometimes compared to the New York Cosmos as the Cosmos of the West Coast. However, they did not draw nearly as well as the Cosmos, or even the Seattle Sounders, who were consistently the attendance leaders among the Western NASL teams. They won the 1974 Soccer Bowl over the Miami Toros. In 1976, a fading George Best signed with the team and played from 1976 to 1978. In 1979 attendance peaked (with an average attendance of around 14,000) as Rinus Michels signed the Dutch superstar Johan Cruyff who went on to win the NASL Most Valuable Player Award in his one year with the Aztecs.
Notes: Stadiums used: Weingart Stadium, East Los Angeles College (1974), Murdock Stadium, El Camino Junior College (1975-1976), Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (1977, 1981), Rose Bowl (1978-1980).
History: The Miami Gatos were a soccer team based out of Miami that played in the North American Soccer League. The club was previously known as the Washington Darts. After the 1972 season, the team was renamed the Miami Toros.
After the 1976 season, the team moved to Fort Lauderdale and became known as the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and later moved to Minnesota and became known as the Minnesota Strikers.
Notes: Stadiums used: Miami Orange Bowl (1972-1975), Tamiami Park (1976).
New York Cosmos
Founded: 1971 [folded 1985] Nickname: Cosmos Stadium: Downing Stadium Stadium Address: Randall's Island Park, Randall's Island, NY 10035 League: NASL (North American Soccer League)
History: The New York Cosmos (1971-1985), known simply as the Cosmos for the 1977 and 1978 seasons, was a soccer franchise based in New York City and its suburbs that operated in the North American Soccer League from 1971 to 1984. Founded by brothers Ahmet and Nesuhi Ertegün as well as Warner Bros. President Steve Ross, it was without any doubt the strongest NASL franchises, both athletically and financially.
It became known around the world for signing the great Brazilian player Pelé who, though past his prime, was nonetheless one of the team's, and the league's, top gate draws during his tenure with the Cosmos. The NASL folded after the 1984 season, but the Cosmos attempted to operate as an independent team in 1985 before it ceased activity too.
During the fall of 1984, San Diego, Chicago, New York, and Minnesota joined the MISL for the indoor season. San Diego, Chicago and Minnesota remained with the MISL. New York played exhibition games during 1985 before folding.
Founded: 1973 [folded 1976] Nickname: Atoms Stadium: Veterans Stadium Stadium Address: 3501 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148 League: NASL (North American Soccer League)
History: The Atoms were founded by Philadelphia construction mogul Thomas McCloskey in 1973 at the urging of Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Tornado owner Lamar Hunt. Playing a largely American line-up, they won the NASL title in their first year of existence, ironically by defeating Hunt’s Dallas club 2-0. After this championship match, Philadelphia goalkeeper and Delaware Valley native Bob Rigby became the first soccer player to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
The Atoms could not sustain the success of their first season as the club missed the playoffs in each of their remaining three NASL campaigns. Attendance began to flag and, after the 1975 season, the team was sold to a group of Mexican clubs, which included Club Deportivo Guadalajara. Fielding a primarily Mexican side (almost 20 years before Chivas USA would try a similar approach in Major League Soccer), attendances continued to wane and the club folded after the 1976 season.
Although Clive Toye reports in his recent book that the franchise was sold to an ownership group from Montreal, he apparently confuses the fate of the next Philadelphia NASL team for that of the Atoms; the Atoms were, in fact, going to be relocated to San Antonio by their Mexican owners, who planned to replace the San Antonio Thunder franchise (which itself had just relocated to Honolulu to play as Team Hawaii). This plan never came to fruition, and the Philadelphia franchise was placed into receivership by the NASL.
The franchise was removed from receivership two years later when the Philadelphia Fury began their three year run in Philadelphia in 1978.
Notes: Stadiums used: Veterans Stadium (1973-1975), Franklin Field (1976).
Rochester Lancers
Founded: 1967 [folded 1980] Stadium: Holleder Memorial Stadium Stadium Address: Ridgeway Ave & Mount Read Blvd, Rochester, NY 14623 League: NASL (North American Soccer League)
History: The Rochester Lancers were a soccer team based out of Rochester, New York that played in the American Soccer League from 1967 until 1969 and the North American Soccer League from 1970 to 1980 at Aquinas Stadium (renamed Holleder Memorial Stadium in 1974).
San Jose Earthquakes
Founded: 1974 [folded 1988] Stadium: Spartan Stadium Stadium Address: 1257 S 10th St, San Jose, CA 95112 League: NASL (North American Soccer League)
History: The San Jose Earthquakes was a professional soccer club that played from 1974 to 1984 in the North American Soccer League. The team was known as the Golden Bay Earthquakes from 1983 to 1984, and resurfaced (once again as the San Jose Earthquakes) in the Western Soccer Alliance from 1985 to 1988. The franchise also played indoor soccer in the original MISL and in the NASL's indoor circuit. The name Earthquakes came from a newspaper contest in the San Jose Mercury News.
Seattle Sounders
Founded: 1974 [folded 1983] Nickname: Sounders Stadium: Memorial Stadium Stadium Address: 401 5th Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109 League: NASL (North American Soccer League)
History: The Seattle Sounders were a U.S. professional soccer team based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1974, the team belonged to the North American Soccer League where it played both indoor and outdoor soccer. The team folded after the 1983 NASL outdoor season.
Notes: Stadiums used: Memorial Stadium (1974-1975), Kingdome (1976-1983).
St. Louis Stars
Founded: 1967 [folded 1977] Stadium: Civic Center Busch Memorial Stadium Stadium Address: 250 Stadium Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63102 League: NASL (North American Soccer League)
History: The St. Louis Stars were the first ever professional soccer team in St. Louis. The team was headed by Bob Hermann who later went on to create the Hermann Trophy, college soccer's version of the Heisman Trophy.
Notes: Stadiums used: Civic Center Busch Memorial Stadium (1967-1968, 1971-1974), Francis Field (1969-1970, 1975-1977).
Toronto Metros
Founded: 1971 [folded 1984] Nickname: Blizzard, Metros, Metros-Croatia Stadium: Varsity Stadium Stadium Address: 277 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON M5S 3J3 League: NASL (North American Soccer League)
History: The Toronto Metros were a soccer team based out of Toronto that played in the NASL. They played from 1971 to 1974. Their home field was Varsity Stadium. The Metros merged with National Soccer League side Toronto Croatia in 1975 to form NASL club Toronto Metros-Croatia.
The Toronto Metros-Croatia were formed in 1975 when the Toronto Metros of the North American Soccer League were merged with Toronto Croatia of the National Soccer League. The team competed in the NASL between 1975 and 1978 and was able to become champion of the NASL by winning the 1976 Soccer Bowl. Following the 1978 season, the team split.
The Toronto Blizzard came into existence when the Global Television Network purchased the struggling Toronto Metros-Croatia on February 1, 1979. Following the purchase, Toronto Croatia returned to the National Soccer League. Croatia had left the NSL to merge with NASL side Toronto Metros in 1975 to form Metros-Croatia. The Metros had won the NASL Soccer Bowl trophy in 1976 with the aid of Portuguese soccer legend Eusebio.
Vancouver Whitecaps
Founded: 1974 [folded 1984] Nickname: The 'Caps Stadium: BC Place Stadium Stadium Address: 777 Pacific Blvd, Vancouver, BC V6B 4Y8 League: NASL (North American Soccer League)
History: The original Vancouver Whitecaps were founded on December 11, 1973 and during the 1970s and 1980s played in the North American Soccer League (NASL). The Whitecaps achieved good success, winning the 1979 Soccer Bowl. The Whitecaps of that era included international players such as Alan Ball, but also "home grown" stars like Bobby and Sam Lenarduzzi, Buzz Parsons, and Glen Johnson. In 1979 the team from the "Village of Vancouver" (a reference to ABC TV sportscaster Jim McKay's observation that "Vancouver must be like the deserted village right now", with so many people watching the game on TV) beat the powerhouse New York Cosmos in one of the most thrilling playoff series in NASL history to advance to the Soccer Bowl. In the Soccer Bowl, they triumphed against the Tampa Bay Rowdies in a disappointed New York City.
It was during this short period that soccer interest peaked in Vancouver. The Whitecaps attendance at Empire Stadium grew to regular sellouts, at 32,000. The team also recorded two tracks, with "White is the Colour" becoming a hit on local radio during the run-up to their championship win.
After playing at Vancouver's 32,000-seat Empire Stadium for most of their existence, the team moved into the cavernous 60,000-seat BC Place Stadium in 1983. Although the novelty of the stadium drew capacity crowds for the first few games, attendance waned quickly, due to the declining league and, in the opinion of many fans, the harsh environment of the domed stadium.
With the subsequent demise of the NASL, in 1984 the Whitecaps, along with many other teams in the NASL, were forced to fold.
Notes: Stadiums used: Empire Stadium (1974-1983), BC Place Stadium (1983-1984).
Washington Diplomats
Founded: 1974 [folded 1981] Nickname: Diplomats, Dips Stadium: RFK Stadium Stadium Address: 2400 East Capital St. SE, Washington, DC 20003 League: NASL (North American Soccer League)
History: The original Washington Diplomats first came into being when, in 1974, the North American Soccer League (NASL) granted a franchise to a Washington, D.C. based business group. The team played their home games at RFK Stadium except for 1976 when they played at W.T. Woodson High School in Northern Virginia. After a lackluster beginning to the franchise, the Diplomats qualified for the playoffs and increased average game attendance in each of their last three years of existence. Additionally, in their final year, the Diplomats were able to sign the future European Player of the Century Johan Cruyff. After the 1980 season the Diplomats folded when then owner, the Madison Square Garden Corp., had accumulated losses of $6 million and team president Steve Danzansky could not gather enough money to keep the team alive.
Notes: Stadiums used: RFK Stadium (1974-1975, 1977-1981), Wilbert Tucker Woodson High School in Northern Virginia (1976).
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NASL (North American Soccer League)
