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The North American Soccer League (NASL) is coming to Hartford, CT, according to FOX CT Sports Director Rich Coppola.
The tentatively named Hartford City FC is reportedly set to call Dillon Stadium home and could begin play as soon as 2016. If true, Hartford would be the 12th team in NASL, and would likely form an immediate rivalry with the neighboring New York Cosmos. Official word from the league is expected to surface in the coming weeks.
Recent expansion announcements from NASL have been hit or miss. Virginia Cavalry FC (awarded in 2012) and Oklahoma City FC (awarded in 2013) have never gotten off the ground. Meanwhile, Indy Eleven (debuted in 2014) and the Jacksonville Armada (debuted in 2015) have been quite successful.
A Hartford NASL team would be a good thing for the local soccer scene. The New England Revolution currently dominate the area, which has no USL or NASL teams. It will be intriguing to see what type of attendance numbers the potential Hartford team draws and where these fans travel from.