A new soccer league is giving Canadians more opportunities to exclaim, “Goooooaaaaaallll!”
What happened: The Northern Super League (NSL), Canada’s first pro women’s soccer league, held its inaugural game last night at BC Place, as the Vancouver Rise took on the Calgary Wild.
Catch-up: The NSL consists of six teams, each of which will play 25 games this season, with 132 players. League founder Diana Matheson told the Globe and Mail that, in terms of quality, the NSL is already a top-five women’s soccer league globally.
- The league was able to lure big names, including members of Canada’s national team, thanks in part to its minimum salary of $50,000, which is higher than many other women’s leagues.
Why it matters: For decades, Canada has been a wellspring of women’s soccer talent, but was one of the few giants in the sport not to have a professional league. Now, domestic franchises and Canadian cities can capitalize on this reputation, and fans can see homegrown stars play.
- Ownership groups are expected to pour up to $10 million into their teams over the next five seasons, and Matheson predicts their investments will reap profits in five to 10 years.
Big picture: Sports teams are one of the hottest alternative asset classes because, even in rocky economic times, people still love watching freakishly talented athletes. Women’s sports became a bigger part of the equation in recent years, and — after multiple record-breaking ownership deals last year — look like they’re becoming a permanent fixture.—QH