LD Update: MISL season kicks off; NASL Minnesota gets new owners

The spotlight of MISL opening weekend was stolen away a bit by the NASL's announcement Friday that the Board of Governors ratified a deal that allowed the league-owned Minnesota Stars to be acquired by a new local ownership group.

LD Update: NASL & CSL Finals Saturday; USL Pro coaching news; USL deal in limbo after Umbro sale

Among the headlines Wednesday was the announcement from Nike that it has reached an agreement to sell Umbro to Iconix Brand Group, Inc. for $225 million, a deal expected to be finalized by the end of the year. Up in the air from the deal, however, is the future of the sponsorship agreement with United Soccer Leagues, the former longtime property of Umbro, which was purchased by Nike in 2008. Nike subsequently sold USL in 2009 amidst much controversy that, in part, precipitated the acrimonious separation of USL First Division team owners into the NASL and what is now USL Pro. A sponsorship deal, featuring the Umbro brand, between Nike and USL was included among the terms of the sale of USL to NuRock Soccer Holdings, LLC. In regards to the future of the sponsorship arrangement and whether it would continue on with Nike, Umbro or neither, USL President Tim Holt told INWsoccernews USL management was "still in the process of working through the details of this with Umbro/Nike." As of now, Umbro remains among the branding on USLsoccer.com.

LD Update: NASL Championship Preview; NASL MVP; MISL signings

The defending NASL champion Minnesota Stars are on the cusp of repeating, duplicating last year's surprise run from the position as the sixth and final seed to winners of the Soccer Bowl. Standing in the way are the Tampa Bay Rowdies, who have will be looking to avenge last year's surprising postseason defeat after an unbeaten season series against the Stars.

The Rowdies come into the two-game series with a  4-1-3 advantage in the regular season, but in the lone postseason meeting the Stars were victorious, 1-0, in the opening round contest a year ago courtesy of a deflected free kick from Luke Mulholland in the 27th minute.

Time has a way of changing things though.

LD Update: Ottawa stadium approval; MISL signings; USL trials set

A wide variety of items for the debut on INWsoccernews of the Lower Division Update, one of the leading features of the sister-site The Soccer Barn, which is being phased out. The LD Update is a regular feature recapping the news from around North America regarding lower division professional soccer, the elite national amateur leagues and the professional indoor game.