Open Soccer Alliance (OSA) recently hosted an hour-long virtual conference call to provide information about this new endeavor to a group that included soccer writers and amateur club representatives. OSA was represented by most of its leadership team: president and CEO Michael Collins, chief strategic officer Peter Wilt, consultant Ron Gilmore and director of soccer operations Daniel Collazo.

Each member of the OSA team introduced themselves and gave their soccer background. Peter Wilt’s history in developing soccer clubs is well-documented. Along with Wilt, both Michael Collins and Ron Gilmore share the experience of being part of the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA). Gilmore described his time with NISA as “four very challenging years.” Gilmore added that his role in OSA will be to help “provide all of the necessary infrastructure” to help “make this as professional as our owners want it to be.”

Daniel Collazo spoke about his background with UPSL, serving as vice president of business developments in the league’s early days. He also talked about his heavy involvement in what he called “the underground community,” referring to soccer clubs that play in the weekend tournaments held throughout the country that are not sanctioned by US soccer but offer prize money.

Wilt reviewed OSA’s 6 key differentiators:

Affordability - No entry fees for amateur teams, and a five-figure fee for professional teams when pro league starts in 2025
Prize Money - $300,000 in prize money in 2024 to be more specific, based on having 32 clubs participating
Open System - Wilt is a big proponent of promotion/relegation as well as no territorial rights, but noted that you need “a lot of teams” in order to have pro/rel (as well as the prize money)
Revenue Sharing - This includes training compensation and solidarity payments between pro and amateur clubs
Non-Profit - OSA is set up as a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization
Alliance of Leagues - “Our league is open to everyone,” touted Collins, adding that their alliance will be “club, player, and ownership-friendly”

Gilmore stressed the importance of being a non-profit and allowing the clubs to run things. Based on his own experiences in working with leagues that had its own ownership, club owners could come together on a certain idea only to have it turned down by league ownership.

OSA’s goals for this year and next are ambitious. In May of this year, OSA is looking to have an amateur league (called OSA Elite) with 32 clubs spread out over six to eight regions. The season is expected to run from May until August, with clubs playing 10 games. By September, OSA is looking to get Division III sanctioning for their professional league, and to launch the pro league in September 2025. Further out, OSA has visions of adding a Division II pro league in 2028 and possibly a Division I league in 2030.

Playing a 10-game schedule will also serve an important role in helping clubs participate in the US Open Cup. As Collazo explained, with OSA being under the US Soccer umbrella, “underground” clubs that play at least a 10-game schedule in OSA Elite would now be eligible to participate in regional qualifiers to gain entry into the Open Cup. Collazo dreams of the day when an amateur side makes it to the 5th round of the Open Cup tournament.

The organization is currently in active talks with companies about sponsorship, including working with a travel company that can provide deals on buses and other accommodations. Collazo stressed that regional play is important to keep travel costs down, wanting to keep travel under 400 miles between clubs. They are also in discussions with apparel and ball suppliers.

During the Q & A session, OSA was asked if any clubs have already given a verbal commitment. Colllazo responded by mentioning Horizon out of Houston, Texas, Las Vegas Quicksilvers*, as well as other regions where there was interest, including Southern California, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, and the DC-Maryland-Virginia area.

When asked about the vetting process, Wilt said that in building OSA Elite they would rely on the strength and experience of the amateur sides themselves. The growth in the amateur and professional leagues would be methodical in approach, and that club commitments to other leagues would be honored before joining OSA.

- John Howard-Fusco

*Editor’s note: According to their social media, “Las Vegas Quicksilvers Soccer Club have not committed to joining the OSA. We do, however, support an open system and encourage collaboration between leagues at all levels to provide a platform that fosters sustainability and growth for independent clubs.”