[Dan Vaughn] I’m hearing rumors that the NPSL is about to suspend Tulsa Athletic for the season. No specific reason out yet for booting the former league champion. Once I know more I’ll push it out.

In case you haven't been following along:

• Tulsa Athletic moved in recent years to play at Tulsa Athletic Community Field at Hicks Park

• NSPL has stated they cannot play here, as it is an open park

• The problem is that it is very clearly not an open park, as you can plainly see on Google maps). The facility is fenced in, meets NPSL seating requirements, has separate locker room and restroom facilities per NPSL requirements, has a single point of entry and exit per NSPL requirements, and generally meets every single requirement NPSL has listed on their website.

• Tulsa, in this detailed thread states they have attempted to communicate this to the league to resolve the problem and have gotten zero meaningful response from the league, and are forced to take legal action to seek an injunction to play at the facility this year.

• Worth noting, they played at this same facility when winning the 2023 NPSL Championship, and use it for USOC games which have stricter requirements than the NPSL does. FC Tulsa of the USL Championship has also used it for USOC games previously.

As far as anyone can tell, the NPSL's reasoning is nonsense as to why Tulsa cannot use this field. And now the league appears to be suspending them for the year, presumably over Tulsa's threatened legal action on this issue.

If you've been following the NPSL, they have been hemorrhaging their top clubs to USL2 and USPL, with terrible leadership being cited consistently. This appears to be another well-run club the league is set to lose over a ridiculous reason.

Another well-run former NPSL club, Minneapolis City SC, has vocalized their support for Tulsa in this issue as well.

Tulsa has some posted some pics from preseason that show the field from ground-level, show the entrance and exit, show the clearly visible surrounding fence and stands, etc.

The Minneapolis City SC founder has suggested he may drop some other bits of NPSL stuff from the club's time in the league

Edit: The club has put out an official statement after being formally suspended from the NPSL for the 2024 season and being unable to defend their 2023 title.

Official Statement

It is with great disappointment that we must announce that we will be unable to defend our 2023 NPSL national championship. The attached letter of suspension from the NPSL board of directors cites no specific reason as to why Tulsa Athletic are suspended.

We worked tirelessly and in good faith to reach agreement with the league in recent weeks, but this was the final result. Our lawsuit against the league remains pending.

Although this decision was given to us less than a week prior to the first match of the season, we remain committed to bringing top tier soccer to Tulsa and Athletic Community Field at Hicks Park.

We are sorry that a team of committed players that came to defend a national championship was stripped of this chance by the NPSL board of directors. We expect to announce matches for the summer soon.

We will continue to strive to do what is best for our fans, our players, and our club. Though we do not accept this decision and find it entirely unjust, we remain committed to playing entertaining soccer this summer. Yours in soccer, Sonny Dalesandro, Dr. Thomas Kern, Alfred Mockett

Wonder if it has to do with their beef over their stadium.

If things go south (which I hope not); any chance they go to UPSL or a local league in the area?

“Push it out” is an interesting choice of words.

This is ridiculous. I thought MLS was ran poorly

USLC has team in Tulsa with 5k attendance and growing. Tulsa athletic has been out competed as a business.