Peter Wilt: Deal with ESPN 'adds credibility' to NASL

On Wednesday, the North American Soccer League found out it's going to lose one of its top franchises with the announcement Minnesota United FC will leave the league to join Major League Soccer as an expansion team in 2018.

Minneapolis is the second NASL city to land an MLS franchise, with Atlanta poised to join the league in 2017.

But while teams are moving on, the NASL announced some better news Thursday with a new webcasting agreement with ESPN. A minimum of 120 games will be carried live on ESPN3, ESPN Play and ESPN Player in 75 different countries.

"Working with ESPN, the Worldwide Leader in Sports, is going to be of great benefit to our fans," NASL Commissioner Bill Peterson said in a press release. "We have quickly developed a great relationship with ESPN, and we're glad to be a part of their live coverage."

The Indy Eleven's home games will be televised locally on WISH-8, but 15 home games will also be streamed live on ESPN3. In all, 29 of the team's 30 games will be available online.

Indy Eleven president Peter Wilt says the added exposure is important because it will allow fans to not only watch Eleven games, but also other teams in the leagues and gain "a better sense of context."

"Having a vast majority of games available helps in two ways: the brand of ESPN certainly adds credibility to the league, but also the exposure of the games will make more people aware of the league and the quality of the league," Wilt said. "That can only be a benefit as the league looks to expand nationwide."

Last season, fans would gather at local bars for watch parties of away games, but the quality and reliability of those online streams weren't always good. Now with ESPN3, that figures to no longer be an issue.

"Over the last few years, we've continued to elevate our broadcast capabilities, and this year is no different," Peterson said. "Our evolving relationship with ESPN is helping us move closer to more advanced discussions about live event coverage in the future."

The Eleven open its second season April 4 in Atlanta. Indy's first home game is April 11 against the New York Cosmos.