The Power of Partnership: NPSL-RL and the Great Lakes Alliance
Building a national league from the ground up takes years. Building one on top of an organization that already serves more than 1,300 teams and 20,000 players creates momentum from day one.
That's the thinking behind the NPSL-RL's strategic partnership with the Great Lakes Alliance (GLA), announced in September 2025. Rather than creating a regional league structure from scratch, the NPSL chose to partner with an organization that had already built the relationships, infrastructure, and competitive framework needed to support long-term growth.
Founded in 2017, the Great Lakes Alliance has grown into one of the country's largest regional soccer networks, serving clubs across Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
As a member of the US Club Soccer National Premier League (NPL) platform and an affiliate of the U.S. Soccer Federation, the GLA already operates with established governance, league operations, and competitive standards. That existing foundation gives the NPSL-RL something many new leagues lack, immediate credibility.
Instead of asking clubs to believe in a vision alone, the partnership builds upon an organization that has already demonstrated success at scale.
The partnership is led by Ed Bernstein, Managing Partner of the Great Lakes Alliance, and Jason Brown, who spent six years building the Ohio Valley Premier League (OVPL) before being named Managing Director of the NPSL-RL.
Together, they bring years of practical experience launching leagues, supporting clubs, and growing regional competition. Their focus isn't simply expanding a brand. It's creating sustainable environments where clubs can thrive for the long term.
As Bernstein explained when announcing the partnership:
"The Great Lakes Alliance and the NPSL share a vision of creating impactful and accessible pathways that connect every level of the game. This collaboration strengthens the amateur pyramid and expands opportunities for players to grow and succeed across the country."
The NPSL-RL was intentionally designed with a two-tier structure.
At the regional level, clubs compete in geographically sensible divisions that reduce travel, strengthen local rivalries, and make participation more sustainable.
At the national level, every regional league operates under the same NPSL-RL identity, standards, and governance while maintaining a direct connection to the NPSL.
This creates a model that is both locally relevant and nationally connected. A structure that can expand into new markets by partnering with strong regional organizations rather than rebuilding infrastructure from the ground up.
The Great Lakes Alliance is the first example of that vision in action.
For clubs evaluating the NPSL-RL, the GLA partnership represents more than a collaboration. It demonstrates that the league is being built on proven leadership and an established competitive network.
Instead of joining an untested startup, clubs become part of a system backed by experienced operators, established regional relationships, and a clear long-term strategy for growth.
As Brown summarized the partnership:
"Together, we can better connect the amateur pyramid, offering players and clubs a clear and meaningful pathway to grow within the game."
In the next article, we'll move from the vision to the practical benefits, breaking down exactly what clubs receive through NPSL-RL membership, from year-round competition and regional scheduling to accessible operating costs and a direct pathway into national competition.