The group's president, Bob Lemieux (later AISA commissioner), announced that Kalamazoo, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Springfield, Illinois, were on board in what was he said was intended to be a sort of farm system, or developmental league, for the well established Major Indoor Soccer League.

[1] Officially starting on April 18, 1984, the American Indoor Soccer Association's charter franchises were Chicago, Milwaukee, Kalamazoo and Fort Wayne;[2] however, a Fort Wayne team did not materialize until the league's third season.

Three other teams, Louisville, Canton and Columbus, all joined the league before the first season began in November 1984.

[3] Over its 17 seasons, a total of 30 franchises in 32 cities were part of the league at one time or another.

Several NPSL teams had become and merged with the NISL, MASL, and XSL, and the WISL