This became official Saturday, when the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors provisionally sanctioned the NASL at U.S. Soccer's Annual General Meeting in Las Vegas.

The provisional sanctioning allows the NASL to operate a Division 2 league for the 2011 season.

However, the NASL will need to meet certain requirements defined by the board to be granted full sanctioning beyond the 2011 season.

It's the final green light needed for the RailHawks to operate next season.

It's also the final step in a busy offseason filled with uncertainty.

The RailHawks were sold to new majority owners Traffic Sports USA, a move which will be formally announced today, after previous owners Selby and Brian Wellman dissolved the team.

The Wellmans also put the team trademark up for sale on eBay, a bid that Traffic Sports won.

Even though the NASL had set aside its schedule for 2011, the league's future was unclear before the approval.

"Division 2 soccer is an important element in the success and popularity of the sport in the United States, and we are pleased the NASL will play professional games in its markets this season," said U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati in a statement.

The RailHawks have about a month and a half to assemble next year's roster and sell tickets before the season opener on April 9.

"We are committed to building a new second division which will develop markets, players, coaches, referees, executives and administrators and give soccer fans throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico a league and teams to be proud of," Traffic Sports president and NASL CEO Aaron Davidson said in a statement.