The league will cover many of the major markets in the U.S. and Canada and expand in 2012. The North American League will be second to Major League Baseball in terms of the number of teams and geographies. The existing leagues will keep their names and their business activities and will now adhere to a consistant set of league rules and by-laws. The league will have 16 - 20 teams in the U.S. and Canada in 2011.
Illinois teams from the Northern League who will be currently joining forces with the North American League are the Joliet JackHammers, Lake County Fielders, Rockford Riverhawks and the Schaumburg Flyers.
