Pro soccer may return to Edmonton...

[François]

Pro soccer may return to city.
Edmonton group looking to bring in A-League team.

Dan Barnes
The Edmonton Journal


Friday, February 14, 2003



With eyes open and mouths closed, an Edmonton ownership group is on the verge of jumping back into the business of professional outdoor soccer.

Details are sketchy, but months of negotiations between the secretive group and the United Soccer Leagues, a Tampa, Florida-based organization that administers the 19-team A-League, could pay off with the awarding of an A-League expansion franchise for the 2004 season.

"I'm optimistic. The proposal we received is rock-solid," said Dave Askinas, USL chief operating officer. "It's just a matter of making sure everyone is OK with what's going on. Hopefully within the next 30 days or so we'll have a definitive answer. There are things happening but nothing we can go public with yet."

He wouldn't name the prospective owners. However, he was enthusiastic about their chances for success in Edmonton.

"I have been to Edmonton. We've done a lot of research into Edmonton. What we have found is there is a significant support and a sophisticated support for soccer there. People there have a very good knowledge of the game. I talked to many people there. I have talked to players who played there. I have researched many Web sites. People there know their soccer and they know good soccer."

They also know bad soccer. And they know that the outdoor Drillers and the Brick Men tried and failed to capture a large enough loyal following to make a go of it here. However, Askinas said the sad fate of those teams rested in part on the state of their leagues and he would have us believe that the A-League is far more stable than its predecessors.

"A number of those failures may be at least partly attributed to the leagues they were playing in and the stability and the travel burden," said Askinas. "We are conscious of trying to play regional schedules."

The A-League already has franchises in Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and Toronto. If the Canadian contingent swells to six, the A-League is likely to establish an all-Canadian division and those teams would play most of their games among themselves.

This plan has been endorsed by Canadian Soccer Association president Andy Sharpe, who has spoken to Askinas many times on the topic of expansion.

"While we are pleased to have four A-League clubs in Canada, it is imperative that we expand A-League presence in our country in the near future," said Sharpe in a recent statement.

"It is our objective now to see at least six Canadian clubs by 2005 as a minimum target."

"Already we are aware of one serious application that has been made to the A-League with at least two to three other groups in consultation with the USL."

The serious application came from Edmonton, complete with a refundable deposit. So nobody is on the hook financially just yet. But sources said the group is serious and all signs indicate the franchise will be launched in 2004.

The Edmonton Minor Soccer Association has been asked by a member of the group to deliver thousands of season-ticket buyers -- at the reasonable price of $15 apiece for what could be an 18-game schedule -- and they are still trying to work out the best way to reach their 15,000 players and how the association can get the best return for its efforts. The team would apparently play at Commonwealth Stadium, which Askinas toured as part of his Edmonton visit last fall.

"It's a nice big facility. It's a good place for soccer. I like the way the stadium is set up. It provides amenities the fans are looking for."

He acknowledged the obvious, that the 60,000-seat stadium is too big for A-League crowds, which must average 5,000 if a team plans on operating successfully. But he said the Seattle franchise will play in that city's NFL stadium this year and the team will close off the top levels. He inferred that would be the case in Edmonton, in part because Foote Field did not meet with his approval. "It is not up to our standards," he said.

Whether or not Edmonton is up to another round of pro soccer is now open to debate. There is

little doubt that this city shows up for the big soccer event. When Brazil comes to Commonwealth, 50,000-plus show up. When the under-19 women capture Canadian hearts, more than 45,000 show up.

"Definitely, the women's championships opened a lot of people's eyes, but on the other hand we

realize that's an event involving national teams, national pride," said Askinas.

That kind of emotional outpouring can't be resurrected weekly. We'll find out soon enough if the same can be said for pro soccer in this city.''

dbarnes@thejournal.canwest.com


http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmonton ... E811F2CEDF

[Sigma]

Hopefully we can next get a team in Ottawa.

[François]

Hopefully we can next get a team in Ottawa.

Tha t would be great. We could then travel to Ottawa twice year. The team could play out of Frank Clair Stadium...I hope it happens.