New San Diego and Tacoma Groups Get MISL Franchises

The Major Indoor Soccer League’s board of directors granted new franchises for San Diego and Tacoma, Wash., Thursday, essentially approving new ownership groups for teams that had been in those cities.

The San Diego franchise was acquired out of bankruptcy court on July 29 by managing general partner Ron Fowler after the team filed for protection under Chapter 11 of federal bankruptcy laws on April 25. The team went on to win its fourth MISL title in five years, sweeping the Cleveland Force in four games.

The new Tacoma team was granted to a group of 28 local investors, including former Tacoma Stars coach Alan Hinton and headed by local attorney Jim Manza. The former team, under president John Best, folded on July 8, citing heavy operating losses in the team’s three years of existence.

The formal addition of the two clubs gives the MISL seven teams for the 1988-89 season. The others are the Lazers, Baltimore, Dallas, Kansas City and Wichita, Kan.