MISL’s Fragile Future Awaits Decision by St. Louis Storm

A decision will be made today which may determine whether St. Louis, Gateway to the West, becomes the end of the road for the MISL.

Milan Mandaric, owner of the St. Louis Storm of the Major Indoor Soccer League, said he will make a decision on whether the financially troubled team stays in the league, this morning at 9 a.m. (PDT).

The fate of the MISL hinges on the decision. If the Storm folds, the league will be down to seven teams and there are reports that the Kansas City Comets and Sockers do not want to continue in a one-division league.

There have been numerous deadlines for the St. Louis decision during the past two weeks, but this one appears definite. The Sockers have announced a press conference for this morning at 10, one hour after Mandaric said he will make his decision.

Mandaric said the Sockers’ press conference will deal with the St. Louis decision. Mandaric would not say what the decision would be, claiming he still had meetings scheduled with potential investors late Sunday night and early this morning, but did conclude, “I think everything will work out OK.”

Socker owner Ron Fowler did not answer phone calls. But sources said that Fowler may have called the press conference to announce that he has had a change of heart and would go forward even with seven teams.

One indication of that came from Baltimore, where league meetings begin today at the Baltimore Sheraton. It was learned that Fowler canceled his reservations, then later reinstated them.

Harry Cooper, owner of the Sports Arena lease, who is expecting requests of arena dates from Fowler, said he feels Fowler “was softening” on his demand for an eight-team league.

It is unknown whether Kansas City would be willing to play in a seven-team league.

Randy Bernstein, Socker vice-president, said he could not provide any news on the team’s situation other than the fact that a press conference has been called for today.