MSL Plans ‘Voluntary’ Outdoor Season, Without USSF’s Help
For weeks, the Major Soccer League has heralded its midseason meetings as a launching pad from which it will leap into the future. After two days in Kansas City, it has become apparent the league doesn’t know which way to jump.
Despite declining attendance during the current indoor season, Commissioner Earl Foreman on Tuesday emphasized the league still plans to go ahead with a “voluntary” outdoor schedule this summer.
It is unknown whether the Sockers will play outdoors. Owner Ron Fowler could not be reached for comment.
The surprising piece of information is that the league will arrange its outdoor schedule without cooperation from the United States Soccer Federation.
“Why should we do this in conjunction with the USSF?” Foreman fumed. “Does the USSF have an outdoor league? Does it have any teams?”
His tone contrasted that of a few minutes before, when he described a morning presentation by USSF President Alan Rothenberg.
Rothenberg’s presentation was No. 1 on Tuesday’s agenda. In his news briefing, however, Foreman made no mention of it until questioned by reporters.
“It was delightful,” Foreman said in an upbeat manner while speaking in generalities. “He spent twice as much time meeting with us as originally planned.”
In July, the MSL and USSF strengthened their relationship and announced they would forge an outdoor league, hoping to draw interest to the 1994 World Cup, which will be staged in this country for the first time.
According to sources, however, the MSL has grown wary with the USSF’s effort and has decided to go it alone and become a two-tiered, indoor/outdoor league much the same way the North American Soccer League did before its demise in the early 1980s.
It was originally believed the USSF enticed MSL teams toward outdoor play by dangling its contract with SportsChannel America.
But Foreman made it known that the USSF is not about to share its TV income.
When asked if the USSF planned to support the outdoor venture financially, Foreman curtly replied, “No.” Then he added, “They would if we asked, but we haven’t asked at this point.”
MSL Notes
The league announced it will shorten its indoor schedule next season from the current 52 games to 40, with the season beginning the final weekend in October and ending the final weekend of March. Ed Hale, owner of the Baltimore Blast, said the revised schedule will save the Blast $700,000 because of reduced travel expenses, advertising budgets and arena costs. . . . Leaf Candy has signed a sponsorship deal with the MSL that will run through the end of the 1993-94 season. As part of that sponsorship, goal posts at the Sports Arena will be adorned with PayDay logos. . . . The meetings are going on in conjunction with All-Star Game activities. The game will be held tonight at 5:35 (PST). The Sockers are represented by Coach Ron Newman, midfielder Waad Hirmez, midfielder Brian Quinn, forward Paul Wright, defender Kevin Crow and goalie Victor Nogueira. . . . The draft will be begin at 7 this morning, with the Sockers picking last (eighth) in each of four rounds.
