WORLD CUP USA 1994 : New League Gets Sponsors to Supply Balls, Uniforms : Soccer: Rothenberg, hoping to raise $100 million, says more announcements will come in the next six weeks.
Working quickly to capitalize on World Cup enthusiasm, organizers of the proposed new professional soccer league on Thursday announced its first two sponsors--a company that will provide the soccer balls and another that will provide uniforms for half the league’s teams.
Speaking to potential sponsors at a private club in Pasadena, World Cup ’94 chairman Alan Rothenberg detailed what he said was the unprecedented success of the World Cup and suggested that the increased public interest in soccer would act as a springboard for the new league, which he also heads.
Major League Soccer is expected to begin play next April.
Rothenberg said he hoped to raise up to $100 million, but the league has not announced major sponsors or investors. Rothenberg said such announcements would come in the next six weeks.
Still, even the appearance of two players from the U.S. World Cup team, offering their support to MLS, did little to quell rumors that the league will have to postpone its start-up for at least a year.
Both Alexi Lalas and Marcelo Balboa were careful to qualify their remarks, saying they are in favor of a first-division pro soccer league in the United States but making no pledge to join it.
“Of course, we want American soccer to succeed,” Lalas said. “But we are professional athletes, and we have to make a living. There are good opportunities overseas.”
Both players are said to be considering jobs in leagues abroad, Lalas with Newcastle United in the English league and Balboa in the Mexican league.
Even though MLS is projected to have teams in 12 cities, only seven have been named. The uniform sponsorship announced Thursday covers only six of the league’s teams. The other half of the league, Rothenberg said, would be outfitted in another brand of uniform.
