Arizona Buyer Rescues Splash Franchise
More than two months after the Splash was supposed to put up or shut down, the team is open for business--again.
The Continental Indoor Soccer League board of governors is expected to ratify the transfer of ownership rights to Arizona businessman Bill Williams, paving the way for the team’s third season at the Pond.
Williams said he’s hopeful of having a 10-year lease to play at the Pond by Wednesday, and a front-office staff within 10 days.
“I expect this agreement will be done in full and we’ll be pushing on toward a season by the end of this week,” Williams said.
League commissioner Ron Weinstein said he thinks the board vote is merely a formality. The board had an original Jan. 15 deadline for each franchise to post a $200,000 letter of credit, but extended the deadline for the Splash in hopes a partner or buyer could be found for Ogden Facility Management Corp., which owned the franchise.
Williams, 42, has saved the league from a fair amount of embarrassment. Had he not bought into the franchise, the CISL might have lost one of its most successful teams.
“We think it’s an incredible market,” Williams said. “Soccer in Southern California is fantastic. Frankly, I like what [Ogden] did with the team as far as marketing to this point, and we’re going to pick up where they left off.”
Williams is chief executive officer of American Nortel Communications Corp. in Scottsdale, Ariz. Although the financial structure of ownership has not been determined, Williams said the company will have an interest in the franchise.
Williams is purchasing the Anaheim franchise at a time when the Arizona franchise is also seeking ownership.
“First, I like the market, and second, I like the Pond,” he said. “It’s a fantastic venue. We think there is some real upside to that Southern California market and we like what we can see as far as numbers and participation in Southern California. That’s not to say that wouldn’t be available in Phoenix, but we like what we see in Southern California.”
The league’s operations department on Monday was working on a schedule that includes Anaheim. The season begins June 14.
Williams and Splash Coach George Fernandez spoke briefly by phone on Monday and plan to talk at length this week. Williams said Fernandez was “near the top” of his list of preferred head coaches.
“The continuity of the team is important,” Williams said. “George has some logistics [living in Cincinnati and playing for the National Professional Soccer League] we would need to work through, but quite frankly, there are some excellent coaches out there, and we need to talk to several of them and get a feel for what’s out there.”
Under Fernandez, the 1994 coach of the year, the Splash won two division titles and reached the league semifinals.
“I’m anxious to talk to him, see what’s on his mind, what his plans are--if I’m in them or not,” Fernandez said. “I’ve heard he’s been talking to other coaches and upper management people. I’m sure he’s trying to get some background on who are the viable people for these jobs.”
Williams said determining the coach wasn’t his first priority.
“We have a lot of season-ticket holders and sponsors we have to get lined up with,” he said.
