Return of Indoor Soccer Discussed
The owners of the Zodiac are negotiating to return indoor soccer to the Arrowhead Pond, a move that could provide year-round soccer in Orange County for fans and players.
The Zodiac, the top minor-league affiliate of the Galaxy, plays a spring/summer schedule at Santa Ana Stadium. The indoor team, likely to be known as the Splash, would play a summer/fall schedule at the Pond, pending completion of negotiations with Pond officials.
Said Zodiac President Richard Brown: “Are we close to making a decision? Yes. Does it look pretty positive? Yes.”
The Premier Soccer Alliance, planning to add four teams for the 1999 season, extended its Dec. 1 application deadline so that Zodiac and Pond officials could continue talks.
“We would certainly put Anaheim ahead of some other cities,” league president Gordon Jago said. “We would be very pleased if we could bring Anaheim back into the fold.”
The Splash played in the Pond from 1994-97, in the now-defunct Continental Indoor Soccer Assn. The Premier Soccer Alliance made its debut this year, with teams in Dallas, Phoenix, Portland and Sacramento.
In addition to increasing efficiency--running two teams with one business staff--the Zodiac could offer indoor and outdoor jobs to players who would not have to move. According to Brown, several Zodiac players left Orange County reluctantly after the season to accept indoor jobs elsewhere.
“Our players are extremely excited about the concept,” Brown said.
The Splash nickname could be revived for the indoor team and, Brown said, could possibly replace “Zodiac” as the nickname for the outdoor team. Disney owns the rights to the name “Splash” after the 1984 movie. The company has indicated a willingness to approve, according to Brown.
