Indoor Soccer Deal Likely Delayed

A shortage of desired game dates may force the owners of the Zodiac to delay plans to return indoor soccer to the Arrowhead Pond.

“Right now, we’re looking at next year,” Zodiac President Richard Brown said Monday.

The Zodiac has negotiated the financial terms of a three-year agreement with the Pond, starting this summer. However, of the 18 dates the Pond has offered, only one is a weekend date, Brown said.

“That’s suicidal,” Brown said. “You can’t jump into this without weekend dates.”

The World Indoor Soccer League so covets an Anaheim franchise that the league repeatedly extended a Dec. 1 application deadline to accommodate discussions between the Zodiac and the Pond. The WISL hopes to complete its 1999 schedule this month, Brown said.

The Zodiac may not wish to gamble that additional weekend dates become available at the arena after concert promoters release reserved dates and the NHL determines its schedule for the 1999-2000 season. The WISL season extends into November, overlapping the start of the Mighty Duck season.

“That’s a real tough time period for us,” Pond assistant general manager Mike O’Donnell said.

If the Zodiac cannot resolve the issue soon, Brown said the team may apply to join the WISL for the 2000 season, providing a yearlong head start in reserving arena dates.

“We would love to have indoor soccer here,” O’Donnell said. “If it doesn’t work this year, we’ll start talks for future seasons.”