Anaheim Negotiating for Indoor Soccer Team

The president of the World Indoor Soccer League said Wednesday the second-year league expects to add two teams next month for the 2000 season, and is negotiating with only two cities, Anaheim and San Diego.

The one obstacle facing the unnamed Anaheim ownership group appears to be a lease agreement with the Arrowhead Pond that will provide favorable weekend dates during the summer.

“I think everything is in order for the Anaheim franchise, and we have requested a copy of their lease with the arena,” said Gordon Jago, who is on a four-man membership committee that will recommend new franchise applicants to league owners on Oct. 12. “That’s the key piece now for Anaheim to have a franchise.”

The WISL played with four teams last season and expanded to eight this year, though St. Louis doesn’t become a playing member until next season after its new arena is completed.

WISL teams play 22-game schedules beginning in July with the championship in December. The last indoor soccer team at the Pond, the Splash, last played in 1997 as part of the defunct Continental Indoor Soccer League.