Galaxy Executive Del Prado to Take Post With Dodgers

Sergio del Prado, the Galaxy’s vice president of business operations, will step down from the position next week to accept a post with the Dodgers.

Del Prado, who was unavailable for comment Thursday, joined the Major League Soccer team 15 months ago after two years as a senior vice president with the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup Organizing Committee. Before that, he had spent three years as director of marketing for the Kings.

A native of Havana, Del Prado was the Galaxy’s general manager for the 1999 season, but the position was eliminated this year when Coach Sigi Schmid assumed the additional title of vice president of soccer operations.

The timing of the move--in midseason for the Galaxy and the Dodgers--is somewhat unusual. It also comes at a time when the Galaxy is heavily involved in plans to build a 30,000-seat stadium on the Cal State Dominguez Hills campus in Carson.

Contacted Thursday evening, Schmid said he had no idea why Del Prado is leaving.

“I don’t know,” he said. “That’s really a question you’ve got to ask Sergio and Tim [Leiweke, the Galaxy’s president].”

There was some thought, however, that Del Prado’s limited soccer background, combined with the opportunity to move into baseball, contributed to his cross-town move.

Exactly what position Del Prado will assume with the Dodgers is not known, but it likely will involve marketing and sponsorship, his specialties for the past five years.

There was no word about a possible successor. The Galaxy is expected to formally announce Del Prado’s departure next week.

Schmid said team owner Phil Anschutz and Leiweke would decide on a replacement.

“For sure, it’s got to be somebody who has familiarity with the Los Angeles marketplace,” he said. “The number one priority is to bring someone in who has talent in terms of being able to market and bring the product to the people and get people out to the stadium. You can teach them a little bit about soccer.”

The Galaxy is averaging an MLS-high 21,243 fans a game, but the recent expensive acquisition of Mexican striker Luis Hernandez has caused management to believe that attendance should be even higher.

Hernandez attracted a season-high 40,303 for his first game on May 20, but subsequent games at the Rose Bowl have drawn only 17,831 and 16,876.

Those figures, too, might have contributed to Del Prado’s decision to leave.