Anschutz Unloads the Rapids
Philip Anschutz reduced his ownership of Major League Soccer teams by one Tuesday by selling the Colorado Rapids to Stan Kroenke, whose company has promised to build a soccer-specific stadium in the Denver area.
Anschutz, a Denver billionaire who owns the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and Staples Center, among other entities, still owns five of the 10 teams in the MLS, among them the Galaxy, and the Home Depot Center.
Kroenke also has deep roots in Denver.
Kroenke Sports Enterprises owns the NBA’s Denver Nuggets and the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche. Financial terms of the MLS deal weren’t disclosed; Anschutz paid $26 million for the Galaxy in 1998.
“It’s really just step one,” KSE Executive Vice President David Ehrlich said at a news conference in Denver.
“The most important things are coming.”
Ehrlich said that KSE planned to build a stadium to be ready for the 2006 season. That would make the Rapids the fourth MLS team with its own facility, joining the Galaxy, Columbus Crew and Dallas Burn, which is scheduled to open its stadium in Frisco, Texas, in 2005.
Besides the Galaxy, Anschutz Entertainment Group owns the Chicago Fire, New York/New Jersey MetroStars, San Jose Earthquakes and D.C. United.
AEG already is set to build a stadium for the MetroStars in Harrison, N.J., to open in 2006, and is planning facilities in Chicago and Washington.
Del Piero Out
Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero probably will sit out until early November because of an injured left calf.
Del Piero, a mainstay for Italy’s national team, was injured Sunday in a game against AS Roma.
If the timetable holds, Del Piero will sit out at least seven Italian league matches, Italy’s Euro 2004 qualifier against Azerbaijan on Oct. 11, and Champions League matches on Sept. 30 and Oct. 21.
Argentina Resumes
Professional soccer will be resumed in Argentina this week after a three-week suspension.
Fan violence at a game Aug. 31, involving Boca Juniors and Chacarita, had prompted judge Mariano Berges to rule that police could no longer provide security at games, and that without such security the games could not be played.
Berges reversed his decision after meeting with officials from the Argentine Football Assn. and player unions.
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Cup, Europe’s less prestigious club tournament compared with the Champions League, kicks off today with 48 games and some familiar teams competing for the title.
Among the key games in the opening-round home-and-home series are: NAC Breda (Netherlands) at Newcastle (England); FK Vardar (Macedonia) at AS Roma (Italy); Barcelona (Spain) at SKM Puchov (Slovakia); Borussia Dortmund (Germany) at FK Austria Vienna; Valencia (Spain) at AK Solna (Sweden); and NK Olimpija (Slovenia) at Liverpool (England).
Quick Passes
Newcastle striker Alan Shearer extended his contract with the club through 2005, after which he plans to retire.... Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer underwent knee surgery, the club saying it was uncertain how long he would sit out.... The McDonald’s 24-hour youth tournament, featuring U.S. national team players Landon Donovan and Lorrie Fair as hosts, will be held this weekend at Home Depot Center. Details: (877) 343-2244.
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Times wire services contributed to this report.
