truthandlife
17 Jun 2005, 10:39 PM
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3229449
MLS team in Houston on front burner
Club América interested; sports authority, Delmar site part of mix
By DAVID BARRON and BERNARDO FALLAS
Officials with Mexican soccer league champion Club América hope to continue talks in the next two weeks about prospects for a Major League Soccer franchise in Houston that eventually could play in a new stadium developed in conjunction with the Houston Independent School District.
Representatives of the Mexico City club have met several times with city, county and school district officials, most recently last week, to discuss stadium sites.
Club América, which is owned by the Televisa television network, reportedly is interested in acquiring the San Jose Earthquakes from Anschutz Entertainment Group, which also owns the MetroStars and D.C. United.
Juan de Villafranca, who is working with former Club América president Javier Perez-Teuffer on the MLS project, declined to elaborate this week on the group's intentions but said plans are proceeding well.
"We're being cautious," de Villafranca said. "I think it's no secret as to our interest (in Houston). When we have more concrete (plans), we'll discuss it. It will be a matter of one to two weeks."
Luck expects decision soon
Oliver Luck, CEO of the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority, who has been working with Club América and other groups interested in bring MLS to Houston, expects a resolution to Club América's plans by the end of next week.
"By then, we should have a better idea of whether this is going to happen," Luck said. "But even if this push doesn't make it, there will be other folks. There's enough interest out there. If anyone wants to be ready for an April 2006 start, there's a window that is still open. But after the next month or two, it would be hard to launch a team next season."
Luck said several potential investors have met with the sports authority and with the Houston Independent School District about a proposed 20,000-seat stadium plus a smaller practice field to be built at the site of HISD-owned Delmar Stadium.
The proposed HISD stadium, which would cost an estimated $45 million to $50 million, would be a smaller-scale version of a 117-acre, $80 million project that will open this summer in the Dallas suburb of Frisco. That project, which includes a 20,000-seat stadium and 17 soccer fields, was funded by $15 million from the Frisco school district, $20 million from Collin County, $20 million from city economic development entities and $10 million from Hunt Sports Group, which owns FC Dallas and will manage the complex.
Hunt Sports on Wednesday announced a naming rights deal with Pizza Hut, estimated at $35 million for 20 years, to help fund the complex. As part of the agreement, the Frisco ISD has use of the stadium Thursday and Friday nights during the high school football season.
The Hunt group also owns the MLS Kansas City Wizards, who are for sale, and Columbus Crew.
Company president John Wagner said Hunt hopes to sell the Kansas City franchise to local investors. But Andrew Murstein of Medallion Financial Services in New York has offered $15 million and has listed Houston as a potential site should plans fall through for a soccer-specific stadium in suburban Kansas City.
Anschutz Entertainment Group officials did not return phone calls this week regarding the possibility the Earthquakes could be sold to Club América and moved to Houston.
League high on city
MLS commissioner Don Garber was not available for comment this week on MLS plans for Houston, but league spokesman Simon Borg said the city remains a target for expansion.
"It's high on the list, and discussions continue with groups in Houston regarding ownership and stadium plans," Borg said.
Borg said Houston's plans were neither helped nor hindered by the recent collapse of plans to award a franchise to San Antonio. MLS officials this month ended talks with the city and said local officials were not bargaining in good faith. That came after new Mayor Phil Hardberger opposed plans to grant MLS a favorable lease on the city-owned Alamodome.
MLS team in Houston on front burner
Club América interested; sports authority, Delmar site part of mix
By DAVID BARRON and BERNARDO FALLAS
Officials with Mexican soccer league champion Club América hope to continue talks in the next two weeks about prospects for a Major League Soccer franchise in Houston that eventually could play in a new stadium developed in conjunction with the Houston Independent School District.
Representatives of the Mexico City club have met several times with city, county and school district officials, most recently last week, to discuss stadium sites.
Club América, which is owned by the Televisa television network, reportedly is interested in acquiring the San Jose Earthquakes from Anschutz Entertainment Group, which also owns the MetroStars and D.C. United.
Juan de Villafranca, who is working with former Club América president Javier Perez-Teuffer on the MLS project, declined to elaborate this week on the group's intentions but said plans are proceeding well.
"We're being cautious," de Villafranca said. "I think it's no secret as to our interest (in Houston). When we have more concrete (plans), we'll discuss it. It will be a matter of one to two weeks."
Luck expects decision soon
Oliver Luck, CEO of the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority, who has been working with Club América and other groups interested in bring MLS to Houston, expects a resolution to Club América's plans by the end of next week.
"By then, we should have a better idea of whether this is going to happen," Luck said. "But even if this push doesn't make it, there will be other folks. There's enough interest out there. If anyone wants to be ready for an April 2006 start, there's a window that is still open. But after the next month or two, it would be hard to launch a team next season."
Luck said several potential investors have met with the sports authority and with the Houston Independent School District about a proposed 20,000-seat stadium plus a smaller practice field to be built at the site of HISD-owned Delmar Stadium.
The proposed HISD stadium, which would cost an estimated $45 million to $50 million, would be a smaller-scale version of a 117-acre, $80 million project that will open this summer in the Dallas suburb of Frisco. That project, which includes a 20,000-seat stadium and 17 soccer fields, was funded by $15 million from the Frisco school district, $20 million from Collin County, $20 million from city economic development entities and $10 million from Hunt Sports Group, which owns FC Dallas and will manage the complex.
Hunt Sports on Wednesday announced a naming rights deal with Pizza Hut, estimated at $35 million for 20 years, to help fund the complex. As part of the agreement, the Frisco ISD has use of the stadium Thursday and Friday nights during the high school football season.
The Hunt group also owns the MLS Kansas City Wizards, who are for sale, and Columbus Crew.
Company president John Wagner said Hunt hopes to sell the Kansas City franchise to local investors. But Andrew Murstein of Medallion Financial Services in New York has offered $15 million and has listed Houston as a potential site should plans fall through for a soccer-specific stadium in suburban Kansas City.
Anschutz Entertainment Group officials did not return phone calls this week regarding the possibility the Earthquakes could be sold to Club América and moved to Houston.
League high on city
MLS commissioner Don Garber was not available for comment this week on MLS plans for Houston, but league spokesman Simon Borg said the city remains a target for expansion.
"It's high on the list, and discussions continue with groups in Houston regarding ownership and stadium plans," Borg said.
Borg said Houston's plans were neither helped nor hindered by the recent collapse of plans to award a franchise to San Antonio. MLS officials this month ended talks with the city and said local officials were not bargaining in good faith. That came after new Mayor Phil Hardberger opposed plans to grant MLS a favorable lease on the city-owned Alamodome.