Nice commentary from one of the top execs from Anschultz Entertainment Group (AEG). Confirms they have a major committment to MLS and soccer in general in the U.S. (Loved the one comment: Anschultz is willing to put in $20M for 300 years if that is what it takes.) Also makes mention of 2 new teams soon, with up to 20 eventually in the league (that is a long range goal). Here is the URL: http://foxsports.lycos.com/content/view?contentId=701770
MLS is not suporting the statement by Tim. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/digest.htm Although a board of governors member said Wednesday that Major League Soccer would add two teams in a year, a spokesman said it isn't likely. "We have had exploratory conversation with lots of people and communities, but that's it," MLS' Trey Fitz-Gerald said. He responded to remarks by Tim Leiweke, whose Anschutz Entertainment Group owns six of the 10 teams. Fitz-Gerald says new teams likely wouldn't play until 2004 or '05.
What is the difference between the two statements. AEG - new teams in a year MLS - new teams in 2004/2005 2004 is in a year. Teams would have to start 12 months from now to be ready to go in the 2004 season.
Personal peeve I do not know how it is that there can be so many variants on the man's lastname that is funding over half of MLS, but I hope everyone would start getting it right. It is ANSCHUTZ, not Anschultz or Anshutz as I've seen so many times on here. *Rant over* I guess I'm just sensitive because I also have a German surname that is often misspelled.
Yeah I noticed that too. The two groups need to get together and get their numbers straight. There is already a perception out there that Uncle Phil and company control MLS and misstatements like this only adds to that.
The difference is that MLS NEVER meets any dates it puts out. As I said on another thread, how many more times is the BS community going to get sucked into a "we will announce somthing great in XX days" statement by MLS? Even items that appear to be black and white (Hunt taking over Dallas), take WAAAAAAYYYY longer than MLS anticipated. If MLS is throwing out numbers like 2005, they will be very lucky to hit them based on their previous track record. Andy
Doesn't sound any different from what MLS is saying. Leiweke is saying MLS will announce two teams in a year, which is about when they would have to get started to play in 04. Whether or not it actually happens is another story.
I understand the MLS history. I am just womdering why MLS would come out and say he is wrong and then say just about the same thing!!
I think we need to read between the lines a bit. MLS can not call Tim an idiot for making those statements with nothing to back them up, so the best they can do is to reduce the expectations, which is why the 2005 number was thrown in, because MLS knows they are no where near ready for expansion in the current climate. Andy
Wow, Andy, when did you get so cynical? I expect D.C. and the Metros to have their own stadiums by opening day 2005, joining Columbus and L.A. with SSS. With better lease deals in Colorado, Chicago, and the ownership situations in Foxboro and Kansas City (I don't expect San Jose's or Dallas' lease to improve by 2005, just the attendance), that sets the stage for league-wide profitability and expansion. Forget the exact timing of expansion; take comfort in Tim's undeniable statement of fact: Anschutz is in MLS for the long haul. Period. "Always look on the bright side of life..."
OK... all he said was that there will be an ANNOUNCEMENT in the next 365 days. Not that there will be new teams playing in '03. So they announce 10/10/03 that 2 new teams will be added. They don't give a timetable... MLS says, "No new teams will be playing before 2004 or 2005." Nobody is contradicting each other. AEG is just saying when the announcement will be. MLS is saying when they will take the field. Frankly, the announcements will come sooner since there will have to be deals in place to build the stadiums. With usual construction time 12-24 months, announcements will have to happen soon if there are to be teams by 2004. We know OKC is doing feasibility studies and could decide by the end of the year whether to go ahead... If they start Jan 1, 2003, the stadium probably will not be ready by the 2004 season. So it will be 2005. There is quite a bit of lag time between an announcement being made and the teams taking the field. Especially with the requirement of a SSS. Calm down everyone, its nothing earthshattering. If there is going to be expansion in 2004, there will HAVE to be an announcement coming sometime soon.
"In about 20 years I predict that professional soccer will be the second most popular sport in this country," Leiweke said. "It's going to happen. Someday we will have 20 teams with 20 different owners." That's a bit delusional, if you ask me. I don't doubt that the sport will continue to grow in this country, and I appreciate Tim's exuberance, but to make this prediction sounds an awful lot like the predictions of soccer pundits during the NASL days. I'll be happy enough if the league begins turning a profit soon and survives past 2006.
Trey better watch his behind. My money is on Liewicke taking over the league when Garber goes. I think the two are in sync, just not saying it the same. Tim said announce in 2003, not start playing.
Well...this reminds me of a Paul Gardner column in Soccer America when AEG was announced as the Metro I/O. He made a prediction/speculation about AEG hegemony. Whether they are in sync may not be as important as who is in sync with who? Perhaps it's nothing; Leiweke just doing PR. But to relate Gardner's point, with AEG's exposure, would it really be a surprise if they went out in front of the league to push their agenda-one they may very well differ from the current MLS front office?
Garber said at the Burn's kickoff luncheon in March that that deal would be done in a week. It still hasn't been officially announced and we're midway through October.