From: MLINDROOS@finabo.abo.fi (Marcus Lindroos INF)
Subject: Rothenberg's new US pro soccer plans
Organization: Abo Akademi University, Finland
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 12:15:54 GMT
X-News-Reader: VMS NEWS 1.23

While adding some finishing touches to my business plan for a US pro league 
(to be released next Monday - I promise!), an article in INTERNATIONAL HERALD
TRIBUNE caught my eye. Apparently USA'94 main man Alan Rothenberg is working on
a similar thing! I decided to start a bit early by posting Mr Rothenberg's
thoughts on the subject.
----
In brief, the "Rothenberg Plan" calls for a league owned by by the 12 to 14 US
corporations that will already have invested a minimum $7 million each in the 
1994 World Cup. The sponsors will NOT own individual franchise, rather, they
will pool their resources and run the entire league, hiring employees to work
for each team. No other North American sports league has tried this approach
before. Rothenberg now says he will "float" his idea among the USA'94 sponsors
in 1993 and try to get some support for his plan. He hasn't decided whether
he will seek re-election after 1994, but says it is "unlikely" that he will
continue for another four years. "If something were to happen to me,"
Rothenberg says, "the pro league is one thing that might be held back as a
consequence. But a pro league is going to happen in this country whether it's
in two years or twenty years. It's  inevitable. The sport is growing so much in
this country that it is bound to happen." The author of the TIHT feature
also echoed the common belief that Rothenberg is the only truly outstanding 
official working for soccer in the States, and that he would be crucial after
1994 as well. 

Also:

-The league will have 8-12 teams, focusing on the nine World Cup'94 venues
 (NY, LA, SF, Chicago, Detroit, Boston, Washington DC, Dallas, Orlando),
 apparently with no Canadian teams invited. The franchises will play in major
 50000-or-more-seats stadiums.
-Naturally, this will be a summer league, avoiding conflicts with all major
 sports except baseball.
-Mostly American players will be used, although several foreign stars will
 be signed as well. 
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Comments? Well, I'd say the corporate ownership idea is an interesting one, but
probably won't work. Face it, faceless companies are only concerned about
making money and no new sports league (particularly in soccer) is profitable
in the first five years of operation. No other US sport actively promotes this
kind of ownership as they believe that "corporate brains" are unable to hire
and control a sports franchise (example, the NBA NY Knicks and NHL NY Rangers -
both owned by Gulf & Western).
---
As to the number of teams involved, I can't see how Rothenberg can have fewer
than 18 teams (or 15 in an US-only league). 
The nine USA'94 venues are a good start as they represent the largest
communities across the entire US and all (except Detroit) have decent 
stadiums. Well, Tampa Bay should take Orlando's place. This is what we have:
                                          
NORTHEAST     MIDWEST      SOUTH              PACIFIC   
Boston        Chicago      Dallas             Los Angeles
New York      Detroit      Tampa Bay          San Francisco
Washington

The list if far from being complete, however. PHILADELPHIA as the nation's 4th
largest media market and MIAMI, having supported pro soccer since 1972 and
possessing two APSL teams and an excellent stadium, must be included. 
MINNESOTA's NASL team  had the second-highest all-time average attendances 
trailing only the Cosmos so they should be in as well. On the Pacific coast,
there's SEATTLE and PORTLAND as old NASL boom towns. SAN DIEGO as California's 
third team is a "must" if the league wants to use local players (40% of all
players on the 1992 Olympic team were Californians), proximity to Mexico and an
excellent stadium are an additional plus. And let's not forget Canada,
VANCOUVER, MONTREAL and TORONTO will supply their own local players and have as
loyal fans as any city in America. To summarize:

NORTHEAST     MIDWEST     SOUTH               PACIFIC       CANADA
Philadelphia  Minnesota   Miami/Ft.Lauderdale Seattle       Vancouver 
                                              Portland      Toronto
                                              San Diego     Montreal

---
Finding enough players could be a problem, though.


MARCU$

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. . . Fififinlandssvensk
     
Marcus Lindroos                             Internet:     mlindroos@abo.fi
Computer Science
Abo Akademi University
Finland