Los Angeles Sol of WPS to fold
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Goodbye Sol. We hardly knew ya. After attending most of the home games at the Home Depot Center, and watching some great soccer, it is with huge sadness we learn that the Los Angeles Sol folded today. The notice comes after one season, despite the star power of FIFA world player of the year Marta and a successful campaign that ended in the championship game.
Women’s Professional Soccer announced the termination of the franchise and the dispersal of the team’s 19 players via a draft Thursday to other teams. This is going to have have a big impact in the league, as top players such as Marta, Aya Miyama, Shannon Boxx and Karina LeBlanc will be scattered throughout the league. The team participated in the recent WPS draft – picking up Casey Nogueira and Nikke Washington – and was lining up some European stars to play for the franchise, although national team veteran Aly Wagner recently announced her retirement.
The dispersal draft will have expansion franchises Atlanta and Philadelphia holding the first two selections. Both teams will begin play in April, giving the league eight teams and a balanced schedule.
The league operated the Sol for the last couple of months after one of its two original ownership groups pulled out in mid-year, leaving Galaxy owners Anschutz Entertainment Group in charge until the end of last season when they, too, pulled out. The Sol lost as much as $2 million last year, despite leading the league in attendance, WPS officials said.
The Sol had suspended season ticket sales while it was operated by the league.
Coach Abner Rogers was fired via e-mail two days before Christmas and General Manager Charlie Naimo took over in that post.
Apparently, the league had attempted to sell the team, but those negotiations fell through.
“We’ve been in several weeks of negotiations with an ownership group and unfortunately it fell through at the last minute,” league commissioner Tonya Antonucci told The Associated Press. “In terms of the viability of Los Angeles as a WPS market, we don’t think that’s in question. Suspending operations doesn’t mean we won’t be trying to find new ownership for 2011.”
The Sol drew a crowd of 14,832 to their opener last season, and ended up averaging more than 6,200 fans for home games at Home Depot Center. They finished the regular season 12-3-5, the best record in the league, before losing 1-0 to Sky Blue FC in the championship game.
What does this mean for the WPS? Does the Sol’s demise mean the end of the league? Do we hear echos of the now defunct WUSA?
Though the profitability of one team shouldn’t affect the profitability of any other, it’s never good to have a team shut down. Apparently every team in the league lost money last season, some more than others. Everyone knew that starting a league in the midst of a major economic downturn was going to be tough. The upcoming season will be pivotal for the league.
League officials note that this season will see two new expansion teams (the Philadelphia Independence and Atlanta Beat), a longer regular season with more home games for each team, increased sponsorship and a reformatted All-Star Game that will take place in mid-season rather than at the end of it.
Still, the end of a franchise in one of the nation’s two largest markets is a bummer – especially since it was my home team. Were there things the Sol could have done better out of the gate? For sure. But they consistently delivered great soccer to appreciative fans and their base was growing. It’s too bad the corporate powers gave up on the them before they really had a chance to prove themselves.
Condolences to LA fans. Let’s hope there are some exhibition games that will be played in LA this year and a chance to see more of our fave players.
View Original Post at prettytough.com
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AnnGaff
I am so bummed about this! I was really looking forward to this season. And I always saw so many families with young girls there having a great time. What a shame.
Friday, January 29, 2010 at 2:23pm EST