Luis_Rancagua
07-11-2003, 08:37 AM
A-League will keep Storm afloat
Calgary Herald
Thursday, July 10, 2003
With A-League owners prepared to foot the bill for the rest of the soccer season, the orphaned Calgary Storm travelled to Seattle for Wednesday's regularly scheduled game -- and lost 6-0 to the Sounders.
"The owners have decided to finance the Calgary franchise until the end of the current season,'' Tim Holt, head of the A-League branch of the United Soccer Leagues, said Wednesday.
Late last week, when Storm owner Michael Vandale threw in the towel after two seasons and change at the helm and handed the franchise back to the league, USL president Dave Askinas estimated it would take between $80,000 and $100,000 to complete Calgary's second year at the A-League level.
A two-thirds vote of the remaining 18 franchise owners was required to save the franchise. Holt said he was not at liberty to provide the vote breakdown.
The search for an owner or ownership group continues.
"Discussions are ongoing with at least two groups and a couple of other Calgary-area businessmen,'' said Holt.
"There are two ways you can look at trying to find ownership -- short-term and long-term. We're not looking for the first candidate, we're looking for the right candidate. An ownership that will take the team through 2004 and beyond.
"That may take a couple weeks, it may take a couple months.
"Mike did his best, but we need some with more business saavy to take hold of the baton on the next leg of the relay.''
© Copyright 2003 Calgary Herald
Calgary Herald
Thursday, July 10, 2003
With A-League owners prepared to foot the bill for the rest of the soccer season, the orphaned Calgary Storm travelled to Seattle for Wednesday's regularly scheduled game -- and lost 6-0 to the Sounders.
"The owners have decided to finance the Calgary franchise until the end of the current season,'' Tim Holt, head of the A-League branch of the United Soccer Leagues, said Wednesday.
Late last week, when Storm owner Michael Vandale threw in the towel after two seasons and change at the helm and handed the franchise back to the league, USL president Dave Askinas estimated it would take between $80,000 and $100,000 to complete Calgary's second year at the A-League level.
A two-thirds vote of the remaining 18 franchise owners was required to save the franchise. Holt said he was not at liberty to provide the vote breakdown.
The search for an owner or ownership group continues.
"Discussions are ongoing with at least two groups and a couple of other Calgary-area businessmen,'' said Holt.
"There are two ways you can look at trying to find ownership -- short-term and long-term. We're not looking for the first candidate, we're looking for the right candidate. An ownership that will take the team through 2004 and beyond.
"That may take a couple weeks, it may take a couple months.
"Mike did his best, but we need some with more business saavy to take hold of the baton on the next leg of the relay.''
© Copyright 2003 Calgary Herald