Friday, May 28, 2010
The Athletica women’s professional soccer team went out of business on Thursday while the AC St. Louis men’s team remains afloat seeking funds to keep it going this season.
English brothers Heemal and Sanjeev Vaid, the money men behind both teams, abruptly yanked their backing in recent weeks although contracted to fund the clubs through the 2011 season. AC, which had to post a $400,000 performance bond with the U.S. Soccer Federation for this season, has been allowed to use money from the bond to meet player payroll. However, Women’s Professional Soccer teams do not post performance bonds, so there was no bond money to keep the Athletica going, even though WPS stated earlier this week that there was a possibility that the league would operate the team for the rest of the season. The Athletica’s next payday was this week.
Athletica players were told Thursday that will be on their own as free agents effective June 1, unlike what happened to those on the roster of the Los Angeles Sol when that franchise folded in the off-season. WPS held a dispersal draft of Sol players.
Although the Athletica players are under contract until June 1, they will not play their scheduled match in Atlanta Saturday. For all intents and purposes, the franchise died Thursday.
“It’s incredibly difficult to lose a team in mid-season like this,” said WPS Commissioner Tonya Antonucci. “We looked at a few options as a league together with our Board and U.S. Soccer (Federation), but the operational hurdles and finances just didn’t work out. In the face of a severe funding gap in St. Louis, the local ownership group is shutting down the team at this point.”
WPS tried to put a positive face on the collapse of the Athletica by saying the league still has seven teams, the same number with which it started its initial season in 2009. But there are reports that two franchises, league-leading FC Gold Pride and the Chicago Red Stars, also face financial issues.
Local attorney Jeff Cooper, who led the effort to start Athletica and AC, released a long statement Thursday afternoon:
“The termination of Saint Louis Athletica is a painful outcome from the funding shortfalls and ultimate default by the investors who had the obligation to fund and operate the team on a day-to-day basis. I’ve given this matter my complete attention since returning to a more active role in the last few weeks, and numerous parties have spent a lot of hours during that time exploring what options or solutions might be available.
"Despite best efforts, nothing was found that would answer the immediate needs of the franchise. With more time, it is possible the answer to the financial challenges Athletica faced would have been met, but unfortunately we do not have the benefit of extra time. The investors who defaulted on a contract to fund Athletica through this season and beyond broke a promise to a league, team, players and a community, and that is what is most troubling about today’s development.
"I am grateful for everyone’s support of Athletica and am particularly appreciative of our players who represented the sport and our community with such class and spirit.
“Despite the disappointing outcome with Saint Louis Athletica, we continue to work hard on securing the long-term future of AC St. Louis.”
The Athletica, a charter member of WPS, had a 2-1-3 record, good for nine points and fifth place. Eniola Aluko is the league’s leading scorer with four goals. She is one of a number of highly regarded players on the Athletica’s roster, including St. Louisan Lori Chalupny, past captain of the U.S. National Team; present U.S. captain Shannon Boxx; and National Team goalkeeper Hope Solo.
The league said that St. Louis’ games would count in the standings and that a revised schedule would be released next week. Athletica players will be eligible for the WPS All-Star Game if they find another WPS employer by June 11.
The WPS did not specify if salary caps would be increased so its remaining teams could take on additional salary should they pick up Athletica players.
There was no word on possible refunds to Athletica season-ticket holders. The team still had eight home matches remaining. The Athletica also had set up youth clinics this summer; nothing had been released as of Thursday afternoon regarding the status of those clinics or money that had been paid by anyone already signed up.
Comments
ganoshome (anonymous) says...
What a sad story. It is a shame St louis claims to be such a great soccer town but when given the chance to support a great bunch of athletes, it shows it would rather support a bunch of professional gimmie money ball players than true lovers of the sport like the players on Athletica. Shame on you.
May 27, 2010 at 3:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
teaparty_conservative (anonymous) says...
I have been to every home AC St. Louis home game this season, and I just went to my first and now last St. Louis Athletica game. It is a shame that they couldn't have found a way to keep the women's team operational until they found a buyer for them. This is definitely a sad story to read.
May 27, 2010 at 4:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Rootbeer (anonymous) says...
The previous league (WUSA) folded in a good economy and with teams stocked with World Cup heroes. St. Louis joined the new league (WPS) in a bad economy with little media exposure and a coach who doesn't speak English. Where was Inbev(AB)?
May 27, 2010 at 4:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ganoshome (anonymous) says...
Inbev is in Belgium, we lost all our local team support when the company was sold. The new owners created a lot of debt when they bought the company. They had to pay it off, local support is one of the casualities. I hear they are even considering charging for brewery tours.
But you know thats not the big problem. Thousands of kids play soccer in the metropolitan area and have for 40 or 50 years. Where is their support??? This could have been made to work if the fans support would have been there. Soccer in St Louis is still controlled by a clique of this is the way we have always done it and this is the way we will do it and until that changes anything above the youth soccer level will never succede in the St Louis area.
May 27, 2010 at 7:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
flyoverland (anonymous) says...
Soccer. something St. Louisans like to play...but not to pay
May 28, 2010 at 7:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
teaparty_conservative (anonymous) says...
AC St. Louis "The mens team for those of you who might not know" has pretty decent crowds of about 4-5k a game. I will admit if advertising were a lot better more people would probably attend these games, but for the most part the crowds are pretty comparable to the Gateway Grizzlies or the River City Rascals.
May 28, 2010 at 7:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KWOOD (anonymous) says...
The Steamers packed them in for years. Woman's sports have always had a rough road in any sport. We will see how AC turns out. They are on the edge as well.
Your biggest backer pulls out you are in trouble. Not sure why anyone would want to own a business the does not make money. They need to figure out the formula like the Steamers did.
May 28, 2010 at 12:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
noarminian (anonymous) says...
C'mon, it's women's soccer. Kind of like watching a chess tourney.
May 28, 2010 at 9:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )