THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 7, 1997 TAG: 9702071042
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 42 lines
Hampton Roads Mariners co-owners Page Johnson and Mark Garcea, who would like to some day bring a Major League Soccer franchise to the area, brought one of the league's honchos to town last month for a get-acquainted session.
Mark Abbott, chief operating officer of MLS, the year-old professional league, toured the region and said he was surprised and impressed by its size and diversity.
``I am very excited about it in general,'' Abbott said. ``I thought it was a very vibrant community, very pro-growth, very sports-oriented.''
The 10-team MLS won't expand until at least 1999, and no formal expansion applications are being taken, a spokesman said. The league has had informal talks with several cities, however.
The league will probably add two teams in 1999, and up to four more after the turn of the century, Abbott said.
The league's first requirement is that expansion candidates have at least a 30,000 seat stadium, preferably custom-built for soccer.
The second consideration is the size of the market. The third is the support for soccer in the market.
``The question down in your neck of the woods is, `Where would the team play?,'' said Dan Courtemauche, an MLS spokesman.
The City of Virginia Beach is expected to complete an $8 million, 6,000-seat soccer stadium by 1998. The stadium would be built in phases and could be expanded to 30,000 seats if an MLS franchise came to the area.
Initially, the stadium will be home to the Mariners, who recently moved up to the A-League, the highest level of minor-league soccer. The Mariners have suspended play for a year while the stadium is built.
Johnson, asked about the meeting with Abbott, declined comment, except to say: ``Our long-term vision always has been to be in major league soccer.''
Garcea referred questions to Johnson.
With 1.6 million residents, Hampton Roads is the largest market in the nation without a major league franchise.
Other cities interested in MLS expansion are Chicago, Miami, San Diego, St. Louis, Seattle and Charlotte.
Chicago is considered a frontrunner for the first expansion franchise.