EDMOND — The United Soccer League is considering Edmond as an expansion site for its First Division, said Edmond Mayor Dan O'Neil.
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The USL recently sent a letter to O'Neil, saying it is interested in placing an expansion franchise in Edmond for the 2009 season.
Matt Weibe, the league's managing director of development and communications, said in the letter, "We are interested to begin exploring opportunities to expand United Soccer Leagues (USL) into the City of Edmond. I welcome you to encourage ... potential investment groups to bring USL to Edmond in 2009.”
O'Neil said the city has always been interested in a professional sports team, particularly soccer.
"Now we have to see if there is viable interest from private investors,” O'Neil said. "If there is genuine interest, then we need to get others involved.”
O'Neil said "others” includes potential owners and the University of Central Oklahoma. O'Neil said he gave the letter to Steve Commons, Edmond's assistant city manager for administration.
Commons said he will find out if there is interest within the community.
"We're going to make people (aware) that this letter is out there and ... is an entertainment opportunity for our area,” Commons said Monday.
A USL team would likely play at refurbished Wantland Stadium on the UCO campus. The university would still like to host a pro soccer team, said Steve Kreidler, UCO's executive vice president for administration.
"If there's a form of pro soccer and ownership, the university is interested,” Kreidler said. "It's still possible. The stadium is available.”
The USL became interested in Edmond after the city and UCO were unsuccessful in their bid to land a Major League Soccer franchise in 2004, Weibe said. He said the USL focuses on affordable family entertainment.
"Our business model is very different from MLS,” Weibe said. "It does well in markets like Oklahoma City. We want our league to start filling up in the middle part of the country, including the Southwest and Midwest.”
Weibe said there will be 11 teams in USL's First Division this season, with clubs in Atlanta, Miami, Portland, Rochester, N.Y., and Seattle. The USL recently announced an expansion team in Austin, Texas. The Aztex will join the league in 2009. Weibe said the league is in active negotiations with groups in Omaha, Phoenix and San Antonio.
A team in Edmond would make a natural rivalry with Austin, said Phil Rawlins, Aztex owner and president. Rawlins also is an owner and director of Stoke City, a team in England's second division.
"We'd have an Oklahoma-Texas rivalry, which is always a great thing,” Rawlins said.
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Great article, I like to see pro soccer in the Oklahoma City metro or in Oklahoma in general, maybe this could possibly lead to a MLS team somewhere down the road.
Same here - I've always said if ever won mega millions I would build an MLS ready stadium downtown near the OKC Rocks silos. Then get a USL team, build the fanbase, and try to move up to MLS like the Seattle team did. Of course there is the small issue of finding those mega millions!!!
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