The prospect of a women's professional soccer league
was examined by Frank Giase of the Newark STAR-LEDGER, who
wrote, "If MLS is averaging 14,600 fans this year, with
considerable sponsorship money and a national television
contract, and still loses money, how is a women's league,
where projected attendance, sponsorship and television money
would be significantly less, going to survive?" The USSF
has commissioned $150,000, matched by the Discovery Channel,
to develop a plan that MLS COO Mark Abbott can take to
potential investors by the end of the year. Among the
business models to be examined include one where a women's
league would be a "loss leader." The league would be run by
a parent company, such as MLS, "which would not make any
money but would have significant tax write-offs." This
might be the "best plan because owners, stadiums, and team
infrastructures would already be in place." USSF President
Dr. Bob Contiguglia: "Ideally, in the best of all worlds,
(loss leader) would be a very good scenario. But could MLS
owners afford it because it will not be a big money-maker"
(STAR-LEDGER, 6/20). In N.Y., William Rhoden wrote that the
"women desperately need a league, and they have earned that
right with their performance." While the jury is "still out
... on whether there is enough interest to sustain" the
WNBA, "women's soccer in the United States can stand on its
own" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/19). In Hartford, Lori Riley wondered
if a women's league could survive: "Given the uneven success
of [MLS] ... it's doubtful" (HARTFORD COURANT, 6/20).
FOUR GUYS TALK UP WOMEN'S SPORTS: ESPN's "The Sports
Reporters" discussed women's professional sports in the
U.S., most notably the WNBA. Rick Telander: "I think the
point is, don't force this down our throats. Don't try to
cram this down and say, 'You like women's basketball,' when
you know, at this point, I'm not nuts about the WNBA." Mike
Lupica: "Mia Hamm makes me want to watch the Women's World
Cup soccer team play. ... Maybe [Mystics F] Chamique
Holdsclaw will make me want to watch the WNBA. But I have
to level with you: I don't want to now. I don't want it
forced on me." Mitch Albom: "Let's not be disingenuous
here. We're sitting on a [TV] show with four men talking
about women's sports. They may not be all that interested
in whether we're watching or not. ... If you looked at the
audience [at U.S.-Denmark match], there were a lot of women
in there who may not be watching men's sports" (ESPN, 6/20).
