The MLS All-Star Game drew an announced crowd of 23,277
to 70,000-seat Qualcomm Stadium, the "smallest in the four-
year history" of the event, and ABC "decided to switch the
match" to ESPN2 to continue coverage of the disappearance of
John F. Kennedy Jr. In San Diego, Mark Zeigler wrote, "It
was another bad break for a league that seems plagued by
them at its big events" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 7/18).
MLS Commissioner Doug Logan said he "thought of cancelling"
the game under the circumstances. Logan: "I have to tell
you the thought crossed my mind at 6:15 (Saturday) morning.
It was only for about 10 seconds, but this (all-star game)
is about fun and entertaining the fans and it's very hard to
throw a party under these circumstances" (L.A. DAILY NEWS,
7/18). Logan: "We had to make a major switch of television
because more than a few people are riveted and watching this
story develop." In L.A., Mike Penner wrote that the game
was also in "conflict with the live telecast of Mexico's
third-place Copa America match," which "had taken a sizable
bite out of the anticipated walk-up gate." Penner: "Logan
wore the weary look of a man who had just seen his league's
marquee event shrink before his very eyes, from showcase to
secret ceremony" (L.A. TIMES, 7/18). CBS SportsLine's Rob
Miech wrote under the header "MLS Puts Best Foot Forward,
Only To Get It Stepped On." Miech: "By Logan's definition,
the game was a success. By most other standards, team
owners should worry" (CBS SportsLine, 7/18). Header of Marc
Stein's story in the DALLAS MORNING NEWS: "MLS All-Star Game
A Spectacle, But Few Come To See It" (7/18). MLS execs
stated before the game that they would be happy with 30,000
tickets sold. Logan: "Clearly, we would have preferred
having more fans in the stands" (AP, 7/18).
FOX LOOKING AT SAN DIEGO TEAM? In San Diego, Mark
Zeigler wrote that the MLS expansion committee "officially
postponed the next wave of expansion to 2001." Also a
source said that the Fox Sports "has shown interest" in
operating an expansion team in San Diego and Logan recently
watched the WWC Final with Fox Sports Enterprises President
Rick Welts. Philadelphia and Houston are considered the
"front-runners" for the first round of expansion (UNION-
TRIBUNE, 7/18). Logan said that the All-Star Game
attendance wouldn't impact San Diego's chance of landing an
expansion franchise (AP, 7/18). For more on Fox, see (#16).
