Having been "handed the opportunity to fill the L.A. void left" by the defunct Chivas USA, expansion MLS club LAFC is "determined to share a crowded space in the city with the likes of the Lakers, Rams, Dodgers and Galaxy," according to Mark Ogden of ESPN FC. The ownership group includes names like Magic Johnson and Will Ferrell, but team President & CEO Tom Penn expects the soon-to-be-built Banc of California Stadium to "prove LAFC's biggest calling card to prospective signings." LAFC will "be in the heart of the city," whereas the Galaxy play 17 miles from downtown. Penn: "In L.A., you have every immigrant population and they all love the sport, so we feel like we can build something that brings all those groups together, and lasts." Penn said of a crowded L.A. sports market, "It's a massive pie, a massive robust market. It's the third-largest economy in the world in a metropolitan area, behind Tokyo and New York, so there is plenty of available commercial activity and interest." Ogden noted the success of NYC FC has "given LAFC a blueprint to follow." Penn said, "They have been very successful, but their addition to the MLS has also been very successful for the Red Bulls in New York" (ESPNFC.com, 11/14).
LOOKING FOR A STAR: Ogden noted LAFC is "attempting to sign a 'global' star in time for the club's MLS debut" in '18, with the expansion franchise "shortlisting 10 potential recruits who could seal agreements" during the '17 summer transfer window. A source cited Manchester United F Wayne Rooney as "one of those being considered," with Chelsea MF Cesc Fabregas, Real Madrid MF Luka Modric and Bayer Leverkusen F Javier Hernandez also "regarded as players of interest." The LAFC hierarchy is "determined to sign an A-list player young enough and with the necessary star status to emulate David Beckham's success" with the Galaxy. LAFC Exec VP/Soccer Operations John Thorrington said the club is "interested in a player or players who are passionate about becoming the first LAFC legend." Penn said, "We would want them to view this as the first day of the rest of their life, not as just the end of their playing career" (ESPNFC.com, 11/15).
OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW: ESPN’s Dan Thomas noted NYC FC MF Frank Lampard and Galaxy MF Steven Gerrard are leaving the MLS and returning to Europe and they "didn't exactly set the league on fire” during their tenure in MLS. With salaries for those designated players running about $6M per year, it “doesn’t seem to have been a good deal for anyone on this side of the Atlantic.” ESPN's Craig Burley said MLS has to "get away from this big-name, big-money player thing” and instead target players in the 25-30 year-old range. ESPN's Shaka Hislop said, "Now you have soccer-specific stadiums, you have a fan base that is far more knowledgeable than it was even five years ago who come to those games not for star power, but to see a good soccer game" ("ESPN FC," ESPNews, 11/14).
