Soccer Franchise Notes: DC United Eyes Profit From Madrid Game
DC United President Kevin Payne said that the club "expects to profit" from its August 9 exhibition against Real Madrid, which "could sell out" at FedEx Field. United supposedly is paying Madrid a $1M appearance fee, but Payne said, "I'm positive we are going to make money on this game. We negotiated a good price, and when we did it we were very confident that Real Madrid was going to go out and sign big players, so it's worked out pretty well." Payne said that ticket sales are "going well," as the lower bowl at FedEx field has "nearly sold out" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 6/19).
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MPs Have Launched Fresh Bid
To Topple Gillett (l), Hicks |
KICKED OUT? In Liverpool, Rob Merrick reported local Members of Parliament (MPs) have "launched a fresh bid to topple" Liverpool co-Owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett. The MPs want the U.K. government to "pull the plug" on the US$576.2M loan to Hicks and Gillett by "taking advantage of the part-nationalisation of the Royal Bank of Scotland," which is co-issuing the loan alongside Wachovia. MPs said that the move, "prompted by fury over the apparent collapse of plans for a new stadium, would force the Americans to sell." MP Peter Kilfoyle in a motion asked the government to "ensure the Royal Bank of Scotland does not renew that credit facility at the end of its current term" on July 24 (LIVERPOOL ECHO, 6/18).
WE'VE GOT THE BEAT: In Atlanta, Rana Cash notes the expansion WPS Atlanta Beat will take the field for the '10 season, and Owner Fitz Johnson "hopes to see a return on his investment" by the third season. Johnson Thursday at a press conference to unveil the franchise said, "Our standard is to be the best in the world. If it's worth doing, it's worth being the best." The team's colors will be Ferrari red, gold and black, and while a stadium has not been finalized, "all indications point to a site" in Kennesaw (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 6/19).
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