MLS begins its fourth season on Saturday with a
"general feeling that this is a make-or-break year for the
organization," according to Dan Giesin of the S.F.
CHRONICLE. While "cautious optimism prevails," season-ticket
sales are "significantly down" in "many" markets. But MLS
Commissioner Doug Logan notes that season-ticket sales will
"continue for another month" and MLS is "confident" that at
the end of that period the numbers "will be up." Logan: "We
have a five-year commitment to finance this league ... we
will make adjustments if we don't achieve the goals of our
very prudent business plan" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 3/18). In
N.Y., Michael Lewis writes that the league's season-ticket
sales "are up by only 2%" and have mainly been "bolstered"
by the Crew's 46% increase (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/18). In San
Diego, Mark Zeigler wrote that if MLS does not "excel" this
season, there is the "chilling realization that there may be
nothing" to push forward. Logan: "Am I a little nervous?
Sure. But I've been nervous since the day I accepted the
job" (S.D. UNION-TRIBUNE, 3/17). But in Dallas, Steve Davis
writes that "it's clear that MLS teams have elevated their
collective game" as the "knowledgeable fans see it, and it's
apparent" in int'l matches (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/18).
A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN: In San Jose, Ann Killion
profiled new Clash GM Lynne Meterparel, who is charged with
building up the team's image in the community. Clash
investor-operator Jonathan Kraft: "I'm not very happy with
what I've learned about how the organization was run and how
it was represented in the community." Killion noted that
former Clash GM Peter Bridgwater "made a lot of promises
that didn't come true" and "damaged some relationships" with
both the community and media. Meterparel, the former
Revolution exec, is "not starting with a clean slate ... now
she has to clean something up" (MERCURY NEWS, 3/17).
