Tuesday, November 9, 2004

 

TAMPA, FL – United Soccer Leagues announced Tuesday the formation of a pair of committees, the Owners Advisory Council and New Business Development Task Force, created to help guide the future direction of the organization.

The Owners Advisory Council was re-established to assist USL management and its member teams in the overall strategic management and direction of USL with a majority of the representatives representing multiple levels of the USL pyramid within their respective club. Additionally, the New Business Development Task Force was created to aid in generating new ideas aimed to aid its member franchises in creating revenue on a year-round basis through special events or programs. 

“The people selected for this committee represent some of the best innovators in the USL family,” said USL President Francisco Marcos. “It is our hope that their viewpoint will bring new ideas to the table as well as help guide their fellow owners in developing their organizations as soccer clubs and businesses.” 

“The OAC, which we’ve had in the past, was brought back out of inspiration from the Strategic Planning Committee that we launched in the beginning of the year to tackle the future direction of our professional leagues.”

The OAC was a key managing component in the earlier years of USL when it was comprised of just one league. As the league split into different levels in the men’s game, added the W-League and Super Y-League, the OAC faded away in favor of specific league executive committees, which will remain in place. 

“The committee is also not just for new ideas. I have been preaching the concept of building stadia as churches and developing youth clubs to establish a dedicated, passionate fan base. We are hoping that hearing this message coming from their peers in the OAC will help expedite the implementation of these important business aspects amongst the remaining teams,” added Marcos.

Former Owners Advisory Council members Frank DuRoss, Jim Duggan and Neil Macpherson will return in the new version of the committee, which will also have three outside members to provide unique insight to the committee. Joining the council will be former Tampa Bay Mutiny General Manager Farrukh Quraishi (marketing), franchise law attorney and former NASL star Alec Papadakis (legal) and former WUSA Vice President Thom Meredith (operations).

Owners Advisory Council

Jim DeDeus – New Hampshire Phantoms (PSL, Super Y-League)
Jim Duggan – Michigan Bucks (PDL)
Frank DuRoss – Rochester Raging Rhinos (A-League)
Boris Jerkunica – Atlanta Silverbacks (A-League, W-League, Super Y-League)
Bob Lenarduzzi – Vancouver Whitecaps (A-League, W-League, Super Y-League)
Neil Macpherson – Carolina Dynamo (PDL, W-League, Super Y-League)
Mike Matkovic – Chicago Fire Reserves / Chicago Magic (PDL, Super Y-League)
Thom Meredith – Special Advisor (Operations)
Gary Ostroske – New Orleans Shell Shockers (PDL)
Alec Papadakis – Special Advisor (Legal) / Concorde Fire (Super Y-League)
John Pugh – Ottawa Fury (PDL, W-League, Super Y-League)
Farrukh Quraishi – Special Advisor (Marketing)
Kim Wyant – Long Island Lady Riders (W-League, Super Y-League)

“The New Business Development Task Force is ultimately a think tank / focus group,” said Marcos. “We want people who can work outside the box in creating ideas that will help our clubs be financially successful the entire calendar year instead of just the four to five months of the season in the summer. We have been trying to assist our teams in accentuating their clubs with additional revenue ideas, but the best ideas ultimately come from the teams themselves.”

The members of the New Business Development Task Force, which will work in conjunction with USL’s marketing and sponsorship agency Premier Partnerships, will be announced at a future date. Premier Partnerships is headed by former US Soccer President Alan Rothenberg, who also helped establish Major League Soccer, and Randy Bernstein, who has generated over $500,000,000 in corporate marketing partnerships throughout his career in the NBA, FIFA World Cup, Major League Soccer, Yahoo! and for other Premier Partnership clients.

“We firmly believe that Alan and Randy represent the best opportunity we have ever had to succeed on the corporate sponsorship front,” said Marcos. “They have a proven track record not only in sports in general, but soccer. With the utmost confidence they will bring new support to USL, we felt that it was important that they work with the New Business Development Task Force to create programs that would create synergies with the needs of prospective corporate sponsors.”