[nas] Good WUSA analysis by ESPN

<<http://espn.go.com/sportsbusiness/s/2003/0915/1616775
.html>>

BTW, this comment highlights the issue of conferences 
in the US.

"Travel became a significant cost. Six of the eight 
teams played on the East Coast, but the league's San 
Diego and San Jose teams made 15 and 11 cross-country 
trips, respectively, during the 2003 season. Then 
factor in hotel rooms and per diems."

All the more reason to have two conferences where you 
limit the travel.

My suggestion?  WMLS in 2005, teams in LA, San Jose, 
KC and Dallas in the West; Columbus, DC, Meadowlands 
and Foxboro in the East.  (Move San Diego to LA, keep 
San Jose, move Carolina to Columbus, Atlanta to either 
KC or Dallas, Philadelphia to the other - something 
like that).  This way, you have a year to get things 
set up, you have the ability to keep teams together, 
etc.  Of course, if you could pull off playing in 
2004, go for it.  But just like the WWC, the only 
infrastructure able to put it all together 
economically is MLS.

And that is a strong statement about the mens' league.

Oops - just reskimmed the article - looks like paying 
for rent in DC and San Jose was a problem.  Well, if 
MLS is handling things, maybe San Jose isn't as big of 
a deal.  DC - maybe the same deal, maybe not.  The 
league probably could keep a team in Carolina without 
much trouble - I'm not sure - does anyone know 
anything about their cost structure there?  [Sorry if 
this article hits the list twice.]


---
See all of today's Soccer News Links at:  http://www.sams-army.com/
NAS is hosted by America Kicks (http://www.americakicks.com)
To subscribe or unsubscribe: http://nas.americakicks.com
To post, send an email to nas@americakicks.com