MISL Feature
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
TAMPA, Fla. – The seven owners of the Major Indoor Soccer League’s clubs met at United Soccer Leagues headquarters on Tuesday in the league’s first Board of Governors meeting before the new season.
A wide variety of topics were discussed, ranging from the league’s structure, minimum standards and operations. While there was a lot on the agenda for the day, Norfolk Sharx owner Marcie Laumann was very pleased with the amount of work that got done.
“We had a great day today,” Laumann said. “We got far more done than I thought we’d be able to do in the few hours we’ve been here.”
All of the clubs were keen to get as many details about the league arranged ahead of the 2011-12 season’s scheduled kickoff in November, and according to Laumann that led to a spirit of cooperativeness throughout the group.
“The way we all worked together today, we got through so much in so little time,” Laumann said. “It felt within the group that everyone was working for the betterment of the league rather than everyone looking out for their own team.”
Laumann has been a USL owner for a number of years now, starting the W-League’s Virginia Beach Piranhas in 1995 before adding a Premier Development League side in 2007. With the expertise that the USL representatives at the meetings showed, and the information they were able to offer all of the MISL’s franchises, Laumann said she also felt a sense of pride when the established MISL clubs expressed how positive they felt with the information they were being provided by league directors Chris Economides, Jason Arnold and USL President Tim Holt.
Now Laumann is eager to get things going in the arena. As a soccer memorabilia collector as well as team owner, one of the first pieces in her collection was a Baltimore Blast jersey autographed by Keith Van Eron. Getting the opportunity to host the historic names of the Baltimore Blast and Wichita Wings at the Scope Arena in Norfolk is a great feeling.
“We’re very excited for the new season.” Laumann said. “I think the excitement that has come about with USL acquiring MISL is tremendous. Our phone has rung every day since the announcement; I was getting emails while I was in the meeting asking when tickets are going on sale. I think it’s a very exciting thing to bring these storied franchises into the league.”