Every September and October as the leaves start to change and the memories of the regular and post-season are still fresh in our minds the USL announces whom they feel the best defenders, forwards, and organization are. For a player to be considered one of the best in North America is an honor.
The team, if named organization of the year, is hopefully able to attract new sponsors and fans to the game. In my humble opinion the organization of the year is not Seattle, who posted an incredible regular season record, or Montreal, who increased their attendance by 125%, sometimes even outdrawing Major League baseball.
My vote for the organization of the year might surprise some people. Earlier this year they were taken over by the League, their attendance was low, and they had a losing season. Yet the team managed to overcome these obstacles to head into next season strong and viable. My vote for organization of the year goes to the Hampton Roads Mariners.
When the 2002 season began there were some questions about the ownership group which at that time consisted of Scott Goodman, Felicia Gordon, and others. It was later reported that they were having some financial difficulties. The team failed to post a $300,000 bond, which the city of Hampton Roads required for the team to play in the Sportsplex, one of the first the first soccer specific stadiums built in the country, although they did pay the rent.
By May, Scott Goodman was nowhere to be found and Gordon was offering her players $50 a game plus a bonus for goals and assists. The old contracts were terminated and the players hadn't been paid for six weeks. The league quickly took over a troubled franchise.
All that started to turn around in late May when Mike Field, a Northern Virginia businessman bought the team. One of the first things he did was give head coach Shawn McDonald the money to go out and sign some talent which he did bringing in several former MLS players such as Darin Lewis (New York), Gary Glasgow (KC), and Christof Lindenmayer (Columbus). Although the team was out of the playoff race, the Mariners actually started to win some games and lost some very tight matches including an Open Cup Match against the MetroStars of MLS.
Field did little to promote the team after taking it over this year, "Our goal this season was simply to keep the team in place." he was quoted as saying in the Virginian- Pilot.
The Mariners future success is still in doubt but the team is poised for greatness. Field recently hired about a dozen salespeople to push season tickets and corporate advertisers. "In the past, I think the people in the front office were soccer fans first and business people second," Fields told the Virginian-Pilot, "I want someone who wants to work all the time, who doesn't just want to hang around the players and wear Umbro shorts." Field is also making it very hard to say "no", since the Mariners season ended he's announced that season tickets will be $98, which ranged from $80 to $150 last year.
The Sportsplex six luxury boxes, which normally rent for $25,000 will now rent for $7,500. Program ads and sideline banners, which cost $5,000 last season, will now sell for $1,000. He's also pushing Virginia Beach officials to improve food concessions and allow outside vendors to sell at the stadium. He's actively campaigning for an expanded interactive fan zone and having local bands play before and after the games. In effect, he is positioning the Mariners to be an attractive advertising forum for businesses and a reasonable family entertainment expense.
Mike Field's, who is actively involved in the computer industry, next task is updating the team's website (www.hamptonroadsmarniners.com) which will sell the usual tickets, merchandise and news but perhaps Internet broadcasts as well. "Heck, I own the team, and here I couldn't get the score of an away game." Fields was quoted as saying to the Pilot.
Field may be the only owner who regularly visits online discussion boards seeking input not only from fans in the Hampton Roads area but other states as well. He bypassed the more traditional media outlets to announce that Shawn McDonald would be back to coach the team next year while online answering questions from fans.
It is for these reasons that I feel the A-league organization of the year should go to the Hampton Roads Mariners, for Mike Field has generated a lot of interest among soccer fans in a club many of us thought would be folded within a year. Due to the changes he's bringing about in coastal Virginia the future of soccer looks very bright indeed.
