MISL Introduces St. Louis Steamers\' Ownership

Published on September 9, 2004 under Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2) News Release


ST. LOUIS (Thursday, September 9, 2004) – The Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) introduced today at Savvis Center in downtown St. Louis, the new ownership that has been awarded the MISL St. Louis Steamers professional indoor soccer organization. The organization also announced that the team would play its 20 home games for the 2004-05 regular season at Savvis Center and that the owners have already begun production on a Steamers reality TV show. Additionally, St. Louis soccer star Daryl Doran will keep the reins as the Steamers' Vice President of Soccer Operations and Player-Head Coach. As part of the formal press conference, St. Louis Steamers also unveiled a new dynamic logo.

"We are ecstatic to bring the energy and excitement of our new owners to the St. Louis Steamers," said MISL Commissioner Steve Ryan. "I want to thank Wally Smerconish and Michael Hetelson for their hard work and commitment to making this happen. St. Louis is a great city with a rich soccer tradition. With the addition of the Chicago Storm this season, I look forward to the growth of a natural and competitive rivalry between the Storm and Steamers for a long time to come."

The new Steamers will be led by the Steamers' Chairman of the Board of Directors, Wally Smerconish, and Team President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Hetelson. Smerconish, a successful real estate developer, is the founder and owner of Main Street Group, Inc., one of the largest real estate development firms in the Greater Philadelphia market. Smerconish graduated from Central Bucks High School in Doylestown, Penn., and Lehigh University.

Hetelson, is the founder and owner of MMT Solutions, a full-service interactive agency and communications company, based in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey, whose list of customers includes some of the nation's leading names in the entertainment and pharmaceutical industries. Hetelson graduated from The Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, NJ and received his B.A. from Cornell University.

"I am delighted by my involvement with the Steamers and the St. Louis community," said Smerconish. "We are committed to providing a first-class professional sports entertainment experience to our fan base and we look forward to competing at the highest level on the field." Hetelson, who is spearheading the production of the Steamers' reality show, is excited to showcase all sides of the Steamers players, from their competitive nature on the field to their down-to-earth nature off the field. Hetelson also emphasizes that he wants to demonstrate how St. Louis a great sports town with a rich soccer history.

Doran, who is professional indoor soccer's all-time leader in games played (789), returns as player, head coach, and vice president of soccer operations for the St. Louis Steamers. Originally drafted by the Steamers following his senior year at CBC High School in St. Louis, this year will mark Doran's 21st season of professional indoor soccer, with all but one of those seasons having been spent in a St. Louis uniform (he played one season with the MISL's Los Angeles Lazers).

"I am excited about the enthusiasm of the new ownership for the Steamers," said Doran. "First, they [Smerconish & Hetelson] met the players and they took them out to dinner. I don't think any new owners have ever done that here. Second, they expressed to me the fact that they want to put a winning team on the field, and that they're willing to do what is necessary to do just that. I am looking forward to continuing the soccer tradition of St. Louis."

Savvis Center is privately owned by Paige Sports Entertainment, a holding company for investments of the Bill and Nancy Laurie family of Columbia, MO. Originally known as Kiel Center, naming rights for the building were sold in August 2000 to SAVVIS Communications Corporation, a global data networking and business Internet related services company with dual headquarters in St. Louis and Herndon, VA.

The St. Louis Steamers home opener at Savvis Center is scheduled for Friday, October 30, 2004. Information regarding tickets for that game as well as season tickets can be found at www.stlsteamers.com or at any TicketMaster outlet, or by calling 314-622-2583. For information regarding the St. Louis Steamers, please log onto www.stlsteamers.com. The MISL League schedule will be released on Wednesday, September 15, 2004.

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