Oakland A's Lew Wolff and John Fisher Acquire Option for MLS Team in Bay Area
May 24, 2006 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
NEW YORK (Wednesday, May 24, 2006) - Major League Soccer has formed a partnership with Lew Wolff and John Fisher, principle owners of the Oakland Athletics, to bring professional soccer back to the Bay Area, MLS Commissioner Don Garber announced today. Wolff and Fisher have acquired a three-year exclusive option to acquire a MLS team should the group be successful in developing a new soccer-specific stadium.
"We're tremendously excited to reach an agreement with Lew Wolff and John Fisher and to bring a Major League Soccer team back to the Bay Area," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said. "We know the Bay Area is passionate about soccer and we believe that combining Lew and John's sports business expertise with a plan to develop a new soccer-specific stadium will provide a strong opportunity for a successful, long-term return to the market. We also appreciate the efforts that the members of Soccer Silicon Valley have provided and we look forward to their continued support."
As part of the exclusive option agreement, the A's ownership group has three years to develop a soccer-specific stadium and purchase an MLS team. MLS and the A's will dedicate substantial resources and personnel to achieve this goal.
"I am very excited to start working with MLS on bringing a professional soccer team back to the Bay Area," said Oakland Athletics Managing Partner Lew Wolff. "We fully understand our success in this endeavor is contingent on our ability to secure a new stadium for the team. We have already assembled our initial operational team, our venue design team and we will establish our "Earthquakes" office in downtown San Jose. My partner, John Fisher and I recognize that the future of the MLS is proven and we are honored to be given the opportunity to reestablish a franchise in the Bay Area."
Major League Soccer's inaugural game was played in San Jose on April 6, 1996, as the San Jose Clash defeated D.C. United 1-0. The Clash became the San Jose Earthquakes before the 2000 season, winning two MLS Cup titles before relocating to Houston on December 15, 2005. The decision to relocate the team to Houston was made when it became clear that there is no likelihood of developing a financing plan for a new facility in San Jose in the near future. A stadium plan is an essential condition for the Oakland A's ownership group to bring Major League Soccer back to the Bay Area.
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Major League Soccer Stories from May 24, 2006
- FC Dallas Forward Carlos Ruiz Garners Goal of the Week - FC Dallas
- Crew Acquires Goalkeeper Noah Palmer From Real Salt Lake - Columbus Crew SC
- Marshall Leonard placed on season-ending injury list - New England Revolution
- Oakland A's Lew Wolff and John Fisher Acquire Option for MLS Team in Bay Area - MLS
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