|
In a country where soccer leagues and
clubs have a long history of failing, the Toronto Lynx stand
out as a rare exception.
Seven years ago, when the Lynx announced they were
going to fill the void created by the demise of the Toronto
Blizzard, cynics were certain the franchise would flop within
two years.
But the A-League team has defied the odds.
Despite mounting debts — roughly $5 million — owners
Nicole and Bruno Hartrell have refused to throw in the towel.
In fact, the couple expects to break even this year or next.
"We knew there wouldn't be success overnight,''
admitted Nicole Hartrell, the chief operating officer and
driving force of the organization.
"Previous soccer owners checked out fast because they
harboured expectations of making it inside a year or two, but
we knew that was simply not possible.''
She took over the running of the club in 1998 after
spending 25 years in the educational field and admits she had
little interest in the sport. But her husband, a chartered
accountant and a soccer fan, roped her in to run the club.
The Hartrells are convinced that the game is about to
turn the corner in Canada.
"It is just a matter of time before the game starts
growing in a big way professionally in North America,'' said
Nicole Hartrell.
"We saw what happened south of the border last year
when people started taking an even greater interest in soccer
after the United States reached the quarter-finals of the
World Cup.
"After all, we in Canada always seem to follow in the
footsteps of the U.S.,'' she said.
Canada is beginning to produce superb soccer players
and Hartrell says there is a vital need for A-League clubs
like the Lynx, Calgary Storm, Vancouver Whitecaps and Montreal
Impact to provide a professional environment for them in
Canada.
The Lynx have over the years produced five national
team players who were later signed by European clubs: Pat
Onstadt, Chris Pozniak, Paul Stalteri, Dwayne de Rosario and
Gino Reda. De Rosario and Onstadt have since returned to play
in the MLS.
After a slow start, the Lynx now have 20 corporate
sponsors and Hartrell says a few more have shown an interest.
The increased corporate sponsorship has helped ease the
club's financial burden.
The club, which has a budget of $250,000 a year, has
cut down on expenses by switching from the 22,000-seat Varsity
Stadium to uneven playing field of the city-owned Etobicoke
Centennial Stadium which has a capacity of 3,000.
"Moving to Centennial has saved us a bundle,'' she
said.
Players in the 19-team A-League, considered the
second-tier league behind the MLS, earn around $15,000, with
the best pulling in around $30,000.
The Hartrells, who are hoping to average 3,000 for
their home games, were heartened by the crowd of 2,555 at the
home opener against the Montreal Impact yesterday.
Despite the raucous support, the Lynx dropped only
their second home opener in seven seasons as they were blanked
2-0. Brazilian import Ze Roberto scored once in each half
after being set up by Canadian national team player Martin
Nash.
|