Virginia Beach Mariners cease operations; season canceled

steeplechase3k · 03-29-2007, 09:19 AM

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Quote:

VIRGINIA BEACH -- The Virginia Beach Mariners pro soccer team ceased operations this morning, a casualty of an ownership squabble that surfaced only two weeks ago.

Russell Hutchison, a former Mariners player and promotions director, convened staff and players in the Mariners' Sportsplex locker room and delivered the news at 9:30 a.m. The team had been slated to open its United Soccer Leagues First Division season April 13.

Norfolk businessman Jerry McDonnell and a Florida counterpart, Mike Sidebottom, are locked in a legal battle over whether or not one of Sidebottom's companies bought the Mariners in November.

I know it is much worse for the fans of this team, but I'm not happy either, I get one less home game for the same price. I doubt the league steps in and pays the bills, they have gotten tired of supporting the lowest revenue clubs. I hate to say it, but just like when Calgary and Edmonton folded, this may make the entire league stronger...

steeplechase3k · 03-29-2007, 08:07 PM

Day Date Time (ET) Fixtures Special Notes
Fri. 13-Apr 8:00 Rochester @ Puerto Rico VBM makeup
Sun. 15-Apr 7:00 Rochester @ Miami VBM makeup
Sat. 28-Apr 7:30 Atlanta @ Carolina VBM makeup
Sat. 5-May 7:55 Carolina @ Atlanta VBM makeup
Sat. 26-May 8:35 Puerto Rico @ Minnesota (@ NSC) Match moved from 6/16
Sat. 9-Jun 10:00 Minnesota @ California Match moved from 7/7
Sun. 10-Jun 10:00 Minnesota @ Vancouver VBM makeup
Sat. 16-Jun 8:35 Miami @ Minnesota (@ NSC) Match moved from 7/18
Sat. 23-Jun 7:30 Charleston @ Carolina VBM makeup (date moved from 6/22)
Sat. 7-Jul 10:00 Portland @ California VBM makeup (original game moved to 6/9)
Fri. 13-Jul 10:30 Vancouver @ Seattle VBM makeup
Sun. 15-Jul 9:00 California @ Portland VBM makeup
Wed. 18-Jul 8:05 Montreal @ Minnesota VBM makeup (original game moved to 6/16)
Sat. 21-Jul 7:35 Seattle @ Rochester VBM makeup
Wed. 1-Aug 7:30 Carolina @ Montreal VBM makeup
Fri. 10-Aug 7:30 Miami @ Montreal VBM makeup
Fri. 7-Sep 8:00 Puerto Rico @ Charleston VBM makeup

John F · 03-31-2007, 02:58 PM

Wow.... Just wow. To have a team in an upstart league of any kind just cease operations like this does not bode well

bedir than average · 04-01-2007, 05:06 PM

steep, ugh, the Cascadia Cup is now even more of a mess.

The league is from 1994 by the way John.

03-29-2007, 08:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
steeplechase3k Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 125	Day Date Time (ET) Fixtures Special Notes Fri. 13-Apr 8:00 Rochester @ Puerto Rico VBM makeup Sun. 15-Apr 7:00 Rochester @ Miami VBM makeup Sat. 28-Apr 7:30 Atlanta @ Carolina VBM makeup Sat. 5-May 7:55 Carolina @ Atlanta VBM makeup Sat. 26-May 8:35 Puerto Rico @ Minnesota (@ NSC) Match moved from 6/16 Sat. 9-Jun 10:00 Minnesota @ California Match moved from 7/7 Sun. 10-Jun 10:00 Minnesota @ Vancouver VBM makeup Sat. 16-Jun 8:35 Miami @ Minnesota (@ NSC) Match moved from 7/18 Sat. 23-Jun 7:30 Charleston @ Carolina VBM makeup (date moved from 6/22) Sat. 7-Jul 10:00 Portland @ California VBM makeup (original game moved to 6/9) Fri. 13-Jul 10:30 Vancouver @ Seattle VBM makeup Sun. 15-Jul 9:00 California @ Portland VBM makeup Wed. 18-Jul 8:05 Montreal @ Minnesota VBM makeup (original game moved to 6/16) Sat. 21-Jul 7:35 Seattle @ Rochester VBM makeup Wed. 1-Aug 7:30 Carolina @ Montreal VBM makeup Fri. 10-Aug 7:30 Miami @ Montreal VBM makeup Fri. 7-Sep 8:00 Puerto Rico @ Charleston VBM makeup __________________ --There are some who call me... Tim.--

04-01-2007, 05:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
bedir than average Administrator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,256	steep, ugh, the Cascadia Cup is now even more of a mess. The league is from 1994 by the way John. __________________ US Men's National Team World Cup Qualifying \| Democracy in Sports Meets My First Campaign "You're only so sure you're right because they're so sure you're wrong." Orson Scott Card in Xenocide

03-31-2007, 02:58 PM	#3 (permalink)
John F Administrator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tampa Bay area, Florida Posts: 2,497	Wow.... Just wow. To have a team in an upstart league of any kind just cease operations like this does not bode well