Meeting Recap for July 15, 2013
Sacramento’s new minor league soccer franchise announced the hiring of a major league coach Monday at Rotary Club of Sacramento’s weekly luncheon. Keynote speaker Warren Smith revealed that the new franchise has hired Predrag Radosavlijec as its first head coach—and even brought “Preki” with him to the event at the Red Lion Woodlake. Also joining Smith, a former RCOS member and founder of the USL Pro franchise, at Monday’s luncheon was Graham Smith (no relation), technical director of the team.
Warren Smith, a serial entrepreneur, was introduced by chair of the day Mik Miklaus. Smith also co-founded the Sacramento River Cats and Prosper Magazine among other ventures. His ultimate objective is to obtain a Major League Soccer franchise for the area and place it in a downtown core area stadium, but first things first.
The USL Pro team, which is so new it has yet to pick a mascot and won’t play its first game until next spring, is expected to attract strong talent with an internationally known coach at the helm. Preki, the 2007 Major League Soccer Coach of the Year, is best known for scoring the winning goal for the U.S. national team in a 1-0 1998 Gold Cup semifinals win over Brazil.
The new franchise is not the first attempt at pro soccer in Sacramento. In the mid-1970s, the Spirits played two American Soccer League seasons (ex-basketball great Bob Cousy was commissioner).
What makes Smith and his partners think the timing is right for a franchise to succeed? “There are 30 million registered soccer players in the U.S.,” he says, “93,000 of them in this area.” That’s a large and growing potential base of ticket buyers, assuming that players will ultimately want to be spectators—which is the case with the other pro sports. Also, Smith points out, when it comes time to build that downtown soccer facility it will cost a lot less than the new arena because soccer stadiums are less expensive to build.
“We need to establish a name for the team and roll out our brand,” said Smith, a UC Davis graduate who admits to knowing little about soccer (“but I’m learning!”). For at least its first season, the new team will play its home games at recently refurbished Hughes Stadium. And as part of a campaign to build enthusiasm for the sport, Smith and his partners are bringing a top-level international game to Raley Field on Thursday. Norwich City of the English Premier League will take on Dorados de Sinaloa from Mexico’s Ascenso League, at 7:30 p.m. At 5 p.m., San Jose Earthquakes reserves will take on a local all-star team.
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Newly installed RCOS President Thom Gilbert conducted his first full meeting Monday, and as is traditional for new presidents, made a few changes in the meeting format.
He began with his own “Thought for the Meeting,” then had two members (Steve Huffman and Shirlee Tully) “introduce” each other—an ongoing feature to help people get to know each other. They were followed by Don Baird with the invocation and then at the end of the meeting, Jim Craig provided a “final thought,” the poem SMILE, by Karen McLendon-Lawmann.
The traditional extraction of money from people’s wallets and purses is now “Roast, Boast & Toast” and the levels of giving are: Bell Ringer $100, Contributor $250, Leader $500 and Fellow $1,000.
This meetings contributors were: SGT-At-Arms Susan Drack - $1000; PP Ken Noack, Jr. - $200; Chris Ann Bachtel - $250.
Past-President Skip Lawrence sponsored the pre-meeting wine reception.
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Leslie Botos announced that Point West Club has surged into the lead on this year’s blood drive…John Swentkowsky is still looking for volunteers for the Loaves & Fishes service project on July 30…President Thom’s first monthly President’s Breakfast will be July 31 at the Red Lion…Luann Richardson reported that the next New Member Reception will be August 6th at the Downtown & Vine wine bar on K Street…Rick Osen reminded members that Golf 4 Kids is coming up August 12th at Northridge Country Club and golfers are still needed. Single golfers will be matched up with a foursome or just join in for the dinner.
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Next week’s guest speaker is Jock O’Connell, publisher of the California Trade Report and an internationally recognized expert on global trade.
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