Just before 1pm this afternoon I sat down to write my Chivas USA preview for Total-MLS confused as to how I was going to approach another year of being a fan. Major League Soccer just made it a whole lot easier…it will be my last.
The news that every single Chivas USA fan has been waiting for (in one way or another) finally broke today – Jorge Vergara and Angelica Fuentes are gone and MLS has purchased Chivas USA. Effective immediately, MLS have taken full control of full control of the club, and the first order of business was to announce that new ownership, a new name and a new stadium is on the horizon. More importantly though, the club will remain in Los Angeles.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber said “We thank Jorge Vergara and Angelica Fuentes for their significant commitment to Major League Soccer. Jorge was an early believer in the league and he and Angelica have been great partners in MLS. We collectively agreed that it is best to sell the club to new owners who are committed to securing a new stadium and providing MLS with a strong rival for the LA Galaxy.” (mlssoccer.com)
MLS also released a quote from Vergara:
“When Angelica and I gained full operational control of the team for the first time 15 months ago, we were hopeful we would be able to turn it around. However, there is only one Chivas de Guadalajara, and we have realized that it will require more time, further resources, and a level of commitment that would divert too much of our focus from our other business interests. We explored opportunities to sell to other groups, but we believe selling the franchise to MLS on an expedited basis is in the best interests of all parties, including the team’s players and its dedicated fans."
The quote from Vergara goes on, but what Vergara thinks about this issue is irrelevant. He is out of the picture now and the only business decision he made of any importance recently is selling the club to MLS. Whether you loved Chivas USA because it was affiliated with Chivas de Guadalajara or that it was simply an LA based team that wasn’t the LA Galaxy, Vergara leaving is good news. He was a terrible owner and the fans deserved better considering their level of commitment through some pretty miserable times.
So with the Chivas USA brand being killed off after the 2014 season, what next? A new name, a new logo, probably some new fans and potentially a new stadium are all on its way to Los Angeles. Leaving Los Angeles is a name that represented a good idea at first but failed to be managed effectively and became embarrassing. However, in true Chivas fashion, there are still a lot of things to worry about. Who will be the new owners? What will the club be called? And what direction will they take it in?
Personally, I will be staying with the club through these changes. I am a fan of Los Angeles, of the fans who support Chivas USA now and the idea of a second, LA-based MLS soccer team. So while this year will be my last season writing about Chivas USA, it won’t be my last year writing and supporting what Chivas USA turns into. I love the club and I will miss the name of Chivas USA, but the heart of the club remains in the stands. We might not have a lot of fans, but those of us who survived the misery have got what we wanted.
