A cynic might assess Mike Vandale as a clever up-and-comer who made his bundle in a hurry.
A closer look might convince the cynic that Vandale’s hell-bent on losing his bundle the same way.
The Calgary businessman hopes to recruit corporate partners (Interested? Call 262-4854) to help him build an $8-10 million soccer stadium in time for the 2002 A-League soccer season, which opens in May.
As money man for the professional league’s fourth Canadian franchise — known as Calgary FC — Vandale has bitten off an adult portion.
Here’s hoping he doesn’t wind up with terminal heartburn.
If Russ Parker, owner of baseball's Calgary Cannons, hadn't been out selling his team last week, I'm sure he'd have been pleased to spin his odyssey of woe, as a warning to Vandale.
Parker toiled year after frustrating year, seeking public and/or private backing for a new ballpark.
All the politicians ducked when they saw him coming. And the private cash remained in the pockets of its original owners.
Then there’s the challenge of selling soccer in Calgary.
It’s been tried, ad infinitum. Remember the Boomers/Kickers/Strikers? Like pro roller hockey, and pro summer basketball, each attempt has perished in a smouldering heap.
In fact, if Vandale didn’t have such sound judgment in companions, the temptation would be to write him off.
However . . . His partner in this quixotic enterprise is Thomas Niendorf, quietly building a rep as one of the city’s — maybe Canada’s — finest soccer minds.
A skilled teacher who coached in the Dynamo Berlin feeder system, Niendorf brokered European contracts for Calgary’s brilliant Owen Hargreaves, and Kevin McKenna of the Canadian national team.
Niendorf’s business credentials seem solid. Five years ago, he founded the Thomas Niendorf Soccer Academy, a year-round teaching program for young players of both sexes.
I’ve spoken to the parents of about five of his 100 students, and they adore the guy. Niendorf’s program has taken their kids to undreamed-of skill levels.
Niendorf’s role will be to bring his academy under the Calgary FC umbrella, and stream revenue into club operations.
“This is not a free ride. The kids coming into our program will have to pay their own way,” Niendorf explained.
Thus, the majority of Calgary FC’s roster — a women’s program is also planned — would be local.
In addition, Vandale hopes to generate revenue by means of a restaurant-lounge, similar to McMahon Stadium’s Red and White Club.
A line of team merchandise, plus average attendance of 4,000-5,000 a match, would put the team in the black, Vandale reasons.
Another top-notch friend is Bob Lenarduzzi, ex-national team coach and general manager of the A-League’s Vancouver Whitecaps.
The ’Caps have a few advantages not shared by Calgary FC.
Foremost, they have a place to play — Burnaby’s Swangard Stadium, where the team averaged 4,000 fans a match last season.
But they still finished $100,000 in the red.
“I wouldn’t suggest for a minute that (succeeding in Calgary) is going to be easy,” cautioned Lenarduzzi, who has offered whatever advice and encouragement he can give.
“We’re going to need the support of the soccer community,” acknowledged Vandale, a director — and fiscal saviour — of the English League’s third-division Exeter City.
“There is no proper venue in Canada for soccer. We went to Varsity Stadium in Toronto, and half of it’s condemned,” he groaned.
“It’s a disgrace, really. If we can get something like that built, we could attract international (exhibition) games, and sell 10,000 tickets. One game a year for the National team, at least, both men and women.”
Vandale looks at the numbers drawn by the Calgary Soccer Centre, and drools. Talk about a built-in constituency — 36,000 players and fans push through CSC turnstiles each week.
But can the participation factor translate to paying customers?
Another Vandale acquaintance — silently rooting for this daft dream to pan out — doesn’t see why not. “I’m absolutely baffled pro soccer hasn’t done well here — the game has so many followers,” said Calgary Stampeders’ owner Sig Gutsche, himself a bit of a dreamer.
Gutsche rescued the ailing football team following the Larry Ryckman debacle. He’s since turned them into the country’s showcase franchise. Gutsche earned profits of $1 million-plus in 2000.
“They have a difficult job ahead of them,” Gutsche conceded. “But so was getting football back on its feet in Calgary.”
