Group aims to bring soccer teams to area

Thursday, May 20, 1999 | 10:42 a.m.

The Las Vegas Soccer Development Corporation, founded for the sole purpose of bringing professional soccer back to Las Vegas, announced its formation Wednesday. The LVSDC will follow the same formula used by the successful San Diego Soccer Development, owners of the A-League's San Diego Flash.

LVSDC President Yan K. Skwara heads the group designed to relocate an existing A-League outdoor soccer franchise to Las Vegas and also bring a new indoor soccer team to the Clark County area.

"Las Vegas is indeed ready for a new professional soccer team for both outdoor and indoor soccer. The timing, the leagues and our plan is right to make soccer successful in Nevada," Skwara said.

The 30-team A-League is the Division II professional league in North America, one step below Major League Soccer. The United Soccer Leagues, the premier developmental system for soccer in the United States, operates the A-League. The plan for the indoor franchise will not be released at this time.

Skwara is leading the San Diego Flash in becoming the first publicly traded soccer franchise in the United States. Since joining the A-League in 1998, San Diego has a record of 27-8 and claimed the Pacific Division title in its inaugural season. In addition to the Flash, Skwara and his affiliated groups have begun the initial public offering process for the A-League's San Francisco Bay Seals and the Riverside County Soccer Development Corporation.

Once a franchise is secure, it will be ready to move ahead with day-to-day operations. The current front-office staff of the Flash will handle the club's operations until the LVSDC offices are opened in early June. The Flash staff is rated as one of the best in the A-League.

Possible homes for both indoor and outdoor soccer within Clark County are currently being reviewed.

"Choosing the proper venues for soccer fans to attend the matches is of the utmost concern to us," Skwara said.