Splash Has New Attitude

ANAHEIM — Splash management is calling its new logo, one with a tougher looking killer whale instead of that shades-wearing dolphin with an attitude, a metaporpoiseis.

Get it?

Things have definitely changed for Anaheim’s Continental Indoor Soccer League team. Since winning its second consecutive division title, it has had two new owners in six months, a new general manager and director of player personnel and a new coach. And yes, that new logo.

Friday is the debut of the revamped Splash and its new ownership group, The Anaheim Splash, Inc.

The Splash plays Dallas at 7:35 p.m. at the Pond.

The new owners are led by managing partner Gary Sparks, who is marketing conscious. “Why do you go to Kansas and see someone wearing a Mighty Ducks shirt? Because they have a name and logo that is known throughout the United States,” he said. “I want that for the Splash, and we intend to deliver that to the Orange County area.”

He’s apparently also philanthropic: “We’re not here to make any profit, we’re here to see that the team continues to play in Orange County so our kids, the residents of the county, can continue to watch professional sports.”

That attitude, representing 20 investors who are Orange County business people and residents, may give this franchise the stability it has lacked since last October.

Ogden Facility Management, Corp., the company that runs the Pond, owned the team the last two seasons but decided not to keep using its staff to manage the franchise. The Splash, which almost folded in January, was saved by Arizona businessman Bill Williams, who ultimately realized he couldn’t be an effective absentee owner.

He sold to Sparks’ group, and will relinquish all shares of his ownership July 1.

Unlike Ogden, the investor group has strength in numbers and apparently isn’t driven by the bottom line.

“From what I heard, the [new owners] are in it for the love of the game,” said the Splash’s Ruben Fernandez, the league’s leading goalkeeper. “That’s great as long as they can keep up with it. There’s a great potential in this area for indoor soccer. If this sport is going to succeed, this has to be the place. There’s a huge youth soccer community, it’s a family sport, it’s the best arena in the country and we’re a pretty good team. What else can you ask for?”

That’s what Sparks is banking on. Admittedly, he doesn’t have deep pockets, but he does have a deep desire to pick up where Ogden left off.

He expects an opening-night crowd of “at least 10,000” and a 14,000 average for the Splash’s seven home games in September. He’ll bite the bullet on games sandwiched around the Fourth of July and consecutive games on Labor Day weekend.

Sparks knew the arena’s best dates were taken by other events when he purchased the fourth-year franchise from Williams on April 15.

However, Sparks’ connection with the soccer community--he is president of the Coast Soccer League--is already paying off. A 9,000-ticket block--the upper level at the Pond--already has been sold for two September games, and he expects more leagues to buy huge ticket blocks throughout September, after the youth soccer leagues begin playing.

Additionally, there’s the base of 1,462 season ticket holders--as of Wednesday afternoon. Despite the schedule’s lack of prime dates, last year’s record average attendance, 8,429, could be in jeopardy. That’s a good sign for 1997.

Ogden will continue to run the team’s game-day operations, meaning that should remain the same--per Sparks’ desire.

“The sport has to be showcased,” Sparks said. “If not, we’ll never get the audience we want.”

The audience he wants, lots and lots of kids, will probably be wearing Splash merchandise. Finley, the dolphin with an attitude, has been upgraded--reincarnated?--to a more ferocious-looking killer whale as the team’s primary mascot.

The dolphin was very popular with little girls, Sparks said, but their buying power was a little lacking.

“As much as I appreciate what Ogden has done in the past, one area that breeds interest in the organization is marketing,” Sparks said.

“We want to create another marketing atmosphere of recognition, and that’s an aspect that hasn’t really been tapped before. . . . [The plan is to] put the name out there, to get name recognition, to let everyone know that this team is here and this team is here to stay.”

The Splash has a 10-year lease at the Pond. Only time will tell if Sparks carries the team to full term. Ogden had what appeared to be a solid five-year plan, but bailed after two seasons of showing steady growth.

“Businessmen are businessmen, but they don’t have what it takes, in my opinion, to understand what the soccer community wants,” Sparks said. “You have to be in the soccer community to understand where they’re coming from.

“We have an obligation to the community and are responsible only to the community. . . . We are trying to deliver a service to the children--not to anybody else. That’s what we’re going to be answering to.

“There is no prestige in owning this team. I’m responsible to all these kids, and if my Anaheim Splash fails, then soccer has failed in Orange County. That’s a hell of a burden.”

While Sparks tackled the financial burden, new general manager Don Ebert handled the on-field issues. He fired former coach George Fernandez and replaced him with Ian Fulton. Ebert also brought back all-star Dale Ervine, who was traded in midseason at Fernandez’s request.

With the addition of former Las Vegas star Danny Barber (27 goals, 28 assists) to an already talented midfield of Doug Neely (33, 15), Raffaele Ruotolo (25, 32) and defensive midfielder Sam George (15, 6), as well as returning forward Bernie Lilavois (12, 4 in 17 games), the Splash should have the offensive firepower to carry out Fulton’s desire--score more goals and sell more tickets.

“Why should people come out and see soccer if it’s boring,” asked Fulton, who admits his team will probably give up more goals too. “We’re going to make it as exciting as we possibly can.”

If the offense is more attacking in nature, that will put more pressure on Ruben Fernandez, who allowed a league-low 5.23 goals-against average. Compounding Fernandez’s task is the loss of all-CISL defender Sean Bowers and enforcer Denis Hamlett to Major League Soccer. Thus, Fernandez will have two new defensive players in front of him--Ricky Rodriguez, who played one game last year, and rookie Kenny Hesse. They’ll join Paul McDonnell and John O’Brien, giving the Splash a young defense. McDonnell, 24, with three years’ professional experience, is the veteran.