WEST VALLEY CITY -- David Elmore has heard all about the rise and fall of the Salt Lake Sting and the numerous other ambitious pro sports' teams that have sought refuge in Utah only to be chased away by lack of interest.
Pardon him if he's not discouraged by the previous franchises' failures, though.Elmore, the owner of the Utah Grizzlies, and a group of local businessmen are quite optimistic as they embark on the state's latest pro venture -- a franchise in the World Indoor Soccer League.
"In Denver, they had seven hockey teams fail, including the NHL, before we started the Grizzlies," he pointed out. "So, a lot of people were asking, 'Why would you start hockey?' "
The Grizzlies turned into an overnight hit in Denver, so much so the NHL returned and basically forced them to leave town, and eventually to Utah, after only one year. Under Elmore's ownership, hockey has reached an unprecedented popularity in the Beehive State, too.
So, why would he now start indoor soccer here?
"The time is appropriate," he said at a press conference at the E Center Wednesday. "I know you have such a heritage of soccer in your state, and this is something families can afford to do together."
"It's been a long time coming," added Gaylen Jorgensen, a part-owner and general manager, who runs three local indoor soccer facilities. "We've been trying to make it work for seven or eight years.
"It's incredible how everything fell together with the owners, the arena and the league."
Jorgensen will direct the talent search for a coach and players for the team, which will be named by a write-in contest. And the ownership stressed that home-grown talent will make the bulk -- between 60 percent and 70 percent -- of the 20-man roster.
"There will be big names here, but they'll be local players," Jorgensen said. "There hasn't been a place for them (Utah college soccer stars) to go, but now there is."
Club ownership hopes some familiar names will help draw crowds of between 5,000-6,000 on average to their 12 home games, which should begin in late July or August. They'll try to sell the local youth soccer organizations on the pro game, and the prices should be affordable.
"The emphasis is on family entertainment," Elmore said. "We don't need huge (attendance) numbers to make this work."
Gordon Jago, the first commissioner of the WISL, believes the climate is just right in Utah to have a successful and competitive team in the international league. Two previous pro soccer teams -- the Sting in the early '90s and the Golden Spikes in the '70s -- didn't last more than 1 1/2 years here.
"This franchise, I am certain, is going to succeed," Jago said.
To help with financial stability, the Utah Professional Soccer Club is being overseen by an ownership group of five and several others should soon become partners.
"We want to get a number of community people involved and have the responsibility spread out," Elmore said. "It really is a community affair."
Utah is the eighth franchise to join the WISL in North America. The league also has a European Division with four members in England.
The arrival of indoor soccer dooms pro roller hockey or arena-style football at the E Center.