Utah Freezz coach Jeff Betts confirmed Friday that the team is ceasing operations.
With the World Indoor Soccer League folding after this season, the Freezz's only option is to join the Major Indoor Soccer League for the 2002 season. That's something the current Freezz ownership doesn't appear willing to do.
WISL franchises in San Diego, Dallas and St. Louis have already announced that they'll likely join the six-team MISL, while Sacramento has yet to decide.
"I'd be really disappointed if the team didn't continue," said Betts. It's particularly disheartening for Betts, who moved to Salt Lake City from Portland two years ago to coach the Freezz.
For Betts, the quandary is nothing new. His former team, the Portland Pythons, ceased operations after the 1999 WISL season.
The WISL was formed after the Continental Indoor Soccer League went belly up in 1999. The league enjoyed moderate success early on, but its stability was really under question entering this season after Arizona, Houston and Monterrey ceased operations last year.
It left the league with only five teams and no real prospects for more.
The MISL, formerly the National Professional Soccer League, is in its first season and includes teams in Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Baltimore, Kansas City and Harrisburg. With the addition of at least three more franchises, the league appears to be treading in stable waters.
Betts would love to see Utah join the MISL, but he knows unless new ownership steps up soon, the Freezz will become another franchise casualty.
Considering the Freezz switched to a not-for-profit professional sports franchise earlier this year to slow the growing financial losses, there isn't much incentive for potential new ownership.
There isn't much time, either. Betts and his players have to look out for themselves, and it's doubtful they'd be able to pass up a contract offer from another team.
E-mail: jedward@desnews.com