Visiting the Soccer Club From Hell

This Halloween week, we visit the most cursed soccer club in American history — featuring a collapsed stadium, vanishing players, and a desperate exorcism. It’s a spooky edition this time around. Plus, we unveil our special November event for this year, check out a soccer scrimmage at Folsom Prison, and much more.

This week’s stories:

• 🎟️ CLUBELEVEN Block Party RSVP

• 🪦 RIP Chivas USA

• 👿 Visiting the Soccer Club From Hell

• 🧟‍♂️ Frankenstein Domestic Leagues

• 🗳️ Poll + Last Week’s Answers

• ➡️ And More

EVENTS
CLUBELEVEN Block Party RSVP

Last year, we brought together 250+ soccer fans, content creators, and partners to celebrate North American soccer in all its glory. This year, we're taking it one step further.

Join us in New York City for a special night with friends from around the block.

We’ll have a special guest panel, soccer vendor booths, an NWSL Final watch party, food, drinks, a mystery raffle, and more. Oh, and we’ll be launching a CLUBELEVEN Home Kit that we’ve had in the works for some time. We’d love to see you there!

We’re almost at capacity, but you can still RSVP for free right here.

OUR HISTORY
RIP Chivas USA

Ten years ago this week, Chivas USA ceased operations and became the third franchise in MLS history to fold. Out of their demise, LAFC was born.

Chivas USA was founded by Mexican businessman Jose Vergara, owner of C.D. Guadalajara, as a way to tap into the American market.

Players like Brad Guzan, Sacha Kljestan, and Jesse Marsch all had stints at the club. Still, the team didn’t enjoy much success during its ten-year history, and doom was imminent.

Finally, in 2014, MLS purchased the team from Jose Vergara, dissolved the club, and sold to an investor group for over $100M.

On October 30, 2014, the league awarded the investors an expansion franchise in the Los Angeles area, and that’s how LAFC came to be. That’s why the club will technically be celebrating its 10th birthday tomorrow. How time flies.

COVER STORY
Visiting the Soccer Club From Hell

The Hartford Hellions. A club that truly lived up to its name. The most cursed soccer team in American history, and it’s not even close.

With a name like that, you’re already inviting trouble, and catastrophe didn’t take long to strike at this young Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) club.

The franchise was led by shady local business owner/accountant William Chipman, whose restaurant had burned down under mysterious circumstances before officially launching the club. Some may say it was evil spirits at work, but others at the time suspected insurance fraud.

That would only be the start of the troubles, though. In a brutal act of negative karma, the Hartford Civic Center, where the team was scheduled to play its home games, collapsed before the Hellions’ inaugural season in 1979.

Facing a dire financial situation thanks to the collapsed arena, and fighting an uphill battle to raise funds, Chipman somehow got his team off the ground by falsifying records and outright deceiving investors.

Once the team kicked off, things didn’t get any better. By its second year, the club boasted an abysmal record of 19 wins and 53 losses. It also didn’t help that Chipman canceled his players’ health insurance, resulting in a mass exodus. The team had more people fleeing it than a haunted house on Halloween.

Ironically, the only way to exorcise the Hartford Hellions of all its demons, was to sell the franchise to the only interested party in the country: the Athletes in Action Christian Sports Ministry.

The new religious ownership took the team down to Tenessee, rebranded it as the Memphis Americans in 1981, and put a swift end to the Hellions.

Although it’s fun to make spooky Halloween parallels with this devilish club, perhaps there is a real lesson here.

Maybe this tale shows that, sometimes, the biggest curse in American soccer has been greedy and irresponsible owners.

BUSINESS
Frankenstein Domestic Leagues

These developments will surely send a shock through the sport in our country. Last week, there was big news for both MLS and college soccer.

First, word broke out that MLS is looking to move to a “European-style” calendar after the World Cup. This would mean matches in the Fall/Spring and breaks during the summer and winter.

Second, there are strong rumors that the college soccer season will now be “full-time,” essentially mirroring the pro calendar. It’d be a huge step forward.

But the jury is still out on these changes. Would they be the perfect addition to jolt our country alive, or would they turn us into an unrecognizable mess? Is it good to try to imitate the rest of the world?

CLUBELEVEN
The Supporters Section

Drop your opinions and hot takes about adopting a new calendar! We’ll highlight your best answers next week.

CLUBELEVEN
Aggregates

Drop the Red: NWSL and naming controversies. We’ve already had two in two weeks! I’m neutral towards it, but many fans seemed to wonder whether changing this name was truly necessary.

Pep In His Step: Ricardo Pepi is thriving in the Netherlands. His brace over the weekend made him PSV’s top goalscorer in the Eredivisie so far with 5 goals (alongside Luuk de Jong and Malik Tillman).

God Doesn’t Exist For Me: One of the coldest quotes of all time by an MLS coach. Vanni Sartini spitting venom at Phil Neville.

Juve Bros: Weston McKennie and Tim Weah had themselves a day. What a way to stamp their names on this crazy 4-4 match against Inter.

Summer Cup Champs: It’s October now, but we finally have the winner of the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Cup.

CULTURE
Folsom Prison Footy

Last week, a team of inmates at Folson State Prison won 6-1 in a scrimmage against Sacramento Republic staffers and backups from this USL side.

The unlikely connection between the Sacramento Republic and this famed federal prison dates back seven years, and it means a lot to all those involved. Club president Todd Dunivant put it perfectly:

“I think it makes a difference for them because they get a slice of humanity that they don’t normally get in here. They’re seen as people. When you roll out the ball, honestly, you don’t remember where you are. You feel you could be anywhere.”

It’s a great story. You can check out the full piece right here.

EXPANSION
Salmon Bay

Salmon. My favorite fish. I might just have to start supporting this club for that sole reason. And I have to give them props for the creative name and beautiful crest.

Plus, our good friend Lauren Barnes from Seattle Reign FC is part of the ownership group. They’re clearly in excellent hands.

You can see all the details of their launch right here.

CLUBELEVEN
Your Takes 🗯️ 

Last week, we asked you if you think other leagues around the world will end up adopting the MLS model? Here are some of your answers:

• “No, never. Don Garber is delusional [if he thinks they will].” - L

• “It could happen, yes, but I think that the fans would protest. It also depends on how much they copy MLS. I personally love the playoffs so I would like the European leagues to copy it. However, I wouldn't like for relegation to be eliminated. MLS format is great for owners to get richer.” - Dario

In the poll, “No, never” won with 73% of the vote. It seems not everyone shares Garber’s viewpoint. Personally, I could see some leagues make another attempt at a Super League/MLS model years down the line. But there would definitely be push-back from fans right away.

UP NEXT
Get Involved

We’re all hands on deck in preparation for our event on November 23rd. This year, we’ll be having dedicated booth spaces for creators and vendors from the American soccer community. If you or your organization would like to participate, just shoot us an email!

Enjoying This?

Make sure to forward this email to a friend and help us spread the soccer gospel far and wide! We’ll see you next week with even more untold stories of soccer.

Have a great Tuesday!

Pablo