by David Falk

TACOMA, WA — Details are coming to light about the Tacoma Soccer Center and the Premier Arena Soccer League’s refusal to allow the South Sound Shock to play their home matches at the venue. goalWA.net reported on Monday the final decision by the league, including quotes from its commissioner, Kevin Milliken. Lane Smith took over the Tacoma Soccer Center in 2006 and brought Marian Bowers in as a partner. Smith ultimately dissolved the partnership with Bowers and now operates the Soccer Center. Bowers sent a “No Comment” for our previous story, and has not returned an email about this one. She works with Milliken as local commissioner in organizing the PASL Northwest. We have now heard from Smith, and his account is a page-turner.

EARLIER: South Sound Shock return to Gig Harbor, voice frustrations over ‘PASL politics’

To set the stage you need to know that the South Sound Shock are not owned by Lane Smith, but rather by John Crouch. However, the Tacoma Soccer Center logo has appeared on Shock gear because the venue is a sponsor. Also, in full disclosure, the Tacoma Soccer Center is a sponsor of goalWA.net. Below I talked with Smith about the situation regarding the Shock.

“I feel bad for John Crouch and the players and fans of the South Sound Shock. They have built a great team and have arguably the best fan following of the local PASL teams,” Smith, who owns the Seattle Sounders Women and Sounders U23’s along with Cliff McElroy, tells goalWA.net. “As an owner of high level amateur soccer clubs I understand the value and importance of having a solid venue. The Shock want to play at the Tacoma Soccer Center, as with its raised viewing area and large bar overlooking a top notch field, it is arguably the best spectator venue for indoor soccer matches in the area.”

Smith says he has tried recently to broker some kind of peace treaty that would allow the Shock to play in their home town. “I have sent a number of emails to PASL Commissioner Mr. Milliken, phone calls and texts. I have yet to get any response.”

Smith shares more history behind the situation. “The background of all of this is I once offered to put a PASL team in the league when the Tacoma Stars’ future seemed in doubt. I mentioned in that conversation to Kevin that I would be taking legal action against Marian Bowers for unpaid rents and breach of contract at the Tacoma Soccer Center, where I have been the lease holder since 2006.”

“I guess Kevin somehow thought that was a threat to the league. To this day I’m not sure why. I’m one of many lawsuits that have been filed against Marian, so I’m not sure why I have been singled out.”

Smith says the tangled web is larger than most soccer fans realize. “Here is where things get really interesting. Phil Salvagio, coach of the San Diego Sockers, is also part owner of the PASL league(s) with Milliken. When Marian Bowers needed money to build her facility (Pacific Sports Center), Phil lent her $200,000 to get the place going. Now Marian is in default with the bank for her building and has filed for bankruptcy. Phil is out his $200,000 and I’m out my court-awarded $500,000. She also owes $200,000 to various other soccer business-related creditors.” All of this is public information. Smith’s attorneys also get updates as Smith is a large current creditor in Bowers’ bankruptcy case.

So how does that connect back to the Shock being blocked from using the Tacoma Soccer Center that Smith now operates? “I suspect that Milliken and the league somehow blame me for Marian’s financial demise,” Smith says. “However, since she has never paid me anything I would suspect her challenges lie elsewhere. I was able to speak to Phil and he seemed to have no rub with me, the Tacoma Soccer center or the Shock. He was just furious over the fact he is out 200K.”

Smith is at a loss to decipher why the PASL talks of legal issues, saying he has never filed anything against the PASL. “Here is where I don’t get the logic,” Smith thinks out loud. “I have never sued the league nor the Tacoma Stars. The Shock were encouraged (by the PASL) this year to play at Starfire, yet Starfire sued Marian and the Tacoma Stars for unpaid rent. I understand that Kevin and Marian have a long-standing relationship and I admire his loyalty to her and wanting to support only her facility, but punishing John and the players, fans of the Shock and other teams in the league seems like a odd way of handling the situation.”

Most-recently Smith says he tried to persuade Milliken with the offer of an official document that would protect the PASL from any such legal action. “I offered a letter of indemnification against any legal action to Kevin Milliken and the league if the Shock were allowed to play at the Tacoma Soccer Center. Again I have not received any response.”

To further sweeten the pot, Smith says he was willing to host matches without profit to the center. “To neutralize any benefit the Tacoma Soccer Center might receive, I would also split any revenue generated by the PASL games with BOTH teams that would play there.”

Milliken stated to goalWA.net that the Shock should not be surprised by his decision, that they entered into a league with full knowledge that the TSC was off limits.

“All of us soccer fans know the struggles of finding venues and pitches to play. Heck, even at the MLS level we just saw two playoff matches with football lines painted on the pitches. As a fan of soccer in general it just seems such a waste of a community asset not to use the Tacoma Soccer Center,” Smith says.

“I do understand that Milliken does not owe me a response or anything. He is absolutely correct that he has the right to grant or refuse anyone as it’s simply a private group that can act as it wishes. He has always stated that.”

In an interview with a Tulsa newspaper a few years back Milliken was quoted as saying that to get into the PASL, “One, I have to like you, and two, you have to have a place to play that’s acceptable to the league.”

As for Smith and the TSC? “The Tacoma Soccer Center will patiently wait until Mr. Milliken feels the issue deserves re-consideration,” Smith says.