Major Indoor Soccer League (1982-1989)
Tombstone
Born: June 1982 – Major Indoor Soccer League expansion franchise
Folded: June 5, 1989
First Game: November 5, 1982 (L 6-5 vs. Phoenix Inferno)
Last Game: April 16, 1989 (W 5-4 vs. Wichita Wings)
MISL Championships: None
Arena
Marketing
Team Colors: White, Black, Purple & Gold21986-87 Major Indoor Soccer League Media Guide
Television:
- 1984-85: None
- 1986-87, 1987-88 & 1988-89: Prime Ticket Cable (selected games)
Television Broadcasters:
- 1986-87 & 1987-88: Joel Meyers (play-by-play) & Bill MacDonald (color)
Radio:
- 1984-85 (English): KWVE-FM (107.9)
- 1984-85 (Spanish): TODO-AM (95)
- 1986-87: None
- 1987-88 (English): KMNY (1600 AM)
Radio Broadcasters:
- 1984-85: Bill MacDonald (English)
- 1984-85: Felo Ramirez & C. Gonzales (Spanish)
Ownership
Owner: Dr. Jerry Buss
Attendance
Tilting your mobile device may offer better viewing.
Sources:
- 1985-86 MISL Official Guide (1984-85 Lazers figure)
- 1986-87 MISL Official Guide (1985-86 Lazers and MISL figures)
- 1987-88 MISL Official Guide (1982-83, 1983-84, 1984-85 & 1986-87 Lazers figures & and 1986-87 MISL figure)
- 1988-89 MISL Official Guide (1987-88 Lazers and MISL figures)
- 1989-90 MISL Official Guide (1982-83, 1983-84, 1984-85 & 1988-89 MISL figures & 1988-89 Lazers figure)
Trophy Case
MISL Rookie of the Year:
- 1982-83: Kirk Shermer
MISL Coach of the Year:
- 1984-85: Peter Wall
Background
The Los Angeles Lazers were a Major Indoor Soccer League franchise owned by Dr. Jerry Buss for seven seasons from 1982 to 1989. Dr. Buss also owned the Los Angeles Lakers, the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, and The Forum, the arena shared by all three teams during the winter. The Lazers name and purple/yellow color scheme were a riff/brand extension on the Lakers identity.
As he did with other “minor league” investments, Dr. Buss entrusted the management of the Lazers to his children, in this case twenty-something sons Johnny Buss (1982-1985) and Jim Buss (1985-1989) who split time as team President over the course of the club’s seven-year run.
The Lazers never quite clicked on the field, recording only one winning season (1987-88). The club also fared very poorly at the box office, typically ranking among the MISL’s weakest draws. Beginning in 1985, Los Angeles Lazers matches were shown on basic cable in the Southern California region on Prime Ticket, an all-sports channel founded by Dr. Buss.
The club folded in June 1989.
L.A. Lazers Video
In Memoriam
Paul Kitson (’86-’87) suffered a fatal brain aneurysm while conducting a soccer clinic on August 25, 2005. Kitson was 49. Baltimore Sun obituary.
Lazers owner Dr. Jerry Buss died on February 18, 2013 at age 80. New York Times obituary
Downloads
4-16-1984 Lazers vs. St. Louis Steamers Roster Sheet
4-16-1984 Los Angeles Lazers vs St Louis Steamers Roster
1987-88 Major Indoor Soccer League Rule Book & Schedule
Links
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