USISL/USL A-League (1997-1999)
Tombstone
Born: 1997 USISL A-League expansion franchise
Re-Branded: 2000 (Orange County Waves)
First Game: April 20, 1997 (W 1-0 vs. El Paso Patriots)
Last Game: September 11, 1999 (L 6-3 @ Seattle Sounders)
A-League Championships: None
Stadia
1997: Santa Ana Stadium (8,500)11997 United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues Media Guide
Opened: 1963
Surface: Grass
1998: UC Irvine Anteater Stadium (3,000)21998 United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues Media Guide
Opened:
Surface: Grass
1999: Santa Ana Stadium
Marketing
Team Colors: Blue & White31998 United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues Media Guide
Ownership & Affiliation
Owner: John Frankhouse
MLS Affiliation
- 1997-1998: Los Angeles Galaxy41998 United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues Media Guide
- 1999: Los Angeles Galaxy & Dallas Burn51999 United Soccer Leagues Media Guide
Attendance
Background
The Orange County Zodiac was a 2nd division farm club of Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy for three seasons between 1997 and 1999. The team struggled to gain attention and were particularly hurt by an ill-advised move to UC Irvine for the second season in 1998. The Zodiac averaged 1,278 fans per match in Santa Ana in 1997, but announced crowds averaged fewer than 500 a game in 1998. The club would return to Santa Ana Stadium in 1999.
On the field, the Zodiac’s top performers were Argentinean forward Gustavo Leal and former Fresno State striker Steve Patterson. Leal played all four seasons for Orange County’s A-League entry from 1997 to 2000, while Patterson arrived in 1998. The duo combined for 74 goals for the Zodiac and their successor club, the Orange County Waves.
Mortgage banker John Frankhouse owned the Zodiac for all three seasons of play. Frankhouse, who passed away in 2015, lived in Coto de Caza, a massive gated community in Orange County that spawned The Real Housewives of Orange County show on Bravo. The community is loaded with current and former professional athletes including Rod Carew, Bode Miller, Michael Chang and (weirdly) much of the Utah Jazz. Amidst all of that wealth, Frankenhouse owned probably the most ostentatious estate. His 9.5 acre compound included a 9 bedroom 12 bath mansion, private lagoon and a 3-story replica pirate ship. Lakers star Kobe Bryant placed a $13.5 million offer on Frankhouse’s home in 2001, though the sale never went through.
Change to Orange County Waves & Demise
Frankhouse withdrew his financial support of the Zodiac in late 1999. The United Soccer Leagues foreclosed on the club and sold it to a new owner, Steve Peacock, in January 2000. Peacock changed the club’s name to the Orange County Waves. The Waves played one final season in the A-League in the summer of 2000 before Peacock also withdrew and Orange County departed the pro soccer scene.
In Memoriam
Zodiac owner John Frankhouse passed away on April 14, 2015.
Links
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One Response
But why “Zodiac”?