As a boy, Peter Wilt was a Chicago sports fan who suffered with each of the city’s major athletic failures. “I cried when the Blackhawks lost to Montreal in ’71,” says the 37-year-old. “I was a blubbering mess when the Bulls lost in the semifinals in ’75. “But I still remember the date ù Sept. 26, 1981 ù when the Chicago Sting won the North American Soccer League. I was at Marquette, and I celebrated.” That soccer success, Wilt says, galvanized Chicago. Since then, the Windy City has been collecting major trophies in other sports. But now pro outdoor soccer is returning, along with Wilt. Wilt was named general manager of Chicago’s MLS franchise, along with Miami the first expansion teams in MLS history. They begin play in 1998. Bob Sanderman, president of Anschutz Chicago Soccer Inc., and also president OF the Colorado Rapids, made the announcement of Wilt’s appointment June 24. “He’s native of Chicago,” said Sanderman. “He knows the city, knows the people in city, and he has spent the last 10 years in management of soccer teams.” After a stint in journalism, Wilt spent six years in marketing and public relations for a Milwaukee minor league hockey team. From 1987 to 1990, he was director of marketing and publicity for the National Professional Soccer League’s Milwaukee Wave, whose attendance increased in each of the four years, going from an average of 2,000 to 8,000. He spent the next four years with the NPSL’s Chicago Power, whose attendance also rose during Wilt’s tenure. When Philip Anschutz invested in MLS, making The Anschutz Corporation operators of the Colorado Rapids, he also gained rights to Chicago. “One of the things we learned in Colorado,” Sanderman said, “was the importance having not just good business people, but people with good experience in soccer management. “Peter has experience not just in soccer, but in running the marketing departments and ticket sales.” Wilt said the most difficult part of joining the Chicago franchise was leaving the Minnesota Thunder, the A-League franchise he served since 1994. “It was an idyllic situation in Minnesota,” he said. “I worked with great people and we achieved a break-even year and were on the verge of profit-making. Fortunately, I’m being allowed to remain a part owner and hopefully we can make Minnesota an affiliate team.” Wilt’s first tasks include setting up offices, hiring staff, and the coach, whom the team hopes to have in place by fall. “I’m looking for someone who wants to make Chicago his home,” Wilt said, “not someone who wants to use it as a stepping stone. Because the multi-ethnicity of the city, a bilingual or trilingual coach would be desirable. And charisma, which is obviously hard to define, is another attribute I’m looking for.” Sanderman expects a team nickname to be announced within a month. by Soccer America Senior Editor Mike Woitalla