Stadium in Willow Grove?

[mydree]

With the Willow Grove Naval Air Station being scheduled to be closed, has there ever been talk of building a MLS stadium on part of the land after it closes?

[SoccerPrime]

I've never come across any article talking about a WG location.
But you never know.
I wish we would hear something on this. Philly needs MLS!

[pasoccerdave]

Story I heard is that FedEx and/or UPS are interested in the property. There aren't many propereties around that come with a runway already in place.

UPS already has a large facility in Willow Grove.

Of course, I'm sure the developers are also salivating when contemplating that much prime real estate.

[Looper121]

UPS and FedEx will eat that site quickly if they really want it, as for anything left over for a stadium. Doubtful. The problem is that someone has to want to do this, I don't think finding the land will be that much of an issue...

All though an airforce base as a site for the new stadium wold be great for nickname ideas...

[Sundevil9]

If UPS or FedEx want the Willow Grove facility and are willing to cut a parcel out for a SSS, think of the marketing opportunities for MLS.

They could bring either as a new sponsor.

Naming the team something like Boxers, Shippers, or Express would tie in nicely.

And potentially, the first ever all brown kit. OK, maybe this isn't such a hot idea.

[okiebear]

That's quality ($$$) land. The cheap land was deserted by U.S. Steel and satellite companies near the river in Bucks. Best put the stadium over near me. :p

[Eddie26]

The Willow Grove Naval Air Base is less that a mile from me.

One of my best friends is a reporter for the Montgomery County Record. He tells me that part of the deal, if the base does get closed which at this point still very ify, that part will be residential and commercial and that they will have to keep part of it for public use (park, whatever).

A judge's ruling last week made it so that the base can only be closed if Rendell approves it, well I just can't see that happening. There's something like 2,000 jobs there.

If it were to close, that's a hell of a lot of land. More than just a Fed Ex or UPS can use. That base it just massive. Even if UPS did take the area around a landing strip or two, there would still be plenty of room for other development ideas.

[Sundevil9]

If it were to close, that's a hell of a lot of land. More than just a Fed Ex or UPS can use. That base it just massive. Even if UPS did take the area around a landing strip or two, there would still be plenty of room for other development ideas.

Don't underestimate what those companies can use. There was a little place out in Tennesse that Fed Ex got use of, generally it's called Memphis. Either company could use that as a large East Coast distribution point and reduce the headaches of the major airports.

[dcajedi]

Silly question I'm sure but is Willow Grove near any of the SEPTA lines?

[Eddie26]

Silly question I'm sure but is Willow Grove near any of the SEPTA lines?

Willow Grove itself is. The Air Base, while bearing the Willow Grove name, really isn't in Willow Grove. It's in Horsham.

Either way, it's not really near any train lines. Buses, yes a bunch. The nearest rail line is probably Hatboro, about 5-10 mins away. Maybe a 2-3 mile walk.

[Looper121]

Hmmm...even though there is a lot of land, that is in the middle of an area that would eat it up quickly, so having a bit leftover for a stadium seems iffy.

Brown kits, No, I hope not. :D

Boxers sounds cool, but I wold want it to follow the Boxing history here in Phila, not box tapers...

[pasoccerdave]

Brown kits, No, I hope not. :D

Boxers sounds cool, but I wold want it to follow the Boxing history here in Phila, not box tapers...

Every game could be Boxing Day!

[OKTerrific]

I cannot see this happening, nor will it ever be approved by the township if it even became an idea.

The traffic in Horsham, which is were the base is located and is my hometown, is already horriffic.

Having no highways nearby and 20,000 people converge on one spot would be a recipe for disaster.

It'll never EVER happen, although I wish it would.

[n4100]

I cannot see this happening, nor will it ever be approved by the township if it even became an idea.

The traffic in Horsham, which is were the base is located and is my hometown, is already horriffic.

Having no highways nearby and 20,000 people converge on one spot would be a recipe for disaster.

It'll never EVER happen, although I wish it would.One would argue that 611 is a highway, and that the Turnpike, about 5 miles to the south is a highway. As for 20,000 people converging on a spot, imagine how South Philly feels practically everyday. Of course, I'm sure the Air Show gets a few thousand in every year, so I figure the police would have an idea on crowd control.

I don't think its a great place to put a stadium though.

[Eddie26]

I cannot see this happening, nor will it ever be approved by the township if it even became an idea.

The traffic in Horsham, which is were the base is located and is my hometown, is already horriffic.

Having no highways nearby and 20,000 people converge on one spot would be a recipe for disaster.

It'll never EVER happen, although I wish it would.

Holy S!! BigSoccer's second Horsham resident. Where do you live OK? I'm off of Witmer Rd near St Catherine's.

[Eddie26]

I don't think its a great place to put a stadium though.

Pipe down Nick, stop being a hater just because I didn't go out drinking tonight! :p ...it's a wonderful place to put a stadium. I could walk there plus maybe the Township would kicks in funds to put some kind of public transportation in place.

[n4100]

Pipe down Nick, stop being a hater just because I didn't go out drinking tonight! :p ...it's a wonderful place to put a stadium. I could walk there plus maybe the Township would kicks in funds to put some kind of public transportation in place.
It's an awful place to put a stadium. No one knows how to get there, people coming over from Jersey would probably have to catch the Turnpike (meaning it'll cost more to go to the games). The Township won't kick in the money, they'll expect SEPTA to front it themselves, which isn't going to happen, then the Township will want help from the surrounding communities, but as we've seen with a light rail option out towards Reading, no one in the area wants to help someone else out, so Horsham should forget help.

You walk? I scoff at that notion! Only good thing that would come out of it, is burgers at Red Lion after the game.

[OKTerrific]

Holy S!! BigSoccer's second Horsham resident. Where do you live OK? I'm off of Witmer Rd near St Catherine's.


off of Herman Road, and Hunt Drive more specifically. Are you a HATTER????

[n4100]

Holy S!! BigSoccer's second Horsham resident. Where do you live OK? I'm off of Witmer Rd near St Catherine's.
Wow, you two could have a quilting party or something!

[Eddie26]

off of Herman Road, and Hunt Drive more specifically. Are you a HATTER????

I am, class of 1996. You?


It's an awful place to put a stadium. No one knows how to get there, people coming over from Jersey would probably have to catch the Turnpike (meaning it'll cost more to go to the games).

You say that like it's a bad thing? Less people from New Jersey the better I think!