Don Garber says Philly has investor?

[J Mac]

"As you know by now, Toronto is on track to be our thirteenth team. Here, in Frisco, we have representatives from investor groups from Philadelphia, Tulsa, Atlanta, Milwaukee, Houston and Cleveland. Each represent great prospects for our 14th team and beyond and we'll work hard to try and finalize those deals as quickly as possible. "

Don Garber

So i guess we do have a investor? Philly mentioned first, looks good guys.

[HartwickFan]

Wow! That's great news, as it's the first time I've ever heard anything from a credible source even suggesting the possibility of a Philly expansion team.

Here's hoping we get a team! :)

[Rickster]

I saw that too! Who are they?

Somebody call WIP and tell them that T.O. is a possible investor.

[J Mac]

i too am wondering who the investor is.
i am very excited about the news, i cant see why mls would choose anyone else over philly especially since we have a "investor".

[Sundevil9]

While exciting, the 'investor' could just be some nutjob that has conned his way into some free MLS Cup tix.

So TO is still a possibility. :D


But think who could want a team in Philly? We've hashed to death the possibiltiy of Lurie.

Now it's been beat down a couple of times, but the landscape is a little different now. Snyder/Comcast. They're looking at improving thier sports standing and getting more programming for OLN. They just got the NHL deal, and I'm sure they'd like to show a little less bullriding. Could be a way to leverage a TV deal as well.

Just an idea.

[OKTerrific]

I'd love to know who this investor is. How sure are we that this guy isn't just talking out of his @ss?

[Looper121]

Hmmm, I'm not gonna wet my pants yet. But, this is a good omen. Is there a link or story anywhere?

[anderson]

Now it's been beat down a couple of times, but the landscape is a little different now. Snyder/Comcast. They're looking at improving thier sports standing and getting more programming for OLN. They just got the NHL deal, and I'm sure they'd like to show a little less bullriding. Could be a way to leverage a TV deal as well.That's Global Spectrum/Comcast, right? Global Spectrum, as a subsidiary of Comcast and operator of the 76ers, Flyers, Wachovia Center, and Wachovia Spectrum, among other things, fits the profile of the recent new investors in MLS. That background operating multi-use venues and experience with pro sports teams makes them very similar to AEG, HSG, KSG, KSE, CSP, GSE, MLSE - all current, or soon to be - MLS LLC members and MLS I/Os. They have the same sort of profile as the last five (and possibly six, if SVSE acquires the Quakes) new investors in MLS. Then throw in their affiliation with Comcast, and you have pretty much the ideal MLS investor.

[PhillyMLS]

That's Global Spectrum/Comcast, right? Global Spectrum, as a subsidiary of Comcast and operator of the 76ers, Flyers, Wachovia Center, and Wachovia Spectrum, among other things, fits the profile of the recent new investors in MLS. That background operating multi-use venues and experience with pro sports teams makes them very similar to AEG, HSG, KSG, KSE, CSP, GSE, MLSE - all current, or soon to be - MLS LLC members and MLS I/Os. They have the same sort of profile as the last five (and possibly six, if SVSE acquires the Quakes) new investors in MLS. Then throw in their affiliation with Comcast, and you have pretty much the ideal MLS investor.

Actually I think it would be comcast/spectacor that would be considered the primary possibility of an owner. Global-Spectrum is a subsidary of C/S and actually deals with the facility management side of things. This is a blurb about the company I pulled off the G-S website:

"Comcast-Spectacor Ventures under the leadership of its President, Peter Luukko, is the division of Comcast-Spectacor charged with creating and developing new business opportunities in the fields of facility management, sports ownership and operations, and food and beverage services and concessions. Comcast-Spectacor Ventures also provides consulting services in all of these fields.

Comcast-Spectacor Ventures includes Global Spectrum; Ovations Food Services, a food and beverage services company; New Era Tickets , a company offering a new and unique approach to in-house ticketing services; Flyers Skate Zone, a series of community skating rinks designed to promote ice skating and ice hockey in the Philadelphia region; and the Philadelphia Phantoms of the American Hockey League; the Bowie Baysox of "AA" Eastern League; the Delmarva Shorebirds, of "A" South Atlantic League; and the Frederick Keys, of "A" Carolina League - all affiliates of the Baltimore Orioles."

The actually left out that C-S also operates the Kixx as far as I know, and they also were the owners of the Charge. Seeing as how one of the things C-S doesn't actually own is an outdoor venue they very well may be interested in trying to build one in the Philadelphia area. There also is the possibility that they own the Barrage (outdoor lax team; plays at Nova like the charge did) and see that a facility that would work well since it would have 2 permanent tenets. So they would be assured of having 22 games a year at the facility outside of concerts, friendlies, or any other events. May be something that is in their business plan, so we'll have to see I guess.

Edit: Found this quote from garber in his chat that might have some relevance.
Indirectly these deals have significantly raised the value of soccer programming and we stand to benefit from that. Interestingly, both G.E. (NBC and Telemundo), FOX/Comcast in addition to ABC/ESPN were all aggressively bidding for those rights. All of those were negotiating with SUM for MLS and U.S. Soccer rights.

[anderson]

Actually I think it would be comcast/spectacor that would be considered the primary possibility of an owner. Global-Spectrum is a subsidary of C/S and actually deals with the facility management side of things. ..Thanks.

[spidergoose]

Man I want Philly in the league. That'd be a great rivalry with both DC and Metro.

[Philadelphia City]

Hmmm, I'm not gonna wet my pants yet. But, this is a good omen. Is there a link or story anywhere?

Thats what worries me.

I haven't heard anything. I would atleast like to hear something on Comcast Sportsnet.

[D-Wall]

"As you know by now, Toronto is on track to be our thirteenth team. Here, in Frisco, we have representatives from investor groups from Philadelphia, Tulsa, Atlanta, Milwaukee, Houston and Cleveland. Each represent great prospects for our 14th team and beyond and we'll work hard to try and finalize those deals as quickly as possible. "

Don Garber

So i guess we do have a investor? Philly mentioned first, looks good guys.

In another quote, he said that only 5 investor groups were in Frisco, without Houston being mentioned. That leaves Philly against some pretty weak cities. Atlanta hates professional sports. All the rest are minor league towns, except for Cleveland. I just think they have to spread the wealth outside of Ohio...

I am so excited that we even have a potential investor! Let's go Philly!

[pasoccerdave]

Thats what worries me.

I haven't heard anything. I would atleast like to hear something on Comcast Sportsnet.

And it will be simulcast on 610 WIP? :rolleyes:

[skyscraper]

And it will be simulcast on 610 WIP? :rolleyes:
It would be a great fit for C/S to add an MLS team to their sports team portfolio. But whoever the investor is, I wonder if they plan to build an sss or if they plan to use the Linc in the long term? Arguments that it would be too difficult to schedule the Eagles, Temple football, and an MLS team at the Linc are a bunch of crap. DC United has to schedule around the Nationals at RFK stadium, and baseball plays 6 or 7 days a week. It can be done. I realize the league wants soccer stadiums, but it shouldn't be a deal-breaker. There is no talk that I am aware of about moving the Revs out of Foxboro (but please correct me if I am wrong). So the league will tolerate NFL stadiums to be in highly desirable markets, and I think Philadelphia is at least as desirable as Boston if not more so.
An sss would be great, don't get me wrong: they could also host outdoor lacrosse (the Barrage)and rugby (there are 4 rugby league teams and at least 2 rugby union teams in the Philadelphia area), but they should be willing to settle for the Linc.

[denver_mugwamp]

It would be a great fit for C/S to add an MLS team to their sports team portfolio. But whoever the investor is, I wonder if they plan to build an sss or if they plan to use the Linc in the long term? Arguments that it would be too difficult to schedule the Eagles, Temple football, and an MLS team at the Linc are a bunch of crap. DC United has to schedule around the Nationals at RFK stadium, and baseball plays 6 or 7 days a week. It can be done. I realize the league wants soccer stadiums, but it shouldn't be a deal-breaker. There is no talk that I am aware of about moving the Revs out of Foxboro (but please correct me if I am wrong). So the league will tolerate NFL stadiums to be in highly desirable markets, and I think Philadelphia is at least as desirable as Boston if not more so.
An sss would be great, don't get me wrong: they could also host outdoor lacrosse (the Barrage)and rugby (there are 4 rugby league teams and at least 2 rugby union teams in the Philadelphia area), but they should be willing to settle for the Linc.

If there's a MLS team in Philadelphia, the only question will be where the team plays until the new stadium is built. The Rapids have a pretty good deal with Invesco in Denver where they only pay about $20k a game rent. The fact that they're in the process of building their own place should tell you something. It's become apparent that it's nearly impossible for a MLS team to break even without control of their own stadium and its revenue streams.

[Sundevil9]

Something else to think about in the C/S potential of ownership/investment: There's starting to be a little club of MLS/NHL ownership, AEG owns the LA Kings and half of MLS, MLSE (Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment) owns the Toronto Maple Leafs and the new Toronto MLS outfit, and the Avs owner just bought the Rapids.

[wufc]

Something else to think about in the C/S potential of ownership/investment: There's starting to be a little club of MLS/NHL ownership, AEG owns the LA Kings and half of MLS, MLSE (Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment) owns the Toronto Maple Leafs and the new Toronto MLS outfit, and the Avs owner just bought the Rapids.
Don't forget Checketts bought the STL Blues.

[Sundevil9]

Don't forget Checketts bought the STL Blues.

Good catch.

Further evidence of MLS distancing themselves from the football guys Hunt and Kraft.

[CyphaPSU]

Hey, maybe the potential investor is WIP or better yet, Howard Eskin, himself! :)