MLS in Philadelphia: Reset.

[OKTerrific]

Ok here's what we know:

-We have an investor or investors. We don't know who they are, we don't know where they're from. But, the important thing is that we have them.

-We have at least ONE site proposed for our SSS. (Bristol Township, adjacent to the Rohm and Haas property) There has also been speculation about the Philadelphia Park Racetrack property or the doomed Willow Grove Joint Reserve Base in Horsham.

-There are LOTS of people on this board and in our area that would kill for a team, and BigSoccer Poster Philadelphia City has some great ideas on how to get the word out. See them here (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=262219) .


Thought I would start a thread compiling everything we know so far. Let me know if I missed anything.

[SoccerPrime]

Ok here's what we know:

-We have an investor or investors. We don't know who they are, we don't know where they're from. But, the important thing is that we have them.

-We have at least ONE site proposed for our SSS. (Bristol Township, adjacent to the Rohm and Haas property) There has also been speculation about the Philadelphia Park Racetrack property or the doomed Willow Grove Joint Reserve Base in Horsham.

-There are LOTS of people on this board and in our area that would kill for a team, and BigSoccer Poster Philadelphia City has some great ideas on how to get the word out. See them here (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=262219) .


Thought I would start a thread compiling everything we know so far. Let me know if I missed anything.
While I think its great news that Philly had someone at the Board of Gov. meeting, it does not mean that Philly has an investor.
We just don't know who/what that person/persons were. So lets not jump to the conclusion that it was an investor.
I will spend some time today, to see if I can find out who it was.

[PhilaBullDog]

Hmm do we know there is a site in Bristol or just an interest to put a stadium in Bristol. Willow Grove Air Base is definitely out at least for a decade, it will take at least that long to figure out what to do there. Any SSS will take significant tax payer dollars to purchase land and help with the building costs. I would love to see an MLS team here in Philly, but without tax payer funding any investor is looking at $50-80 mil to start a team and get a stadium.

[mdelrossi1]

-We have an investor or investors. We don't know who they are, we don't know where they're from. But, the important thing is that we have them.

didnt someone say in the last thread that the investor was from south jersey and had no affiliation with Comcast or Jeff Lurie?

[SoccerPrime]

Hmm do we know there is a site in Bristol or just an interest to put a stadium in Bristol. Willow Grove Air Base is definitely out at least for a decade, it will take at least that long to figure out what to do there. Any SSS will take significant tax payer dollars to purchase land and help with the building costs. I would love to see an MLS team here in Philly, but without tax payer funding any investor is looking at $50-80 mil to start a team and get a stadium.
MLS spoke to several gov't agencies in the Bristol area about building a SSS there.
There was an article that detailed the events.
But since the article is no longer on the web, here it is for your enjoyment:

Pro soccer team coming to Bucks?
By JAMES MCGINNIS
phillyBurbs.com

A professional soccer league is eyeing spots along Bucks County's waterfront for a new multimillion-dollar sports complex to host the area's first outdoor pro soccer team.

Although there isn't a team here now, representatives from Major League Soccer visited Bristol Township and Bensalem this month to scout possible stadium locations, said Bucks County Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Bob White.

Construction of a local stadium would require a "significant" multimillion-dollar investment by the host town and at least 40 acres of land, White speculated.

Letters from the league also were sent to all Lower Bucks river towns, White said. The league is asking each town whether it would be interested or capable to "enter into public-private partnership and build a world class soccer-specific stadium."

Major League Soccer wants to build a stadium with seats for at least 25,000 people. By comparison, Waterfront Park, home of the Trenton Thunder, holds 6,606 spectators. The Phillies' Citizens Bank Park holds 43,500.

Towns have until Aug. 15 to respond to Major League Soccer's letter.

White said he took league representatives to Bristol Township's Maple Beach near a Rohm and Haas plant on the Delaware River.

"They liked everything they saw there. But there's a lot of competition out there I'm sure," he said.


Bensalem Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo said he met with league officials to discuss the proposal.

"Certainly, this is something to consider and we'll take a look at it," DiGirolamo said, adding that he doubts there is any room in the township for such a massive complex - even on the waterfront.

"I just don't see a spot for it," he said. "We also have to keep in mind the kind of traffic that this would bring in," the mayor added.

"They also want some participation - some money to do this - and that really scared me. We don't have the money to do that," DiGirolamo said.

Returning from a family vacation, Bristol Township Mayor Sam Fenton said he learned of Major League Soccer's local interest only Thursday.

Fenton said he had questions about how much the township would need to invest in the project, but was excited by the idea.

"I would love to see something like this, especially if it's a legitimate offer," he said. "This could be a major shot in the arm for our community."

James McGinnis can be reached at 215-949-3248 or jmcginnis@phillyBurbs.com.

July 29, 2005 8:35 AM

[USAClash]

I have a couple of questions:

How would the team do if the stadium was in South Jersey?

Is there no chance for a SSS in that giant sports complex you guys have in South Philly?

Having lived in Philly before, I think MLS could potentially do very well there. However, it will be interesting to see how a team would fare playing way out in the suburbs.

[billyireland]

Wayne Rooney is better than anybody on any of the teams OK_Terrific follows. Somebody had to say it.

[mdelrossi1]

I have a couple of questions:

How would the team do if the stadium was in South Jersey?

Is there no chance for a SSS in that giant sports complex you guys have in South Philly?

Having lived in Philly before, I think MLS could potentially do very well there. However, it will be interesting to see how a team would fare playing way out in the suburbs.

I doubt the stadium would be in south jersey. what I said earlier was that I think the investor was from S Jersey which doesnt necessarily mean that they will build the SSS there. While I think that the center city area would be the best choice...it would also be the most difficult and expensive so it wont happen. When we had this discussion before someone gave reasons why we couldnt put it in south philly. I forget what they were right now, so if someone else wants to help me out on this one please do. our best bet is to have it outside the city limits much like other recent MLS SSS's have been.

[skyscraper]

When we had this discussion before someone gave reasons why we couldnt put it in south philly. I forget what they were right now, so if someone else wants to help me out on this one please do. our best bet is to have it outside the city limits much like other recent MLS SSS's have been.
There is no reason they can't build it in south Philly. I have been banging the Olympics drum for some time, but let me restate:
-leveraging the sports complex is our best hope for landing the 2016 games.
- the olympic stadium would have to be located near the rest of the complex because our advantage is the compactness of the stadiums
-The Linc cannot be used as the olympic stadium because it is not configured for track and field, so we would have to build an olympic stadium for t&f that would hold something like 80,000 that could be pared down to 25k after the olympics, which could be used for soccer, lacrosse, and rugby. that is our best hope of getting an sss, which is our best hope for getting an MLS team here.

[CyphaPSU]

I wouldn't say that our best hope of getting an expansion MLS club here in Philly is dependent upon Philly winning an Olympics 2016 bid. :eek:

[CyphaPSU]

I guess it's a good sign that the 2006 MLS Entry Draft is being held right here in Philadelphia on January, 20th. Maybe it will help bring out some more information regarding the possibilities of expanding the league in this city.

[SoccerPrime]

I guess it's a good sign that the 2006 MLS Entry Draft is being held right here in Philadelphia on January, 20th. Maybe it will help bring out some more information regarding the possibilities of expanding the league in this city.
At the very least, Philly MLS fans should go there and boo DC or Metros selections.

JK ;)

But it was cool last year to hear all the DC fans during the Draft.
It made it feel like MLS had come of age.

[CyphaPSU]

At the very least, Philly MLS fans should go there and boo DC or Metros selections.

JK ;)

I'm all for showing our true Philly sporting spirit even before we have a club of our own!

[Looper121]

I'm all for showing our true Philly sporting spirit even before we have a club of our own!

I'll join everyone for a DC draft "Boo" or two...

[Adam Zebrowski]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=349517&root=mls&cc=5901

"The league is hungry to land a team in Philadelphia, not only because of the strong soccer communities in the area but also for the potential rivalries that could be created by its proximity to both the MetroStars and D.C. United."

[SoccerPrime]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=349517&root=mls&cc=5901

"The league is hungry to land a team in Philadelphia, not only because of the strong soccer communities in the area but also for the potential rivalries that could be created by its proximity to both the MetroStars and D.C. United."
Now how can we turn this statement to our advantage?

[setpiece]

Now how can we turn this statement to our advantage?


load up a bus full of eagles fans, go to RFK for the United home opener next year and hurl D-batteries at the players :D

[SoccerPrime]

What about someone starting some form of pro soccer in Philly, I don't know, maybe a USLD2 team? They only cost around $100,000 to start and there are teams in H-Burg, Pittsburgh and Long Island.
http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/teamdirectory/88288.html

Seems if there was something more for the Philly soccer fans to focus on locally it would attract the big boys attention.
Good idea?

[DoctorD]

What about someone starting some form of pro soccer in Philly, I don't know, maybe a USLD2 team? They only cost around $100,000 to start and there are teams in H-Burg, Pittsburgh and Long Island.
http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/teamdirectory/88288.html

Seems if there was something more for the Philly soccer fans to focus on locally it would attract the big boys attention.
Good idea?

Now there's one in Delaware too (although I can't remember which level it is).

And although it seems that MLS is favoring Philly by holding the Superdraft there, it has more to do with it being the site of the NSCAA convention.

See you there - with my DC United scarf on...

[SoccerPrime]

Now there's one in Delaware too (although I can't remember which level it is).

And although it seems that MLS is favoring Philly by holding the Superdraft there, it has more to do with it being the site of the NSCAA convention.

See you there - with my DC United scarf on...
Thats PDL and not professional in any way.
Plus its Delaware.

Don't get your hopes up too much about the Draft.
But have fun and be loud!