Philly next in line for MLS team?

[SoccerPrime]

Philly next in line for MLS team?
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/13648971.htm

[Looper121]

Philly next in line for MLS team?
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/13648971.htm

As many times as Phila is mentioned, something has to come up soon. I like that Garber said it's not "if but when". If that's the case then I wish someone would hurry the hell up.

[SoccerPrime]

On a positive note, Garber last said "not if but when" about Houston.
So there is still a chance this isn't just the company line.

[Looper121]

On a positive note, Garber last said "not if but when" about Houston.
So there is still a chance this isn't just the company line.

I don't think it's company line...it'll happen for sure. The timeline is what I am not sure about...

[suppitty]

Isn't Philly the 4th largest city in the country? I can't wait for them to get a team. It would make for a great rivalry with DC, and their fans would be great. In other sports people say Philly fans are "thugs", but I would love to have some rougher fans in MLS.

[Looper121]

Isn't Philly the 4th largest city in the country? I can't wait for them to get a team. It would make for a great rivalry with DC, and their fans would be great. In other sports people say Philly fans are "thugs", but I would love to have some rougher fans in MLS.
Thugs. :rolleyes: You mean knowledgable.

[TOTC]

I'll be interested to see where the SSS goes. If it goes across the street from Wachovia Center, Villanova may have to find a new place to play baseball.

I think they might locate in either Bensalem (if the Philadelphia Park racetrack has to sell off even more of its surrounding land), or Middletown (tear out that strip of cheap motels across Rt. 1 from the Neshaminy Interplex!). Both are relatively near the German Hungarian Club where soccer has practically been a religion.

[Rickster]

I was thilled to see the article, but seriously, until an investor is named in at least a rumor, it's all just vaporware.

[dfb547490]

I'll be interested to see where the SSS goes. If it goes across the street from Wachovia Center, Villanova may have to find a new place to play baseball.

Huh?? Villanova has an on-campus baseball park, not sure what that has to do with anything

I think they might locate in either Bensalem (if the Philadelphia Park racetrack has to sell off even more of its surrounding land), or Middletown (tear out that strip of cheap motels across Rt. 1 from the Neshaminy Interplex!). Both are relatively near the German Hungarian Club where soccer has practically been a religion.

I'd like to see an MLS owner buy the FC Delco youth club and name the entire organization "SC Delco Philadelphia". Build an SSS downtown but build a training facility somewhere in Delco to stay true to the name.

[Eddie26]

I'd like to see an MLS owner buy the FC Delco youth club and name the entire organization "SC Delco Philadelphia". Build an SSS downtown but build a training facility somewhere in Delco to stay true to the name.

Lose the Delco part though. I won't support SC Delco Philadelphia. I'm a Montco guy.

[TOTC]

Huh?? Villanova has an on-campus baseball park, not sure what that has to do with anything.

You sure? The ballfield next to the complex has a big sign on it that says "VILLANOVA BASEBALL".

Hey, wait a second... weren't they supposed to be mothballing the old Civic Center at one time? Why not gut it, remove the roof, install exposed girders and voila! SSS.

Or reconfigure Franklin Field. They don't get more than 40K for anything except for the Penn Relays...

[skyscraper]

I was thilled to see the article, but seriously, until an investor is named in at least a rumor, it's all just vaporware.
OK, Comcast is renewing their option on an MLS team.
There, I just started a rumor. Does that make you happy?

[scaryice]

Philly fans are great. I love 'em.

[skyscraper]

Hey, wait a second... weren't they supposed to be mothballing the old Civic Center at one time? Why not gut it, remove the roof, install exposed girders and voila! SSS.
They tore down the civic center months ago and are building a new UPenn Hospital building there.

Or reconfigure Franklin Field. They don't get more than 40K for anything except for the Penn Relays...
The only thing they'd have to do there is replace the field with natural grass. I don't know why this doesn't get more serious consideration, unless for some reason the Quakers football team and the Penn Relays (the two main tenants of the stadium) prefer artificial turf. I also don't know how scheduling would work; how much use does Franklin Field get between April and October? If it's viable, they should look into it. Although the track around the field acts as a moat, separating the field from the seats, this would be preferable to using tax money to building a new stadium. Of course, if a team investor also wants to build an sss with private money, that would be ideal.

[Rickster]

OK, Comcast is renewing their option on an MLS team.
There, I just started a rumor. Does that make you happy?

Yes!! I knew it was only a matter of time before Comcast realized how great a MLS team would be in Philadelphia. I think Brian Roberts played soccer in middle school, and I know David Cohen's son once went to a Kixx game, so they definitely love MLS.

Moderator, please put up a Name the Team Poll!!

;)

[Eddie26]

The only thing they'd have to do there is replace the field with natural grass. I don't know why this doesn't get more serious consideration, unless for some reason the Quakers football team and the Penn Relays (the two main tenants of the stadium) prefer artificial turf. I also don't know how scheduling would work; how much use does Franklin Field get between April and October? If it's viable, they should look into it. Although the track around the field acts as a moat, separating the field from the seats, this would be preferable to using tax money to building a new stadium. Of course, if a team investor also wants to build an sss with private money, that would be ideal.

What we would lose with the track, we'd gain with history. Think about it. We'd automatically have one of the most historic and recognizable stadiums in the league by far. I personally love Franklin Field. The only reason I can think of to keep the artificial turf it for the different teams that play there.

[skyscraper]

What we would lose with the track, we'd gain with history. Think about it. We'd automatically have one of the most historic and recognizable stadiums in the league by far. I personally love Franklin Field. The only reason I can think of to keep the artificial turf it for the different teams that play there.
You'd have to keep the track, the Penn Relays are too huge to do away with for the sake of soccer.

[Eddie26]

You'd have to keep the track, the Penn Relays are too huge to do away with for the sake of soccer.

No, what I meant by "lose", I meant in terms of closeness to the field. Not literally losing it.

[skyscraper]

No, what I meant by "lose", I meant in terms of closeness to the field. Not literally losing it.
Agreed, although the stadium might still be a bit larger than what the league wants. Soccer stadiums are supposed to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 25-30,000 seats, and I think Franklin Field has over 50k. The other thing is that it's not exactly a state of the art facility. I haven't been inside it in probably 10 years or more, but my recollection is that it is looking every bit of its 80+ years.

[Rickster]

Agreed, although the stadium might still be a bit larger than what the league wants. Soccer stadiums are supposed to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 25-30,000 seats, and I think Franklin Field has over 50k. The other thing is that it's not exactly a state of the art facility. I haven't been inside it in probably 10 years or more, but my recollection is that it is looking every bit of its 80+ years.

The stadium may be 80+ years, but the bathroooms date back to the days of open sewers in the streets.