The Glassboro Plan: What We Know So Far

[chapka]

For those who don't feel like paging through the entire previous 300+ post thread.

Details of the proposed stadium development can be found at:

http://www.rowan.edu/rowanwest/index.html

Highlights:


This is a proposal by Rowan University, a state university in Glassboro, N.J., a town in south Jersey about 15-20 miles from Philadelphia
It appears Rowan approached MLS, not the other way around
The proposal includes a multi-sport complex which would replace Rowan's existing athletic facilities
Facility to be located at the 55/322 interchange
The centerpiece would be a 20-24,000 seat soccer-specific stadium
The complex would also include separate football and track-and-field stadiums, an arena, and a swim arena, as well as a hotel and retail shopping
There's a "proposed" light rail station on the plans, although there doesn't appear to be any public transit in place or agreed to yet.


So what exactly has been agreed to?


MLS has not agreed to put a team in the Philadelphia market
No ownership deal is in place for an MLS team to play in Glassboro
MLS has agreed to work exclusively with Rowan to develop a stadium plan until July 1
If there's no deal in place by July 1, MLS is free to walk away
First step is to choose a developer, which will happen in the next 60 days


Obviously, since no team is in place, there's no decision on whether the team that would play at Glassboro would be an existing or expansion franchise, whether they'd be named "Philadelphia" or "New Jersey" or something else, or any other team details.

To summarize: it's an ambitious plan that would get a soccer-specific stadium built less than 20 miles from Philadelphia, but MLS would still need to provide an investor and a team.

[FuzzyForeigner]

To summarize: it's an ambitious plan that would get a soccer-specific stadium built less than 20 miles from Philadelphia, but MLS would still need to provide an investor and a team.


are you sure about the fact the MLS will be the one looking for an investor? Why wouldn't Rowan be investigating for one since they have come forward.

Do you honetly think they would have gone through all this trouble and make news announcements, unless they had some investors interested or at least in mind?

Rowan will build the facility and then have the MLS team pay rent? Is that the basic idear here?

[chapka]

are you sure about the fact the MLS will be the one looking for an investor? Why wouldn't Rowan be investigating for one since they have come forward.

I probably phrased that badly. Let's just say MLS will need an investor before they put a team on the field; I'm sure they don't care who comes up with one.

Frankly, I don't think we can assume anything about the existence of an investor based on this announcement. MLS has invested basically nothing in this plan so far, and if no investor turns up willing to consider this site, they can walk away in June and keep looking. If they've been talking to some investors already, I assume they'll pitch this stadium site to them (or did before the deal was announced). It's possible we'll get a team announcement in June out of this. But even if MLS didn't have an investor lined up, I don't see what they'd lose by going along with Rowan on this one. Rowan would have more to lose, so hopefully they made sure there were possible investors first--but I wouldn't count on it until we see an announcement.

As for who pays what...the deal is supposed to be inspired by the deal the league has with Cal State/Dominguez for the Home Depot Center, so I assume they'll start with that as a base, but nothing's been settled yet as to revenue sharing between the league and the campus; that's one of the things they'll need to work out.

[SoccerPrime]

The notion of "who is looking for the investor" is vague is because MLS is, itself, the main investor. In every MLS team, the league owns 51% of the team, the operator/investor owns 49% (of course some investors 49% is bigger than others).

So IF Rowan Unv has a developer (for the land & stadium) and a sound plan to build a soccer stadium by July 1, 2006, MLS will HELP Rowan Unv find the investor/operator.

[Looper121]

Rowan's plans make semi-big news on philly.com this morning...

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/14148296.htm

[SoccerPrime]

If you build it, they will come.
New article:
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/14146983.htm

[TMDSoccer]

The notion of "who is looking for the investor" is vague is because MLS is, itself, the main investor. In every MLS team, the league owns 51% of the team, the operator/investor owns 49% (of course some investors 49% is bigger than others).

So IF Rowan Unv has a developer (for the land & stadium) and a sound plan to build a soccer stadium by July 1, 2006, MLS will HELP Rowan Unv find the investor/operator.

The league "owns" 100% of all of the clubs, and the "owner-operator" receives a license to operate a specific club (or for uncle Phil a few clubs) and an ownership stake in the entire league. I wouldn't be surprised to see this turn into a joint venture with a European club or something of that nature - MLS has been trying to find an acceptable owner in Philly/S Jersey for years without success, their last attempt was with a group based in NYC that didn't want to ante up for the Metrostars.

[SoccerPrime]

True, I was trying to say it in a different way. Essentially a potential I/O is really investing in MLS as a whole with exclusivity to a particular market.

The NY group you mention, is that the Trenton fiasco?

[TMDSoccer]

The NY group you mention, is that the Trenton fiasco?

No, the former GM of Metrostars was putting together a group, eventually it morphed into the Red Bull deal. I'm part of a group that owned some land NW of philly and he met with us and the local town govt to try to put something together, but that was early 2005. I always wondered what happened to that, he had mentioned meeting with Rowan back then.

[SoccerPrime]

No, the former GM of Metrostars was putting together a group, eventually it morphed into the Red Bull deal. I'm part of a group that owned some land NW of philly and he met with us and the local town govt to try to put something together, but that was early 2005. I always wondered what happened to that, he had mentioned meeting with Rowan back then.
TMD do you have any contact with these people any more? I would love to get any information you have on the story.

[Zman Gunner]

The league "owns" 100% of all of the clubs, and the "owner-operator" receives a license to operate a specific club (or for uncle Phil a few clubs) and an ownership stake in the entire league. I wouldn't be surprised to see this turn into a joint venture with a European club or something of that nature - MLS has been trying to find an acceptable owner in Philly/S Jersey for years without success, their last attempt was with a group based in NYC that didn't want to ante up for the Metrostars.

With the rare soccer specific stadium first, investor/owner second process that this process is taking - I have also been hanging the foreign investor possibility out there. A few clubs have been mentioned in MLS talks in the past - I do not see a Mexican team (i.e. Club America) in the mix - the Mexican version of the Philadelphia Atoms was a flop, but I could see Barcelona being a possibility (they did play at the Linc in its first-ever event although they got 2nd billing to Man U) or more likely, an EPL team (would be a good fit in this region).

[skyscraper]

If you build it, they will come.
New article:
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/14146983.htm
Cracks me up: they say a team might come here "as EARLY" as 2009. Three years from now is late, not early.

[VioletCrown]

Cracks me up: they say a team might come here "as EARLY" as 2009. Three years from now is late, not early.

I don't know about you, but I find it disturbing how soon 2009 is now. Guess I'm getting old. With everything else that's going on in MLS, 2009 seems plenty early to me.

[chapulincolorado]

I don't know about you, but I find it disturbing how soon 2009 is now. Guess I'm getting old. With everything else that's going on in MLS, 2009 seems plenty early to me.

I think BS posters have to put things in perspective in so far as time frame. If they are in for 2009, that means they have to have a stadium and I/O ready w/i two years not three. BS posters are doing simple math (2009-2006= 3). Nope. Two years. They have to have all done before the last quarter of 2008 in order to play in 2009. One year for sure will have to go all on building stadium. One year to move and grease the wheels of public funding and getting an I/O. So. No bumps on the road if it's for 2009. ...... of course....the announcement did say that MLS and the Univ. would be in discussion for the next 4 mo. before anything formal is agreed. Let's get over that bump first. :D

[skyscraper]

I don't know about you, but I find it disturbing how soon 2009 is now. Guess I'm getting old. With everything else that's going on in MLS, 2009 seems plenty early to me.
I am also in that "feeling old" mode, but 3 years from now is late considering how long they have been blathering about putting a team in the Philadelphia area.

[chapulincolorado]

I am also in that "feeling old" mode, but 3 years from now is late considering how long they have been blathering about putting a team in the Philadelphia area.

Not really. If they are starting almost from scratch. One yr. to build stadium. One year to get the funding and I/O on board. And. Two years is tight time frame to start playing on 2009.

[PhilaBullDog]

The word from Rowan University is that they are not looking for any investor. They are forwarding all investor inquiries to the MLS. The deal is that they will provide the land and help to get a stadium built, but MLS must come up with an owner and a team. It is not clear how the relationship for the stadium will be worked out, sure that will be a major part of the negotiation, but it is all flowing through the MLS.

[Sundevil9]

The word from Rowan University is that they are not looking for any investor. They are forwarding all investor inquiries to the MLS. The deal is that they will provide the land and help to get a stadium built, but MLS must come up with an owner and a team. It is not clear how the relationship for the stadium will be worked out, sure that will be a major part of the negotiation, but it is all flowing through the MLS.

Both parties, Rowan and MLS are headed out into the world looking for people with large bank accounts. MLS is looking for a soccer investor/owner/operator for a team, and Rowan is looking for a developer for it's land.

Both need to suceed to see a team land in SJ.

[dcajedi]

i would also say that the july time limit is pretty short. and that if nothing comes up by then -- which will probably be the case, IMHO -- the rest of the region goes back on the table real fast.

[SoccerPrime]

i would also say that the july time limit is pretty short. and that if nothing comes up by then -- which will probably be the case, IMHO -- the rest of the region goes back on the table real fast.
Any idea who would be on that short list?