KC Relocation to Rowan denied

[SoccerPrime]

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/14263868.htm
Major League Soccer’s announcement last month that it might put a team in Glassboro, N.J., by the 2009 season kicked the rumor mill into high gear.

One story circulating among Red Bull New York players was that the Wizards, who have been on the block since December 2004, would play at Rowan University, should the New Jersey school get the stadium built.

That was shot down quickly by Joe Cardona, a Rowan University spokesman.

“All we have is a commitment from MLS that they will put a team in the stadium that we build, and that team is to play in 2009,” Cardona said. “The soccer end of things is up to MLS.”

MLS director of media relations Will Kuhns said the Wizards were never linked to Rowan.

“That’s supposed to be an expansion team in 2009, but I can see how rumors like that can start given what’s happened in Kansas City, but it’s probably just people doing their own speculating,” Kuhns said. “I don’t think there’s anything to it.”

Rowan University is about 20 minutes from Philadelphia and has the land available for a soccer stadium.

The other rumor had New York businessman Andrew Murstein, who at one time made a bid for the Wizards, as wanting to invest in the Rowan team. Not so. Murstein told The New York Times he wasn’t interested in Philadelphia and hoped to put a second team in New York in the future.

[skyscraper]

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/14263868.htm
Major League Soccer’s announcement last month that it might put a team in Glassboro, N.J., by the 2009 season kicked the rumor mill into high gear.

One story circulating among Red Bull New York players was that the Wizards, who have been on the block since December 2004, would play at Rowan University, should the New Jersey school get the stadium built.

That was shot down quickly by Joe Cardona, a Rowan University spokesman.

“All we have is a commitment from MLS that they will put a team in the stadium that we build, and that team is to play in 2009,” Cardona said. “The soccer end of things is up to MLS.”

MLS director of media relations Will Kuhns said the Wizards were never linked to Rowan.

“That’s supposed to be an expansion team in 2009, but I can see how rumors like that can start given what’s happened in Kansas City, but it’s probably just people doing their own speculating,” Kuhns said. “I don’t think there’s anything to it.”

Rowan University is about 20 minutes from Philadelphia and has the land available for a soccer stadium.

The other rumor had New York businessman Andrew Murstein, who at one time made a bid for the Wizards, as wanting to invest in the Rowan team. Not so. Murstein told The New York Times he wasn’t interested in Philadelphia and hoped to put a second team in New York in the future.
Classic. the non-denial denial.

[AndyMead]

Classic. the non-denial denial.

The Wizards situation will be resolved long before Rowan is ready to host games. MLS won't foot the bill to lame-duck the Wizards for two more seasons - especially with the coming redevelopment of Arrowhead Stadium.

The Wizards will either have new local owners with a stadium plan by the end of the season, or they'll start the 2007 season in their new home.

But the Wizards won't eventually wind up in Rowan. Frankly, the only relocation candidate I can think of in the 2009 timeframe would be DC United - and only if all of their stadium plans hit dead ends.

[scaryice]

The Wizards situation will be resolved long before Rowan is ready to host games. MLS won't foot the bill to lame-duck the Wizards for two more seasons - especially with the coming redevelopment of Arrowhead Stadium.

The Wizards will either have new local owners with a stadium plan by the end of the season, or they'll start the 2007 season in their new home.

But the Wizards won't eventually wind up in Rowan. Frankly, the only relocation candidate I can think of in the 2009 timeframe would be DC United - and only if all of their stadium plans hit dead ends.

You know, you did a good job pointing out the stupidity of the article, but you ruined the post by ending it with stupidity of your own.

[Sundevil9]

But the Wizards won't eventually wind up in Rowan. Frankly, the only relocation candidate I can think of in the 2009 timeframe would be DC United - and only if all of their stadium plans hit dead ends.


.....or if Chivas gives up, or dislikes their stadium situation.....or if Houston's plans fall through......or if Toronto wasn't such a great idea........

[Sachin]

You know, you did a good job pointing out the stupidity of the article, but you ruined the post by ending it with stupidity of your own. What did Andy say that was so stupid? In an interview earlier this year, Payne admitted he would move DC if a stadium deal couldn't be reached. Most of us took that to mean he would move to a location in Maryland or Virginia, but you never know.

Edit to add link: http://washington.smartceo.com/images/archImages/DCEO.NOV.05.PDF

(Actually from November 2005)

SAchin

[CyphaPSU]

Well I do hope United gets something resolved in or just outside DC as far as a stadium because it would be one of the biggest tragedies in MLS history if United moved away from DC.

[Adam Zebrowski]

mls hq in ny should be lynched if dc loses united...

you spent a decade to build a franchise, and you relocate...

if the dc franchise went under because I dc area venue couldn't be located and funded, I'd say the demise of mls would be nearing

[Leon_St_Spurs]

Why couldn't the wizards be relocated to philadelphia after the 2007 season? They could play in the Linc until the stadium at Rowan gets built.

[SoccerPrime]

Of course they COULD. However, the point of this thread was to show that that MLS is officially saying that the team in 2009 will be an expansion team not a relocated team.

Can they change their minds? Sure. Anything can happen.