Check out the following link from Ole, a paper in Argentina devoted to futbol: http://www.ole.clarin.com/index.html You'll need to sign up, but it's free. Right there you'll find the story above. Here's an excerpt: "Pele quiere volver a abrir el club New York Cosmos "El ídolo del fútbol brasileño está en tratativas para poder reabrir el club en donde se retiró de la actividad profesional: el Cosmos. La empresa de Pele -Pelé Pro- se encuentra negociando con el Grupo AEG (Anchutz Entertainement Group), que tiene la licencia para crear un club en la región de Nueva York. For non-Spanish speakers, basically Pele's company is negotating with Anschutz about re-establishing the Cosmos in New York City!
More stuff from the article: "Grellet anunció que "en marzo tendremos una nueva ronda de negociaciones. El AEG compró el Metro Stars, en Nueva Jersey, y tiene autorización para crear otro club en la región de Nueva York. Nosotros cederíamos los derechos de la marca Cosmos, que pertenecen a Pelé". En declaraciones que publica hoy el vespertino brasileño "Jornal da Tarde", el ejecutivo se manifestó convencido de que la reactivación del Cosmos "sería un gran atractivo y con inmensas posibilidades de mercadeo". Quick translation: In March, a new round of negotiations will commence with AEG. Interestingly, it states that Pele has rights to the "Cosmos" name that he would use in the negotiations. I'd read that someone else had the rights to the Cosmos name.
Jornal da Tarde robviii, thanks for the heads up - I looked up the article in Jornal da Tarde that's mentioned in one of the Ole excerpts that you quote. Here's the link to the article in Portuguese: http://www.jt.estadao.com.br/editorias/2003/02/07/esp034.html The highlights: -Studying this possibility is going to be Pele's main project for 2004. -The first contacts between AEG and Pele Pro went well. More negotiations coming up in March. -Celso Grellet seems to be Pele Pro's point man in these negotiations. -Celso confirms that they own the rights to the name Cosmos. They want to keep the same logo and colors. They believe that a new MLS club in NY named Cosmos with the same logo and colors would offer huge marketing opportunities. -Tim Lewick [sic - obviously Leiweke] is apparently enthralled with the idea. -Pele and Celso visited the new Galaxy facilities being built in LA last December. -Celso believes that European Superleague is just a matter of time and will eventually lead to a World Superleague. He believes that the Cosmos will become the dominant team in Concacaf and will represent the region in a potential world superleague. -They want to play in Shea Stadium.
Very interesting, but has anyone pointed out to Pele the structural barriers to recreating the "superteam" aspect of the Cosmos, e.g. the salary cap? Just wondering since some Europeans seem to view the MLS as just a new version of the NASL with the same possibilities for high salaries, etc. Maybe Pele has the same incorrect view. His comments about making the Cosmos the domiant CONCACAF tema and a member of the world superleague might be eveidence of this. Or maybe he's totally aware of the situation and is just really enthusiastic about the Cosmos. I hope so. Is his group well off enough to be another investor in MLS? Also, someone used to won the option on having the second NY area team. Who was it and do they still own it? If not, does anyone own it now? Professor Boone
Some of my questions are answered here: https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=32444 It's based on the planetfootball article. Professor B
I think Kluge and Subotnik gave up rights to a "2nd" NY team when they backed out as I/Os of the MetroStars. They certainly have dissappeared from the public eye where MLS is concerned. Whether they still operate below the radar in some way -- well, who knows? It's probably safe to assume St. Phil and AEG have first dibs on what would actually be the 1st NY team in MLS, unless Rochester joins the fold in the next few years. Shea would be a good choice for the team's home -- not the stadium, per se, but the geographical location. However, sharing a stadium with a baseball team is just impractical. Besides, I doubt MLS could even cut a deal to play there. To paraphrase an old, noxious phrase from bygone years: No Soccer Need Apply.
There's another post talking about this: https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=32444
And discussed here: https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=32477 and from an article in English here: http://www.planetfootball.com/article.asp?id=131561&cpid=98&title=Pele+trying+to+revive+Cosmos"/> -Tron
I have to suppress a giggle at the assumption that a new Cosmos would automatically become "the dominant team in CONCACAF." Let's just forego actually playing any games, then.
Look, if he wants to put up the dosh, and find a stadium, and not make a fool of himself running the team, go ahead. It can't hurt. Otherwise I don't want to hear about it.
name rights According to Celso: "We'd come in with the rights to the Cosmos brand, which belong to Pele." This quote from Celso is in the Jornal da Tarde article that I summarize and link to above. I offer no view as to the accuracy of Celso's statement as I have no way of knowing. And although the Jornal da Tarde is a reputable, daily newspaper in Sao Paulo, they're only quoting Celso. The article in planetfootball.com just cites the Jornal da Tarde.
      To watch the San Jose Earthquakes play the New York Cosmos again... ah, that would bring back memories! -G
Man, that'd be great. If only, if only, if only they could get hold of the kind of talent the old Cosmos had... Oh, what that would do for MLS.. Alas, that would be impossble.
Pele's involvement would certainly raise the profile of the league, both world wide and in the US. He is the one figure even Amercians recognize.
the way MLS is set up, it's impossible for any club to become dominant in the bloody league, ferkrissake. how's an MLS club going to dominate the whole region?
They are supposed to meet again in March for the 2nd round of "negotiations". I'm sure by then, MLS will be sure to explain how the league operates to Pele and his company's representative. Well either hear more about it then, and in a different light, or the story will fade away as a no-go..
Good for NASL-faithful Having the Cosmos in MLS would be good for those NASL faithful who love to talk about how the 'pro soccer league in the US used to be good.'
Re: pele and cosmos And the guy who owns the name, Pinton, is part of these negotiations. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=257417&cc=5901
I cautiously opened this thread with some enthusiasm and optimism. After reading some of what was said, I've decided I wouldn't want this. I don't like the Cosmos name and the logo isn't very good, either. Why would we resurrect the same colors and logo that were made decades ago - aren't we trying to stay up with the times? And, that old crap isn't the sort of image MLS has been working toward. It's funny to say, but, I don't know if I would ever support a rebirth of the "cosmos". I believe a new, unique NYC expansion team would be far better. If Pele wants to be involved with a team in New York, that's welcome - I don't know in what capacity he would want to if it weren't the "cosmos". Shea stadium would be bad. I'm really tired of moving into existing stadiums built for other sports. It's not acceptable in my eyes.
What makes Shea even worse is that it's primarily a baseball stadium. A year ago there was some talk of building a stadium at Aqueduct for an MLS expansion team. I wonder if the Cosmos would be interested in such a plan. If the stadium were one of those modular designs like the Fire were hoping to build at Arlington Park, the Cosmos could have a nice "permanent" temporary stadium at a fairly reasonable cost.