Comments on: If they build it, MLS might come to Philadelphia http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/if-they-build-it-mls-might-come-to-philadelphia.html League Football, Soccer News and Views from Around the World Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:06:43 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Ian http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/if-they-build-it-mls-might-come-to-philadelphia.html#comment-55602 Ian Sat, 01 Sep 2007 12:09:41 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/if-they-build-it-mls-might-come-to-philadelphia.html#comment-55602 I agree that expansion isn't the way the MLS should be thinking, unless its part of a very long-term plan. The marketing guys at MLS have never struck me as unusually bright, and I'm sure they're banking on the continuation of the Beckham factor long into the future. It's a bit like Disco Stu on the Simpsons ... if these trends continue, hey ... The only difference being that Disco Stu doesn't advertise, and MLS advertises badly. I agree that expansion isn’t the way the MLS should be thinking, unless its part of a very long-term plan. The marketing guys at MLS have never struck me as unusually bright, and I’m sure they’re banking on the continuation of the Beckham factor long into the future. It’s a bit like Disco Stu on the Simpsons … if these trends continue, hey … The only difference being that Disco Stu doesn’t advertise, and MLS advertises badly.

]]> By: Aaron http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/if-they-build-it-mls-might-come-to-philadelphia.html#comment-55560 Aaron Sat, 01 Sep 2007 08:26:02 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/if-they-build-it-mls-might-come-to-philadelphia.html#comment-55560 MLS expansion in Rochester... MLS expansion in Rochester…

]]> By: CD http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/if-they-build-it-mls-might-come-to-philadelphia.html#comment-55104 CD Thu, 30 Aug 2007 15:34:37 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/if-they-build-it-mls-might-come-to-philadelphia.html#comment-55104 You have to take advantage when the political will is there. If a city is willing to work with a new club to develop a 200 million dollar stadium it is hard for the MLS to ignore that opportunity. We are not talking about owners coming to the MLS asking for a team for a few million dollars and saying that they will play at a local high school. A quick look at the current high profile expansion proposals. Seattle has multiple big money investor groups fighting over the possibility of getting a shot to get an MLS club. Some reports have as many as 8 fighting for the right to get a club. In St Louis a developer has got a proposal on the table for a mixed use development in the billion dollar range. Next month the city council I believe is voting to see if they will back his proposal. In Philadelphia the governor is behind the idea of a 200 million plus dollar stadium to help revitalize Chester. It looks like this proposal has lots of backing from the city and the state. In Miami the Mayor is looking into the option of redeveloping the Orange Bowl property into a baseball and a soccer stadium mixed use facility. With the amount of cash and political wheeling and dealing that is needed to get these deals done the MLS can have these cities and owners fight each other to come to the table with the best proposals to the MLS. Garber is playing the game he has to play. You have to take advantage when the political will is there. If a city is willing to work with a new club to develop a 200 million dollar stadium it is hard for the MLS to ignore that opportunity. We are not talking about owners coming to the MLS asking for a team for a few million dollars and saying that they will play at a local high school. A quick look at the current high profile expansion proposals. Seattle has multiple big money investor groups fighting over the possibility of getting a shot to get an MLS club. Some reports have as many as 8 fighting for the right to get a club. In St Louis a developer has got a proposal on the table for a mixed use development in the billion dollar range. Next month the city council I believe is voting to see if they will back his proposal. In Philadelphia the governor is behind the idea of a 200 million plus dollar stadium to help revitalize Chester. It looks like this proposal has lots of backing from the city and the state. In Miami the Mayor is looking into the option of redeveloping the Orange Bowl property into a baseball and a soccer stadium mixed use facility.

With the amount of cash and political wheeling and dealing that is needed to get these deals done the MLS can have these cities and owners fight each other to come to the table with the best proposals to the MLS. Garber is playing the game he has to play.

]]> By: Greg http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/if-they-build-it-mls-might-come-to-philadelphia.html#comment-55085 Greg Thu, 30 Aug 2007 14:13:17 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/if-they-build-it-mls-might-come-to-philadelphia.html#comment-55085 Oh and I hope some of that $100 million is budgeted for an underground lockup like they had at the Vet. With all due respect, Philly fans are insane. I wouldn't go to an Eagles game without at least a small militia in tow. And I'm a Raiders fan. Oh and I hope some of that $100 million is budgeted for an underground lockup like they had at the Vet. With all due respect, Philly fans are insane. I wouldn’t go to an Eagles game without at least a small militia in tow. And I’m a Raiders fan.

]]> By: Greg http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/if-they-build-it-mls-might-come-to-philadelphia.html#comment-55084 Greg Thu, 30 Aug 2007 14:03:47 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/if-they-build-it-mls-might-come-to-philadelphia.html#comment-55084 Put the team in Camden! There's plenty of people on the streets who will be more than willing to sell the materials required to line the fields with thick, chalky white touch lines. Put the team in Camden! There’s plenty of people on the streets who will be more than willing to sell the materials required to line the fields with thick, chalky white touch lines.

]]> By: me http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/if-they-build-it-mls-might-come-to-philadelphia.html#comment-55080 me Thu, 30 Aug 2007 13:35:07 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/if-they-build-it-mls-might-come-to-philadelphia.html#comment-55080 RSL has one of the highest attendances in the league, how can you say its not working? Massive research there Einstein. RSL has one of the highest attendances in the league, how can you say its not working?

Massive research there Einstein.

]]> By: bluemeanies http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/if-they-build-it-mls-might-come-to-philadelphia.html#comment-55079 bluemeanies Thu, 30 Aug 2007 13:28:32 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/if-they-build-it-mls-might-come-to-philadelphia.html#comment-55079 But the point is that the two franchises most vulnerable as identified by you are two franchises that are stable. NY just needs to move onto pub trans (like the new stadium in Harrison will be once they clear out Jimmy Hoffa's corpse and get construction moving) and actually building in NY proper is a pipe dream. As for the talent I think that the talent pool will expand either naturally or through rule changes (ie making Canadians and USians native for all teams though Canada might not have all that much available talent, increasing senior internationals, increasing the salary cap so we can keep the USians who currently go to Scandinavia) in the next three years so that the league can add 2 more teams for 2010. The original plan was to sit at 16 for a couple of years but Garber recently had an interview that mentioned the possibility of 18 by 2012 if other investers got their stadium ducks in a row and that might be straining it. But the point is that the two franchises most vulnerable as identified by you are two franchises that are stable. NY just needs to move onto pub trans (like the new stadium in Harrison will be once they clear out Jimmy Hoffa’s corpse and get construction moving) and actually building in NY proper is a pipe dream.

As for the talent I think that the talent pool will expand either naturally or through rule changes (ie making Canadians and USians native for all teams though Canada might not have all that much available talent, increasing senior internationals, increasing the salary cap so we can keep the USians who currently go to Scandinavia) in the next three years so that the league can add 2 more teams for 2010. The original plan was to sit at 16 for a couple of years but Garber recently had an interview that mentioned the possibility of 18 by 2012 if other investers got their stadium ducks in a row and that might be straining it.

]]> By: scott http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/if-they-build-it-mls-might-come-to-philadelphia.html#comment-54928 scott Wed, 29 Aug 2007 23:52:09 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/if-they-build-it-mls-might-come-to-philadelphia.html#comment-54928 Biggest problem I see (if this happens) is that Chester is often the homicide capital of PA. It's not a happy place. Biggest problem I see (if this happens) is that Chester is often the homicide capital of PA. It’s not a happy place.

]]> By: Karl http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/if-they-build-it-mls-might-come-to-philadelphia.html#comment-54907 Karl Wed, 29 Aug 2007 22:07:51 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/if-they-build-it-mls-might-come-to-philadelphia.html#comment-54907 All good points bluemeanies. I wasn't really specifying which teams should move but suggesting. I skipped NY as I figured there just needs to be a team there even though it's not doing well. Actually, probably what NY needs to do is move to NY. Playing in Giants stadium away from the population center is not helping their cause. Having the soccer-specific stadium is important, but if you are going to carpet it with sports turf or can't fill it up because you share a parking lot, what's the point? All good points bluemeanies. I wasn’t really specifying which teams should move but suggesting. I skipped NY as I figured there just needs to be a team there even though it’s not doing well. Actually, probably what NY needs to do is move to NY. Playing in Giants stadium away from the population center is not helping their cause.

Having the soccer-specific stadium is important, but if you are going to carpet it with sports turf or can’t fill it up because you share a parking lot, what’s the point?

]]> By: Todd Pounds http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/if-they-build-it-mls-might-come-to-philadelphia.html#comment-54900 Todd Pounds Wed, 29 Aug 2007 21:51:48 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/if-they-build-it-mls-might-come-to-philadelphia.html#comment-54900 Having lived in Philly for a few years (back in the day), I don't think that Southern Jersey is a good fit. I heard that Chester, PA was the preferred location now... I agree that you don't want to dilute talent. We've seen that in the NHL. The league doesn't need 30 teams (+/-2) which seems to be the magic number for other sports leagues in the US. Maybe 14-16 is enough. Focus on the product and organic growth before expansion. Expand in 2020 when you have 20,000 - 30,000 person soccer specific stadiums in every city with a 30% sell out rate and average attendance of 70% of capacity. The more I think about it, the more I agree with bluemeanies. There is plenty of organic growth to be had... Having lived in Philly for a few years (back in the day), I don’t think that Southern Jersey is a good fit. I heard that Chester, PA was the preferred location now…

I agree that you don’t want to dilute talent. We’ve seen that in the NHL. The league doesn’t need 30 teams (+/-2) which seems to be the magic number for other sports leagues in the US. Maybe 14-16 is enough. Focus on the product and organic growth before expansion. Expand in 2020 when you have 20,000 – 30,000 person soccer specific stadiums in every city with a 30% sell out rate and average attendance of 70% of capacity. The more I think about it, the more I agree with bluemeanies. There is plenty of organic growth to be had…

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