Sons of Ben Really, Really Want a Soccer Team

By: Laurie | January 21st, 2008

MLS head honcho Don Garber announced on Friday that the race for the next expansion team slot was down to two teams: St. Louis and Philadelphia. Short summary: Philadelphia has the investors, but no taxpayer-financed soccer-specific stadium deal. St. Louis has a stadium deal, but not enough big-money investors.

MLS is hoping that in the future all teams will have soccer-specific stadiums, in part because they’re more profitable than leasing space in somebody else’s stadium. So that’s important. But MLS is also not yet an actual money-making endeavor (unless you’re the LA Galaxy, or a couple of other teams,) so they need deep-pocketed investors who won’t have to fold if their new team runs a few seasons in the red.

What this means is that MLS has not yet made up its mind which team will be the next franchise.

Enter the Sons of Ben, who are doing their best to influence the decision.

Who are the Sons of Ben? They’re the best supporters’ group ever created for a team that does not exist. Yet.

Their sole aim is to change that. Their motto?

We’ve got the fans
We’ve got the city
All we need is a team

They’ve also got really cool scarves, as shown in the photo. That sells it for me right there.

And as you can see by the following video, taken at this year’s MLS Cup, they have the rest of the basics covered: they’ve already got a bass drum. AND an official flag.

What more does a team need?

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Category: MLS, World Football

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Bryan

Kicked out for cursing? Are you crazy? We haven't kicked anyone out.

Unless you know something that I don't.

Bryan
Sons of Ben President
Dave

Thanks for the story, Laurie. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we'll get a team in Philadelphia. I think the interest here definitely exists, judging from the turnouts not only for exhibition games that have been played here, but from the support for Champions League and World Cup games throughout the city. It would be a good market for the MLS.
Sam

I could go on for a million years about the swearing debate. As silly as it may sound, I consider myself a swearing expert. I swear a lot. But swearing can definitely be useful sometimes. How about one in Montreal though?
VictorM

Yeah, because as we all know, cursing is so cool, so witty, so creative. *rols eyes*
whatever

they're a bit too family friendly and have kicked people out for cursing GEE CURSING AT FOOTBALL SURELY NOT!

Americans just turn it into soccer mom central.
irishoutisider

Those scarves are quality. Here's hoping they get a team, but that it doesn't have some lame concept name.