Reply to topic
 

Philadelphia awarded expansion team
  • papa5murf
  • Moderator
  • Joined: 25 Nov 2007
  • Posts: 4904
  • Location: London
Post Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 5:48 pm Reply with quote
It's official, Philly will be the new expansion city beating out St. Louis and Miami. It will officially be announced on 28 February.

Quote:
It's official: MLS heading to Philly
Posted: Thursday February 21, 2008 10:28AM ET

Major League Soccer has tentatively set Feb. 28 as the date to announce that a new expansion team would be awarded to the Philadelphia region, sources said. A news conference is expected to be held in the city of Chester, where the team would play in an 18,500-seat stadium to be built beside the Delaware River. Philadelphia is the largest market in which MLS does not operate a team.

 
  • floody
  • Elite Moderator
  • Joined: 12 Apr 2006
  • Posts: 14594
  • Location: In your Cupboard Supports: Reading -Official_Hideout_Treasurer-
Post Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:45 pm Reply with quote
What does this mean exactly? Excuse my ignorance. They will noe develop a team to be put into the MLS?

 
  • mrtz
  • Elite Moderator
  • Joined: 20 Sep 2006
  • Posts: 7154
  • Location: The Bronx, New York Supports: Liverpool FC -Hideout Token Minority-
Post Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 8:30 pm Reply with quote
Just an additional franchise.

Like when the Grizzlies and Raptors joined the NBA.

And like how Toronto FC joined the MLS.

 
  • papa5murf
  • Moderator
  • Joined: 25 Nov 2007
  • Posts: 4904
  • Location: London
Post Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 8:59 pm Reply with quote
mrtz wrote:
Just an additional franchise.

Like when the Grizzlies and Raptors joined the NBA.

And like how Toronto FC joined the MLS.


Expanding on this.

Think of the current San Jose Earthquakes (this years expansion team), Toronto FC being last years. And Seattle being next years expansion team.

It's just a complete new franchise to be placed directly into top flight football in America which is the MLS. Since the official press conference hasn't happened yet, we still don't know when this team will form and play their first season in the MLS. The main reason they were chosen was due to the proposal of a football specific stadium to be build in Philadelphia. So I'm not sure if they'll form next year, or wait till the stadium has been built. That is yet to be determined, but will find out shortly when they 'officially' announce it.

 
  • floody
  • Elite Moderator
  • Joined: 12 Apr 2006
  • Posts: 14594
  • Location: In your Cupboard Supports: Reading -Official_Hideout_Treasurer-
Post Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 9:19 pm Reply with quote
Ah i see, cheers.

 
  • papa5murf
  • Moderator
  • Joined: 25 Nov 2007
  • Posts: 4904
  • Location: London
Post Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 6:01 pm Reply with quote
It's official.

Quote:
MLS awards Philadelphia expansion team for 2010

CHESTER, Pa. -- Men's professional outdoor soccer will make its return to the Philadelphia area in 2010 after a three-decade absence.

Major League Soccer officials and Gov. Ed Rendell announced plans for the league to set up a new franchise along the waterfront of Chester, a once-proud manufacturing city trying to turn its fortunes around.

"Timing in life is everything and the time is right today to bring soccer to Philadelphia," said Nick Sakiewicz, chief executive officer and operating partner of the team.

State officials hope the franchise will be a key part of a $414 million revitalization effort for the waterfront of Chester, an economically struggling city southwest of Philadelphia. A Harrah's slots casino recently opened at a nearby new horse racing track.

Earlier this month, Rendell announced $47 million in public funding for the 18,500-seat, soccer-only stadium. The rest of the plan calls for a convention center as well as commercial, retail and residential space.

Rendell noted that there has been criticism of using public funds for the stadium, but he said the impact of the sports franchise on the troubled city's psyche could not be quantified.

Other than a brief interlude by a women's pro team that was part of the now-defunct Women's United Soccer Association, the area has not had a pro outdoor team since the Philadelphia Fury ended its three-year stay in 1980. Previously, the Philadelphia Atoms played in the city from 1973-76.

Philadelphia awarded expansion team
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
 		All times are GMT + 1 Hour  
Page 1 of 1  
  
  
Football Forum » US and Major League Soccer
 Post Reply  

advertisement