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March 17, 2006

A team for Philadelphia?

Hot on the heels of the Red Bull New York deal comes a story from the AP that states that the Philadelphia suburb of Glassboro, New Jersey is about to get its own team.

The deal would put a new stadium on the campus of Rowan University, about 23 miles south of downtown Philadelphia. The story reports that university spokesman Joe Cardona said that details will be made public at a news conference which will be held Monday, but that the "name of the team, its owners and whether it would be an expansion team or a relocated one remain to be worked out." The story adds that the stadium construction would be completed in time for the 2009 season.

The story continues:

Cardona said other development plans would be announced as part of the soccer stadium deal.

"It will be of interest to people across the country because it's a new model for state colleges and how they have to pursue public-private ventures," Cardona said.

The Courier Post Online, which bills itself as "South Jersey's Web Site," adds some more information about the deal:

Cardona said the new stadium will be across from the school's new technology center on Route 322 and will be part of a complex that is "unlike anything on the East Coast."

The stadium also will serve as home to Rowan's soccer program and could host high school events as well as youth soccer tournaments, camps and showcases.

Ironically, with this team likely to take a name featuring Philadelphia, New Jersey could end up with stadiums for two MLS teams and no name recognition for the state. After all the fuss they put up over Red Bull New York, that's probably not going to make state officials very happy.

Posted by Jay at March 17, 2006 07:04 AM

Comments

This really highlights the short-sightedness of the San Jose Mayor and City Council, not to mention SJSU, that they couldn't see how having an MLS team was an important asset to the city or university.

Houston wanted a team.

This town in New Jersey may well get a team, even if they call it the Philadelphia something-or-others.

Other cities are trying to get a piece of the MLS action, like Toronto and Cleveland, possibly others.

While San Jose significantly dropped the ball. If we don't get some traction going for a new team in San Jose very soon, we aren't going to get one. Speaking of which, how do buy a brick?!

QUAKES FOREVER!!

- Mark

Posted by: markmcf at March 20, 2006 07:11 PM

It looks like Red Bluff, California (double pun intended) will have a stronger chance of landing a MLS team than San Jose now.

MLS has decided to go to townships which think they'll come to prominence by having an MLS team. San Jose has already indicated to MLS that they don't look up to them for prominence.

Posted by: Nicholas [TypeKey Profile Page] at March 23, 2006 04:54 PM

Why don't we go after a publicly traded team... I haven't been in on all the conversation but have been a fan since MLS day 1 when I went to the clash dc game. I would be more than happy to buy shares in a San Jose team that was on the market... You all have probably already thought of that though...

Posted by: Jonathan Thompson at March 31, 2006 11:35 PM

I'm from the So Jersey area. Couple things I'd like to point out:

Glassboro is about 15 miles SE over the bridge into Jersey from Philly.

The stadium funding is entirely private. Rowan has a tremendous endowment and will use the stadium for their teams as well. MLS would be a tenant.

As for the team being called Philadelphia but being in NJ, that's a silly comment. Philly is one of a handful of cities where all 4 major teams play in the city limits. AND the trend in MLS is to put soccer only venues away from the downtown areas (Carson City?). There is and has been a lot of support for soccer in the area. The Charge in WUSA would draw 8K and they were way out in Villanova.

Posted by: Scott McVeigh at July 6, 2006 09:48 AM