Major League Soccer Expands to Philadelphia

Great news for Philadelphia Soccer fans - Major League Soccer announced Thursday that Philadelphia will be home to the the 16th team in the MLS beginning in the 2010 season. Seattle was awarded the 15th team in November, 2007 and at that time the MLS stated it's hope that the 16th team would be named by "the end of the year." While it was the league's intention to announce the franchise by the end of 2007, it was dependent upon securing an additional $47 Million from the state. The MLS expansion plan is to have 18 teams by 2011. St. Louis was expected to be a front runner for the next franchise.

The new Philadelphia franchise will begin play in 2010 in Chester, Pennsylvania in a newly constructed 20,000 seat, $115 million stadium near the Commodore Barry Bridge that will be a part of a larger $500 million complex along the waterfront. The complex will include private residences, office space, shopping, and a convention center, but will be centered on the MLS team. Chester sits along the Delaware River between Philadelphia (about 13 miles away) and Delaware and is easily accessible via Interstate 95. Across the waterfront sits New Jersey. The investment team lead by Jay Sugarman paid a $30 million franchise fee to the league.

The location in Chester not only gives the MLS access to a brand new, soccer specific stadium, but access to Eastern Pennsylvania, and parts of New Jersey and Delaware as a fan base where previous soccer entries have focused strictly on Philadelphia.

Philadelphia has been home to three other professional soccer teams: Philadelphia Spartans for their one year of play in 1967, the Philadelphia Atoms from 1973 to 1976 - they were the NASL Champions in 1973 but dissolved in 1976 - and the Philadelphia Fury from 1978-1980, when they moved to Montreal and became the Maniac in 1981. The most famous alum of the Atoms was Chris Bahr who took up a kicking career with the Oakland Raiders after leaving the Atoms. The Spartans were part of the National Professional Soccer League - a non-FIFA sanctioned league - which merged with a second league that together became the North American Soccer League (NASL). The NASL operated from 1968 until 1984.

According to an MLS Rumor site, the media were advised of today's announcement yesterday and fan groups were to meet with the ownership group on the day before. The domain philadelphiaindependencefc.com was registered by the MLS on May 16, 2006. The team nickname and colors will be announced at a later time, although this domain registration could foreshadow the team's potential moniker.

REFERENCE:

http://mlsphilly2010.com/story1.html
http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/27/in-mls-philadelphia-is-sweet-16/
http://cbs.sportsline.com/soccer/story/10672111/2
http://mlsrumors.blogspot.com/2008/02/expansion-philadelphia-mls-announcement.html
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2007-11-16-3489205101_x.htm
http://www.boston.com/sports/soccer/articles/2008/02/29/developing_mls_story_in_philly