Local Grads in the MLS

The newly formed MLS expansion team Vancouver Whitecaps FC have signed defender Jeff Parke to a one-year contract. The Chester County native played collegiate soccer for the Drexel Dragons. He also played for the highly competitive youth club F.C. Delco.

From Our Sports Central:

Born in Abington, Pennsylvania, but was raised in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, Parke played collegiate soccer at Drexel University in Philadelphia from 2000 to 2003. In his freshman year with the Dragons, he was named to the America East All-Conference First Team and All-Rookie Team. In his senior year, Parke received the Donald Yonker MVP Award.

Philly Soccer and Sports Illustrated Go Way Back

I was searching "Philadelphia soccer" on Ebay and came across this throwback Philadelphia Atoms jersey. The description revealed some interesting information:

The Philadelphia Atoms were a soccer team based out of Philadelphia that played in the North American Soccer League (NASL). They played from 1973 to 1976, at Veterans Stadium (1973-75) and Franklin Field (1976). The Atoms were founded by Philadelphia construction mogul Thomas McCloskey in 1973 at the urging of Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Tornado owner Lamar Hunt. Playing a largely American line-up, they won the NASL title in their first year of existence, ironically by defeating Hunt’s Dallas club 2-0. After this championship match, Philadelphia goalkeeper and Delaware Valley native Bob Rigby became the first soccer player to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Local Grads in the MLS

Two Penn Quakers logged some time in their respective MLS opening games on Thursday night. Danny Cepero is the starting goalkeeper for the NY Red Bulls. Alex Grendi is a midfielder for the defending champs Columbus Crew.

Fun Fact #1:

Danny Cepero became the first goalkeeper in MLS history to score a goal when he netted an 81-yard free kick last season against the Columbus Crew...in his MLS debut.

Fun Fact #2:

Cepero found his way into that starting lineup because the Red Bulls' starting keeper and Delaware County native Jon Conway was handed the first ever MLS suspension for performance-enhancing drugs.





Penn Athletics

Philadelphia Women's Pro Soccer Take 2

About six years ago the Philadelphia Charge played their last game at Villanova for the now defunct Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA). You might remember Heather Mitts played for the Charge, the better half of Eagles backup QB A.J. Feeley.

Come 2010, the men's Philly MLS will share their new home with Philly Women's Professional Soccer (WPS). From the Philadelphia Business Journal:

Womens Professional Soccer's board of governors officially approved awarding its eighth franchise to the Philadelphia ownership group on Tuesday.

The Philadelphia Women’s Pro Soccer team, led by David Halstead and Matthew Driver, will begin play in the 2010 WPS Season.

To learn more about Philadelphia Women's Professional Soccer check out the official site:

http://wpsphilly2010.com/

Take a Load Off Fanny...

It's official! Load-bearing wood pylons have been driven into the ground at the stadium construction site.

From the Delco Daily Times:

CHESTER — For the die-hard soccer fans who have been pilgrimaging to the site of the planned Major League Soccer (MLS) stadium in Chester on weekends to watch construction get under way, a big milestone came last week when contractors drove the first large, weight-bearing wood piles into the ground.

FC Barcelona, Comcast-Spectacor Potential Investors in Philly MLS

Like the rest of us, Jay Sugarman, the franchise majority owner and CEO of iStar Financial, is feeling the effects of this terrible economy. Since February 2008, the share price of iStar has dropped over 90%:

Shares in the company were valued at $20.19 on the day Philadelphia was awarded an MLS franchise in February 2008, but the stock closed at $1.78 last Thursday. He has pulled more than $20 million out of the market since November 2006 and acquired 600,000 shares of iStar in the last six months, but the precipitous decline in stock price has cost him more than $38 million since February 2008.

Unlike the rest of us, Jay can afford to lose a cool $38 mil and not want to jump off the Bridge that looms above his latest financial endeavor. Are dwindling funds forcing Sugarman to seek addtional monetary resources, possibly from FC Barcelona?

Nick Sakiewicz, MLS Philly CEO, seems to be downplaying this speculation saying, "Sugarman’s net worth extends far beyond his shares in iStar, and the team’s effort to raise additional capital is part of an effort to find someone who brings sports, entertainment or soccer expertise to the table." FC Barcelona is a wildly popular and successful Spanish club so whatever the motives may be, this definitely can't hurt. It could bring more football (soccer) credibility to Philly MLS in terms of team operation and the overall experience for spectators.

Speaking of specta-cors, Philly's own Comcast-Spectacor might be interested in dropping a few bucks into this project Under The Bridge (shameless plug):

Comcast-Spectacor is also in discussions with the club to provide it with $7 million in debt as part of an agreement that would see the facility operator manage the stadium upon completion, according to sources who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber doesn't appear to be concerned about the effect of a poor economy on team expenses and the ability for Philly to succeed:

The fact that the team has secured more than 6,000 season-ticket deposits and two sponsors a year before kicking off indicates the strength of the market and the organization Jay has put together in Philly. I have absolutely no concern about their ability to be successful.

Damn Right.


Sports Business Journal via Sons of Ben

The Philadelphia Something or Others

Looks like we'll have to wait until sometime in April to find out what the name of our team will be.

From the Daily Times:

CHESTER — Major League Soccer officials say they will be keeping lips sealed until mid-April about the name of the team slated to play in the planned Chester waterfront stadium.

That’s about a month later than when team owners had originally said they would be revealing the results of a January contest to name the team.

Nick Sakiewicz, CEO and operating partner of MLS Philadelphia 2010, said Tuesday the company needs the extra time to “fine tune” the team’s logo and colors, which will all be released at the same time.

Get to Know Your Rival Supporters

"Barra Brava Supporters' Club"
DC United Supporters Group

For a list of all Major League Soccer fan support groups and their websites check out:
MLS Phoenix Rising.

I'm Down for Some Hooliganism

I imagine our stadium will sound 10x's cooler than this...

It's Gettin' Hot in Here

New "heat mapping" technology is being installed at all MLS stadiums for the upcoming season. From ft.com:

The technology, developed by an Israeli acquisition, was really designed for sports programming and is known as Sport Vu.

In soccer, the cameras act as sensors to produce heat maps of areas of the field that a player covers, statistics are produced for touches and time on the ball and 3D scenes can be rendered from the perspective of any player on the pitch. The equipment is being installed at all Major League Soccer venues in the US for the coming season.

(seen @mlsrumors)

Meet the Owners

Keystone Sports and Entertainment, LLC

Jay Sugarman: Chairman and CEO of iStar Financial

Nick Sakiewicz: CEO and Operating Partner

Christopher and Robert Buccini, David Pollin: Buccini/Pollin Group

James Nevels: Chairman of the Swarthmore Group

William Doran: Philadelphia attorney

You'll Never Walk Alone