MLS Is Desperately Seeking Stadiums

Soccer Digest, Nov, 2001 by David Stone

METROSTARS OPERATORS John Kluge and Stuart Subotnick are working on a plan for a 25,000-seat soccer-specific stadium that would host an expansion MLS franchise in New York. Kluge and Subotnick have been negotiating with city and state officials about a potential development at the Aqueduct, a horse track that is operated by the New York Racing Association. Tentatively, the $70-million stadium complex would include 24 luxury suites, adjacent recreational soccer fields, retail stores, and possibly residential development. MetroStars operators are tying to convince politicians that the soccer-related project would revive the 200-acre parcel of land that is not currently heavily used by horse racing fans. The two men are also working with New Jersey officials to build a new stadium for the MetroStars in suburban Harrison.

In nearby Trenton, N.J., a potential ownership group is planning to gut and renovate several vacant factory buildings and build a $31-million, 20,000-seat stadium for an MLS expansion franchise. Larry Berger, who represents the ownership group, said that he expects the public to pay for about $10 million of the stadium's cost, and that he will contribute $2 million to $3 million of his own money. The planned stadium would also host the WUSA's Charge, who currently play across the Delaware River in Philadelphia's 12,000-seat Villanova Stadium. However, the MetroStars have said that the team would exercise its geographical veto rights over any proposed franchise within a 75-mile radius.

In Milwaukee, a group led by local businessman Timothy Krause has prepared a formal proposal for an expansion franchise that could join MLS as soon as 2003. The group, called Wisconsin Sports Management LLC, traveled to this summer's All-Star Game in San Jose to meet with league executives and to present its plans for a $55-million stadium within Milwaukee. According to Wisconsin reports, Krause has nearly secured financing for both the expansion fee as well as the stadium, although the stadium's site and whether it can be completed in time for the 2003 season still remain to be seen.

The Chicago Fire will soon temporarily be out of a home when the Chicago Bears' plans to renovate Soldier Field begin to take shape after the 2001-02 NFL season. Both the Bears and the Fire will have to relocate while the stadium, which is the NFL's oldest, is retrofitted to current standards. Peter Wilt, the Fire's general manager, says the team has three options: playing in an existing open-air professional stadium such as Comiskey Park or Wrigley Field, moving to a smaller high school or collegiate facility, or building a new stadium. The Fire's first choice is now to build a modular stadium, which would have 15,000 to 20,000 seats, possibly in suburban Arlington Park.

With the closing of the original Mile High Stadium in Denver, the Rapids have also lost their home field, although unlike the Fire's situation, the change is permanent. The Rapids now appear headed towards joining the NFL's Broncos at their new Invesco Field at Mile High, as team investor/operator Anschutz Entertainment Group has been negotiating with the Broncos' Stadium Management Company. The Rapids' lease at Invesco Field would likely be for three to five years, although the team's desire to share in stadium revenues, such as parking and food and beverage sales, may slow negotiations.

The Galaxy, who--like the Fire and Rapids are also operated by the Anschutz Entertainment Group--have worked out most of the details as they plan to leave Los Angeles' 100,000-plus seat Rose Bowl for a new $112-million sports complex in Carson, Calif. The privately financed project--which will be located on the campus of UC-Dominguez Hills, has received approval, and construction could be complete by next fall. The 125-acre complex will contain a 20,000-seat soccer-specific stadium, as well as a track and field stadium, a tennis stadium, an oval velodrome, and baseball and softball fields. Under the current timetable, the Galaxy will play in the Rose Bowl next season and will move into the $30-million stadium in the spring of 2003.

Less than a year away, the English-language broadcast television rights for next summer's World Cup in Korea and Japan have not yet been sold. However, Spanish-language network Univision, which is available in the United States, has announced that it will air 375 hours of coverage of the competition. Much of Univision's coverage will consist of live broadcasts of games aired between 2:00 and 5:00 a.m. EST. The network, which paid $190 million for broadcast rights to the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, expects the event's popularity to cause North American ratings to be high despite the time difference.

Reality TV has permeated nearly every other aspect of society, so why not soccer? In Britain, Peter Bazalgette, who developed the original "Big Brother" show, plans to launch "The People's Club," a program that will follow the experiences of a struggling English club. Bazalgette and Endemol, his production company, say Manchester City, Queen's Park Rangers, Darlington, and York are among the clubs under consideration, and the publicity and income from the show are expected to help any team out of its financial struggle.