Philadelphia Awarded MLS Team

League's 16th Team Will Kick Off in 2010

February 28, 2008

CHESTER, PA – The worst-kept secret in Major League Soccer become official today when the league announced the Philadelphia as the site of the next MLS franchise, set to begin play in 2010.

The Philadelphia MLS team, the league’s 16th franchise was bought by iStar Financial CEO Jay Sugarman, Swarthmore Group Chairman James Nevels, Philadelphia attorney William Doran, veteran sports executive Nick Sakiewicz and Christopher and Robert Buccini, founding partners of The Buccini/Pollin Group.

"We are thrilled to welcome Philadelphia to Major League Soccer," said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. "Philadelphia brings in one of the most passionate sports markets in the country and provides a natural rivalry with the New York Red Bulls and D.C. United. We look forward to celebrating the world's most popular sport in the country's fourth-largest market and in a state-of-the-art soccer-specific stadium."

The Philadelphia club will play in a new 20,000-seat, soccer-specific stadium to be constructed as part of a major development project in Chester, 13 miles from downtown Philly. The stadium is part of a $500 million waterfront development project that will also feature townhomes, apartments, office space, a convention and exposition center, retail space, new streets, greenways and a riverside promenade that will include boat slips.

"Major League Soccer is truly a league with the wind behind its sail," said lead investor Sugarman, CEO of iStar Financial. "I am very excited to join the distinguished list of existing MLS owners and to help guide the league's growth into one of America's great sports cities. We're going to build a first-class organization on and off the field and we will create a development that makes the community proud."

Eastern Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia area have a rich soccer tradition that has produced some of the country's best players throughout the years, including 2006 U.S. World Cup team members Ben Olsen of D.C. United, Chris Albright of the New England Revolution and former D.C. United and current Reading FC midfielder Bobby Convey.

With the announcement of the 16th team, MLS added its sixth team since the start of the 2005 season. Expansion conversations continue with approximately 10 markets throughout the United States and Canada. MLS officials will continue those discussions as the League could feature as many as 18 clubs by 2011.

"As evidenced by our patience in the case of Philadelphia, we will only expand when we believe the circumstances are right," Garber said. "We continue to seek the essential combination of strong ownership, an appropriate facility controlled by that ownership, and a market with a tradition of supporting the sport. St. Louis is one of the leading candidates we are considering and we are hopeful that all elements will come together soon for the city to join the League."

Philadelphia has hosted many international soccer matches, including the Manchester United vs. Barcelona game in front of more than 68,000 fans that opened Lincoln Financial Field in 2003 and the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2003.

Philadelphia's name, logo and colors will be unveiled at a later date, along with the coaching and administrative staff. For more information and season ticket availability, fans should visit www.MLSPhilly2010.com or call 1-877-MLS-2010.

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