Bob Collom: Hi Nick, What was the single most important thing that you learned from your previous stadium project (Red Bull NY/NJ) and what type of media infrastructure are you planning in the new stadium for fans, broadcast partners, and mass distribution, specifically in regards to High Definition capabilities? Hope you received the mail, looking forward to meeting the Columbus Crew staff this weekend.
Hi Bob. Wow thats a great question! I guess the single most important thing is not to get too high and not to low and to stick it out no matter how tough things get. It's all worth it! Yes the stadium will be HD wired and fully integrated for technology
rj_adidas: Is there any chance the team will create its own magazine or newsletter - similar to what some European clubs have done?
RJ, Yes the team will have a game program called Free Kick and the season ticket holders will get their own inside newsletter
ScarfMachine: Please, please tell me that there will be no ThunderStix or plastic horns allowed in Chester stadium.
Scarf, I expect the SOB section to drown out any thunderstx and horns. Isn't that right?
Scarf Machine: Are there any plan to have the SoB entrance into the stadium include a storage locker for our various drums, flags, banners, streamers, etc? Any plans on giving us a big replica Liberty Bell at the top of our section, to be rung after each home goal?
Storage Yes. Not sure about the Liberty Bell yet. Good thought though
Greg C.: Thanks for doing this chat again Nick. I recently heard that Philly is also getting a profesional womens team in 2010 in the new womens league. Do you plan on the two teams working together in any way?
Greg, You bet. Love to do it. Its a very exciting time to be a soccer fan in Philly. Although we don't own the womens team and we have not really discussed involvement with them yet other than giving them a good deal to play in the stadium we will do everything we can to make sure they are successful.
Bob Collom: Nick, what other type of events (i.e. – sports other than soccer, concerts, college, ect.) do you anticipate hosting in the new stadium? Do you plan to compete or market against the larger venues in South Philadelphia for other events?
Bob, soccer will take center stage but if we have the opportunity to do an occasional concert or other sporting event we will. As long as it doesn't trash the grass field ;-)
sccaflagger74 - Bob: Given that Iron Hill is in the Wilmington waterfront development has there been any discussion with them to open up in the Chester development?
No have not discussed anything with Iron Hill. I think they would be great. Why don't you tell them to call me ;-)
BobFritz: How does the MLS draft work?
There will be two drafts for us. The expansion after the 09 season where we'll be able to pick unprotected players from other MLS teams and the Super Draft which will be held in Philly in Jan 2010. Fun! At this draft we'll get to pick youth players, College players and players from the other leagues
Scarf Machine: Is there any chance we could have the lyrics to “Four-Leaf Clover” displayed on the scoreboard when we’re singing it each game? I’d love for even the most passive ticket holders to be able to join in, without worrying about the embarrassment of not knowing the lyrics. Any thoughts?
Definately on the Four Leaf Clover question!!
BobFritz: Is there any other events you'll try to bring into the area prior to your team's start in 2010? Say hosted at the Linc?
We will work with Soccer UNited Marketing which is a company we are invested in to bring some events. Not sure where they will be played but the Linc is the obvious and best place.
Mike: Who could you envision our DP being in the first or second year?
Not sure on the whole DP thing yet. The most important thing is to build a team that wins and is competitive enough to make a run at a championship. Given our early success in season ticket deposits and the fact that 25% of the stadium is already sold we don't need a DP to sell tickets. We need one to WIN!!!
BobFritz: Since it appears in this Chat you've officially made SoB your designated fan group.. Is the Team Name and "Colors" already a given? Or do the othe 15,000 you hope to draw have a say?
NO not a given. But we will do a campaign to involve the fans and our season ticket holders as well as SOB's will have a say. I can assure you of that.
Bob Collom: In your opinion, what makes or will make MLS successful where previous leagues such as NASL have failed.
Great question and the answer could be long but I'll just give you a list. Whole generation of Americans watching and consuming the sport on TV and buying tickets. IN other words a real market. On top of that, great owners, national TV contracts, major spponsors, soccer only stadiums, etc etc. The NASL had none of those things as infrastructure and foundation.
Greg C.: If you could have any player in the MLS on our team on day 1, who would it be?
Greg, there are a lot of good players in MLS I would want. Tough question and I'd have to answer that as we et closer to picking in the Expansion Draft but one thing is for sure and that is we'll be looking for players that can help us win and buiild a winning mentality and culture in our organization.
ryedog: Hi Nick, thanks for the chat do you plan to be at futbolito on the 21st
Yes, I'm planning on attending Fubolito. Should be fun.
sccaflagger74 - Bob: Is a real roof still in the cards for the new stadium....hopefully the ever rising steel prices don't cause it to get axed or morphed into something like Colorado's or Chicago's
Yes a roof is still in our future. It is an important part of our stadium design and the brand we are trying to create. Pray China stops buying steel though ;-)
mkirschner: I have heard you will be naming the team soon, once you have done so where will merchandise be sold? I have a 1 and 3 year old and I am sick of buying items from Europe to dress them in soccer gear!!
We are shooting for a name by the end of the year and plan on a campaign in October to allow fans to weigh in with their opionions. We'll look to sell our merch on the internet and at as many retail partners as we can make deals with.
rj_adidas: What stadiums have served as inspirations in regards to the look of the Chester stadium?
None as far as look. We waned the stadium to be uniquely ours in terms of look. But some elements of other stadiums have served as good ideas that we have incorporated into the design.
Huey: What's your opinion on streamers? Some teams encourage, others don't, personally I don't want to see it interrupt the game but otherwise don't mind it...
In moderation I think they make a cool atmosphere but when done to excess they disrupt the game. I agree with you. I'd prefer they be seen but not interfere with the run of play
Kevin: How many seats are planned to go in the stadium, I've heard 18,500 and 20,000, but which is it?
Right now the designs are set for 18,500 and the design will allow us to expand in future years up to about 30,000
Mark Dunfee: Will you be attending the US-Argentina game Saturday? Any plans to stop by the SoB tailgate in Lot 18?
Unfortunately I can't. I will be visiting Salt Lakes construction and Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Denver with Jay Sugarman on Sunday
Matt Acconciamessa: It's been recently reported that the Italian Super Cup will be played in the US, with both Philadelphia and NYC making a bid to host. Did the ownership group have a role in this bid, or was it a group independent of MLS Philadelphia?
Soccer United Marketing (which we have an investment in) has been asked to bid on it.
Kevin: When will the plans for the stadium be released to the public, and how far along in the planning stages is the stadium, just minor details left to be worked out?
Not sure yet but my guess is we'll be ready to go public with the final designs just before groundbreaking which we are shooting for this fall
Scarf Machine: Is there any way that first-timers will be able to make their way into, or even out of, our General Admissions section? Will we be completely closed off from the rest of the stadium, or will there just be a private entrance for us to help build atmosphere?
We are trying to hold off a small section for General Admission but given the way our deposits are going and at our current run rate most of the stadium will be season ticket holders. I think it looks like we'll have to cap season tickets right now to leave some space for people that can't afford seasons and want to get in.
Steve Holroyd: Hello again, Nick. Given Philadelphia's rich and varied pro soccer history, are there any plans to do a "wall of fame" type of thing, like at Citizens Bank Park? (Sorry if this is such an obvious question from me...;-) )
Yes, we want to recognize the past and honor the present. We will definitely have some elements in the stadium that acomplish that.
rj_adidas: What are your attendance goals for the first year?
We always accommodate away fans as best we can. Obviously DC and New York will travel more than Colorado or Dallas. We'll have to see because again we are taking some serious deposits on season tickets now and we're still way out from First Kick.
BobFritz: How soon before the Team starts play will Team Apparel be available for purchase?
We are shooting for a year out from First Kick
BobFritz: I purchased my Season Ticket option directly through the Team Number on announcement day... I haven't heard what type of Season Ticket plans are available for us Non-SoB members?
Bob, good thing you did because there are well over 4,000 people behind you in line. Its so early we have not yet developed our plans. This week we are staring to send out mailings and will periodically will send communications out. Once the stadium is fully designed we can set up our plans. I think our ticket staff are shooting to send the plans out in the Fall. You can count on the plans to be similar to other MLS teams.
Desmond O'Brien: How many full time background staff do you anticipate
40-50 not incuding players
rj_adidas: About how many season tickets have been sold?
We blew by the 4,000 mark and quickly headed to 5,000. It really has been amazing to take that many deposits this far out. Better get your place in line. :-)
rj_adidas: Are there any plans for the team to have its own radio/TV show?
BobFritz: Did SoB purchase as a Group a primary section? Midfield Lower level? Will that be available to us Non-SoBs?
No but SOB is so large now and has made a good quantity of deposits that we designated the entire south end behind the goal for SOB. Should be a nice camera shot
Mike: What do you think of Joze Altidore's transfer to Villareal
Probably going to be good for both Jozy and Red Bull. The team needs help and Jozy will get some valuable soccer lessons at an early age.
tony_e: I was wondering what the chances are of some of the SoB logo (or maybe the whole thing?) being in the logo for the team. (Whenever a name gets decided on, that is lol)
The SOB logo is so special and unique it needs to stand on it's own. We will honor it without incorporating into the team logo
rj_adidas: When will MLS expand next?
Not sure but there are a lot of candidates
Mike: Euro 2008 is fast approaching...do you see England finally being able to win it?? ;-P
You must be talking about the golf outing England is playing in unless it's called Euro 2008 ;-)
BobFritz: Will you have a youth development team... Like EPL teams have?
Absolutely. Very complex and developed youth system.
Bob Collom: What is currently the biggest fiscal challenge for MLS?
MLS is doing great and like any business we have to manage our expenses and continue to grow our revenues. It's no different in any other business but things are going very well.
mnancy472: will the mls have more prime time games televised in the future
There are a lot of MLS games on prime time. Thursday night game of the week on ESPN2 like Chivas vs NY right now. Saturday night game of the week on Fox and Sunday game of the week on Telefutura. Every team airs their games and they can be seen on the Direct Kick package on Direct TV
pete86: I recently graduated and would love to be apart of the new team here in Philly; what do I need to do to be apart of the MLS Philadephia and work in the organization?
Stay tuned to the mlsphilly2010.com web site. We now have a jobs board there. We are committed to hiring the best and the brightest!!
Mike: Is it true that the new RBNY park is shaped like an oblong toilet bowl? If true, they certainly have the contents to fill it...
Wow!!! Take it easy on them. That team is making me look good.
BobFritz: Will seating options be first come first served?
That is why its so important to get your deposit becasue it holds your place in line. Seating will be chosen in order of when you put your deposit in
mnancy472: will you be looking at local college soccer teams (D1,D2 and D3) for potential players?
Chaz: I just arrived. Sorry if this question was asked already. I am told the site where the stadium will be built is classified as a brownfield which I understand (rightly or wrongly) to mean some chemical clean up is needed before the site can be used safely. Is this true? If so, do you know what needs to be done to make it the great place it will eventually become?
No chemical clean up. The site is actually pretty clean because it used to be a marina/yacht club fpor a long time
OK. It's 8pm and my old crippled goalkeeper fingers are done for now. really enjoyed chatting with you all. Thanks for joining us tonight and I look forward to chatting in two weeks!!! We have the best fans in MLS and we ain't even playing yet!!! Cheers everyone!
