South Jersey MLS probably "dead"

Alas, the news hasn't been very good for months, since we heard that plans were on hold for building Rowan West in Glassboro for South Jersey's first MLS team. The news from January was that the project still had a multi-million shortfall.

Rowan spokesman Joe Cardona says, “It's not a dead project, but it's on hold in the sense that, without money from the state, we can't go forward."

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/cumberland/story/7110810p-6967194c.html

Stalled Plans

The latest press meeting from Pres. Farina and others involved in Rowan West gave us bad news: the team is currently having funding problems with the project, and other financial sources will need to be found. Unlike others, I'm not declaring this deal dead, though, since Farish, Sen. Pres. Codey, Rep. Sweeney, and others are currently working on plans to find funding for the stadium project.

Rollercoasters in KC

Well, the move of KC to Philly (then South Jersey) is still up in the air, but negotiations seem to be moving forward on a stadium deal in Johnson City, a suburb of KC. Nothing has been finalized, though, including the prospective ownership group. Hence, while things are still not finalized, it seems that progress has been made in KC's bid to keep the Wizards and that South Jersey MLS won't begin until 2009.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/politics/15282510.htm

Lots of News

Alright, I was wrong about the proposed KC Wizards to Philadelphia/South Jersey move. It seems this is very much in the works, and KC doesn't even have Arrowhead Stadium for the next two seasons, nor a new owner, which is required by the current one.

Hence, KC players have been told they may be moving, and machinations seem to be in place. As of now, I'm cautiously optimistic that Philadelphia will have a team next season, followed by the team's permanent move to South Jersey.

Atlantic City Press on the move:
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/story/6580649p-6427637c.html

Waiting Game

The latest published reports on the team came out in the early-to-mid part of July, and it was merely reported that negotiations between Mileston, Rowan, and MLS were on-going. The deadline for a concrete, finalized plan was extended, but talks seemed optimistic. Of course, N.J. was in its budget battle at that point, so education funds -- loans for Rowan West -- would have been held up because of that.

I'm still a bit puzzled by MLS's stance on the South Jersey team, simply because MLS has recently visited St. Louis and has made nary a mention of its proposed South Jersey franchise. The prevailing opinion on Bigsoccer.com, from those closer to the deal, is that 2007 is still an option and that the Kansas City Wizards may be relocated here at the end of the season. I wonder, however, whether 2009 isn't the more likely of the two start date options, simply because the San Jose-Houston move was such a rarity and because a new owner and stadium may be in the works for KC.

MLS says, Milestone says...

So, MLS releases, including Garber quotations and supposed "insider" info have made nary a mention of MLS in South Jersey or Philadelphia in 2009, let alone 2007. This is in conflict with some of the supposed happenings with the ownership group, Milestone Group, and a purported announcement coming on 1 July. I'm a bit confused about the conflicting reports, though, and hope that this project is still green-lighted. I'd certainly feel more comfortable if MLS made some public statements about the team, though.

Quiet Week

There hasn't been much news to report for South Jersey MLS as of late, and I get the feeling that "the powers that be" are in negotiations, keeping things such as stadium funding and league opening date close to their vest. A summary of a Milestone report on bigsoccer stated that the team is supposed to begin play in 2007, but I don't see how this is possible, given facilities and the like. Toronto, of course, is confirmed for 2007, and the Linc and Franklin Field are pretty much booked for Saturdays already, with Temple and Penn's respective football teams.

Yours truly, however, did get a letter to the editor in support of the team and for naming the team after the actual area it will be housed, South Jersey, in today's 'Courier Post':

http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060530/OPINION/605300307/1047

I have also written to Assemblymen Greenwald and Rosen-Lampitt, Gov. Corzine, Sens. Menendez and Lautenberg, and State Sen. Adler in the past week in support of the team and for naming the team with a South Jersey name. If any replies come in from them, I'll post them. Jeffrey Goldberg, president of the Milestone Group, wrote back to me today, thanking me for my support of the team and saying that he would have "good feedback" in the future.