MLS Philly: Local Writer with Doubts
Filed under: Expansion Team, Philadelphia
The day after the Philly MLS Stadium groundbreaking, local writer Karen Heller lobs a grenade at the effort.
The day after the Philly MLS Stadium groundbreaking, local writer Karen Heller lobs a grenade at the effort.
While it’s great to have MLS expanding, she makes good points. It’s ridiculous how easy it is for these private entities(sports teams in general) to get public funding for new stadiums on the promise of unproven economic development. If they could promise some sort of return to the city in the form increased commercial activity(tax revenue) over a period of time (like what the mayor of Portland is seeking) and make up any sort of shortfall out of their pockets, it would make more sense to me.
Getting public funding for soccer, easy? No way. Complaining about construction cranes rising over a depressed area? Shortsighted. Go to Frisco TX and check out “unproven economic development”. You wouldn’t believe the growth.
She just wants to complain about something. I don’t see here trying to help out the Chester area. Doesn’t she know that the stadium is part of a bigger economic plan, including housing? Surely, they’ll put in a grocery store.
Doesn’t the stadium plan in Philly involve a retail plaza or something of the sort on the immediate site or in an adjacent area?
Harrahs and the track was supposed to revitalize Chester too. Believe me, its as poor as ever. I’m glad Philly is getting a team and a stadium, but its more about cheap land and accessability then helping anyone in that city.