the smedley log - suburban scrawl

A pro team in Bucks — Really?

I gotta’ admit, the idea intrigues me, but the cost and logistics may prove a bit much:

A professional soccer league is eyeing spots along Bucks County’s waterfront for a new multimillion-dollar sports complex to host the area’s first outdoor pro soccer team.

Although there isn’t a team here now, representatives from Major League Soccer visited Bristol Township and Bensalem this month to scout possible stadium locations, said Bucks County Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Bob White.

Construction of a local stadium would require a “significant” multimillion-dollar investment by the host town and at least 40 acres of land, White speculated. …(source)

I know, most of you are snickering, not at the prospect of a pro team playing in the ‘burbs, but at the idea of soccer. Yes, it is a real sport, thank you. And I happen to enjoy watching it, though not quite as much as I’ve always enjoyed playing it. So there.

I remember watching the Philadelphia Freedom when they used to play at the United German Hungarian field in Oakford. Five dollars to get in (and really cheap concessions), but I suppose that would go a little higher, especially in a new stadium. It does bring back the memories, though.

A pro soccer team would be a great thing for that area. But neither Bristol or Bensalem are particularly wealthy areas. I wonder how they would be able to pull off the funding.

that’s the thing with america and soccer. it’s the #1 most popular sport to play in america. it’s BY FAR the #1 sport in the world. but people don’t like to watch it unless it’s their son/daughter’s game.

i love soccer and i live right here in philly. i’d love the ability to see a pro team play on a regular basis. but the mls doesn’t have much to offer in ‘pro’ level talent in it’s decade of existence.

I love soccer, and I have since an early age, but I realize there’s a definite disconnect between people’s appreciation of participation in the sport and watching it.

The hopeful thing here in the Philly area is that when I go down to catch a Kixx game at the Spectrum from time to time, the place seems packed, and half the crowd is under the age of fourteen. That means a lot of kids who play and are looking for someone to emulate (or so it seems). The development may be slow, but building on the interest of younger fans seems like the only viable way to build an audience for the future. Just look at Major League Baseball for the flip side of that theory.

Now, as Dave points out, I’m not really sure the public money is there for such project, but if they build it, I’m sure lots of people will come out (and I’m just talking about people in Bucks, who knows how many might come from Philly), provided the price of attendance doesn’t outpace the interest…

There are more soccer moms in Lower Bucks than you can shake a stick at. I’m sure there’ll be plenty of mass SUV migrations on game day.

I think that’s what makes the area an attraction for the MLS —I’d actually love to be able to take a fifteen or twenty minute drive to watch a game, if this comes to pass.