Soccer stadium in Chester, PA (Philadelphia, Darby: home, transfer to, bus)

[Deep77]

That being said, I'll still be supporting the Union.

[thekish]

Originally Posted by Deep77

Temple would never opt for that, because they already have a sweetheart deal, a $1 million to rent out the Linc. Why waste $250 million on a stadium?

1. The stadium is costing about $115 million.

2. On campus stadiums actually draw students. The sweetheart deal at the Linc results in an EMPTY stadium. Why would Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan, and every other big time college spend about $500 million in today's dollars on 100,000 seat stadiums?

3. The stadium is being built with or WITHOUT Temple. If Temple did go in on the deal the cost for the soccer team and Temple would be split so now we are down to only about $60 million each.

4. A stadium on N. Broad would be on the Broad Street Line vs the Chester stadium that is not on the BSL.

[Deep77]

Originally Posted by thekish

1. The stadium is costing about $115 million.

2. On campus stadiums actually draw students. The sweetheart deal at the Linc results in an EMPTY stadium. Why would Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan, and every other big time college spend about $500 million in today's dollars on 100,000 seat stadiums?

3. The stadium is being built with or WITHOUT Temple. If Temple did go in on the deal the cost for the soccer team and Temple would be split so now we are down to only about $60 million each.

4. A stadium on N. Broad would be on the Broad Street Line vs the Chester stadium that is not on the BSL.

1-still cheaper to play at the Linc than to build another stadium

2-Not necessarily. The Linc is empty for Temple games because prior to this past season Temple football has been generally horrible. Philly college students have no problem getting on SEPTA to watch their schools play basketball at the Wachovia Center. Now that Temple has a respectable team, you'll see more students at the games.

The University of Pittsburgh plays at Heinz Feild, they have no problem filling seats, because Pitt has a good football program.

4-The Chester stadium is along SEPTA Regional Rail lines, so the stadium is still accessible.

[thekish]

Originally Posted by Deep77

1-still cheaper to play at the Linc than to build another stadium

2-Not necessarily. The Linc is empty for Temple games because prior to this past season Temple football has been generally horrible. Philly college students have no problem getting on SEPTA to watch their schools play basketball at the Wachovia Center. Now that Temple has a respectable team, you'll see more students at the games.

The University of Pittsburgh plays at Heinz Feild, they have no problem filling seats, because Pitt has a good football program.

4-The Chester stadium is along SEPTA Regional Rail lines, so the stadium is still accessible.

Your arguement is weak. In point one you are arguing that is is cheaper to build another stadium when another stadium IS being built. Now how is it cheaper?

The only problem with point number two is the student DON'T go to games at the Linc. The reality is students would rather go to ON campus games.

[waltlantz]

Originally Posted by thekish

It would be more beneficial if the residents of Chester got off their and got jobs and did not rob the old grocery stores which caused the old stores to go out of business.

YEA FOR BLANKET STEROTYPES!!!!!

Seriously though, the whole outfit COULD work but Chester needs more than an entertainment district, especially if they aren't willing to tax it effectively. Case in point look at the Camden river front vs. the rest of Camden.

[nostadiums]

maybe Kool-Aid can be given free to all fans at a game. Drink up soccer fans

[nostadiums]

The Guv releases $$ for projects, then the recipient (in this case, Chester Econ. Dev. Authority) makes an application for the project. The contract is then executed and the application goes forward. How that works is, the applicant (CEDA) has to put the money out ahead of time for each portion of the project, then submits for reimbursement to the State up to the amount they were approved for, which in this case is $45,000,000. They have 3 years to use the $45,000,000, so if you are saying they have $7,000,000 more to spend, the CEDA has to first put their money up for the project. Appropriations Committee is saying that in HB 1589 of 2008, it was not spelled out exactly what they were going to do with the project and they have to put out their own money first to be reimbursed, so if they don't build the apartment complex, supermarket, etc., the state is not out any $$$,and there is none to return because the CEDA did not actually put out any of their own $$$ first toward the apartment complex, supermarket, etc. Appropriations said they think @$25,000,000 of the $45,000,000 was for the stadium and $7,000,000 toward a 2-phase project for the apartments, etc.

Appropriations e-mailed the Guv's budget office to see how much has been spent so far, and they said the Guv lowered the release amount for this Capital Budget Project for CEDA to $27.5 million and to date, CEDA has not applied for any reimbursement, so none of the State's money has been used thus far for the stadium project. Appropriations said they probably are using up the private investments and local funds first.

The (vague) original wording in HB 1589 for the soccer stadium is:

(B) Chester Economic Development Authority
26 (I) Infrastructure improvements,
27 environmental remediation, bulkhead
28 repairs, site preparation, parking,
29 exhibition space and multipurpose
30 recreational and sports facilities
20070H1589B4129 - 164 -


1 for the Chester Waterfront 45,000,000

[nostadiums]

Just some of the facts

[DailyJournalist]

Go Union!! Just wish the stadium had been built next to the other stadiums instead of Chester. Even Camden would have been a better choice than Chester because of its proximity and direct conection via PATCo and the Ferry to Center City.

[kidphilly]

Actually I think the Temple discussion would have really benefited the team (Temple not sure about union but maybe an inner city stadium would have a draw), though I am sure these deals are never that simple, I am sure some political wrangling brought funds to Chester, either way I wish the union good luck