Field of Schemes: $850m in stadiums for Jersey?

November 11, 2004

$850m in stadiums for Jersey?

New Jersey state senate president Richard Codey, set to take over as acting governor once James "I am a gay American" McGreevey steps down next week, has proclaimed that he wants to build $850 million in new stadiums at the Meadowlands sports complex for the New York Giants, the MetroStars, and an unspecified minor-league team. Codey was vague about financing details beyond indicating that the teams would be asked to pay the bulk of the cost: "The Giants have indicated to me that building a new stadium is their first option. I've said to them, if they pay for it, they can run it."

As you may recall, the MetroStars have been working on a $160 million soccer stadium plan in Harrison, N.J. (across the river from Newark), but Codey declared those talks dead this week, saying, "The county doesn't want to back these bonds." Harrison Redevelopment Authority director Peter Higgins retorted that this was "nothing more than a temporary setback." As always, take all this with the requisite grains of salt until you can see the green of somebody's greenbacks.

COMMENTS

they're not the New York/New Jersey MetroStars, just "Metrostar". dropped the NY/NJ tag years ago how come the "remember personal info" feature doesn't work for me?
Posted by: swedcrip at November 11, 2004 02:42 PM

Metrostars, I mean
Posted by: swedcrip at November 11, 2004 02:43 PM

The Harrison STadium project is crucual for the Metrostars to survive as a profitable entity. The NJSEA is a corrupt organization led by the corrupt George Zoffinger who has screwed the Metrostars and its fans for years. The Metrostars MUST leave the Meadowlands, and the Harrison STadium project is the only place they should be. Harrison will offer a downtown setting, complete with bars, pubs, restaurants, and PATH train access to NYC. Let's hope the power struggles and black market politcs that are associated with NJ do not destroy what is left of the Metrostars franchise and its jaded fanbase.
Posted by: Bertell Ollman at November 11, 2004 03:49 PM

Okay, "MetroStars" they now are. (Is this the first sports team name ever with no indication of where they play?) As for "remember personal info," that's a built-in Movable Type feature, so I couldn't say - maybe you have cookies disabled?
Posted by: Neil at November 11, 2004 05:44 PM

well then Club Deportiva Chivas USA might be the second. It's pretty common in soccer overseas (Arsenal, Celtic, etc). Some teams have longer official titles that include location, but many don't. MLS is moving more towards the "traditional" (outside US) sports naming system. Everyone pretty much agreed NY/NJ was dumb. I can't think of any recent examples in the NBA/NFL/MLB/NHL.
Posted by: swedcrip at November 11, 2004 07:02 PM

So Neil, what are your thoughts on the current Metrostars stadium situation?
Posted by: Clint Mathis at November 12, 2004 10:32 AM

It's the same as every stadium situation in MLS: The league business model is for 20,000-seat soccer-only stadiums, preferably paid for by somebody else, and the MetroStars are going to keep shopping around until somebody gives them one. You wouldn't think anyone would be too excited to hitch their economic future to a sport that has failed repeatedly in the U.S., but then, there's a sucker made acting governor every minute.
Posted by: Neil at November 13, 2004 10:17 AM

But you can't deny that the MLS is on a huge upswing... Attendance is up, ratings are up, new teams are coming, new investors are coming, new sponsorship $$ is coming, new stadiums are coming, and the US National Team is performing very well on the world stage. Your right that soccer in America has had a glorious but troubled past, but the MLS has learned from the mistakes from the NASL and is doing things the right way. But moving on towards the Metrostars situation, what is the holdup with the Harrison bonds, and why is the NJSEA now wanting to put a stadium for the Metrostars in the Meadowlands? What was wrong with the Harrison deal?
Posted by: Bertell Ollman at November 13, 2004 01:43 PM

The NHL looked like the Next Big Thing a decade ago, too - I'm not saying that MLS is doomed to failure, but it's certainly a risky venture to be spending public money on. (Even if you assume that luring sports fans is a good development strategy, which there's little sign of.) As for Harrison, the "holdup" is presumably that county officials haven't been sold on putting up 3/4 of the money; add in the new governor's sudden inclination to spend money (or at least time and effort) on rebuilding the Meadowlands, and everything's up in the air. Not that it wasn't up in the air all along, with the Harrison bonds yet to be approved - it's just that now everyone has to acknowledge that it is.
Posted by: Neil at November 14, 2004 09:10 AM

Hi - I have just noticed that someone has been signing my name to his e-mails to your list. Could he please use his own name next time? Oh, I'd have less objections if I agreed with him more than I do with Neil. Thanks - Bertell Ollman (the real one)
Posted by: Bertell Ollman at December 4, 2004 10:50 PM