Pele's 70th Birthday in NY...Return of NY Cosmos

[Macmoish]

Four Four Two

Celebrate Pele's birthday with NY Cosmos 442 Staff - Thursday 21 October 2010, 16:22

Brazilian icon Pele will be celebrating his 70th birthday on October 23 with former club New York Cosmos, who be will giving away 2011 Official Fan Balls as a gesture of appreciation.

The New York Cosmos, the most celebrated soccer club in the history of the United States, announced their comeback in August 2010 and is aggressively investing in youth and grassroots programs to reinvigorate the soccer scene in America as well as aiming for a future spot in the MLS.

One of its star players from the 1970’s, Pelé, is involved with today’s New York Cosmos as its Honorary President.

Due to the overwhelming positive response received from fans, the New York Cosmos will be giving away 2011 Official Fan Balls as a gesture of fan appreciation.

A large billboard-sized “birthday card” will be unveiled in Times Square above the Planet Hollywood marquee sign, and fans will be able to win prizes including:

Free fan ball giveaway for guests in attendance (while supplies last).
The first 100 people in line will receive a free New York Cosmos T-shirt.
Win Pelé autographed fan gear, with drawings taking place every hour.
Enter a penalty contest on November 6 in NYC. Winner gets to meet Pelé.

DETAILS

Saturday, October 23, 12-5pm at Planet Hollywood, Times Square, 45th & Broadway.

For more information visit www.newyorkcosmos.com/penaltyshot or contact Theresa Tran: [e-mail]

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In FourFourTwo this month: An interview with the world’s greatest footballer.

To celebrate the 70th birthday of the world’s greatest footballer, FourFourTwo spent two hours in the company of Pele, asking him every question we could possibly think of.

The result is a 20-page extravaganza covering his entire life from kicking paper-filled socks around as a kid to delivering “soccer” to the USA

fourfourtwo.com/news/restoftheworld/66355/default.aspx

[Lonegunmen]

Happy Birthday to the best player ever. well, next to Rodney.

[scarletpimple]

Fan balls..........now that sounds painfull......

[Macmoish]

"U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati with Pele and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg at the Aug. 1 relaunch of the Cosmos (Getty)


New York Cosmos Gear Up for MLS ExpansionOctober 26, 2010

www.worldfootballinsider.com/Story.aspx?id=33841

(WFI) The New York Cosmos are ratcheting up their efforts to become Major League Soccer’s 20th franchise.

The historic club relaunched Aug. 1 and has since founded two academies, added a board member, unveiled a new jersey and celebrated the 70th birthday of Cosmos legend and honorary team president Pele.

Now the revived Cosmos say they have the necessary funds to build a new stadium, the New Jersey Record reported over the weekend.

Cosmos director of soccer Terry Byrne told the newspaper his club has the money but must still pick a location.

"Our intent is to be the 20th team in MLS," Byrne said. "We’ve had several meetings with [MLS commissioner Don] Garber and progressed very positively."

Garber has long coveted a second New York City franchise to rival the Red Bulls, a scenario that’s looking more and more likely by the day.

Former Liverpool FC chief executive Rick Parry now sits on the board led by former Tottenham executive Paul Kemsley.

The club has enlisted former MLS players Ted Chronopoulos and Giovanni Savarese to lead the academies in New York and Los Angeles from which three players have already been recruited to join the USA's Under-17 residential program.

The Cosmos rented out Manhattan’s Planet Hollywood on Saturday for Pele’s birthday party.

The club also used the occasion to unveil a Times Square advertisement featuring the Brazilian legend.

The Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps FC will join the league next season, and the Montreal Impact will follow suit in 2012.

MLS could add a 20th franchise as soon as 2012.

Aztex Move to Orlando, Eye MLS
The Austin Aztex of the USSF D-2 will relocate to Orlando with the hopes of soon joining the MLS.

A newly formed British consortium has purchased the team, and the move is a condition of sale.

Aztex founder and Stoke City owner Phil Rawlins will remain on board as majority owner of the group named Orlando Sports Holdings, which also includes Burnley FC owner Brendan Flood.

“The new investors made it very difficult for us to turn down their offer,” he told the team’s official website.

“Their goal is to build up the soccer operations so that we can pursue an MLS franchise in the next few years.”

The team will join the USL Pro League next season under the name Orlando City Soccer Club.


By INSIDER's Matthew Grayson

Your best source of news about the global football business is World Football INSIDER
www.worldfootballinsider.com/Story.aspx?id=33841