Soccer-Philadelphia gets new MLS team

NEW YORK, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Philadelphia has become Major League Soccer's 16th team after winning a place in the North American league to start in 2010.

The new Philadelphia franchise will play at a 20,000 purpose-built soccer stadium to be developed in the Chester suburb of the city.

"We are thrilled to welcome Philadelphia to Major League Soccer," said MLS Commissioner Don Garber on Thursday.

"Philadelphia brings in one of the most passionate sports markets in the country and provides a natural rivalry with the New York Red Bulls and D.C. United," he added.

The club will be owned by a consortium of businessmen and their efforts had been helped by a 'supporters club', 'The Sons of Ben', who had already begun preparing for the arrival of the league well before a franchise was secured.

No name has yet been given to the franchise but it is already advertising for season ticket bookings via the league's website.

The MLS will expand to 14 teams this year with the return of the San Jose Earthquakes and then Seattle will join for the 2009 campaign.

Two more places could be up for grabs before 2011 with Miami, St. Louis and Detroit among those vying for expansion spots.

MLS said on Thursday that "expansion conversations continue with approximately 10 markets throughout the United States and Canada".

Philadelphia has a long-standing professional soccer tradition with teams from the city featuring in the 1920's American Soccer League and later the North American Soccer League. (Reporting by Simon Evans in Palm Beach Gardens; editing by Justin Palmer)