City Of Brotherly Love Gets Soul

POSTED: 11:37 PM GMT September 22, 2003
UPDATED: 7:23 PM GMT January 29, 2004

Philadelphia, PA -- Rock star Jon Bon Jovi was introduced Monday as co-owner of the expansion Arena Football League team in Philadelphia.

Former NFL quarterback Ron Jaworski will be the president of the new team. Jaworski played 10 seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles, winning the NFC title in 1980 and a trip to Super Bowl XV.

Nicknamed the Soul, the club becomes the 18th member of the league and will play its home games at the Wachovia Center in South Philadelphia. The building is also home to the Flyers of the NHL and the 76ers of the NBA. In addition, it hosts professional lacrosse and soccer franchises.

The league's 16-game season runs from February through May.

Bon Jovi, who will partner with Craig A. Spencer in the venture, is the lead singer of Bon Jovi, one of the biggest recording acts in rock-and-roll history. The group has racked up sales of over $80 million in albums worldwide.

The group has had the distinction of being one of the industry's top concert draws, selling out arenas and stadiums worldwide. On his own, Bon Jovi wrote the Golden Globe Award-winning soundtrack of "Young Guns II," which was also nominated for an Oscar the same year. He also released a solo album, "Destination Anywhere."

Bon Jovi is from nearby New Jersey.

Richie Sambora, guitarist for Bon Jovi, also has a stake in the team. The group also includes Dave Bryan, Tico Torres and Hugh McDonald.

Copyright 2004 Courtesy of SportsNetwork.

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