Bon Jovi Sings Praises Of New Philly Arena Football Team
Philadelphia Soul Premiere February 2004



POSTED: 7:28 p.m. EDT September 23, 2003
UPDATED: 7:58 p.m. EDT September 23, 2003

PHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia welcomed a new pro football team to town Tuesday.

The new arena football league team is called the Philadelphia Soul, which is appropriate since it is owned by two musicians -- Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora.

Bon Jovi, Sambora and Sambora's wife, Heather Locklear, were in town to help give the team a big push to the media. Bon Jovi made the rounds of the radio and television talk shows, joking that they should know he isn't fooling around since he was up at 6 a.m. "Alright, let's get something straight here. Rock and rolls stars do not get up this early in the morning. We are usually up late at night," he told reporters.

Later in the day, Bon Jovi and company attended a big, splashy kickoff at the Wachovia Spectrum.

"(Philadelphia) is the greatest sports town in the world. When it comes to football, it is immeasurable," explained Ron Jaworski, the president of the Philadelphia Soul. "Jon will create the sizzle."

Some of that sizzle was evident in the fans that surrounded the singer at every step on his promotional tour. Bon Jovi fans were in heaven Tuesday and many told NBC 10 News that they will go see the football team just because their favorite musician is involved.

"The Philadelphia Soul is going to be a unique name in a unique sport and we wanted everything about it to be origianal," Bon Jovi said.

The Philadelphia Soul is the 18th arena football league team and will kick off its inaugural season in February 2004. The team will be televised in the Philadelphia area exclusively by NBC 10.