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Union Field at Chester is a soccer-specific stadium in Chester, Pennsylvania that is currently under construction. It is the planned home of Philadelphia Union, a Major League Soccer club, and the Philadelphia Independence of Women's Professional Soccer.[2][3] The project is the result of combined commitments of $30 million from Delaware County and $47 million from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The stadium site is located on Chester's waterfront along the Delaware River, at the Commodore Barry Bridge's southwesterly corner. Union Field[4] was designed to be a catalyst for economic development on the waterfront, with additional plans calling for a riverwalk amidst other entertainment, retail, and residential projects. The stadium is being constructed by the Ardmore, Pennsylvania-based T.N. Ward Company.[5]
[edit] HistoryMajor League Soccer (MLS) has been interested in entering the Philadelphia market for several years, with many promises of a team by Commissioner Don Garber, as evidenced by his quote from The Philadelphia Inquirer saying, "It's not a matter of if, but when Philadelphia gets a team."[6] Initially, Major League Soccer was interested in a site in the borough of Bristol, Pennsylvania, about 23 miles (37 km) north of downtown Philadelphia.[7] Those plans never came to fruition. Later, Rowan University provided details for a soccer stadium near its campus in Glassboro, New Jersey. However, funding from the state of New Jersey fell through in 2006. In late 2006, a group of investors led by Rob Buccini, co-founder of the Buccini/Pollin Group; Jay Sugarman, chief executive of iStar Financial; and James Nevels, a former chairman of the Philadelphia School Reform Commission, initiated the planning for a soccer-specific stadium in the city of Chester after the funding for the Rowan project failed to pass the New Jersey legislature. After many months of negotiations, Delaware County politicians announced their approval of funding for the stadium in October 2007.[8] Delaware County will own the land and the stadium itself, while the team will own the naming rights based on their approval of a 30-year lease. The newly formed Delaware County Sports Authority will pay the county's share of $30 million through taxes from the Harrah's Chester casino. An additional $80 million will be donated by private investors. On January 31, 2008, Governor Ed Rendell and Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, unveiled a combined soccer stadium and economic revitalization package for the city of Chester.[9] $25 million was allocated to the construction of Union Field, with an additional $7 million towards a two-phase project composed of 186 townhouses, 25 apartments, 335,000 square feet (31,100 m2) of office space, a 200,000-square-foot (19,000 m2) convention center, more than 20,000 square feet (1,900 m2) of retail space, and a parking structure to house 1,350 cars. In phase two, another 200 apartments will be built, along with 100,000 square feet (9,300 m2) of office space and 22,000 square feet (2,000 m2) of retail space.[10] The United Football League, a professional football organization that played its inaugural season in the fall of 2009, is considering the tenancy of a Philadelphia-area franchise at Union Field. The league markets itself as a low-cost alternative to the National Football League for spectators and a place for unsigned, professional players to continue their careers. A Philadelphia team would deem itself as a more prudent viewership option to the Philadelphia Eagles, a National Football League team.[11] Delays in construction led to Philadelphia Union announcing that their inaugural home game in April 2010 will not take place at Union Field, and will instead take place at Lincoln Financial Field.[12] [edit] FeaturesPhiladelphia Union's ownership group, Keystone Sports & Entertainment, designed a specific entrance of Union Field for the Sons of Ben supporters group in recognition of their loyalty.[13] This entrance will lead into a 2,000-seat section reserved specifically for the club.[14] Additional features include 30 luxury suites, a full-service restaurant, a built-in concert stage, and sideline roofs designed to protect fans from the elements. Even with the inclusion of these features, approximately 60% of the venue's spectators will be able to view the Commodore Barry Bridge and the Delaware River from their seats. Union Field's façade will be made up of brick and natural stone, a continuity of traditional Philadelphia architecture.[1] Its concessions, catering, and ticket sales will be managed by the Philadelphia-based Comcast Spectacor company.[1] The Panasonic Corporation are one of the stadium's major sponsors and will be the provider of broadcast and television production systems, large-screen LED displays, security systems, and point-of-sale systems.[15] [edit] TransportationLike the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, Union Field is located near Interstate 95. It is approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) from SEPTA Regional Rail's R2 line, which is available via the Highland Avenue and Chester Transportation Center stations, or by SEPTA Route 113 via 69th Street Terminal in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania and the Tri-State Mall in Claymont, Delaware and the Route 37 bus service from South Philadelphia. Travelers from New Jersey can take U.S. Route 322 over the Commodore Barry Bridge and exit at Flower Street, via the 9th Street (U.S. Route 13) exit. New ramps from the Commodore Barry Bridge to the Chester Waterfront and Pennsylvania Route 291 are currently under construction. When completed, they will allow direct access to the Chester Waterfront without using the local neighborhood roads.[1] The Philadelphia International Airport is 5 miles (8.0 km) from Union Field.[1] [edit] References
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Categories: Philadelphia Union | Philadelphia Independence | Planned or proposed stadiums | Stadiums under construction in the United States | Sports venues in Pennsylvania | Major League Soccer stadiums | Women's Professional Soccer stadiums | Soccer venues in Pennsylvania | Delaware River Port Authority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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