The Philadelphia Union will move into their new stadium Sunday.
Amid the hoopla of the World Cup in South Africa, the Major League Soccer expansion franchise is hoping to tap into that excitement when it debuts its $122 million, 18,500-seat PPL when the hometown team takes on the Seattle Sounders at 5 p.m.
The opening is being tempered by an outburst of violence in the city of Chester, where a state of emergency has been declared after four shooting deaths in an eight-day span. But team officials say there will be ample security for the match, and nothing is expected to cause a change in the planned opening.
The stadium, in the shadow of the Commodore Barry Bridge on the banks of the Delaware River, is located about 10 miles south of Philadelphia. The facility wasn't ready at the start of the MLS season, forcing the Union to play two home games at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the NFL's Eagles, and the rest of their early season games on the road.
The Union (2-7-1) are sure to have a home-field advantage the rest of the season. The team plays 13 of its next 20 matches at PPL Park, where the team's allotment of 12,000 season tickets have long been sold out.
“It's time, and we're so excited to make this our home for this year and many, many years in the future,” Union CEO Nick Sakiewicz said.
“Our fans are going to love this place. This is why we built it. The fans are going to be behind this club 100 percent.”
In the two previous home matches, the Union averaged nearly 30,000 fans at Lincoln Financial Field in a 3-2 victory over D.C. United in April and a 1-1 draw against FC Dallas in May. Sunday's game is a sellout.
The Union will play their next game on the road Saturday, July 3, at Chivas USA before returning to PPL Park on July 10 against the San Jose Earthquakes.
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