Philadelphia Futbol!

May 22, 2009

It's been about 325 years since William Penn first arrived in the city of Chester. That's how long it's taken for a Major League Soccer (MLS) team to land in the area. The team, named the Philadelphia Union, will play its inaugural season in 2010. With soccer being the most popular sport in the world, boasting worldwide play of more than 40 million people from more than 200 countries, it was a matter of time that the region established an MLS team.

Not only is there a large following worldwide, but apparently there is enough of a regional following to convince the general public and lawmakers to invest in a $115 million world class soccer-specific stadium, with the guarantee of $500 million to go into redevelopment of the surrounding riverfront area.

Redevelopment would include housing, a convention center, retail stores, and a lush riverfront promenade. Greater Philadelphia  being the 4th largest market in the nation, it was a matter of time before another Major League sports team found its way into the area. Who knew the 16th MLS franchise would bring so much to the struggling City of Chester. 

With current unemployment at 10.8% and crime at high levels, the city of Chester is in dire need of development and the revenues that will come with it. Before the MLS project, there was little to no money to tackle these problems. Because of lobbying efforts, $87 million in public money is going in to the project. The state is pledging $47 million, Chester and Delaware counties are giving an additional $30 million, and the Delaware River Port Authority is in for $10 million. While a lot of taxpayer money is being spent, the positive impact on the surrounding community will no doubt be a transformative one. 

To bring an MLS franchise to Philadelphia, an Obama-style grassroots campaign was instrumental. Backing came from a supporters association known as the Sons of Ben, which petitioned, emailed, and held large public events to help the ownership group and MLS convince local, state, and federal politicians. "Our goal across Pennsylvania is to support efforts that can drive the economy for years to come," State Representative and Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations Dwight Evans said. "This is a terrific economic opportunity for Chester and for the Commonwealth. It shows that when government and private sector work together, everybody's a winner." Including women and girls: the city recently announced that a new professional women's soccer franchise team named the Philadelphia Independence will play at the MLS stadium. The Philadelphia Independence is a member of the new Women's Professional Soccer League.

In the end, it is apparent that this isn't just about a stadium and a redevelopment plan, but about the entrance of Philadelphia into the biggest sports arena in the world. Very soon most of us will walk past a bar on the streets of Philadelphia  or Norristown or Media to the raucous screams of "GOOOAAAAAALLLLLLL!"

-- Robert L. Gordon IV, Research Associate