Union Looking At Alternative Venues For Opening Day

Confirming a report made by the Wasington Post's Steven Goff on Wednesday, Philadelphia Union president Tom Veit acknowledged this morning that the club may end up playing their first-ever league game in a venue other than the 18,500-seat stadium that is currently being built for them in Chester. Instead, there is a possibility that the team will kick off their first season in the league at 68,000-seat Lincoln Financial Field, home of the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles.

“Right now everything is running on schedule construction-wise, but we are on a real tight schedule and with MLS yet to announce opening day dates, we just want to make sure that we are covered,” Veit told the Daily News. “If we have to open on a certain date that doesn’t meet our deadlines then that is a problem, so we are just making sure we do our due diligence.

“We know with the Gold Cup having played there and it being a possible venue for the World Cup, it would be the perfect place for us to start the season. If it does have to be a possibility, they are ready to accommodate us.”


In the past, the league hasn't been averse to sending a team out on the road for several games while a new facility is being finished. In 2006, for example, the Chicago Fire played their first nine games away from home while construction at Toyota Park was being completed.

MLS officials had hoped to reveal each team's home opener for the 2010 season on Thursday, but questions surrounding the Philadelphia stadium situation have pushed that announcement back to next week at the earliest. According to Goff, the tentative plan is for the Union's first home game to come against DC United on April 10th.

At last count, Union season tickets deposits were said to be approaching 10,000, with a cap on STHs set at 15,000 for their inaugural season. Keep in mind, the club has not announced any early player signings and hasn't yet unveiled their kit design.