Wikipedia

Subaru Park

Subaru Parkis asoccer-specific stadiumlocated inChester,Pennsylvania,located next to theCommodore Barry Bridgeon the waterfront along theDelaware River.The venue is home to thePhiladelphia UnionofMajor League Soccer.[8]

Subaru Park
View of Subaru Park from theSons of Bensupporters section in August 2022
Subaru Park is located in Pennsylvania
Subaru Park
Subaru Park
Location of Subaru Park inPennsylvania
Subaru Park is located in the United States
Subaru Park
Subaru Park
Location in theUnited States
Former namesPPL Park (2010–2015)
Talen Energy Stadium (2016–2019)
Address1 Stadium Drive
LocationChester, Pennsylvania,U.S.
Coordinates39°49′56″N75°22′44″W/ 39.83222°N 75.37889°W/39.83222; -75.37889
Public transitBus transportSEPTAbus:113(at stadium)
Chester Transportation Center:
Wilmington/​Newark Line
Bus transportSEPTAbus:37,109,114,117,118,119
OwnerBuccini/Pollin Group
OperatorBPG Sports[1]
Capacity18,500 (Soccer)
26,000 (Concerts)[2]
Field size120 yd × 75 yd (110 m × 69 m)
SurfacePerennial Ryegrass and Kentucky Bluegrass
Construction
Broke groundDecember 1, 2008
OpenedJune 27, 2010[7]
Construction cost$120 million[3]
($168 million in 2023 dollars[4])
ArchitectRossetti Architects
Project managerICON Venue Group
Structural engineerPennoni Associates Inc.[5]
General contractorT.N. Ward Company[6]
Tenants
Philadelphia Union(MLS) (2010–present)
Army–Navy Cup(NCAA) (2012–present)
Philadelphia Union II(MLSNP)
(2019–2020, 2022–present)
Collegiate Rugby Championship(2011–2019)
Premier Lacrosse League(2019–2023)

Subaru Park was designed as an initial step for economic development on the waterfront, with additional plans calling for a riverwalk amidst other entertainment, retail, and residential projects. The stadium was constructed by T.N. Ward Company, which is based inArdmore.[9]The project is the result of combined commitments of $30 million fromDelaware Countyand $47 million from the Commonwealth ofPennsylvania.Subaru of Americais the stadium's naming rights sponsor.

Construction

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Major League Soccer(MLS) had been interested in entering the Philadelphia market for several years, with many promises of a team by CommissionerDon Garber,as evidenced by his statement, "It's not a matter of if but when Philadelphia gets a team."[10]Initially, Major League Soccer was interested in a site in the borough ofBristol,about 23 miles (37 km) north ofCenter City Philadelphia.[11]The plans never came to fruition, however.Rowan Universitylater provided plans for a soccer stadium near itsGlassboro, New Jerseycampus, but funding from the state ofNew Jerseyfell through in 2006.

In late 2006, a group of investors led by longtime MLS executive Nick Sakiewicz initiated the planning for a soccer-specific stadium in 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.[12]Delaware Countyowns the land and the stadium itself, while the team owns the naming rights based on their approval of a 30-year lease. The newly formed Delaware County Sports Authority pays the county's share of $30 million through taxes from theHarrah's Chesterharness racing track and casino. An additional $80 million was contributed by private investors.

On January 31, 2008, Pennsylvania's state government unveiled a combined soccer stadium and economic revitalization package for Chester.[13]$25 million was allocated to the construction of the stadium, 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.[14]

TheEnvironmental Protection Agency(EPA) worked with the city to ensure that construction activities did not impact the nearby parking facility, which had been the site of theWade Dump,a previously pollutedSuperfundsite.[15]

Soccer

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A 2010 regular season match against theHouston Dynamo,October 2010

Construction delays led to the Philadelphia Union's decision to play their inaugural home game atLincoln Financial Fieldinstead of Subaru Park.[16]Their first match at the stadium was played on June 27, 2010, when they defeatedSeattle Sounders FC3–1.Sébastien Le Touxscored the Union's first goal at the stadium on a crossed header. However,Pat Noonanof Sounders FC scored the first goal in the venue's history.

The stadium's record attendance was achieved on December 5, 2021, for the2021 Eastern Conference Finalwhen the Union were defeated byNew York City FC2–1 in front of 19,487 fans.[17]

Due to consistently high attendance and ticket sales, in 2011 the Philadelphia Union expressed interest in expanding the capacity of the stadium. The planned expansion would occur in three phases, initially to 20,000, then to 27,000, and finally to approximately 30,000.[18]In 2024, the club commissionedGenslerto study an expansion of the stadium, which would be able to accommodate 27,000 seats on its current footprint.[19]

Other sports

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Rugby union

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See also:2013 Māori All Blacks tour of North America
Māori All Blacks,aNew Zealandrugby unionteam, performing theirhakaprior to their match against the United States at Subaru Park in 2013

Collegiate Rugby Championship

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Main article:Collegiate Rugby Championship

Subaru Park hosted theCollegiate Rugby Championshipevery June between 2011 and 2019.[20][21]The Collegiate Rugby Championship is the highest profilecollege rugbycompetition in the United States, and is broadcast live onNBCannually. In 2011, over 17,800 fans attended the tournament.[22]

United States national team

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Subaru Park hosted its firstrugby unioninternational on November 9, 2013, when theMaori All Blackssquared off against theUnited States.A sold-out crowd of 18,500 witnessed a hard-fought match in which the visiting Maori All Blacks won 29–19.[23]

English Premiership

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It was announced on May 17, 2017, that English sideNewcastle Falconswould play their homePremiership Rugbygame againstSaracensat the stadium on September 16, 2017. This was the second English premiership game hosted in the US and Saracens' second visit afterLondon Irishhosted them at theRed Bull ArenainHarrison, New JerseyonMarch 12, 2016.[24]

List of Premiership Rugby – The American Series games
Season Date Television Home team Result Away Team Tournament Attendance Ref.
2017–18 September 16, 2017 NBC Newcastle Falcons 7–29 Saracens Premiership Rugby 6,271 [25]

College football

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The first college football game played at Subaru Park was theBattle of the Blueon November 19, 2011, in whichDelawarebeatVillanovato earn the trophy for the first time.[26]These same two teams met again on November 23, 2013, withVillanovabeatingDelaware35–34.

Lacrosse

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The stadium hosted two quarterfinal matches in the2012 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship.[27]In 2013, the stadium hosted theMajor League Lacrosse's Championship known as theSteinfeld Cup.In this game, theChesapeake Bayhawksdefeated theCharlotte Hounds10–9 in front of 3,892 fans. On April 24 & 26, 2015, the2015 ACC Lacrosse Championshipwas hosted at the facility.[28]In 2015, the stadium hosted the NCAA Division I and Division III Women's Lacrosse Championship. Maryland beat North Carolina in the DI game while SUNY Cortland beat Trinity College of Hartford in the DIII game. In 2016, the stadium again hosted the NCAA Division I and Division III Women's Lacrosse Championship, May 28 and May 29, 2016.

At the high school level, notable events included the boys' 2015Inter-Academic LeagueChampionship game, betweenThe Haverford School,fromPennsylvania,andThe Hun SchoolofNew Jersey.The Haverford School won the game, as well as the Inter-Ac title, capping off a perfect 23–0 season.

From 2019 to 2023, thePremier Lacrosse Leaguehosted several matches at Subaru Park.

Ultimate

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Major League Ultimatehad hosted two of its annual championship games at Subaru Park. The first was on July 19, 2014, when the DC Current defeated the Vancouver Nighthawks 23–17. The stadium again hosted the championship on August 8, 2015, in which the Boston Whitecaps defeated the Seattle Rainmakers 31–17.

Drum and bugle corps

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Given its ability to be used as a football field, Subaru Park has recently been used as an annual site for theDrum Corps InternationalSummer Competition Tour.[29]

Other soccer uses

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Subaru Park before the semi-final game between Philadelphia Independence and magicJack in 2010, the Independence's final home game ever

TheUnited States Military AcademyatWest Point, New York,and theUnited States Naval AcademyinAnnapolis, Maryland,have played their annual men's soccer rivalry, called theArmy–Navy Cupat Subaru Park. The 2012 meeting marked just the third time in the 75-year history of the soccer rivalry that the schools met at a neutral location and was the first regular-season neutral site meeting, with the previous two occurring in the NCAA tournament. Philadelphia is the traditional home of the classic football rivalry and is halfway between the two schools.[30]3,672 turned out for the first Philadelphia matchup.[31]

AfterHurricane Sandy,the2012 Big East Men's Soccer Tournamentwas moved to Subaru Park fromRed Bull Arena.[32]Subaru Park served as host again in 2013 for therestructured conference'stournament.[33]The stadium also hosted an international friendly betweenGreeceandNigeriain 2014. The match was a scoreless draw.

The2013 College Cupwas held at Subaru Park and the tournament returned to the venue in2017.The first set of matches of the2017 SheBelieves Cupwas played at the stadium, in whichFrancebeatEnglandand theUnited StatesbeatGermany.

Features

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When the initial architectural drawings were revealed, the stadium was to have been an oval-shaped stadium with a cantilevered roof covering all seating areas – not unlike most European football grounds. After consulting with the nascent club's supporters, the Union's ownership group, Keystone Sports & Entertainment, re-designed a specific entrance for theSons of Bensupporters group in recognition of their loyalty.[34]This entrance leads into a 2,000-seat section at the southeast end of the stadium reserved specifically for the group known as The River End.[35]Cantilevered roofs run above the Main and Bridge Stands and were designed to protect fans from the elements without obstructing the view of the Commodore Barry Bridge and the Delaware River from their seats.[36]The exterior façade is made up of brick and natural stone, a continuity of traditional Philadelphia architecture. Additional features include thirty luxury suites, a full-service restaurant and club above the Chester End, and a built-in concert stage in The River End (which has yet to be used).[2]

In February 2020, as part ofSubaru of Americabecoming the naming rights holder for the stadium, the Union replaced the previous video board above the Chester End with a new 3,440 sq ft (320 m2)high dynamic range (HDR)video board that was the first of its kind in an MLS soccer-specific stadium. TheLEDribbon boards around the field and seating bowl were also upgraded. A new VIP premium area called the "Tunnel Club" opened for the 2020 season as well.[37]The area outside the stadium known as "Subaru Plaza" was expanded to facilitate pregame festivities and a new community garden to grow fruits and vegetables for the local community.[38]

View of the interior of Subaru Park, from the southwest corner of the Main Stand facing the Bridge Stand and theCommodore Barry Bridgein 2010. To the left is the Chester End and the right The River End, which is separate from the rest of the stadium.

Sponsors

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Logos as PPL Park and Talen Energy Stadium

On February 25, 2010, the Philadelphia Union announced that theAllentown-basedPPL Corporationpurchased the naming rights to its home venue for $20 million over 11 years. As part of the deal, PPL EnergyPlus provides the stadium withsustainable energyderived from other sources in Pennsylvania.[39]

ThePanasonic Corporationprovides broadcast and television production systems, large-screen LED displays, security systems, and point-of-sale systems.[40]

On November 30, 2015,Talen Energyassumed naming rights and energy supply of the stadium. Talen Energy spun off as an electricity producer from PPL which in turn concentrated on transmission and distribution aspects.[41]

On February 18, 2020,Subaru of America,whose headquarters are in Philadelphia's neighboring cityCamden, New Jersey,was announced as the new naming rights holder for the stadium.[42][43]

Awards

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In September 2010, Mid-Atlantic Construction Magazine named the stadium the "Sports/Recreation Project of the Year." The company grants the award to premier construction projects in theMid-Atlanticregion.[44]In February 2011, the Delaware County Planning Commission awarded the stadium the 2010 William H. Bates Memorial Award.[45]Since 1980, the honor is presented annually to real-estate developers that improved a Delaware County property.

Concessions

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Subaru Park features many of the foods commonly sold at American sports venues, and also offers traditional Philadelphia food items suchcheesesteaks,hoagies,andsoft pretzels(shaped like the Union's primary logo). Several foods are provided by local companies such asTurkey Hill,[46]Herr's Snacks[47]and Seasons Pizza,[48]while beers from local breweries such asVictoryandDogfish Headare also available.[49]

Transportation

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Like theSouth Philadelphia Sports Complex,the stadium is located nearInterstate 95.It is approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) from theChester Transportation CenterSEPTAstation, where shuttle service is provided from four hours prior to kickoff and from full-time until the park is empty.Philadelphia International Airportis 5 miles (8.0 km) away.[2]Proposals to improve transit service toHighland Avenue stationon the SEPTAWilmington Lineor build a new station closer to the stadium are under consideration as part of the stadium's expansion plan.[19]

See also

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References

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Preceded by Host of theCollege Cup
2013
2017 		Succeeded by
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