Strange Things Led to Philly Stadium Delay

Wet Weather and a Dry Economy Delayed New Stadium

Last week, 2010 MLS new boys Philadelphia Union announced it would be playing its first home game, and maybe more, at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the NFL Philadelphia Eagles.

One of the reasons the stadium will not be ready in time is that an unusually wet month of June complicated workers’ ability to pour cement and a shaken Wall Street meant it took longer to sell construction bonds, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. That proved the tipping point in a tight timeline to ensure that the 18,500 capacity soccer specific stadium on the Chester waterfront would be open on time.

“It’s a daily thing, where we’re at: Are we a day behind, a week behind, a month behind?” said Nick Sakiewicz, the team chief executive and operating partner. “It’s a very fluid situation.”

At the same time the team is building a $115 million stadium, its representatives are traveling the world to identify potential players for the new club. Ticket sales are reasonable. The team has taken deposits for 9,100 season tickets, roughly half the capacity of the new stadium.

Sakiewicz said the stadium could still be finished before the opening home game, April 10 against D.C. United, but the team could not guarantee that as the Major League Soccer schedule was being finalised. At most, he said, the Union will play three or four games in its temporary home according to the Inquirer.

The Union will become the 16th MLS side and will play its first-ever game against the 15th side Sounders at Qwest Field on March 25, 2010, a match which will open the 2010 MLS season. Sounders also opened the 2009 season, their first, with a 3-0 home win over New York.

Also see:
SOunders to Face Philly in 2010 Opener

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