South of the Border
By: Andrew |
2 Comments
Posted on Kerith Gabriel’s Twitter page yesterday, and confirmed on philly.com, the Union will be leaving cold, snowy North Carolina for warmer climes (for real) this time. In a couple weeks they’ll be heading down to Guadalajara, Mexico. Hmm, I wonder if that city has any professional soccer teams that would be up for some friendlies … Club Deportivo Guadalajara (aka Chivas), FC Atlas, and Estudiantes Tecos. Taking on teams in the Mexican Premier Division – and especially “powerhouse” Chivas, currently 5th in CONCACAF – would be a great litmus test for the team. If I were a fluent Spanish-speaker, I’d try to look on their schedules and see if any matches versus the Union are listed … but I’m not, so I won’t.
Once the team’s one-week stint in Mexico is over, they’ll settle down in Florida to continue training camp. But let’s focus near future, as the team gears up for a scrimmage this Saturday (February 13th @ 7P) against UNC Chapel Hill. Can you believe there’s a little over 6 weeks until First Kick out in Seattle?
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The Year of the Snake
By: Andrew | 3 Comments
I hereby formally submit a request for official revision to whomever is in charge of updates, edits, and such of the Chinese Zodiac Calendar. According to my research, the Year of the Snake runs from February 10, 2013 through January 30, 2014. However, this must be amended immediately so as to conform with the recently released Major League Soccer 2010 season schedule, beginning on Thursday, March 25, 2010 when the Union visits that NFL stadium in Seattle, and concluding on Sunday, November 21, 2010 with the MLS Cup (my prediction on whether the Union will be participating or not to come at a later time). Granted, it’s about 4 months shy of a full calendar year, but that’s a minor detail.
So, how does the 30-game regular season look for the Union?
Get Ready to Mark Your Calendars
By: Andrew | Add Comments
Reported by Kerith Gabriel on his Twitter page – sprtswtr – Major League Soccer will be releasing the 2010 schedule at 2 PM Wednesday (February 3rd) on MLSnet.com.
We already know which teams will be the Union’s first victims, and when they will fall to the mighty Zolos (first time I’ve used that word when referencing the team, FWIW): Seattle Sounders – March 25th, DC United – April 10th, Toronto FC – April 17th.
All three games are home openers as well.
It’s almost time to fill in the blanks and get this row on the shoad!
MLS to Release 2010 Regular Season Schedule on Wednesday
Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch … [UPDATE]
By: Andrew | Add Comments
With MLS First Kick a mere 7 1/2 weeks away, it’s easy to forget that the worker bees are busy, busy, busy down at Seaport Drive. There’s nothing like a construction site on a brisk February morning, a stiff breeze blowing in from the water, the sounds of heavy equipment rumbling about, and the smell of the “roach coach” cooking up some breakfast sandwiches.
But that’s not all … a substantial rumor is gaining strength this day; the team is finalizing a deal with PPL Electric for the Allentown-based company to have the naming rights of the stadium. The terms of the deal are 10 years, $20 million. As well as naming rights – the stadium will be known as “PPL Park” (although I will always refer to it as “Seaport Drive”) – PPL will become the team’s premier energy supplier, as well as all the “accoutrements of sponsorship, signage, and elements that come with being a major team sponsor”.
Perhaps in a small twist of irony, the Wharf at Rivertown – the building south of the stadium site where the team’s offices are located – was once a PECO Power Station. It gave me a small chuckle, so I thought I’d give it a mention.
UPDATE
I pulled the “rumors” tag on this post, as the news is starting to drop on philly.com, but nothing official from the team’s site yet.
The Union’s New Soccer Stadium Name: PPL Park
Energy company PPL Corp. is close to signing a 10-year, $20 million naming-rights deal with the Philadelphia Union, the region’s new pro soccer team. The Union’s new stadium, under construction in the city of Chester, will be called PPL Park.
Team officials confirmed the outlines of deal, first reported in Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal, that marks another major step for the return of pro soccer to the region.
We’re Starting to Get Spoiled
By: Andrew | Add Comments
A day after the team announced a multi-year partnership with 6abc to broadcast as many games as possible on that channel, with re-broadcasts on 6abc’s digital channel (aka “Live Well HD Network”), bigger news was in store for the Union faithful.
A teaser appeared on the Union’s Twitter page, asking the following:
Still happy about yesterday’s 6abc announcement? How about another major announcement today?!
How Do You Spell “Union”?
By: Andrew | Add Comments
As one of the veteran leaders of this group of players embarking on their first season together as a professional sports team, Stefani Miglioranzi doesn’t appear to have that tough guy persona. On the contrary, he seems to come off as a very friendly, approachable type of person, quick with a smile, appreciative of the opportunity to play for the Union, and yet VERY in-tune with the reputation possessed by the fans and teams of Philadelphia.
So, if you were to ask him how to spell the name of his new team, I think his response would be “N-A-S-T-Y”. Read the rest of this entry »
And So It Begins
By: Andrew | 2 Comments
Today marks the second day the team’s training sessions – running, stretching exercises, weight training – as they prepare for First Kick less than 2 months from now. Seattle, you have been warned.
A handful of players are/will be missing from these sessions due to international duty – Okugo and McInerney are with the under-20s right now down in Mexico, Moreno is with the Venezuelan team, and Thomas is playing for the Jamaican squad. It does warm my heart to see the team coming together, and bigger-name players (Fred, Califf, etc) training alongside the rookies (Mwanga, Stahl, Perk, etc), all wearing the Union crest proudly on their chests. Read the rest of this entry »
Fox Force Five …
By: Andrew | 3 Comments
One day there were three tomatoes are walking down the street … a papa tomato, a mama tomato, and a little baby tomato. Baby tomato starts lagging behind. Papa tomato gets angry, goes over to the baby tomato, squishes him, and says …
“KETCHUP!” Read the rest of this entry »
It’s the Holiday Season …
By: Andrew | 2 Comments
… and jolly old Saint Nick (Sakiewicz) is giving all us good little boys and girls some goodies a little early.
The team has officially launched the virtual stadium viewer which will be used to help season ticket holders select their seats in the very near future. Created by IOMEDIA – the same folks who created the VR Seat Selector for the NY Yankees (I’ll refrain from commenting on the ‘09 World Series here, hehe) – we are given 5 views of the stadium, and can choose between 3 specific dates (April 15, July 15, and October 15) at 3 different times (1 PM, 4 PM, and 7 PM), for a whopping total of 45 scenes highlighting Seaport Drive at the beginning, during, and culmination of the MLS regular season.
Check out the site here – philadelphiaunion.io-media.com – and may I suggest putting a drool-guard over your keyboard.
The team has also released a short video of our core roster wishing us all holiday greetings. Salinas, Thomas, Seitz, Moreno, Le Toux, and the rest of the lads are looking great in the Union home shirts, too. Check out the video HERE.
And lastly, the Union announced a partnership with the PDL Club (and newly re-branded) Reading United AC (formerly the Reading Rage). I won’t regurgitate everything that the team has said about the deal; you can read all about it on the Union’s website. I do like the idea of using RUAC as a farm team of sorts, to help “… groom young talent in Reading to prepare them to advance to Philadelphia Union and MLS.” There’s a real possibility to have a homegrown player make it to the top flight of US club soccer and be a local hero.
With all that said, I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season. 2010 is almost upon us, and the YEAR OF THE UNION is about to begin!
Fear the Mutton Chops! [UPDATE]
By: Andrew | 6 Comments
Soccer365.com is reporting that Danny Califf has “agreed to an FC Midtjylland contract buyout on Tuesday, which … will pave way for a Major League Soccer return that will see him join expansion outfit Philadelphia Union.”
You can read the article in its entirety HERE.
Read the rest of this entry »
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