Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch … [UPDATE]

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.

Category: Seaport Drive, Union News