Philadelphia Union held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new world-class sports and recreation facility, WSFS Bank Sportsplex to celebrate the start of construction.
Those in attendance included Philadelphia Union majority owner Jay Sugarman, Philadelphia Union President Tim McDermott, WSFS Chairman, President and CEO Rodger Levenson, and Mayor of Chester, Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland, as well as players from the Philadelphia Union, Philadelphia Union II, Philadelphia Union Academy and Chester High School.
“We are excited to take this important step toward bringing WSFS Bank Sportsplex, a state-of-the-art destination for our local community, youth sports, and our teams, to life,” said Tim McDermott, Philadelphia Union President. “This project furthers our commitment to revitalizing the Chester waterfront and creating positive change. We look forward to soon seeing both Union players and community members playing on these fields and utilizing the new training grounds where we will grow the game together.”
“We are proud of the impact the WSFS Bank Sportsplex will have on Chester and the broader community,” said Rodger Levenson, WSFS Chairman, President and CEO. “Our partnership with the Philadelphia Union is a great example of the positive change that two like-minded organizations with similar values can have by working together for the benefit of the communities we serve.”
First announced last fall, the beginning of construction of the WSFS Bank Sportsplex is a significant step in the development and revitalization of the Chester Waterfront that will create additional jobs and drive a drastic increase in revenue in the Chester community. In addition, the project will bring the Philadelphia Union Academy and YSC Academy to one campus alongside the first and second teams, furthering the commitment to youth development and the player-to-pro pathway.
As the naming rights partner, WSFS Bank has also committed to donate 365 hours of field and facility usage to community organizations to continue efforts to strengthen community ties and provide a safe, welcoming, and exceptional campus for community members to come to.
The state-of-the-art sports complex will span 32 acres between Subaru Park and the Union Power Plant office building. The complex will include a 100,000 sq. ft. indoor facility that will be available for community use and an adjacent 70,000 sq. ft. support building that will house Philadelphia Union II (MLS NEXT Pro) as well as the Philadelphia Union Academy. The indoor facilities will include a 125x75 yard turf field, two multi-sport courts, an 8,000 sq ft performance center, 5,000 sq ft of flex space for specialized athletic training, and a café for athletes and guests. The indoor facility will be complemented by seven outdoor multi-sport fields including one championship grass field with spectator seating, two additional full-size grass fields, one youth-size grass field, and three full-size turf fields.
The build is estimated to create $90 million in economic impact over the first decade and provide 500,000 visits annually to the Chester Waterfront. In addition to the positive economic impact, the sportsplex will donate hundreds of additional hours in court and field time for community use and health and wellness programming, available to be used by Chester youth and local organizations.
The school (YSC Academy) and the Philadelphia Union Academy will move to the Chester campus beginning in 2023. The outdoor fields are set to be in place by August 2023 and the indoor facilities to open May 2024.
Parking in lots B and BVIP will remain available through the Union’s home match for the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League semifinals on April 26. Further updates regarding parking will be provided for future matches. For more information, please visit www.WSFSBankSportsplex.com.
