CHESTER, Pa. (June 7, 2019) – Bethlehem Steel FC announced today that three of the club’s upcoming home matches have been moved from Talen Energy Stadium to alternative locations. The contests against Nashville on Sunday, June 9 and Saint Louis on Saturday, June 15 will be played at La Salle University’s McCarthy Stadium. Meanwhile, the match against Tampa Bay on Saturday, June 22 will be played at a to-be-determined location outside of Talen Energy Stadium.
Kickoff for this Sunday’s match at McCarthy Stadium will remain unchanged at 6:00 p.m. ET. The match on Saturday, June 15 will kick off at 8:00 p.m. ET (previously scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET). All details for the contest on Saturday, June 22 will be announced as they come available.
“We installed a new field last fall at Talen Energy Stadium. Unfortunately, the field has not yet rooted and stabilized. In order to give the field time to recover and grow, we are relocating Steel FC matches throughout the month of June,” said Tim McDermott, Philadelphia Union Chief Business Officer. “This will give the field at Talen Energy Stadium almost a full month without any playing activity, pending the possibility of one Union Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match during the week of June 17. We believe this is the best decision for the integrity of the playing surface.”
Continued McDermott: “Simultaneously, we have been vocal about our desire to play Steel FC matches in Bethlehem this season despite our overall restrictions in doing so on a full-time basis. We have been working toward identifying locations in the Lehigh Valley at which we can play matches; unfortunately, venue availability and scheduling reasons prohibit us from playing the June 9 and June 15 matches at those venues, including Goodman Stadium. We remain open to the possibility of future matches in Bethlehem this season, pending availability and USL approval.”
All Union or Steel FC Season Ticket Members having general admission access to 2019 Steel FC matches at Talen Energy Stadium will receive identical access to matches at McCarthy Stadium. Steel FC supporters with assigned seats at Talen Energy Stadium will have analogous accommodations as well, having access to a reserved area in a similar location. Parking for all Steel FC matches will continue to be free.
Any supporter having purchased a single-game ticket for any affected match has the option to exchange that ticket for a future Steel FC match at Talen Energy Stadium, if desired.
Single-Match and Group tickets for both relocated contests, as well as the remainder of the 2019 Steel FC season at Talen Energy Stadium, are on sale now at www.philadelphiaunion.com/bethlehem-steel-fc.
