Major League Soccer club Philadelphia Union, in partnership with WSFS Bank, have commenced operations for a multi-purpose Sportsplex – a 170,000 sq. ft. and 32- acre state-of-the-art sports and recreation destination to be open 365 days a year.
WSFS Bank joins the project as a naming rights partner, and the facility will be named WSFS Bank Sportsplex as part of their multi-year agreement as announced earlier in the year. In line with the partnership, WSFS Bank will also donate 365 hours of field and facility usage to the various organisations in the community.
The world-class sports complex will span 32 acres between Subaru Park and the Union Power Plant office building. A 100,000 sq. ft. indoor facility will be accessible for community use, along with an adjoining 70,000 sq. ft. support building which will house Philadelphia Union’s second team. Union’s academy will also be included in the complex.
A 20,000 sq. ft. performance centre with weight rooms, sprint track, locker rooms, and a café for athletes and guests, along with a 125×75 yard turf field and two courts capable of hosting four cross-width activities will be part of the indoor facilities. To complement the indoor facilities, 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 will be part of the project.
The project, worth over $87 million, marks a substantial stride in the expansion and revitalisation of the Chester Waterfront, creating employment and tourism opportunities while also infusing millions of dollars into the Chester community.
“The announcement of WSFS Bank Sportsplex is the beginning of an important next chapter for the Philadelphia Union and the growth and development of the Chester Waterfront,” Philadelphia Union President Tim McDermott said via a press release.
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.
Philadelphia Union Principal Owner Jay Sugarman said via press release:
“This best-in-class facility will provide a singular home for our professional and academy teams while creating a premier destination for local youth groups to fall in love with sports. Alongside Subaru Park, WSFS Bank Sportsplex will become another centrepiece of our club and community strategy and I could not be prouder to see this project come to fruition.”
The project is expected to generate $90 million in economic impact over the first decade and provide 500,000 visits to the Chester waterfront each year.
Speaking about the project, Chester Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland said via press release:
“This project shows the continued commitment and partnership that the city shares with the Philadelphia Union, and It will create better jobs, more recreational opportunities, and a bridge that connects our community to our beautiful waterfront.”
WSFS Chairman, President, and CEO, Rodger Levenson, added via press release:
“The positive economic impact to Chester, a place where players can collaborate and prosper from the values of sports and a beautiful place where the community can host fun, safe events are just a few of the reasons we wanted to join the Union in bringing the WSFS Bank Sportsplex to Chester and we are proud of the legacy we are building together for the community and the region”.
The WSFS Sportsplex is scheduled to be completed in June 2024, with the outdoor fields opening in August 2023 and the indoor facilities opening in June the next year. For more information, visit here.
