Soccer
Construction delays led to the Philadelphia Union's decision to play their inaugural home game at Lincoln Financial Field instead of PPL Park. Their first match at the stadium was played on June 27, 2010, when they defeated Seattle Sounders FC by a score of 3–1. Sébastien Le Toux scored the Union's first goal at PPL Park on a penalty kick. However, Pat Noonan of Sounders FC scored the first goal in the venue's history.
PPL Park was the site of the 2012 MLS All Star match against the European champions Chelsea F.C. The largest attendance overall at PPL Park was on July 25, 2012, for the 2012 MLS All-Star Game when the MLS All-Stars hosted Chelsea FC in front of 19,236 fans. The game was a 3 - 2 victory for the MLS All-Stars.
Due to consistently high attendance and ticket sales, the Philadelphia Union has expressed interest in expanding the capacity of the stadium. The planned expansion would occur in three phases, initially to 20,000, then to 27,000, and finally to approximately 30,000. The planned first phase of expansion could start as early as 2014.
Read more about this topic: PPL Park
Famous quotes containing the word soccer:
“Our first line of defense in raising children with values is modeling good behavior ourselves. This is critical. How will our kids learn tolerance for others if our hearts are filled with hate? Learn compassion if we are indifferent? Perceive academics as important if soccer practice is a higher priority than homework?”
—Fred G. Gosman (20th century)
“If we were doing this in the Falklands they would love it. It’s part of our heritage. The British have always been fighting wars.”
—British soccer fan. quoted in Independent (London, Dec. 23, 1988)
“We want beans, not goals.”
—Mexican steelworkers’ banner at opening ceremony of 1986 World Cup soccer championship.