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Philadelphia Union Break Ground on the WSFS Bank Sportsplex
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By Kyle Babcock | Published: April 2023
The Philadelphia Union held a groundbreaking ceremony on April 17 for its new world-class sports and recreation facility, the WSFS Bank Sportsplex located in Chester, Pa., to celebrate the start of construction for the 365-day-a-year, 170,000 sq. ft. complex, in partnership with WSFS Bank.
“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.”
“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.”
Following the announcement of the new facility last fall, the beginning of construction of the WSFS Bank Sportsplex marks 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.
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 project will also 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 also committed to donating hours of field and facility usage to community organizations.
“We will donate 365 hours per year of field and facility usage to community organizations to provide a safe, welcoming, and beautiful facility for everyone to enjoy,” said Levenson. “We also plan to offer financial literacy courses and seminars for the community to take advantage of to reinforce our commitment to seeing a day when everyone will thrive.”
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 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.
For more information, please visit www.WSFSBankSportsplex.com.
About the Author – Kyle Babcock
Kyle Babcock is Integrated Communications Strategist at WSFS Bank. He has more than nine years of experience in product and professional services marketing, communications and advertising.
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