Philadelphia Union: Landscape of Philadelphia Soccer

What is it going to take for soccer to become important in America?

That question is too loaded to answer, but if you break it down you may be able to answer it in part. The real question, what will it take for soccer to become important in Philadelphia? That is slightly easier to answer.

On Saturday, 51,000 of my closest friends and I watched the United States National team defeat Paraguay and advance to the quarterfinals of the Copa American Centenario. With the help of Costa Rica defeating Colombia later in the day they move on as the highest seed out of Group A. Honestly this should be expected, advancing out of the group stage in any tournament, let alone one hosted in the United States.

Now the interesting thing about this game is what it means about Soccer in Philadelphia. Soccer in the region has been a big sport, much of the area, such as Bethlehem was once a hotbed for the sport. Nowadays it is slightly harder to come by national team games and players in the area than it once was. The sport has expanded throughout the nation, that said if last night is any indication the sport is still strong in the area.

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It is hard sitting in the supporter’s section, be it last night with the American Outlaws, or at a Union game with the Sons of Ben getting an idea of who is at a game, that said often national pride is a strong point. That said, besides the world cup it is often hard to come by national pride in the sport of soccer, at least if you are an American soccer fan. Every four years you see soccer fans come out of the woodwork as the United States plays well in the World Cup, but between that many of them lose interest, or seemingly do not care.

This is understandable, it is hard to keep track of 15 games a year, or even 10 or so when you count out friendlies. Not even including club soccer you get at most 20 of those games a year and people tend not to be interested in it outside of a world cup year, which is a shame. Saturday night the team was in full force, and even a red card could not hold them back as they one. That is fewer games than an NFL season, which is perhaps the shortest of any season. That said if you include following the Union that adds 30+ games. Really that is not crazy to expect, over a period of time.

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Added to that recently someone mentioned to me that they felt it was too much of a burnout to watch soccer more than every four years for the World Cup. Suggesting that they could not possibly keep track of everything, and it was too much for them. But looking at Soccer in America, where the season for say the Union is half as many games as the 76ers or Flyers, a fourth as much as the Phillies, or barely twice as much as the Eagles, and included in that is much cheaper tickets, both for a single game or for the season. Added to that games in soccer hardly ever last more than two hours, while games in the other sports can be an all-day event.

A few things stand out from last night. The first of course was a billboard on the way to the Broad street exit. Proclaiming the Philadelphia Soul as Philadelphia’s winningest team since approximately 2004. This statement while correct in perhaps a percentage based way probably counts out the fact that the Philadelphia Flyers have won probably multitudes more in total due to a longer season.

Now this is interesting to note for a few reasons. Of course, it shows that the Soul have been good and that others have not, opening a spot for soccer, and specifically the Union, it also reminded me that the only time I have seen a Union Billboard like that is the Chester part of 322, which is sponsored by ACME. Honestly it just kind of shows that if the Union advertise more, and especially continue to have a good team that maybe they can break into that group.

Another thing that is interesting is people came from all over to fill out the 51,000 at Lincoln Financial Field last night. American Outlaws from the Midwest, west and south flew up for the game. So it is understandable that there was more people there than say a Union game, heck in the games I have been to this season the three combined might equal the amount for last night. The point being that honestly the city of Philadelphia should be able to fill out the stadium alone, plus. But in the whole looking back at last night, and all the games I have been to maybe soccer is moving forward in Philadelphia.

Next: Philadelphia Union Developing Within Bethlehem Steel

But it can get better. The Union getting better or even staying at their current pace of points will go a long way in getting them the notoriety in the city. You have to spend money to make money, and the Union are actually starting to spend money, or at least spend money on the correct players. As we move forward and the team starts growing a buzz in the city then they will start being a big boy in Philadelphia and in Major League Soccer. The Broad Street Bullies were not built in one night, and neither will the legend of the Philadelphia Union.