On Thursday afternoon, Philadelphia Union and WSFS Bank celebrated the official ribbon-cutting ceremony of the WSFS Bank Sportsplex on Thursday afternoon.
The event was attended by many notables including Jay Sugarman, Philadelphia Union Principal Owner, Tim McDermott, Philadelphia Union President, Rodger Levenson, WSFS Chairman, President and CEO, Don Garber, Major League Soccer Commissioner and Chester Mayor Stefan Roots.
Their full remarks from the event can be found below. Looking for more about the event, click here to see the new space!
Jay Sugarman, Philadelphia Union Principal Owner
Every project like this really starts with a vision, and it's a dream based not on what is, but what can be. 25 years ago, as you can see from this photo, this waterfront site was really lost to time. It was empty, it was abandoned. There was really no future. It was futureless.
But we imagined something different.
We had this idea, a somewhat crazy idea, that we could create a dynamic, thriving waterfront anchored by the Philadelphia Union that would bring hundreds of thousands of people to this historic city every year. Realizing that vision has really not been very easy, hundreds of individual transactions, thousands of workers, hundreds of millions of dollars of private capital and the leadership and support of key supporters at the city, the state, the county level. Key supporters like Governor Shapiro, Senators Kane and Kearney, Representative Kazeem, county leaders like Dr. Monica Taylor and our Chester Mayor Stefan Roots. They have all lent their wisdom and support, and I can honestly stand here today and tell you, without that support, we would not have been able to realize this vision.
So now here we are. I think we have one of the most unique sport campuses in the entire country. With the backdrop of the river and the Commodore Barry Bridge. We now have the Union Power Plant, Subaru Park, the Independence Blue Cross first team training facility, Union Yards, the YSC school that the Graham family has generously supported and started over 10 years ago. They are all working together, all working to deliver this exceptional environment, and now the capstone, the WSFS Bank Sportsplex.
I think this is something that's not only unique in Major League Soccer, but it's something that makes Chester unique as well. We're really looking forward to showing what the Union can do and what this community can do with this sportsplex. I thought about a little bit the seven or eight years ago when Ernst and I first talked about what it would take to make the Union a top team in Major League Soccer, year in, year out. He was very specific. He said, it's critical that your first team, your second team and your academy, all be in one place, all be on one campus, so that you can build a winning culture from top to bottom every day. Well, we've made a lot of progress since we had that conversation with the first team, with the second team, and we built one of the top academies in the country that's developing talent for us and for our national team.
As we look at what we can do with this amazing new sports complex, this amazing campus, this amazing community. With all these pieces working together, with everything in one place, I can't wait to see what we can achieve together.
I won't be able to thank everyone who helped make this happen, but I did want to say a sincere thank you to our fans, to our sponsors, particularly Roger Levinson and WSFS Bank, to Independence Blue Cross, to Kinetic, Power Home Remodeling, who have made our campus their home. Also to the Buccini Pollin Group who have been with us since day one, and really to everyone who's made this a reality. But I want to give a special thanks to my team on the ground, to Tim, to Dave, and all their colleagues who pulled off what really 25 years ago, I think everybody would agree, was an impossible dream. So thank you. Thank all of you for coming. Thank all of you for your support.
Don Garber, Major League Soccer Commissioner
What an unbelievably exciting day for the Union, for the city of Chester, for Major League Soccer, and I think very importantly for soccer in America.
You know when we thought about bringing Major League Soccer to Philadelphia so many years ago, we never dreamed that we would have what we have here today. Jay referenced the photographs. Take a look at what we were looking at 16 and 17 years ago, and take a look at what it is now today. This ribbon cutting is more than just the opening of a facility. It's a celebration of ownership’s vision of the collective vision of this community, in the belief in the power of sport to drive innovation.
I hope you all can take a tour and see how innovative some of the elements of this project are. It prioritizes every piece of energy that we're trying to bring in uniting the community With this world class campus, and it is a campus, it goes from the power plant all the way to the bridge. This campus not only features a great stadium, it's got fields that will bring the community together. It will be the home for Union II integrate the whole Academy system.
You here have something that's never been done before in Major League Soccer, one campus that connects all of the dots of building the foundation of the sport and this community brick by brick.
What they've built reflects the ambition and the consistency that the Union have had on the field. Since 2020 the club has recorded more points, more goals, more clean sheets than any team in Major League Soccer. As Jay mentioned, it has one of the top academies, not just in our league, but it really is the envy of a lot of academies around the world. Their success comes from within.
It's the kind of innovation, investment and ambition that's driving our league forward, and it's happening all across Major League Soccer altogether, our clubs have invested almost $2 billion in world class training facilities and player development infrastructure.
For all of you that have involved in the sport, Pennsylvania and this community is a real hotbed for youth soccer and player development, you should be proud that you have one of the best facilities in North America. What makes this complex so special is the broader impact because t's not just a place for our teams, it's a place for the community to come together, to learn, to compete and to dream.
I want to give a big shout out to everybody that's been involved in this really wonderful and fabulously an ambitious, ambitious project. We're only one year away from the 2026, FIFA World Cup, and I have no doubt that this complex will be a centerpiece for any club that's looking to showcase what American can when they build a complex like this and build a community together.
I told Jay, major clubs and national teams should be bidding to have the honor to be able to train here next summer when the World Cup comes to the United States, to Mexico and to Canada.
Rodger Levenson, President WSFS Bank
I grew up in Delaware County, about 10 miles from here, and I can attest that when I was growing up here, Chester was just an afterthought. I never thought I would be standing here today seeing what's being accomplished. On behalf of the 2,300 associates for WSFS, many of who are here today, including our executive leadership team, and especially Justin Dunn and Shari Krasinski, who've been running point on this project for us. Just want to tell you what an honor it is to be part of this project.
The most important thing is as great a building and a facility that this complex has become, much more important is the impact it's going to be making in the community. Hundreds and I'm sure thousands of young children will be impacted over the coming years about the opportunities that this facility is providing to them, and we're proud to be donating 365 hours every year of time using the facility and the fields for kids to enhance that experience. So I just want again, say thank you to everybody. We are thrilled to be part of this project, and we look forward to the impact for Chester for many, many years.
Chester Mayor Stefan Roots
You know why it's so hot today? Because this is the hottest project that has ever come to Chester.
It's not a good afternoon. It's a great afternoon. It's truly an honor to stand before you today with my city council members and fellow partners here. I want to also recognize Will Morgan, who's a former council member who was somewhat involved in the decisions that were made to bring this forward. It must be exciting for you will to have your Chester High School team practice in this facility.
This ribbon cutting ceremony of the WSFS Bank Sportsplex, it's a landmark project that represents not only the growth of our city, but also the future of our youth and community. As we gather here today, we are witnessing the beginning of a new chapter for Chester, a chapter that focuses on opportunity, development and bringing positive energy to every corner of our city. This huge, nearly $100 million investment is more than just a state-of-the-art sport facility. It's a reflection of what we as a community can achieve when we come together with a shared vision and determination. As the Philadelphia Union President Tim McDermott is fond of saying, “Projects like this can only be accomplished when everyone on board is rowing in the same direction.”
The WSFS Bank Sportsplex is not only a home for elite athletes and professional teams such as the Philadelphia Union, but also a space where our children, our families and community members can come together, stay active, and grow. From the giant indoor soccer pitch and outdoor multi sports fields to the basketball courts and the impressive performance center, this facility will serve as a beacon of opportunity, welcoming all types of professional players, aspiring athletes and youth, serving organizations, including those from the city of Chester.
I have to confess that after having an exclusive opportunity to review the initial plans as a councilman back in 2022 I advocated for having two basketball courts instead of the one that this sport Plex had designed at first, and I boldly suggested that This become the official home of the Chester Biddy Basketball League, a Chester program that has continuously existed in this city since 1950 and has never had its own home court. I was very pleased that the Philadelphia Union organization agreed to do just that. The entire city is excited to see this vision become a reality when the youth basketball season begins this winter. I can't thank you enough for making this happen. It's a huge step for our talented young hopefuls.
What excites me most, though, is the emphasis on community use. With 365 hours of field usage donated by WSFS Bank to local nonprofits and community groups, this sportsplex is truly built with our city's heart in mind. Local Youth League schools and adult recreation programs will now have access to world class amenities right here in Chester.
But the impact doesn't stop with sports. This project is a game changer for our community as well. The sportsplex is expected to attract half a million visitors each year to the gorgeous Chester waterfront. It's going to boost tourism, it's going to attract retail development and create both full time and seasonal jobs. Additionally, as the official training site for the Union’s Academy and Union II, the will help pave the way for young athletes to one day play at the highest level. And through partnerships like the one with WSFS Bank, we are demonstrating the power of community investment and collaborating to build a brighter future for all we are so proud to have this facility right here in Chester.
In closing, I am filled with hope for a future brimming with opportunity, growth and success. It gives me great pleasure to say, welcome to the WSFS Bank Sportsplex right here in the city of Chester.
Dr. Monica Taylor, Chair of Delaware County Council
I am so excited to be here with you all this afternoon. What an incredible day for Chester, for Delaware County and for our entire region. It really does feel like it was just yesterday for the groundbreaking, and now to see this amazing sportsplex completed, it looks even better than the rendering, doesn't it?
This is more than just a beautiful state of the art facility. This is a world class super campus. The first of its kind in Major League Soccer, bringing together the Philadelphia Union's first team, second team, Academy and school all in one place, right here in Chester. It's a model that showcases youth development, professional pathways and community engagement at its best, and it's happening right here in Delaware County.
The impact here is profound, not just for the Union and their fans, but for the city, for our young people, our local economy and our community's health and wellness. Over the next decade, this project is expected to generate more than $90 million in economic activity. Supporting local jobs, employing local families, boosting our small businesses and bringing visitors and new revenue into Chester and Delaware County.
Even more meaningful are the opportunities it brings to our youth. This facility provides children and young athletes from Chester and across Delaware County with a safe, welcoming and inspiring place to train, play and dream big. WSFS Bank’s donation of 365 hours of field time each year to nonprofits and community organizations, including local youth programs and schools, ensures this isn't just a facility for elite athletes, it's a resource for everyone. Beyond the numbers, the intangible impact of having a world class professional sports franchise, investing in our community, it cannot be overstated.
The pride of following this Philadelphia Union team, watching their success the best record in the MLS and knowing their home is right here in Chester, means so much to many of us. Now, I know most parades in Delaware County seem to happen in Springfield or Media, but I think it's time we start a new tradition with our first Delco championship parade right here in Chester.
On behalf of Delaware County Council, I want to thank the Philadelphia Union and their president, Tim McDermot and Principal Owner Jay Sugarman, and all of the Philadelphia Union leadership for their vision and partnership. Thank you as well to Roger Levinson and WSFS Bank for your commitment to service and for making this extraordinary project possible. We also recognize and appreciate the support of Mayor Stefan Roots and the leadership of the city of Chester, along with our Delco delegation, Senator John Kane, Senator Tim Kearney and Representative Kazeem because for their advocacy for Chester and this transformative project, this facility, is already setting a new standard, not just for sports, but for what's possible when vision, collaboration and community come together. Congratulations to everyone involved, and thank you for believing in Chester and Delaware County and our shared future.
