CHESTER, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — The Philadelphia Union are one step closer to completing their massive sports complex in Chester.
The first phase of the Union's new 32-acre WSFS Bank Sportsplex was the construction of seven outdoor fields on the Chester waterfront. The facility includes full-size and youth multi-sport fields, with both grass and artificial turf.
Philadelphia Union President Tim McDermott says they're excited about the completion of these fields, which will also have more than 1,000 spectator seats.
In its first decade, the new facility is estimated to bring $90 million in economic impact to Chester, and to prompt 500,000 visits per year to Chester's waterfront. WSFS Bank has also pledged to donate 365 hours of field and facility usage annually to community organizations.
The complex will include a 100,000-square-foot indoor facility that will be available for community use and an adjacent 70,000-square-foot support building that will house both the Philadelphia Union II team and the Philadelphia Union Academy.
Union officials say the outdoor fields are now ready for use by the team, their subsidiaries and third parties. Indoor facilities are expected to open in May 2024.
"Seeing both Union players and community members playing on these fields has brought the first phase of our vision to life," said McDermott. "Being able to open the fields to the community is an important step as we continue to foster and grow the impactful relationships we've created here in Chester."
