Full Speed Ahead

By Judah Levine, MLS Philadelphia 2010 Staff

Excitement has intensified in recent weeks, both in the MLS Philadelphia 2010 front office and amongst fans. Much of what has transpired to date has been clear of the public's view, but that is now changing. The first "Keystone Founding Partner" was recently announced, the stadium site is undergoing final preparation for the Dec. 1 groundbreaking and many other momentous announcements are on the horizon.

Keystone Sports and Entertainment, LLC, the ownership group for MLS Philadelphia 2010, recently announced that Groundbreaking will take place at 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 1, along the Chester waterfront. Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber will join team, local and state officials to formally break ground on the 16th MLS team's new stadium in the historic City of Chester (2501 Seaport Drive, Chester, Pa. 19013). All team supporters and Chester residents are encouraged to attend. Bleacher seating is limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Sons of Ben supporters club is asking event attendees to bring canned food for its second annual "Help Kick Hunger" canned food drive, benefiting Chester's Bernardine Center. MLS Philadelphia will make a matching donation up to $500.

The stadium will be constructed at the foot of the Commodore Barry Bridge in Chester, Pa., just 13 miles from downtown Philadelphia. The facility will feature an 11,000-square-foot club, 30 suites, a special 2,000-seat supporters club section and a built-in concert stage for world-class music shows.

It will also feature a waterfront park plaza for stadium entry and community-sponsored events. The stadium is the centerpiece of a $500 million entertainment, retail, residential and commercial development covering more than 100 acres along the Delaware River waterfront.

In other exciting news, Keystone Sports & Entertainment, LLC, recently announced its first "Keystone Founding Partner," as Crozer-Keystone Health System and Premier Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Associates, Ltd., cemented a multi-year partnership with the organization.

The Crozer-Keystone and Premier partnership will exclusively encompass all areas of team and stadium healthcare, including physical therapy, team-doctor relationships and on-site medical services. In the multi-million dollar agreement, Crozer-Keystone and Premier will have access to a fully comprehensive partnership package that includes stadium inventory, branded real estate, as well as aggressive grassroots marketing and community outreach programs.

Nick Sakiewicz, CEO & Operating Partner of Keystone Sports & Entertainment, LLC, is understandably optimistic about all that is taking place surrounding the team and stadium.

"It was the first major long-term sponsor for us," Sakiewicz said. "We are currently in discussions with a number of major corporations and expect multiple announcements in the coming months."

Between now and the end of January, Sakiewicz expects plenty of news to be released.

"We will be launching a naming campaign, releasing season ticket pricing and announcing our team name, logo and uniform color palette," Sakiewicz said. "We'll also be filling out our front office, including some key positions, to further enhance our team operation. We're already interviewing coaches and will be making some very important decisions in the near future."

The team is over 5,500 season ticket deposits and these fans can expect many updates in the coming months.

"We have a lot more announcements coming," Sakiewicz said. "It's very exciting."