Philadelphia Union announces sportsplex plans along Chester waterfront

Philadelphia Union
City of Chester

The Philadelphia Union recently announced plans for ‘WSFS Bank Sportsplex,’ a world-class, 32-acre sports and recreation complex that will span between Subaru Park and the Union Power Plant office building in Chester, Delaware County.

The professional soccer club unveiled plans last week, adding that 100,000 square-feet of the indoor facility will be available for community organizations, in conjunction with field and facility usage.

“This project shows the continued commitment and partnership that the city shares with the Philadelphia Union. It will create better jobs, more recreational opportunities, and a bridge that connects our community to our beautiful waterfront,” Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland said.

City of Chester

The project, costing more than $55 million, will play a huge role in the revitalization and development of the city’s waterfront, estimating $90 million in economic impact over the first decade, including job creation and 500,000 annual visits to the waterfront from tourism.

The Philadelphia Union Academy and YSC Academy will also utilize the campus—alongside the first and second Union teams, Philadelphia Union II—to further the program’s commitment to youth development.

City of Chester

“This best-in-class facility will provide a singular home for our professional and academy teams while creating a premier destination for local youth groups to fall in love with sports,” said Philadelphia Union owner Jay Sugarman in a statement. “Alongside Subaru Park, WSFS Bank Sportsplex will become another centerpiece of our club and community strategy. I could not be more proud to see this project come to fruition.”

The first groundbreaking phase is set to take place in winter 2022/2023, with an anticipated completion of the project by June 2024.