Photo by ISIphotos.com
Philadelphia soccer fans enjoyed another milestone day on Monday as the 2010 MLS expansion team revealed its nickname and colors at a ceremony at City Hall. The Philadelphia Union won't take the field for another 10 months, but the celebration of their arrival is well under way.
Here is the logo for those of you who missed it last week:
Now that the name and colors have been decided, it's time to start thinking about a head coach. Philadelphia president Nick Sakiewicz said months ago that he wanted to have a head coach in place during the first half of 2009. Should we still expect a hiring that soon? Who would you like to see hired?
Share your thoughts below.
Welcome to the Snake Pit
I didn’t like the idea they were building down in Chester, but it’s in the middle of Philly and Wilmington, and plenty of peeps traverse north for other sporting events (believe me, I get stuck in the traffic). Plus South Jersey is close, it’s a huge area to draw from. And the sports park complex is overcrowded. I know the suburban stadiums don’t seem to draw well, but this doesn’t really compare.
I sat through the last year of the Atoms and 3 with the Fury. I’m ready and I love the buzz surrounding this organization. Frankly I’m stunned the stadium situation never went belly up. But, let’s hope the momentum can be sustained thru the first season and long term…
btw, thanks Ives.
do we have a link, webcam, pics, or update on the construction of the new stadium in Chester?
Tom in GA:
I hate to break it to you, but the Sons of Ben weren’t hired for the design/branding/marketing of the club. They are a supporters group, and by a lot of their actions are just a group of mouth breathing fatsos who have about as much intelligence and class as those who think that Nike originate “don’t tread on me”. They had nothing to do with the development or rationale of the name. More so, I wouldn’t cite one of them as a credible source as to why the name is what it is.
The “Union” comes from the preamble of the Constitution and the desire for the 13 colonies to create this country. If you think the local IBEW 96 has anything to do with it, you truly are daft.
I like the logo, name, and colors. Though, I wonder if it will be Philadelphia Union F.C. Just feels right to me to have the F.C. in it. Anyway, I’m pleased. This isn’t a botched unveiling like many were.
The only slight thing I find funny is that they found a way to use both the circular logo and the shield crest all at once. Haha. Good for them.
the NY and Philly rivalry will add some more atmosphere to the games in both stadiums. A few hundred NYRB fans will go down to philly and vise versa. Cant wait
Ives – Do you know if Philly is taking resumes from USL Defenders with an inflated sense of self worth who can really rock a head band?
MeTro BoY:
What is the literacy rate in New jersey? I’m not a United fan, as I previously stated. I hate them. I am a Revs fan, and I always admire ESC’s passion, but it’s still pretty funny to watch them get outnumbered and out-sung at home.
It will be interesting to see how real hooliganism is handled by MLS now that Philly has a team.
Who would be a good DP target?
I think this could go 2 ways — Go big on a DP an gamble it will get people interested.
Or
Wait and see what revenue looks like before they drop cash on anyone special.
like i said be4 HENBALS , its not about the numbers…ESC is all heart and passion, not relaly focused on numbers but just supporting our team. you can hate all you want , IM USE TO it..we brought in some of the best chants , and plus at the end of the day i love the red bulls and im happy to see other teams have big support groups (it’s better for the mls). but dumb comments like yours are the reason why some idiots arent supporting dc for getting their own stadium which would be a good thing for the mls. anywyas ima just stop wasitng my time responding to your idiotic comment. and for ALL MY RED BULL METRO LOVERS , here is a nice video to block some of the haterade drinks that gets passed around on us.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XZvu0FjDQg
enjoy
Welcome Philadelphia Union! The name and crest are perfectly suited. The Sons of Ben were loud and boisterous today. Way to represent your city, your club, and your supporter’s group. My hat goes off to you. Now the objective is to market the hell out the club and fill those seats.
I thought this was a newspaper from Philly.
The Philadelphia Union….news and more!
BOOOOOOOORING.
But I also dont like the Philadelphia Freedom – because anytime I hear that I think of Elton John.
They should have just gone with the Philadelphia Liberty Bells. Then everytime they scored a big “DONG” noise could go off.
Very classy, but I still expect them to struggle. Bottom line, it will be unfair to compare this team to Seattle. Seattle is NOT an expansion team – they’re a “promoted” team. Expansion teams start from scratch; Seattle already had the structure in place. All they had to do was add the right pieces. Portland and Vancouver should be held to the same standard as Seattle; Philly on the other hand, well, let’s just hope they’re better than Chivas and RSL were in their first year.
Paul Mariner – end of story
GREAT name, GREAT logo, GREAT colors!!!! I expect them to struggle like most expansion teams (Seattle excepted) next year, but Philly’s entering the league with at least that going for it. Oh yeah, and a SSS on the waterfront.
Union is great, not only b/c it avoids sounding like a Euro knockoff, but also b/c it sounds right for the city and its history. I’m a NYRB fan, so Philly will be rivals next year, but they’re hitting all the right notes so far.
michael:
From the May 8th Philadelphia Inquirer article about the name being linked (http://www.philly.com/inquirer/front_page/20090508_Philadelphia_MLS_team_named_Union.html)
“In choosing Union, the team hearkens to the city’s part in the nation’s founding and to the area’s historic role in the American labor movement.”
Re: head of the Sons of Ben supporters group, “He likes the name Union, James said, because it’s uniquely Philadelphian, touching the city’s colonial past and its modern role as one of the nation’s last true union towns.”
Yeah, Union makes sense because of the role Philadelphia played in forming the United States. But let’s not insult people by ignoring the labor union angle to the name.
if you go to the website they tell you what the different parts of the crest mean.
great name & log, IMO.
as to Nike….errr, I’m sure they probably figured that one out already and it isn’t going to take someone posting on SBI for them to go “oh, sh$%!”.
Cheese. Steaks.
But seriously, that’s style. Excellent.
Maybe Chi-town can tie them in 2010.
PU! PU! PU! PU!
something stinks…
I think MLS dropped one here.
There is a transit line the runs right by the stadium to take commuters from Wilmington, DE to Philly. I believe, and could be wrong here, but there will be a stop on that line for the stadium. So that should help, and the fact the the stadium is almost directly below a bridge to Jersey should also help draw from that area as well.
I like the colors it is a good start…here’s hoping the kits add some uniqueness to the league of bland jersey’s. However, can’t say I like all the stars on the badge (is it 13 for the 13 original colonies?) anyway, wish they would save those and add one each time they win an MLS cup.
It’s pretty sad that a lot of you think that the snake has to do with Nike or that the name “Union” has to do with organized labor. Don’t they teach history in schools anymore?
I like the name and colors. I agree, the suburban stadiums seem doomed.
I still can’t figure out why people are talking labor unions. The Philadelphia Labor Unions….nice.
Metro boy till da day I die:
I wasn’t aware that the 2010 schedules had been released yet. Where did you access this information? I am very curious.
It’s gonna be funny watching ESC outnumbered and outsang for two games a year now (DCU and PU)! This is coming from a Revs fan, not a cocky United fan, btw.
The “Don’t tread on me” slogan was a revolutionary war rallying cry. The snake logo was created by Ben Franklin. I think its appropraite considering this administration IS “treading on me” already.
Anyway didn’t Philadelphia Union come in third in the SBI poll?
Beats Red Star Pennsylvania or Philadelphia Celtic. But if you really want to honor some labor history, how about the Wobblies? Or better yet, the Molly Maguires? The badge could show a few sticks of dynamite with a lit fuse!
berlin: Amen to that, brother.
Yea I’m pretty sure Nike won’t have a problem with the snake, seeing as Nike blatantly ripped the snake and the catchphrase off from an American cultural flag.
I’m most likely will b going to thierr first game which is gonna b vs red bulls.. They seem to have a decent size support group to so that’s g.. ood.. I just hope mls grows more
I like the badge and think it would look great on a “cheesesteak meat”-brown jersey.
First, I like the name and badge. Well done on those points. Second, I think suburban stadiums are awful but I am a city dweller without a car. Finally, I don’t think Philly can come close to Seattle. If they sell out every game, they will still be 12k below our season average for attendance. However, they still have a lot of ways to show competitiveness: let’s see their STH number, their coach, their kit, and least of all their squad. I hope they are successful as it would be good for the league but it will take some major work to march Seattle’s start. However, lookout for Vancouver – those boys can do it right and I think we will all see a massive start from that lot.
Count me in on those who really like the name and badge. I am a RSL fan but will readily admit it is a terrible euro ripoff. Philly found a way to get a soccer feel while still staying true to the american game.
It frightens me that anyone thinks the snake has something to do with Nike. American history for the love…
Posted by: Berlin | May 11, 2009 at 07:15 PM
Ditto…
Also, Paul Mariner for head coach
It frightens me that anyone thinks the snake has something to do with Nike. American history for the love…
I hope the team does well in Philly, but it looks to me like an uphill battle. The front office will need to kick it into high gear to get Philly fans interested in soccer.
Building the stadium in Chester doesn’t bode well, in my opinion. All the new stadiums that have been built in the ‘burbs look great (Rio Tinto, Pizza Hut Park, Toyota Park, Dick’s in Colorado), but they’re always half empty, if that. That could be the fault of those teams’ front offices, but part of the fun of going downtown to watch game, like in Toronto and Seattle, is that you can hang out at the local bars before and after the game, and actually take public transit or walk to the stadium. Who wants to drive to the ‘burbs? No matter where you are in the country, it’s lamesville.
Anyway, good luck Philly. I think you’ll need it.
Not quite sure why people think the name is weak. To me it is one of the coolest name in sports. It has a fitting attachment to the city through history and all of the Local Unions that are there. Also, ripping names off of the European teams it getting very corny.
DC and Phily should start a “togetherness” cup with their similar names.
http://www.benlymer.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/donttreadonme_soccer.jpg
for the nike logo that looks nothing like this one.
so is it gold or yellow behind the sheild i’ve seen both
Good colors. Maybe the best badge in the league. Too bad the name’s kind of weak. I still say it’s better than AC or City, but come on…we could have done better.
The snake from the Nike logo is very different from this one. Fangs, a rattler, it’s coiled around a ball. So please, enough about the Nike logo issue because it’s not an issue.
… to the “logo”…
But I guess if there’s a log involved, the Union can share that with Nike too.
Paul Mariner deserves to be a head coach, and I think he’d make a fantastic hire for PU.
I really like the name and logo, but isn’t that coiled snake the Nike “Don’t Tread on Me” Logo? … don’t you think they might have a problem with someone blatantly ripping their logo off?
Posted by: Aaron | May 11, 2009 at 06:46 PM
The Union logo looks like a nearly direct borrowing from the Gadsen flag (c. 1775), so it has a history that goes back way before Nike’s use of it. Philadelphia Union have at least as much right to the log as Nike does.
doesn’t matter. Phily will not be able to match the bar that is set by seattle.
I really like the name and logo, but isn’t that coiled snake the Nike “Don’t Tread on Me” Logo? Is the team sponsored by Nike? And if not, don’t you think they might have a problem with someone blatantly ripping their logo off for use on another soccer uni?
It’s a good name and colors. So many names out there (Real Salt Lake, FC Dallas, NY Red Bull) that you have to welcome a name that is both original and has a soccer feel to it. It is a little close to “United” but whatever.
Decent name, I preferred Philadelphia city. But then again, screw Philly.
🙂
nick suck-iewicz is fail.