Bethlehem Steel FC is back.
The Philadelphia Union announced Tuesday that their new USL team, which is set to take the field for the first time in 2016, will be called Bethlehem Steel FC. Fan voting decided the name of the team, with 80 percent of voters agreeing on bringing back the name created more than a century ago.
“We are thrilled by the strong fan interest in determining the name of our new USL team,” Philadelphia Union chairman Jay Sugarman said. “We continue to believe in the deep history of this sport in our region and this is a tremendous way to pay homage to the past, while also reflecting the important role of the club in the Union family.
“Bethlehem Steel FC is the final piece of player development that creates a clear path to first team.”
The team name, formerly known as Bethlehem Steel Soccer Club, dates back to 1907, and the club only existed 23 years, dissolving in 1930. To this day, that team still remains tied with Maccabi Los Angeles as having the most U.S. Open Cup titles with five apiece.
The Union also implemented their own color scheme, blue and gold, into the team while also using red, a color that reflects the original team. Bethlehem Steel will play its home games at Goodman Stadium in Lehigh Univeristy.
What do you think of the name? How do you think the team will fare in the USL?
Share your thoughts below.
Well it’s all about the lefties after all
As a lehigh valley resident and the son of a former worker at Bethlehem Steel, this is an amazing move by the union. This is a soccer rich area of the country and now are finally being recognized as such. There is room at the former site of the Bethlehem Steel company for a riverfront stadium by the Sands casino, shopping outlets and concert venue. This could really create a great atmosphere for a 10,000 seat soccer specific stadium.
You might have had a shot if an investment group had decided to start a team. I don’t think the Union are interested in building a stadium for their reserve squad.
USOC has already stated that this is a new club, and won’t carry over the titles won previously.
excellent! nice look with respect the past. glad to see another team in PA
now if they win the Open Cup (very unlikely situation for an USL team!) does that count as number 1 or number 6? We avoided this question with all of the nasl reboots like Cosmos, Sounders, Quakes, Timbers and Whitecaps. (old NASL chose not to participate in USOC).
Not sure I understand why they would put their feeder team in the Middle East.
I see what you did there
In order to prepare their players for the 2022 WC to be held in Qatar.
Love it!!
cute….
Union quietly go about doing a lot of things the right way.
Except play soccer
Don’t bother me with trifles….
And the fans name them. Just like the Sounders.
Yeah, I think the other ‘choices’ put out for the fan vote were Lehigh Valley FC and Lehigh Valley Blast – gee, what would you pick? I still think they should have gone with The U 2 or as suggested on Brotherly Game, Philadelphia Two-nion.
The logo rocks! Sweet nod back to the original Bethlehem Steel logo with a little Union thrown in for good meas
ure
Absolutely love it. Where were these marketing types when we had teams named Wiz, Mutiny…Rapids?! 🙂
“Rapids” is a superb name, and fits well alongside other local team names like Rockies, Nuggets, and Avalanche. Rapids have made a lot of mistakes, but I don’t think the name was one of them.
Pretty excited about the team being from Bethlehem. I have family in the area and visit occasionally. Might catch a match next time I go. I’m in NC and the nearest team in 2.5 hrs from me, in Wilmington and with it being so far it’s a bit of a hassle to go.
Love the crest/logo
The Union/Steel logos are putting an absolute beating on the competition