Soccer fans cheer during a news conference outside City Hall in Philadelphia, Monday, May 11, 2009.
Major League Soccer officials announced Philadelphia Union will be the name of the planed expansion team to be located in Chester, Pa.
The city’s historical significance played into the decision about the name and team colors. The team name is a reference to the original thirteen colonies, while the colors of navy blue and gold are a throw back to the uniforms of the American Continental Army. The crest also has roots in American history as the rattlesnake is an allusion to Benjamin Franklin’s political cartoons that appeared in several editions of the Pennsylvania Gazette in the 1750s, with thirteen stars also showing along the bottom as another nod to the original colonies.
Team owner Jay Sugarman, left, and mayor of Philadelphia, Michael Nutter help to display the logo for the Philadelphia Union Major League Soccer team during a news conference outside City Hall in Philadelphia, Monday, May 11, 2009. Officials announced Philadelphia Union will be the name of the planed expansion team to be located in Chester, Pa.
“We were determined to create an identity that portrays Philadelphia’s vital role in the evolution of our nation – the Union,” said Philadelphia Union CEO & Operating Partner Nick Sakiewicz said in a press release. “Every element in our crest represents a product of unity. Our fans have proven they possess the type of passion that soccer is known for worldwide, and the culture of our organization will always be to embrace it. There isn’t a single better example of the collective strength we are striving to achieve than the inception of the United States of America.”
The club will begin play in 2010 with a new 18,500 seat waterfront stadium in Chester PA as their home ground. Season tickets officially went on sale today
A soccer fans counts out money to purchase Philadelphia Union apparel after a news conference outside City Hall in Philadelphia, Monday, May 11, 2009
images via daylife
