The buzz in Chester

There is an interesting undercurrent – or “buzz” if you will – to yesterday’s big announcement at the Chester (yeah, yeah, I know, it’s
Philadelphia) Union’s new stadium.

The new entry into Major League Soccer will play their home games in PPL Park. That was the upshot of yesterday’s press conference to announce the naming rights to the stadium.

The facility is rising quickly under the Commodore Barry Bridge. The Union will actually play their first two home games at the home of the Eagles, Lincoln Financial Field, and eight of their first 10 on the road to allow more time to finish off the stadium.

The first Major League Soccer game in Chester is scheduled for Jun 27.

PPL EnergyPlus is paying $20 million for the naming rights to the facility. Thus you get PPL Park. PPL is based in Allentown. They’re a subsidiary of PPL Corp. They’re in the business supplying retail energy.

They’re also supplying power to the stadium as part of the deal.

The field won’t be called PECO Park. Or the Comcast Coliseum. It’s not tied into a Philadelphia bank or other financial institution.

Instead it is taking on the name of an energy company from the Lehigh Valley. It’s not PPL’s first dalliance with a stadium. They also sponsor patio area at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, home of the Phillies Triple-A team, the IronPigs.

PPL is looking to make a splash, or perhaps better put a “buzz,” in the Philadelphia region. Specifically, in the back yard of Peco Energy Co.

That’s because at the end of 2010, electric rate caps will be lifted in Pennsylvania, and consumers will be able to shop for their supplier.

Peco has 1.6 million customers. PPL is looking to get a toe-hold in the area, the friendly company whose name appears on the 18,500-seat soccer stadium in Chester.

In the meantime, construction continues at a frenetic pace, and team officials say it is on track despite our brutal winter.

Now when city and team officials describe the atmosphere surrounding the team and stadium, as electric, they really mean it.

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