Kicking off a new era in Chester

More than 18,000 did something yesterday a lot of people insisted would never happen.

They arrived in the city of Chester, they enjoyed themselves immensely, and then they went home. All without incident.

Yesterday was the opening for PPL Park, the county’s newest gem, a beautiful 18,500-seat soccer stadium in the shadow of the Commodore Barry Bridge that is the new home of the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer.

You would be hard-pressed to find anyone yesterday who had a bad word to say about Chester, or the Union’s tony new digs.

The setting is picture-perfect.

Even the Union got into the act, thrilling their fans with a 3-1 win over the Seattle Sounders.

PPL Park got rave reviews. The city never looked better.

Make no mistake, Chester still has its problems, we learned about that a few hours later when gunfire claimed another life on a city street.

But make no mistake about this either. The opening of PPL Park, and the expected $500 development that one day will surround the stadium, bringing shops, office space and entertainment venues to the city waterfront, marks a turning point for this troubled city.

Yesterday Chester kicked away its old image. And kicked off a brand new era.

Chester is major league again.

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