I don't think I'm the only one who has to hide a smirk every time I hear someone refer to the "Philadelphia" Union.
Yes, they are the region's Major League Soccer team.
No, they do not play their games in Philly.
In fact, they call Chester home.
The Union plays its games in Talen Energy Stadium, in the shadow of the Commodore Barry Bridge.
Ten years ago, when the conversation got fairly heated about whether or not the county should pour a ton of public dollars into building a soccer stadium on the Chester waterfront, a lot of people wondered about what the city stood to get out of it.
Former Philly Mayor and Gov. Ed Rendell said it was going to "change the face of Chester."
Ten years later, the stadium is there, but not a lot else.
Unfortunately, the economy went off a cliff almost the same time as they broke ground for the stadium. Plans for a $500 million development surrounding it - complete with townhouses, retail shops, restaurants, a hotel and even a convention center got put on the shelf. They've remained there.
Now there is new talk about new development along the waterfront.
But the Union is giving back to Chester in a lot of ways.
A very special one was unveiled this week.
It's more than a little ironic that the Major League Soccer team plays in a city where the public school district does not field a soccer team.
Not anymore.
The Union is teaming with a couple of key groups to underwrite the cost of restarting Chester High's soccer program.
We talk about it on today's editorial page.
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