Posted: Saturday, August 28, 2010, 8:15 PM | 7 comments |
 
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The news has just broken that PPL Park will host the United States men's national team's friendly against Colombia on October 12.

J.P. Dellacamera made the announcement during the first half of the broadcast of the Philadelphia Union's game at New England tonight. It was speculated last week by Steven Goff of the Washington Post that PPL Park would make a good venue for the U.S.-Colombia match, which had originally been scheduled for an unnamed venue in the New York area. The presumption was that the game would go to Red Bull Arena, but the deal was never finalized.

I got a "no comment" from the Union on Friday when I asked them whether any negotiations had taken place, and from elsewhere got signals that the wheels were indeed in motion. Now it's official.

So even though the Union won't make the playoffs, we are in for a wild October at PPL Park. Consider this fixture list:

October 2: Philadelphia Union vs. Houston Dynamo
October 6: United States Women vs. China
October 7: Philadelphia Union vs. Los Angeles Galaxy
October 12: United States Men vs. Colombia
October 16: Philadelphia Union vs. New York Red Bulls

That's two national team games, separate visits by Brian Ching and Landon Donovan, and a night with Thierry Henry and Rafael Márquez. All in a two-week span.

Posted by Jonathan Tannenwald @ 8:15 PM  Permalink | File Under: Philadelphia Union | | Sons of Ben | | U.S. National Teams | 7 comments
7
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:47 PM, 08/28/2010
    Great for soccer in Philly, exciting stuff
    scphillyguy
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:56 AM, 08/29/2010
    very very cool
    fcphillyboy9
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:30 AM, 08/29/2010
    Hey Jon, If the Independence get a home playoff game, will they still play in West Chester, or move the game to PPL?
    Pelti
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:29 PM, 08/29/2010
    There have been discussions to move the game to PPL. I don't know where they are at this point. It would help if the Independence would lock up second place, which they haven't done yet.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:17 AM, 08/30/2010
    i'm there for the columbia game!
    thatguyno1likes
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:45 AM, 08/30/2010
    Can't wait for the yanks return to Philly.
    phillysports33
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:45 PM, 08/30/2010
    I think that the USSF noticed that Philly can actually pull in pro-USA crowds to a soccer game. This may pay off for the city and the team in the future.
    Briancd


7 comments
About Jonathan Tannenwald
The Goalkeeper is your home for the latest news about the Philadelphia Union, Philadelphia Independence, U.S. national teams and the rest of the world's most popular sport. It's also a place for fans to gather and celebrate the culture of soccer and its unique place on the sports landscape.

Jonathan Tannenwald is a sports producer for Philly.com. He became a soccer fan while watching the 1998 World Cup at a bar in Avignon, France, and he's been writing about the sport ever since.

He also writes Philly.com's college sports blog, Soft Pretzel Logic.

Email him by clicking here.

You'll also see occasional contributions from Inquirer soccer writer Marc Narducci and Daily News soccer writer Kerith Gabriel.
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