Philadelphia Union Off To A Good Start

The MLS playoffs are in full swing, and the action is at a maximum height. So why am I writing about a MLS team that does not exists yet? The answer is a because it is a Tuesday night, and a really slow night in terms of American Soccer. If you want to dig deeper, at the end of the season the most exciting news in the league is the talk of expansion and the league's new faces that look to spread soccer's prominence throughout the league. While it may seem far off, MLS's 16th team in the Philadelphia Union are only five months away from their first game in franchise history.

First off the franchise is already off to a good start by the choice of the name. Keeping with the MLS tradition of having the name resemble something related to the city, ex. Kansas City Wizards, Chicago Fire, New England Revolution. The fans of the new Philadelphia club choose the Union to be the nickname of the club. Union is a reference to the city's importance in the founding of the Union in 1776, and was the nation's first capital. So kudos to the club for having a good name, and keeping with the MLS tradition of not having your name end is the letter 'S'. It add unity, and a sense of solidarity to the club. Also I voted for the Union name in the online poll, so I feel I was involved.

In practical terms the club is off to the right foot in terms of facilities. While construction problems will postpone the opening of the stadium till after the first couple of weeks have passed by, the fact that another MLS club will have their own stadium is a major plus for the league. In addition to the fact that the Union will play on grass instead of the God-awful artificial turf (worst idea in the history of sport). After the MLS accomplishes their every team has their own stadium campaign, the next course of action should be the every MLS club plays on real grass, and not artificial turf that just makes the game hard to watch.

What is the most important thing the Union have done so far was the selection of the man who was hired to be the club's first head coach. Piotr Nowak will be the Union's first head coach, and is the ideal man you wan to coach your team, (I can name five or so clubs that would take him right now). Nowak has experience with first year teams, as was part of the Fire's run to US and MLS Cups in 1998, during the Fire's inaugural year. He has also had success coaching in the league as he lead the league's most stories club DC United to their last title in 2004, before leaving to the US National Team Staff in 2006. Nowak has success in the MLS as a coach and a player, and is the ideal man you want to lead an up-start team.

The only things I see is as a possible obstacle for the Philadelphia franchise is the struggles of the recession. Seattle has made one thing very obvious, expansion franchises can do well for the league, and expansion is great for the league. The MLS needs to expand their markets in order to have the league grow, and be more competitive. Still, Philadelphia is not Seattle. The East has been through harsh economic times, will people still want to support this new untested club with their spending money decreasing. Also, since when did Philadelphia have a strong soccer base. Seattle has show that the area truly loves soccer, and that they love their club. Will Philadelphia be able to do the same, or will they struggle as an expansion franchise in this trying economy.

Or is it just unfair to compare any club, expansion or not to Seattle, who's organization is better than teams that have been in the league since 1996.

What ever outcome the club will face in the future. The Philadelphia Union are off to a great start. Good name, good facilities, great coach. The only question that remains is will soccer become of the cultural landscape in the city of brotherly love, or will the Union be another franchise that struggles to bring in 15,000 a game, (because that is the last thing the league needs). The trend in expansion has definitely shifted to the West, and this is a breath of fresh air that an Eastern-based team is welcomed to the league. Chivas, RSL were accepted in 2005, then Toronto the next year for the East. Then it was San Jose in '08, and Seattle this year. Also the 2011 expansion will bring in Vancouver and Portland, so more Western Conference teams will be in the league. As a East-sider I am pleased that Philadelphia will be in the league next year. Even though the odds of my beloved Michigan getting team soon is not likely. O well their is always next round of expansion. With a solid name, and coach I feel the Union will have some success on the field, and should attract some fans. The problem of going up against the Phillies over the summer will be a tough task, but I think it will be a noble fight. Future expansion rest on whether the city of brotherly love, loves soccer.