Welcome to the Brotherly Game

by kyleshank on Mar 24, 2010 2:06 PM EDT

Tomorrow we start a new chapter in Philadelphia sports history. It was written by a grassroots effort of dedicated soccer fans that willed a new franchise into existence. After 3 years of work and 15 years of waiting, the Philadelphia Union is finally a reality.

The Sons of Ben fan group, 5,200 strong, has brought a level of enthusiasm that I haven’t seen for any kind of expansion team in any sport. Their strong support at the MLS SuperDraft was a show of force and a signal to opponents: good luck playing in our house. On June 27th, PPL Park will open its gates to a place we can really call our own. I can’t wait for the deafening noise and the electricity in the evening air. That moment will be surreal.

Welcome to the Brotherly Game. We will be tracking every move of the Union during this inaugural season with the latest news, opinions, game threads and fan content. Sign up for an account, join the site and start posting your comments, FanShots and FanPosts. This is a great year to be a Philadelphia soccer fan, so let’s enjoy it together. Game on!

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so glad to see that now have a union blog

welcome to the team!

by Pablo Mercado on Mar 24, 2010 2:32 PM EDT reply actions

thanks!

should be an interesting year to cover

by kyleshank on Mar 24, 2010 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Pumped for Thursday

Really excited to have Union coverage on SB Nation and pumped to have MLS in Philadelphia.

"It was almost like if Harry didn't call it, it wasn't real." - Jayson Stark
SB Nation

by Chris Haines on Mar 24, 2010 2:40 PM EDT reply actions

nice

My brother is in Seattle for business and has tickets to the game..lucky him.

by JoshuaR on Mar 24, 2010 2:54 PM EDT reply actions

i wonder how the 20

who backed out of the SoB trip to seattle at the last minute because of the CBA feel.

by kyleshank on Mar 24, 2010 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Really excited for tomorrow night. Looking forward to hanging out in the open thread!

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by JasonB on Mar 24, 2010 3:17 PM EDT reply actions

I think this is going to be my team in the MLS

I haven’t really been able to get into the MLS but I think this will be the team to do it. By the way I a fan of soccer and enjoy watching the World Cup every four years

Players who should be in the Hall of Fame: Pat TIllman, Dwight White, Donnie Shell, L.C. Greenwood, Ray Guy, Steve Tasker, Greg Llyod, Andy Russel, Cris Carter, Kevin Greene and Jerry Kramer
"Its a Great Day to be a Mountaineer where ever you may be" Tony Caridi
Canal Street Chronicles resident Steelers Fan

by WVPiratesfan on Mar 24, 2010 3:32 PM EDT reply actions

I would get season tickets...

… but I’m up at Rutgers, too far away to waste money on games I won’t be able to make. Instead, I plan on heading to about four games this season. I can’t wait for opening day!

"College is only 4 years. The Eagles are a lifetime pursuit." - IronHank

by RyanGiggs11 on Mar 24, 2010 3:53 PM EDT reply actions

I want you guys to fill your stadium

To beat DC United, and have Le Toux being leading scorer.

Other than that, I look forward to a Sounders victory for your first ever game, and for your first game at Chester.

Welcome to MLS

I am not a Supporter
I am not a Fan
I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Mar 24, 2010 4:10 PM EDT reply actions

Welcome to MLS and to SBNation. Hope you guys build a good community over here.

These are the final nice words I’ll ever say to you.

Black and Red United

by ChestRockwell on Mar 24, 2010 4:59 PM EDT reply actions

let the games begin

i was at RFK for MLSCup 97. without a home team to call my own i had adopted DC United during the early MLS years.

now we are bitter enemies and our blogs will war.

Brotherly Game SBNation's Philadelphia Union blog

by kyleshank on Mar 24, 2010 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions

i was real happy to find this blog.

I did the same as you. And in a symbolic gesture i plan on lighting up all my old DCU paraphernalia at the home opener tailgate.

season tix in 136!

by Momus1 on Mar 25, 2010 12:14 AM EDT up reply actions

Welcome to SBN and welcome to the league

We over at B&RU look forward to beating you twice a year.

BlackAndRedUnited.com

by Martin Shatzer on Mar 25, 2010 8:31 AM EDT up reply actions

Absolutely can not wait for the Union's first game.

Welcome to Philadelphia MLS.

by EREX21 on Mar 24, 2010 5:11 PM EDT reply actions

I am glad the Union has a Sbnation blog now. Looking forward to our first season

by Ben16 on Mar 24, 2010 5:31 PM EDT reply actions

Looking forward to it, hoping for a really successful first season.

by Uiruru on Mar 24, 2010 5:48 PM EDT reply actions

So glad you’re here. Great to have a place where we can discuss the Union at length.

by Ben Feldman on Mar 24, 2010 5:57 PM EDT reply actions

So can someone tell me what “zolo” means and where it came from?

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by JasonB on Mar 24, 2010 11:00 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

At an event a few days before the official announcement of Philadelphia joining the MLS, the Sons of Ben wore nametags that had “2010” written on it. Nick Sakiewicz thought it said Zolo, and since then it’s sort of morphed into this unofficial team nickname which we see all over the place.

by Ben Feldman on Mar 25, 2010 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Ahhh. got it.

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by JasonB on Mar 25, 2010 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Great to be here.

I’m watching and reading from afar. New Orleans. I will do my best to carry the Philly flag down here for the Union as I do for the Birds, the Phils, the Flyers and begrudgingly the Sixers.

by NOLACuse on Mar 25, 2010 10:24 AM EDT reply actions