Official: Philadelphia Union Will Host 2012 MLS All Star Game On July 25 At PPL Park

The worst kept secret managed to be confirmed ahead of its own public announcement. The Philadelphia Union will host the 2012 MLS All Star Game on July 25 according to multiple reports at Philadelphia's City Hall today.

Jonathan Tannenwald of Philly.com's soccer blog, the Goalkeeper, is reporting that the event has a start of 8 pm, with ESPN2 as the English telecast of the game in America. The current format of MLS Best XI versus an international team (most recently Manchester United) will remain as the 2012 format, Tannenwald also noted.

PPL Park will play the role of host stadium for the annual event this season, keeping in line with MLS commissioner Don Garber's policy of showing off the investment of teams that have built soccer specific stadiums. Last year, Red Bull Arena, home of the New York Red Bulls, hosted the 2011 MLS All Star Game instead of the much larger Metlife Stadium (home of the New York Giants and New York Jets of the NFL).

Though details concerning first right of refusal for season ticket holders has yet to be released, Union fans should expect that