Bethlehem Steel FC to return to Goodman Stadium for Saturday’s game

Bethlehem Steel FC will play a home game in the city of this namesake this season, after all.

The team announced on Tuesday morning that they will host Tampa Bay Rowdies at Goodman Stadium on the campus of Lehigh University this Saturday.

The game will kick off at 5 p.m.

“We are excited to secure this match at Goodman Stadium,” said Tim McDermott, Philadelphia Union Chief Business Officer. “This is a great opportunity for us to reconnect with our fans in the Lehigh Valley, and we’d like to thank both Tampa Bay and the USL for working with us in securing all approvals necessary to play this match at Goodman.”

Goodman was home to the Steel in their first three seasons, but games were moved to Talen Energy Stadium this season because of USL Championship regulations requiring venues to include lights. The team operated with a waiver from the league in its first three seasons.

Issues with the pitch at Talen Energy Stadium led the team to move June home games out of Chester. Their last two home games were played at McCarthy Stadium on the campus of La Salle University. Nashville SC head coach Gary Smith was not too happy with the facility, calling conditions diabolical after his team beat the Steel 4-1. The team was later issued an undisclosed fine related to complaints about the facility.

Saturday’s game will be a homecoming for several former Steel players who played at Goodman Stadium in past seasons, including goalkeeper John McCarthy, forward Brandon Allen and midfielder Leo Fernandes.