Philadelphia Union announces fund to support part-time game day staff

CHESTER, PA — A couple hundred hourly employees impacted by game postponements at Subaru Park are getting financial assistant through a fund announced by the Philadelphia Union on Friday.

The Game Day Employee Assistance Fund is being designated for employees that signed up to work the home opener on March 14 or signed up to work an additional game that has been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

According to a report from Jonathan Tannenwald in The Philadelphia Inquirer, that includes about 225 employees and covers postponed games for Philadelphia Union II.

“We recognize the impact that this unprecedented situation has caused and are proud to be able to give back to our community in a time of need,” a statement released by the club Friday states. “We look forward to welcoming back our staff when the season resumes.”

Eleven games scheduled at Subaru Park by the Union and Union II have been postponed to date, seven of those being first team games and four USL Championship games. Only one game has been played in Chester since the stadium was renamed Subaru Park, a scoreless draw between Union II and Loudoun United on March 7.

Both leagues have postponed games through May 10 and have placed moratoriums on training through early April (MLS is currently April 3; USL Championship April 5).