The planned 18,500-seat soccer specific stadium that will host the Major League Soccer Philadelphia franchise from 2010 will include a special 2,000-seat area for the Sons of Ben supporters group.
“I think it’s great and forward-looking of the owners to set aside that many seats,” said Bryan James, a spokesman for the Sons of Ben. “I don’t think we’ll have a problem filling it.” He said that having a special section allocated to the group showed a real understanding of soccer fan culture and highlighted the importance of having someone like Nick Sakiewicz — a former two-time general manager and founder of the league — as an operating partner. Sakiewicz is the CEO and operating partner of the team’s ownership, Keystone Sports.
The stadium’s designers will be Rossetti Architects, it was announced Tuesday. The firm also designed Red Bull Park in Harrison, NJ, and Real Salt Lake’s new stadium in Sandy, Utah (both currently under construction), as well as Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill., and the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.