Philly sports fans are known worldwide for their loyalty and passion. Though a bit rowdy at times, it’s all in good fun. We sure do have a lot of heart, and we give new meaning to the term “home field advantage.” Each of our sports venues has a personality all its own, which makes our city the solid sports town it’s become.
PPL Park, home of Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union, is located at the foot of the Commodore Barry Bridge along the Delaware River, where the view from the stands is nothing short of spectacular. PPL opened its gates in 2010, holds 18,500 spectators and boasts some of the best fan favorite foods this side of the Schuylkill. You’ll find Philly staples, like authentic cheesesteaks, Chickie’s crab fries and Turkey Hill ice cream, and the award-winning burgers are nothing to shake a fry at either, explains Linda Recke, regional vice president of Spectra Food Services & Hospitality, which manages all things culinary at PPL.
“The most popular item is without a doubt the Union Burger, which is a half-pound Angus beef burger with pepper jack cheese, bacon, onion rings and BBQ sauce. We also have an award-winning menu item, our Surf N Turf Burger, which is our signature Angus burger topped with jumbo shrimp, pickles and Creole sauce,” she notes.
Recke goes on to say, “We’re driven by our ‘Everything’s Fresh’ philosophy, which means foods are prepared fresh, in front of fans, with locally sourced products whenever possible. We strive to incorporate local flavors and vendors into our lineup, giving fans a taste of the region when they come for a game or a concert.”
PPL also serves up plenty of surprises you wouldn’t expect at a sports stadium.
What’s on Tap
You’ve heard the call for “Ice cold beers here!” time and time again from hard-working men and women hauling beer tubs around and helping quench fans’ thirst with a good old-fashioned, mainstream-brand beer. But PPL also caters to the beer connoisseur.
“We take into account our fan base and what they like to drink, which is not only domestic but a wide variety of craft and imports as well,” explains Recke.
You’ll find Blue Moon, Boddington’s, Foster’s, Stella Artois, Sierra Nevada, gluten-free Red Bridge and more.
Season ticket-holder Kate Stier says cheers to that. “My husband and I love the beer selection because they have a lot of variety,” she says. “The concession stands are always clean and the prices are reasonable. PPL’s a great venue for everyone.”
Everyone including Dogfish Head fans. The craft brewer became an official PPL Park sponsor this season, and with that debuted the Dogfish Head River Deck Beer Garden. The custom-branded bar features several Dogfish Head craft beer varieties, as well as spirits. Be sure to check it out at Section 102—it’s one of the best views in the Union’s house.
A Private Party Room with a View
Last summer I helped celebrate a good friend’s 50th birthday at the TruMark Financial Club. To say it was a very special spot to ring in a milestone is an understatement. Situated high atop PPL, with a panoramic, one-of-a-kind view of the game, the Club offers quite an experience for a birthday, anniversary, family party or other special occasion.
“You can’t beat the view. It’s great to watch the ships travel up and down the river. The best part is that we can customize the space to fit any type of theme and size. We’ve done everything from intimate parties to large functions in that space,” says Recke. “The chef loves to customize menus to suit the unique events going on.”
During home matches, guests can catch the action live through the floor-to-ceiling windows or outside in the private Club stands. The Club ticket includes an all-you-eat buffet meal and top-shelf bar.
Bangin’ Barbecue
There’s barbecue, then there’s barbecue. If you’ve got a craving for melt-in-your-mouth, dry-rubbed, slow-cooked beef brisket smothered in a secret-recipe BBQ sauce, don’t miss The Q Barbeque. Hungry fans will surely smell the sweet and tangy sauce before seeing The Q, located on the main concourse.
Owner and creator Cheryl Stevens says it was a dream come true to find her spot at PPL Park. “I was thrilled when a location opened up here at the stadium,” she says. “I’ve been wanting to bring my down-home, Southern way of cooking to the great fans of Philadelphia soccer for a long time, and now I am. People seem to love it.”
Stevens cooks up a variety of homemade foods, including pulled pork, barbecue spare ribs, hand-rolled meatballs, candied yams, crunchy coleslaw and rich mac and cheese. Now that’s some real Southern comfort food!
The Sons of Ben’s Tailgate Like No Other
If you’ve ever tailgated with the Sons of Ben, then you can stop reading ‘cuz you already know the drill. But please don’t.
A quick history lesson—Sons of Ben were founded in 2007 and helped build the momentum leading to the creation of the Philadelphia Union, thus introducing Major League Soccer to our fine city. Over the years, the SoBs, familiarly nicknamed, have grown to include more than 5,000 members here in the tri-state region and around the world.
During every home match on the weekends, the Sons of Ben gather for a colossal tailgating party. Matt Gendaszek is on the Sons of Ben board and is the official tailgate coordinator. “Tailgates are a great time to see old friends, celebrate the Union’s success, celebrate summer in Philly and root for our home team,” he says.
As Gendaszek mentions, being the master of the tailgate is no easy task. “We usually see anywhere from 100–200 people at our tailgates,” he says, “from members to nonmembers and anyone who buys a ticket. I coordinate volunteers for setup and food shopping and coordinate the cooking.”
While SoB plans tailgates for every home match, watch out for the highly popular theme parties. “Throughout the year we have designated theme nights. During the luau, we brought in two roasted pigs, catered by Pigs and Gigs out of Montgomery County,” he says.
Up next in September is OKTOBERFEST, catered by Frankford Hall, which is located on in Philly’s Fishtown neighborhood.
With all this bountiful, delicious food, there are bound to be leftovers. SoB member Jeffrey Mitchell assures the extra goes to great use. “After every tailgate we donate all the leftovers to The Bernadine Center, a local food bank in Chester,” he says. “We make sure nothing gets wasted.”
SoB regularly fundraises and gives to local charities. The group’s not only fun, but philanthropic at the same time. It’s what the City of Philadelphia—die-hard sports fans and then some—is all about.
For tickets to an SoB tailgate, visit Ticketleap. DOOP! See you at the next match!
Find Philadelphia Union’s HQ at PPL Park at 1 Stadium Dr. in Chester; phone: (610) 859-3100.
- Tailgating photo: Earl Gardner/Philly Soccer Page
- Dogfish Head photo: Chelsea Sproul
- Other photos: Amy Strauss
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