Talen Energy Stadium
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View of the interior of Talen Energy Stadium, from the Sons of Ben supporters section, the River End in 2010
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| Former names | PPL Park (2010–2015) |
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| Address | 1 Stadium Drive |
| Location | Chester, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates | 39°49′56″N 75°22′44″W / 39.83222°N 75.37889°WCoordinates: 39°49′56″N 75°22′44″W / 39.83222°N 75.37889°W |
| Public transit | Chester Transportation Center |
| Owner | Delaware County |
| Operator | Keystone S&E |
| Capacity | 18,500 (Soccer) 26,000 (Concerts) |
| Field size | 120 × 75 yards |
| Surface | Patriot Bermuda Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | December 1, 2008 |
| Opened | June 27, 2010 |
| Construction cost | $120 million ($132 million in 2017 dollars) |
| Architect | Rossetti Architects |
| Project manager | ICON Venue Group |
| Structural engineer | Pennoni Associates Inc. |
| General contractor | T.N. Ward Company |
| Tenants | |
| Philadelphia Union (MLS) (2010–present) | |
Talen Energy Stadium (formerly known as PPL Park) is an American soccer-specific stadium located in Chester, Pennsylvania and is home to the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer. The project is the result of combined commitments of $30 million from Delaware County and $47 million from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Talen Energy is the stadium's naming rights sponsor.
The stadium is located on Chester's waterfront along the Delaware River, at the Commodore Barry Bridge's southwestern corner. Talen Energy Stadium was designed to be a catalyst for economic development on the waterfront, with additional plans calling for a riverwalk amidst other entertainment, retail, and residential projects. The stadium was constructed by T.N. Ward Company, which is based in Ardmore, Pennsylvania.
Major League Soccer (MLS) had been interested in entering the Philadelphia market for several years, with many promises of a team by Commissioner Don Garber, as evidenced by his statement, "It's not a matter of if but when Philadelphia gets a team." Initially, Major League Soccer was interested in a site in the borough of Bristol, Pennsylvania, about 23 miles (37 km) north of Center City, Philadelphia. Those plans never came to fruition. Later, Rowan University provided details for a soccer stadium near its campus in Glassboro, New Jersey. However, funding from the state of New Jersey fell through in 2006.
In late 2006, a group of investors led by Rob Buccini, co-founder of the Buccini/Pollin Group; Jay Sugarman, chief executive of iStar Financial; and James Nevels, a former chairman of the Philadelphia School Reform Commission, initiated the planning for a soccer-specific stadium in the city of Chester after the funding for the Rowan project failed to pass the New Jersey legislature. After many months of negotiations, Delaware County politicians announced their approval of funding for the stadium in October 2007. Delaware County owns the land and the stadium itself, while the team owns the naming rights based on their approval of a 30-year lease. The newly formed Delaware County Sports Authority pays the county's share of $30 million through taxes from the Harrah's Chester harness racing track and casino. An additional $80 million was donated by private investors.
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