Union to get lots of national tv exposure

The Philadelphia Union will be featured 17 times on national television during their inaugural season, according to the 2010 Major League Soccer schedule, announced today.  Among the highlights of the MLS expansion club's first schedule are the first game of the MLS season and first in club history vs. Seattle Sounders FC on Thursday, March 25 (ESPN2/ESPN Deportes); the first game in Philadelphia vs. D.C. United on Saturday, April 10 (Fox Soccer Channel) and the first game in the soccer-specific Chester Stadium, on Sunday, June 27 (ESPN2).

"We're all quickly learning what was apparent to our supporters in the Delaware Valley from the start. The rest of the country is now catching up with how special things are here with Philadelphia Union and they want in on it," said Tom Veit, Philadelphia Union President. "The connection we have with our supporters locally is about to expand globally."

The eyes of the world will focus their attention on the Delaware Valley on Thursday, October 7, with the expected return of international stars David Beckham and Landon Donovan to MLS and the LA Galaxy.

"As we have stated from the very beginning, we will play the vast majority of our games in our new stadium," said Nick Sakiewicz, CEO & Operating Partner of KSE and Philadelphia Union. "It is incredibly exciting to see all of the effort and energy we've put into creating our stadium and our team to burst onto the national and international scene.

"Additionally, we're elated to play our first two matches at Lincoln Financial Field, which will enable that many more of our supporters to experience the beginning of what we're working to make sure is a long and prosperous future."

Every team in MLS will visit Philadelphia once in the 30-game regular season, and Philadelphia Union will also travel to each of the other 15 cities in MLS. Of the 17 national games, five will be on Spanish language networks, but also available to be broadcast locally via the team's broadcast partners. Local television schedule will be released later this month.



SCHEDULE
WEEK 1
Thursday, March 25                                      Time                National TV
Philadelphia Union at Seattle Sounders FC   9:30 p.m.         ESPN2/ESPN Deportes / ESPN360.com

WEEK 3
Saturday, April 10
D.C. United at Philadelphia Union                6 p.m.              FSC / FSE

WEEK 4
Thursday, April 15
Philadelphia Union at Toronto FC                  7 p.m.              ESPN2 / ESPN Deportes / ESPN360.com

WEEK 5
Saturday, April 24
Philadelphia Union at New York Red Bulls  4 p.m.              TeleFutura

WEEK 6
Saturday, May 1
Philadelphia Union at LA Galaxy                  10:30 p.m.

WEEK 7
Saturday, May 8
Philadelphia Union at Real Salt Lake             9 p.m.

WEEK 8
Saturday, May 15
FC Dallas at Philadelphia Union                    4 p.m.              TeleFutura

WEEK 10
Saturday, May 29
Philadelphia Union at Houston Dynamo        8:30 p.m.                     FSC / FSE

WEEK 11
Saturday, June 5
Philadelphia Union at Chicago Fire                8:30 p.m.

WEEK 12
Thursday, June 10
Philadelphia Union at Kansas City Wizards   8 p.m.

WEEK 13
Sunday, June 27
Seattle Sounders FC at Philadelphia Union   5 p.m.              ESPN2 / ESPN Deportes / ESPN 360.com

WEEK 14
Saturday, July 3
Philadelphia Union at Chivas USA                10:30 p.m.       FSC / FSE

WEEK 15
Saturday, July 10
San Jose Earthquakes at Philadelphia Union  5:30 p.m.                     FSC / FSE

WEEK 16
Saturday, July 17
Toronto FC at Philadelphia Union                  3:30 p.m.

WEEK 17
Wednesday, July 21
Philadelphia Union at Colorado Rapids         TBD

WEEK 18
Saturday, July 31
New England Revolution at Philadelphia Union       3:30 p.m.

WEEK 19
Thursday, August 5
Columbus Crew at Philadelphia Union          8 p.m.              ESPN2 / ESPN Deportes / ESPN360.com
Sunday, August 8
Philadelphia Union at FC Dallas                    7 p.m.              FSC / FSE

WEEK 20
Wednesday, Aug. 11
Real Salt Lake at Philadelphia Union             7:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 14
Colorado Rapids at Philadelphia Union         4 p.m.              TeleFutura

WEEK 21
Sunday, August 22
Philadelphia Union at D.C. United                2 p.m.

WEEK 22
Saturday, August 28
Philadelphia Union at New England Revolution       7:30 p.m.

WEEK 23
Saturday, September 4
Kansas City Wizards at Philadelphia Union   3:30 p.m.

WEEK 24
Saturday, September 11
Chicago Fire at Philadelphia Union                6 p.m.              FSC / FSE

WEEK 25
Saturday, September 18
Philadelphia Union at San Jose Earthquakes  10 p.m.

WEEK 26
Saturday, September 25
Chivas USA at Philadelphia Union                4 p.m.              TeleFutura

WEEK 27
Saturday, October 2
Houston Dynamo at Philadelphia Union        4 p.m.              TeleFutura

WEEK 28
Thursday, October 7
LA Galaxy at Philadelphia Union                  8 p.m.              ESPN2 / ESPN Deportes / ESPN360.com

WEEK 29
Saturday, October 16
New York Red Bulls at Philadelphia Union  6 p.m.              FSC / FSE

WEEK 30
Sunday, October 24
Philadelphia Union at Columbus Crew          4 p.m.

MLS CUP PLAYOFFS
Thursday, Oct. 28 - Sunday, Nov. 14

MLS CUP 2010
Sunday, Nov. 21 - Venue TBD                                             ESPN / TeleFutura

Philadelphia Union will open the 2010 MLS season, with their first ever First Kick on March 25 in Seattle vs. Sounders FC in a match televised nationally on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes. The club's home opener will be April 10, as Philadelphia Union hosts D.C. United at Lincoln Financial Field. Tickets for games at Lincoln Financial Field will go on sale in early March.  Tickets for games in Chester will go on sale later in the season.