While always a sports fan and a sucker for the World Cup, I had never experienced a professional soccer game.
Last Saturday, however, I had the opportunity to take in a Philadelphia Union game at the beautiful PPL Park in Chester, PA.
I arrived at 2:45 pm for a 4:00pm start time and the first thing I noticed was the tailgaters parked in the lot ($20, but you can get there via SEPTA). Some were sitting in chairs, listening to music and enjoying some beers while others were making the most of the tailgate-friendly grass fields outside the stadium by playing cornhole and — you guessed it — drinking more beers.
The second thing I noticed was the view. PPL Park overlooks the gorgeous Commodore Barry Bridge crossing the Delaware River and from the stadium, the bridge seemed to go on for miles.
With an hour to kill before game time, I checked out the clothing store, all the while noticing that the majority of fans were decked out in Union gear. The word “Doop” was written on the scarves and signs that adorned the walls and I made a mental note to figure out what it meant.
Circling the inside of the
