Preseason

Union announce key preseason dates

Philadelphia Union announced some key preseason dates on Thursday.

For the Philadelphia portion of the 2016 preseason, the team will train at University of Pennsylvania’s Dunning-Cohen Champions Field, also known as “The Bubble” at Penn Park. The team will train at YSC Sports in Wayne on Wednesday, Jan. 27, which is the annual open training day for fans to see the team at work.

The first phase of preseason training in Florida will take place in Jacksonville, Feb. 2-5, capped by a preseason exhibition game against NASL side Jacksonville Armada on Feb. 6.

Training begins in Clearwater on Feb. 7 and will play Chicago Fire on Thursday, Feb. 11 at Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex, returning to Philadelphia for a few days off.

The team returns to Clearwater on Feb. 16 for the final phase of preseason training, which concludes on Feb. 28.

Preseason games during that period, which includes the annual Fan Weekend and a game against an unnamed opponent on Feb. 20, are not included in the Union announcement. However, the Washington Post has reported DC United are “finalizing” arrangements to play the Union in St, Petersburg on Feb. 17, and New York Red Bulls announced on Tuesday they will play the Union on Tuesday, Feb. 26 at a time and place in Florida to be determined. Including the games not confirmed by the Union, the preseason schedule includes five games at present.

Below is a list of key dates that includes the preseason games not yet confirmed by the Union:

Jan. 22: Players report to Talen Energy Stadium
Jan. 24: Training begins at University of Pennsylvania’s Dunning-Cohen Champions Field
Jan. 27: Open training at YSC Sports
Jan. 28: Media Day at Talen Energy Stadium

Feb. 2: Team arrives in Jacksonville, Fla.
Feb. 6: Preseason match vs. Jacksonville Armada

Feb. 7: Team arrives in Clearwater, Fla.
Feb. 11: Preseason match vs. Chicago Fire
Feb. 12: Team returns to Philadelphia

Feb. 16: Team arrives in Clearwater
Feb. 17: Preseason match vs. DC United (unconfirmed)
Feb. 19 Annual fan trip in Clearwater begins
Feb. 20: Preseason match against unnamed opponent (included as part of fan weekend)
Feb. 21: Annual fan trip in Clearwater concludes
Feb. 26: Preseason match vs. New York Red Bulls (announced by NYRB but not yet confirmed by the Union, time and location TBD. UPDATE: The game against NYRB was listed on the league website on Jan. 22 as taking place on Feb. 24 in Clearwater at 7 pm.)
Feb. 28: Team returns to Philadelphia

March 6: Season opener on the road against Dallas
March 12: at Columbus
March 20: Home opener against New England

4 Comments

  1. Chance of preseason streams? Sigh.

  2. I’m assuming the London United game just hasn’t been announced yet, right?!?

  3. And here’s me thinking, “Oh, the 22nd… ok… HEY THAT’S TOMORROW!!!” duuuuhhhhh 🙂

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