Philadelphia Union announced on Wednesday it will participate in the Tampa Bay Rowdies Suncoast Invitational preseason tournament, “a brand-new preseason exhibition series unlike any the Tampa Bay area has ever hosted.”
The tournament runs Feb. 17-27.
Also participating in the tournament are MLS sides D.C. United, Montreal Impact, New York City FC, New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC, as well as host and NASL side Tampa Bay Rowdies.
The Union face DC on Wednesday, Feb. 17, followed by Tampa Bay on Saturday, Feb. 20, NYRB on Wednesday, Feb. 24, and Toronto on Saturday, Feb. 27. The first two games and the last game will take place at Al Lang Stadium. The game against NYRB will take place at Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex.
With the Suncoast Invitational announcement, the Union now have six preseason games on the schedule for February.
Union sporting director Earnie Stewart said in a statement, “It was important for us to schedule high-level opponents this preseason in an effort to maximize our fitness regimen. Our slate of matches during this tournament is exactly the kind of test we were looking for and we’ll embrace the challenge. We’re looking forward to being down there as we continue to prepare for our season.”
The Union’s upcoming schedule now looks like this:
Jan. 28: Media Day at Talen Energy Stadium
Feb. 2: Team arrives in Jacksonville, Fla.
Feb. 6: Preseason match vs. Jacksonville Armada (6 pm, Community First Park)
Feb. 7: Team arrives in Clearwater, Fla.
Feb. 11: Preseason match vs. Chicago Fire (TBD, Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex)
Feb. 12: Team returns to Philadelphia
Feb. 16: Team arrives in Clearwater, Fla.
Feb. 17: Preseason match vs. DC United (4 pm, Al Lang Stadium)
Feb. 19 Annual fan trip in Clearwater begins
Feb. 20: Preseason match vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies (7 pm, Al Lang Stadium)
Feb. 21: Annual fan trip in Clearwater concludes
Feb. 24: Preseason match vs. New York Red Bulls (7 pm, Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex)
Feb. 27: Preseason match vs. Toronto (4 pm, Al Lang Stadium)
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
Defending champs ya’ll!
Now this made me laugh.
Somehow, someway, I would have liked to see the Cosmos in this tournament. I think it would have taken the level of play up a little with a few more teams not liking each other.
One more thing to be pleased with… I notice London FC and Jacksonville Armada not on the schedule.
i thought i remembered jacksonville being surprisingly good
jacksonville is on the schedule its the first preseason match.
I saw today…. good catch.. my sarcasm caught up to me.
Any chance of any of these games being streamed?