Ppl Park

MLS COMMISSIONER Don Garber ventured via regional rail from New York to Philadelphia yesterday to announce that PPL Park would be the venue for this year's All-Star Game. It was a surprisingly unusual way for Garber to travel, but considering rumor and speculation all but confirmed that the Union won hosting rights before his arrival, it's possible his mindset was on saving a buck, even as he confirmed MLS' worst-kept secret. Inside the Mayor's Reception Room at City Hall, Garber said this year's event, against an opponent to be announced "within the next 60 days," will be held at the Union's picturesque stadium on Chester's waterfront.

THE FIELD for the USA Sevens Collegiate Rugby Championship has been announced. The event will return for a second year at PPL Park in Chester on June 2 and 3. More than 50,000 fans attended the two-day event last year, making it the largest annual rugby event in North America. Returning teams are Army, Navy, Notre Dame, and defending champion Dartmouth along with local teams Temple and Penn State. Delaware will make its debut in the 16-team field, which also includes Cal, Florida, N.C. State, Wisconsin, Arizona, Maryland, Life University, Texas and Oklahoma.

WHILE PPL PARK is in the running to host the 2012 MLS All-Star Game, the decision to award the stadium hosting rights has not been etched in stone, contrary to a recent Internet report that the Union already won the bid. The Union-centric soccer blog "Broad Street Hooligans" claimed (and then retracted, somewhat) that someone connected to the stadium witnessed a cellphone text to a Union official that the club was awarded the match, to be played on Aug. 1. But nothing is official, according to Union CEO and managing partner Nick Sakiewicz.

In what is billed as the largest annual rugby event in North America, 20 of the nation's top college teams will meet at PPL Park in Chester on June 1 and 2 for the USA Sevens Collegiate Rugby Championship. Rugby sevens, which will be an Olympic sport starting in 2016, features seven players per team playing two seven-minute halves. Six local colleges will compete this year: Penn, Temple, Delaware, Penn State, St. Joseph's, and Kutztown. Also in the mix will be Arizona, California, UCLA, Dartmouth, Florida, Life University (Ga.)

They all had a story - a reason why they were involved. When PPL Park hosts the inaugural Fall Brawl for a Cure college lacrosse tournament in October, it will be for more than just pride for the four teams involved. To them, it's another major step in efforts to eradicate cancer. Villanova, Stony Brook, Loyola (Md.) and Siena College will highlight an all-day tournament benefiting the American Cancer Society on Saturday, Oct. 22. Youth games will be played on adjacent fields set up around the stadium starting at 9 a.m., before the pairing of Stony Brook and Loyola at 3 p.m., followed by Siena and Villanova, currently ranked eighth in the nation.

The Fall Brawl for the Cure college men's lacrosse tournament will be held in October at PPL Park. Chester mayor Wendell Butler, Union CEO Nick Sakiewicz and other brass will be on hand at an 11 a.m. news conference today to officially announce the four-team, 1-day tournament, which will feature Villanova, Loyola (Md.), Stony Brook and Siena College competing on Oct. 22. This season, Villanova (11-3) is eighth in the nation in RPI. Stony Brook (9-3) is 12th, Loyola (8-4) is 16th, and Siena (11-4)

While the Big East continues its fact-finding about Villanova football possibly joining the conference, the likely venue for the Wildcats could be expanding. Union CEO and managing partner Nick Sakiewicz told the Daily News yesterday that increasing the capacity of PPL Park always has been a possibility, no matter what Villanova does. "We designed the stadium for expansion, and it has been something that we have been discussing," Sakiewicz said. "Villanova could feasibly accelerate those plans as another tenant in the building.

IN AN NFL offseason fraught with court dates and mediated negotiations, it's no surprise that fans throughout the region flocked to PPL Park this weekend to see some fast-paced, hard-hitting action. Sure, it wasn't your typical American football. But these men and women run like tailbacks, hit like linebackers and do it all without pads. Yeah, they're tough as nails. The rapidly growing sport of Rugby Sevens was on display in the USA Sevens Collegiate Rugby Championship, and the region's response was so strong that organizers immediately announced plans to come back next June with the hope of making PPL Park a permanent home.

SOURCES ACROSS Major League Soccer have confirmed what has been on the wish list of Union supporters: PPL Park will host the MLS All-Star Game in July. The event, to be co-hosted by Philadelphia and Chester, is expected to be announced Tuesday in an 11 a.m. City Hall news conference featuring Mayor Nutter, MLS commissioner Don Garber, Union CEO Nick Sakiewicz and Chester Mayor John Linder. This would make the second consecutive year for an East Coast venue to host the event.

With the Army-Navy football game played here almost every year, Philadelphians have long been familiar with much of what goes into that historic matchup. This weekend, the city will be treated to a similar, but perhaps more brutal, version of that rivalry for the second consecutive year. The USA Sevens Collegiate Rugby Championship is back at PPL Park a year after making a successful debut in the area last June. Slated for a 5:04 p.m. kickoff on Saturday evening: Army vs. Navy.

JACK McINERNEY scored the only goal as the Union defeated the Chicago Fire, 1-0, at PPL Park on Saturday night. McInerney's goal was a header off a pass from Sebastien Le Toux in the third minute of play. It was McInerney's eighth goal of the season. "We just work off of each other, and read off of each other," McInerney said of Le Toux. "We've both played forward, obviously, so we know what we look for. For him to put the ball in those places, that just shows that we have experience from the past.

Now comes the difficult part. There was no problem for the Union getting up for a second game in five days, mainly because of the opponent. Now they must prepare for a third game in eight days, while bouncing back from a most difficult final 45 minutes. How the Union fare in Saturday's MLS matchup at PPL Park against the Chicago Fire at 7:30 p.m. will go a long way toward determining whether they have the ability to hang in there for the marathon of a playoff run. The Union began their journey with Saturday's 1-0 win over the host Fire.

Rugby teams from local colleges gathered in Rittenhouse Square on Tuesday, closing off parts of 18th and Walnut Streets to promote the 2013 USA Sevens Collegiate Rugby Championship at PPL Park in Chester on June 1 and 2. Players from Temple, St. Joseph's, Delaware and Penn explained proper tackling, ball movement, how scrums work, and some of the rules governing the game. "Basically, it's a demonstration to get people acquainted to what rugby is," said Hawks junior wing Eric Jackman, a graduate of St. Joseph's Prep.

It is interesting that two sides that wanted a split need to be working together. When the Union visit the Chicago Fire on Saturday for a Major League Soccer game, it's likely that Bakary Soumare will play center back in only his second start for the Union since being acquired last year. The first start was forgettable. Soumare was not moving well after a knee injury last season, and the Union lost to the Fire, 3-1, at PPL Park on Aug. 12. Soumare showed in that game that he wasn't ready to hit the field.

Union team manager John Hackworth is going to be light on his wallet and he realizes this fact. Hackworth, who is no stranger to criticizing officiating, made statements after Saturday's 2-2 Major League Soccer draw with the Seattle Sounders at PPL Park that will no doubt get the attention of the league office. In fact he even prefaced it before going on a rant. "So many parts of the game that were mismanaged by the officials, I don't even know what to say," Hackworth said. "I will raise my hand and take the fine because it has to be said that we can't be in the league and have that level of play and have officiating as bad as that.

MIDFIELDER DANNY Cruz scored two goals as the Union earned a 2-2 drew with the Seattle Sounders on Saturday at PPL Park. Cruz' goal in the 51st minute put the Union ahead, but Seattle got a goal from midfielder Mauro Rosales in the 64th to give both teams a point. "At the end of the day I wanted a win. I think that's first and foremost and most important," Cruz said postgame. "I am happy with a result at home and credit to Seattle, they are good team. As far as the goals I am ecstatic just to be able to contribute and that the coaches had faith in me and I was just happy to see the ball go back in the net both times.

Normally, when a traded player faces his former team for the first time, there is talk of revenge and a desire to show the former club that it made a mistake in not keeping him. Yet there will be none of that when Union defender Jeff Parke meets his former Seattle Sounders team in Saturday's 4 p.m. Major League Soccer game at PPL Park. That's because, even though the 31-year-old Parke remains at the top of his game, Seattle did him a favor by trading him back home. Parke had three highly productive seasons for Seattle but at the end of the season requested a trade to Philadelphia.

Saturday at 4 p.m., PPL Park TV: 6ABC. Records: Seattle, 1-3-2, 5 points; Union, 3-3-2, 11 points. Seattle on the road: 1-2. Union at home: 1-1-1. Goals for: Seattle, 3; Union 10. Goals against: Seattle, 5; Union 12. Last MLS match: Seattle earned a 1-0 win at Colorado on April 20. The Union lost, 2-0, at New England last Saturday. About the Sounders: Eddie Johnson, who scored 14 goals last season, has just one MLS goal this year.

In what is billed as the largest annual rugby event in North America, 20 of the nation's top college teams will meet at PPL Park in Chester on June 1 and 2 for the USA Sevens Collegiate Rugby Championship. Rugby sevens, which will be an Olympic sport starting in 2016, features seven players per team playing two seven-minute halves. Six local colleges will compete this year: Penn, Temple, Delaware, Penn State, St. Joseph's, and Kutztown. Also in the mix will be Arizona, California, UCLA, Dartmouth, Florida, Life University (Ga.)

SOMETIMES we Philadelphians take for granted the area sports scene and venues. Not only are we anticipating the U.S. Open, at Merion Golf Club, in June, but the city also recently hosted the early rounds of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, the Women's Atlantic 10 Tournament and hosts annually arguably the best track-and-field event (Penn Relays) in one of the most historic stadiums (Franklin Field) in America. The Dad Vail Regatta is two weeks away, followed by the Stotesbury Regatta the following week.