Philadelphia plans for 2024 Copa América and other soccer games at Lincoln Monetary FIeld

Dan Hilferty was currently at the center of Philadelphia’s 2026 Globe Cup arranging as the chair of the regional organizing committee. But his current move to develop into Comcast-Spectacor’s new CEO has place him even additional at the center of the action.

Comcast is amongst the most influential sponsors of the regional Globe Cup work, and absolutely the most popular name. Comcast-Spectacor is just a single branch of the business, whose Television division owns the Spanish-language rights to the 2026 tournament (and this year’s women’s Globe Cup), as effectively as the rights to the English Premier League, Olympics, and U.S. national group house games.

The different branches ordinarily operate on their personal. But for one thing this major, there’s overlap behind the scenes.

“We come across synergies and [are] figuring out how we could operate closely with FIFA to strengthen the fan knowledge,” Hilferty mentioned. “But also, really frankly, to make positive that not only our clients, but Philadelphians in common have an chance to be aspect of this fantastic occasion.”

How that plays out will be a single of the greatest regional soccer stories of the subsequent 3 years. There’s currently been a lot of controversy more than plans to develop a sports field complicated in FDR Park that would serve as a Globe Cup practice facility that summer season.

A loud caucus in South Philadelphia is opposed to constructing more than park land recognized as the Meadows. A similarly loud caucus has responded by noting the city’s lack of recreational sports facilities. Nearby officials have attempted to claim there’s space for each.

» Study A lot more: FDR Park neighborhood meeting draws hundreds, begins off in tense face-off

Protesters at a meeting in January about plans to develop a sports field complicated at FDR Park.. … Read moreJessica Griffin / Employees Photographer

Hilferty created no reference to that topic, even though that wasn’t also surprising — it is been handled additional by City Hall. But he has been involved in other regions, like a series of current meetings with FIFA on subjects like hotel capacity.

“They really feel quite very good about exactly where we stand,” Hilferty mentioned of FIFA. “Not only with the [stadium] web site, establishing sponsorships, but also arranging about every thing from exactly where we’re going to do the fan fest to exactly where we are with all the hotels.”

The fan fest place is a different major item when it comes to matters beyond the sports complicated, for regional residents and out-of-town guests alike. Penn’s Landing has been the front-runner place for a though, but Hilferty mentioned there’s nevertheless no selection however.

“That’s a dialogue with the people at FIFA, and at this point we haven’t identified a final web site,” he mentioned.

The subsequent major issue on the calendar is earning hosting rights for subsequent year’s Copa América, the South American championship tournament that will come to the U.S. as a warmup for 2026. As the 2016 Copa América Centenario did, it is anticipated to drive a spike in interest, and serve as a test run for Globe Cup host venues.

But there’s no assure that it will be played only at Globe Cup web sites. Cities that came up quick in the bidding could get Copa games as a consolation prize, as could major markets like Phoenix and Chicago that didn’t bid for Globe Cup games at all. So Philadelphia will have to compete.

» Study A lot more: Dan Hilferty, who ran IBX and helped Philly land the Globe Cup, is new boss at Comcast Spectacor

Lincoln Monetary Field hosted games in the 2016 Copa América Centenario, and could host games when the tournament returns to the United States subsequent year.. … Read moreCal Sport Media through AP Photos

Hilferty mentioned the Globe Cup organizing committee will not be officially involved in that, but he sent a message to the entities that will take the lead.

“I absolutely hope the powers that be that are involved, no matter if it be the city, [the] Convention and Guests Bureau, that we have a very good shot at it.”

The Eagles will also be considerably involved — and games of the Copa’s scale would undoubtedly be at Lincoln Monetary Field. Irrespective of whether the U.S. plays right here or not, the crowds will very easily be larger than Subaru Park’s 18,500-seat capacity.

“Our area is house to a massive and passionate soccer neighborhood,” the Eagles mentioned in a statement. “We will generally be interested in participating in conversations that could lead to bringing globe-class soccer events to Lincoln Monetary Field for these fans to love.”

When the Globe Cup committee may well not be officially involved in Copa América arranging, Hilferty knows that absolutely everyone in town shares duty for receiving marquee events right here ahead of 2026. The Linc hasn’t hosted a major soccer game given that August 2019, when the U.S. ladies came to town just after the Globe Cup and drew practically 50,000 fans — the greatest crowd for a standalone friendly in group history.

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The U.S. women’s soccer group drew 49,504 fans to Lincoln Monetary Field for a game there in 2019.. … Read moreMitchell Leff / Getty Photos

The pandemic has naturally been a element, but 3 and a half years is a lengthy sufficient wait. European teams will return to the U.S. for tours this summer season, and there will be the Concacaf men’s Gold Cup.

Nor has the web site for the men’s Nations League final 4 been set however. That is the occasion exactly where the U.S. will most likely play Europe-primarily based stars such as Medford’s Brenden Aaronson and Downingtown’s Zack Steffen, so they can take the summer season off. They haven’t played at the Linc ahead of, and it is uncomplicated to visualize them receiving a raucous reception.

“If it is international events, if it is regional events like the Unity Cup, to perhaps receiving some [English Premier League] teams to come and play [here], we’re searching at all sorts of possibilities,” Hilferty mentioned. “Obviously the city’s involved, the Convention and Guests Bureau is involved, the Eagles are involved, the Union are involved. So we continue to appear for techniques to develop the game by inviting premier teams to play right here — males and ladies.”

Final week, Hilferty was a single of the guests of honor at the Union’s annual Legends of Soccer fundraiser dinner for the team’s charity foundation. The occasion raised additional than $282,000.

“We’re all quite proud of the Philadelphia Union, [what] the Philadelphia Union Foundation does for our fantastic neighborhood of Chester and effectively beyond,” he mentioned.

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Dan Hilferty (left) with Union aspect-owner Richard Leibovitch on stage at the Union Foundation’s Legends of Soccer Gala dinner.. … Read moreJonathan Tannenwald / Employees