OK...Little help please PHILADELPHIA UNION SC

[bjf1984]

Heading down to see the Philadelphia Union game on Saturday.

Will be staying overnight Friday, heading back home Saturday evening.

Coming from State College, with stops earlier in the day (Friday) in downtown Philly

Want to find Hotel Accomodations convenient to travel between Philly /PPL Stadium area (close to the stadium good.....but options near food, shopping etc would be good as well)

Best ideas for parking at the game....close to stadium, and ease of access out after the game....heading back to Turnpike for travel towards Harrisburg Saturday evening.

Best seating options inside stadium (will have kids....so don't want the "rowdies" section)

Other thoughts/Ideas/Suggestions

TIA

 

[novaclassof90]

Live pretty close to PPL in DE. Not really any hotel options near stadium. Stadium is in Chester, all bad neighborhoods around it and no eating/entertainment options. I would plan on just going to game as only thing to do around stadium. Park in stadium parking lot, do not try to save money by street parking or other off site options. Not worth the chance of a breakin.

Easy access to stadium right from exit off the highway that takes one over the Comm. Berry Bridge. Union website has great directions right to their lots.

AS for hotels, depends on where you want to stay. If you want to experience Center City Philly then stay downtown at one of dozens of hotels. Tons within walking distance of most of them. Independence Mall, Art Museum, Reading Terminal Market, Old City, etc.

If you don't want to do that. Staying somewhere out in King of Prussia area may be good. Easy access to the turnpike, 95, and 495. A lot of good options out near there for eating in places like Conshohocken, Wayne, Paoli, etc.

As I said, only plan to go to the game in Chester. All activities should in center city Philly or other cool places around there. Chester is not a nice place. Union does allow tailgating in their lots I believe and it is safe once you are in the lots so you could do that pregame.

 

[bjf1984]

Thanks NOVA....Im not at all familiar with the area So I appreciate the heads up ....especially on the Stadium area.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

Want to find Hotel Accomodations convenient to travel between Philly /PPL Stadium area (close to the stadium good.....but options near food, shopping etc would be good as well)

That's a problem. You can stay in a hotel in Philadelphia that is near food and shopping, but is about 20 minutes from PPL. You can stay in a hotel near the airport which is about 5 - 8 minutes from PPL park, but there's very little shopping or food near there. You kind of have to pick one, and sacrifice something. If you pick Philadelphia, it's a matter of what you want to pay. I'd suggest hotels that are near I-95. If you pick airport hotels, then search on hotels in Essington, PA and just pick one.

Best ideas for parking at the game....close to stadium, and ease of access out after the game....heading back to Turnpike for travel towards Harrisburg Saturday evening.

You can park at the stadium. It's pretty much surrounded by parking lots. The closer you park to the stadium, the more you pay. In terms of ease of access out, the lots further from the stadium (closer to I-95) are best for that. In terms of getting toward Harrisburg, follow your GPS, though it may give you some options. Your best bet is likely US-322 West (which is 1 exit South of PPL off of I-95). Take that to US 1. At this point they merge, but you'll turn left onto US 1 and take it South for less than a mile. Then take US 202 North (again, this is a 202/322 combined road). You'll take that several miles, until just after 322 splits off, and you'll get off on PA 100 North toward Exton. You'll take this about 8 miles to the Downingtown toll plaza of the PA Turnpike.

Best seating options inside stadium (will have kids....so don't want the "rowdies" section)

The rowdies section is where the Sons of Ben (the local fan club) sits. They are are one end of the stadium, behind the goal. Another way of thinking of it is they are at the end of the stadium that is closest to the Delaware River, and thus farthest from I-95 and where you're likely to have parked. I'd suggest the seats opposite the Sons of Ben, which are collectively called the North End, and are sections 114 thru 120. (These are also the cheapest seats.) If you don't want to be in the equivalent of the endzone, then the East sideline is the cheaper of the 2 sidelines (excluding the area around midfield). I'd suggest sections 123 thru 125, as they are a good distance from the Sons of Ben. You can accomplish the same thing on the other sideline (West sideline) for a little more money. Sections 110 and 111 would be your best bests as they are the farthest from the Sons of Ben.

 

[psengr82]

Thanks NOVA....Im not at all familiar with the area So I appreciate the heads up ....especially on the Stadium area.

I recommend the Rittenhouse Square area of the city. Hottest nightlife in the city right now with lots of restaurant options. Walk, or drive, out to the art museum, park and walk around fairmount park by boathouse row...very nice. Independence Hall and the most historic square mile in the US is right nearby.

You could also head south on 9th street and take in the Italian Market (where Rocky gets an orange from a fruit vendor). Continue to head south on 9th Street to the intersection with Passyunk Ave and you'll come to the original Pat's Steak House. I'm about to get blasted for this suggestion but don't listen to the naysayers...go to the place where steaks were invented!

If you make it to the Italian market head west on Christian and just past 10th you'll come to Isgro Pastries...the finest Italian baked goods you'll find anywhere.

 

[bwifan]

Heading down to see the Philadelphia Union game on Saturday.

Will be staying overnight Friday, heading back home Saturday evening.

Coming from State College, with stops earlier in the day (Friday) in downtown Philly

Want to find Hotel Accomodations convenient to travel between Philly /PPL Stadium area (close to the stadium good.....but options near food, shopping etc would be good as well)

Best ideas for parking at the game....close to stadium, and ease of access out after the game....heading back to Turnpike for travel towards Harrisburg Saturday evening.

Best seating options inside stadium (will have kids....so don't want the "rowdies" section)

Other thoughts/Ideas/Suggestions

TIA

You can also purchase tickets to the sons of benjamin tailgate(sonsofben.com) if your into prematch tailgating. Its a good time and I have taken my kids in there. You can get tickets for food only, drinks only or the full package and then watch them march into the stadium into their end before the game. There is also good food and drinks inside the stadium. I go reguarly as my friends have season tickets and can't use them often and give them to me to use. Park in the lots near the stadium and you will be fine. Lots of tailgates in the parking lots and pick up soccer games usually are all over the place. If your looking to just come in for the game and leave you could stay at 1 of the airport hotels or if want to see some of downtown philly lots of hotels more in town and easy to walk around. There are tons of police around before and after the match so you will feel more than safe getting around and back out onto the commodore barry bridge and back onto I-95 N/S...It's a great time and atmosphere. Hope you enjoy your time at the match.

 

[CF LION]

As others have suggested, stay in Center City. It's a snap to jump on 95 and cruise down to PPL Park. You mentioned kids -- if you are visiting Independence Hall, Constitution Center, etc, the Loews Hotel would be a good choice - it's at 12th and Market and within walking distance of all the historic sites and plenty of restaurants. It's not exactly a budget hotel, but not crazy expensive either.

 

[91Joe95]

Heading down to see the Philadelphia Union game on Saturday.

Will be staying overnight Friday, heading back home Saturday evening.

Coming from State College, with stops earlier in the day (Friday) in downtown Philly

Want to find Hotel Accomodations convenient to travel between Philly /PPL Stadium area (close to the stadium good.....but options near food, shopping etc would be good as well)

Best ideas for parking at the game....close to stadium, and ease of access out after the game....heading back to Turnpike for travel towards Harrisburg Saturday evening.

Best seating options inside stadium (will have kids....so don't want the "rowdies" section)

Other thoughts/Ideas/Suggestions

TIA

I think I see your problem. You appear to want to go to Philadelphia. Have you considered someplace nicer? I hear lovely Baltimore has some excellent hotel rates right now with a veritiable cornucopia of room choices.

 

[dawgduice]

Stay in Center City. Awesome Hotels and Food The stadium in Chester is/was an attempt to help re-vitalize the area (not working, but an A for effort). Stadium access is great. Very safe and a fun time.

 

[bjf1984]

Thank you all so much for the helpful hints. I do appreciate it...and for sure I will be referencing the comments when I make my plans tonight. Dunka!