CHESTER, Pa. -- Before the shovels were ever placed into the ground, Keystone Sports and Entertainment, LLC -- the Major League Soccer Philadelphia 2010 ownership group -- understood there were hurdles to clear first.
A big question was answered Tuesday when the ownership group announced the hiring of design and construction teams for its $115 million, 18,500-seat stadium to be built along the Chester waterfront in time for the 2010 season.
Rossetti Architects, an international design firm with offices in Detroit, Los Angeles, Denver, Newport Beach and Shanghai, and ICON Venue Group, based in Denver, will lead the design and construction of the stadium. Rossetti Architects will be designing the stadium while ICON will provide project management services to ensure that the stadium project is done on schedule and within its budget for the 2010 season.
"We are launching a premier MLS franchise and building a world class stadium so we wanted nothing less than the best owner's representative in the sports industry to oversee the design and construction of our newest local landmark and the best sport architecture firm to design it," Nick Sakiewicz, CEO and operating partner of Keystone Sports and Entertainment said in a statement. "Rossetti's noted innovative and stunning designs coupled with ICON's well-earned reputation as soccer-specific development experts are the perfect combination. They will be a tremendous compliment to our project team."
The stadium will be constructed at the foot of the Commodore Barry Bridge in Chester, just 13 miles from downtown Philadelphia. The multi-purpose stadium will also feature an 11,000-square-foot club, 38 suites ranging in size from eight to 21 seats (plus an owner's suite with 29 seats), a special 2,000-seat zone for the Sons of Ben supporters club and a party deck overlooking the field and river. The facility will have a waterfront park and plaza used not only for stadium entry, but also for city-sponsored events such as festivals.
Rossetti has partnered with ICON on three other MLS projects and one arena in the past including Red Bull Park in Harrison, N.J.; Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill.; Real Salt Lake in Sandy, Utah; and Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Calif. Rossetti also designed The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
"It is truly a pleasure to partner with Keystone Sports and Entertainment to design the new home of MLS soccer in Pennsylvania," said Gino Rossetti, Chairman of Rossetti. "The team of ICON and Rossetti is a continuation of a longstanding relationship and one that has resulted in numerous successful MLS projects. It is extremely rewarding for us to work with Nick and his partners to realize the dream of a stadium in Chester which will anchor an exciting new development on the riverfront. We are passionate about designing projects that harmonize with the existing fabric of the community while also encouraging new investment and activity, and I believe that the stadium in Chester is a perfect example of this approach."
Rossetti also has designed professional, civic and collegiate sports venues across the country and around the world. Rossetti has professional sports facility experience with arenas and stadiums such as the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. (home of the U.S. Open); Ford Field (Detroit Lions); Scotiabank Place in Ottawa; and the Palace of Auburn Hills, home of the NBA's Detroit Pistons.
"ICON and Rossetti have set the gold standard for MLS stadium design and project management with landmark projects for the Chicago Fire and Real Salt Lake," said Tim Romani, president of ICON Venue Group. "We are delighted to team up again with Gino and Matt and are excited to create another spectacular American soccer venue. Nick Sakiewicz and his partners at Keystone Sports and Entertainment have a grand vision for their new venue and ICON is proud to be on their team."
Romani will serve as principal-in-charge. Marc Farha, ICON senior vice president, will serve as project executive, and Steven Wronski, ICON director, will serve as senior project manager. In addition to the three MLS projects with Rossetti, Romani and his team have also worked on Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo. Other noteworthy ICON projects include the Pittsburgh Penguins' new arena, The O2 Arena in London, O2 World Arena in Berlin, Sprint Center in Kansas City, and Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
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