Philadelphia Major League Soccer Team Reveals Identity to the World
Union references the original Thirteen Colonies, which established the foundation of the United States of America. The clubs colors are navy blue and gold, symbolizing the uniforms of the American Continental Army, accented by the lighter shade of blue found in the Philadelphia Flag. The primary symbol of a rattlesnake is derived from Ben Franklins political cartoons and was featured in multiple editions of the Pennsylvania Gazette during the 1750s. The rattlesnake was utilized to emphasize the necessity of colonial unity and serve as a reminder of the danger of disunity. Franklins rattlesnake gained enormous popularity and evolved into a primary symbol of the American Revolution.
"We were determined to create an identity that portrays Philadelphias vital role in the evolution of our nation - the Union," said Philadelphia Union CEO & Operating Partner Nick Sakiewicz. "Every elementin our crest represents a product of unity. Our fans have proven they possessthe type of passion that soccer is known for worldwide, and the culture of our organization will always be to embrace it. There isnt a single better example of the collective strength we are striving to achieve than the inception of theUnited States of America."
Complementing the rattlesnake, thirteen stars are displayed along the base of the crest as another nod to the Thirteen Colonies of the Union. The crests interior shield represents Philadelphias Coat of Arms, which is found in both the Flag of Philadelphia and the Seal of the City of Philadelphia. Jungite aut Perite, a Latin translation of Join or Die, is featured in the clubs secondary logo. Join or Die was displayed by Ben Franklin in unison with the rattlesnake to stress the importance of colonial unity.
"The key to any branding process is collaborating with theright creative partner," said Club President Tom Veit. "Silverman Group did an excellent job of helping us distill the true essence of our supporters and the Philadelphia region. Our crest embodies Philadelphias influential role in the formation ofthis country and were confident that itll stand the test of time."
Philadelphia Union will play in a state-of-the-art 18,500 seat waterfront stadium in Chester, PA beginning in 2010. The stadium features 30 luxury suites, premium seating, an 11,000 square foot Stadium Club and a 2,000 seat supporters club section. Additionally, there is a built-in musicstage for world-class music shows, interactive entitlement zones and large promenades surrounding the stadium for festivals and tailgates.
