Delaware Football to Take on Rival Villanova at Chester’s PPL Park this Season
June 23, 2011
Photo Courtesy of PPL Park and Villanova University
VILLANOVA, Pa. -- The storied football rivalry between the University of Delaware and Villanova will have a new home this fall.
Villanova announced Thursday that for the first time the Battle of the Blue rivalry will be held at an off-campus site as the two Colonial Athletic Association powers will square off on Nov. 19 at PPL Park in Chester, Pa.
The Wildcats will host their first-ever game at the home of the Philadelphia Union. PPL EnergyPlus will be the presenting sponsor of the game. Tickets, which will be $20, can be purchased beginning on August 1.
Delaware football season ticket holders were mailed information earlier this week with instructions on how to purchase single game tickets for this game and for the other four road games this coming season.
“The Delaware-Villanova rivalry is one of the most intense in college football and this just adds to the excitement and anticipation for the game,” said Delaware head coach K.C. Keeler, the 2010 AFCA National Coach of the Year who led the Blue Hens to one of their finest seasons in school history in 2010 when Delaware posted a 12-3 record and advanced to the NCAA Division I FCS national championship game. “From what I have seen and heard, this is a fantastic facility and a venue that our team and our fans will love. We look forward to making the short trip up the road in November.”
"This gives us the opportunity to move this great rivalry game to a larger stage," said Villanova Director of Athletics Vince Nicastro. "PPL Park is an incredible venue and it will provide a truly memorable experience for both the teams and the fans. We are honored to be a part of the first-ever American football game at PPL Park."
The all-time series between Villanova and Delaware dates back over 100 years to the first meeting between the teams in 1895. The Wildcats lead the series by a margin of 23-20-1 and the Hens will be looking to snap a five-game losing streak to Villanova.
PPL Park is the state-of-the-art home of the Major League Soccer (MSL) Philadelphia Union and has served as one of the key catalysts of the revitalization of the Chester Waterfront. The stadium is ideally located less than 10 miles south of the Philadelphia International Airport, with easy access to major roadways such as I-95, I-476, US-322 and PA-291.
The Philadelphia Union compete in Major League Soccer (MLS), the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. The Union became MLS's 16th team upon their expansion into the league in 2010. The team played its inaugural game on March 25, 2010, and the first-ever game at PPL Park on June 27, 2010. After 15 games in 2011, the Union are in a first place tie in the Eastern Conference with 23 points.
"On behalf of our entire organization we welcome Villanova University into our Union family and are delighted to join forces to bring this event to magnificent PPL Park in November," said Philadelphia Union CEO & Operating Partner Nick Sakiewicz. "We are honored to be building a long term relationship with such a world class university and are very excited about our partnership and the future."
PPL Park Fast Facts
• 40-50 annual events
• Stadium capacity of approximately 18,500 for soccer and 26,000 for concerts
• Natural grass playing surface
• 29 Luxury Suites and an 11,000 square foot full-service club restaurant
• State-of-the-art LED signage and innovative experiential zones
• Sideline roofs providing protection from the elements
• Expansive grass areas and large promenades surrounding the stadium for tailgating
