Soccer official: Security sufficient at Chester stadium

Union soccer officials said they plan no additional security, beyond what was already scheduled to be in place, for the team's first-ever game this Sunday at PPL Park in Chester.

"As with any major event, when you bring 20,000 people to one area, you want to have sufficient security," said Union president, Tom Veit. "None of that's changed because of the state of emergency."

On Saturday, Mayor Wendell N. Butler Jr. declared the state of emergency after the impoverished city was rocked by four homicides in eight days. One of the victims was a toddler.

Butler imposed a curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. in five areas of the city where violence has flared and ordered increased police patrols. On Wednesday, he will ask the City Council to extend the emergency order for 30 days.

The Union's president, Tom Veit, said the team has been in close contact with Chester city officials, including the mayor. He praised the city government for acting decisively.

The state of emergency is directed at specific areas in the city, Veit noted, none of them near the stadium. Similar situations have occurred in other cities, he said, and sports fans still attended and enjoyed the games.

The Union are to host the Seattle Sounders at the new stadium, located on the city waterfront just south of the Commodore Barry Bridge. The stadium site is separated from the city proper by Seaport Drive and by highway 291, also called West Second St. The game at the 18,500-seat stadium is sold out, though a small number of single-game tickets could be released later this week.

The Union staff, along with a couple thousand construction workers, have been working at the stadium for two years without incident, Veit said.

"Did we anticipate there would be a state of emergency our first game? Probably not. We knew there would be challenges. . . . At any major sporting event, any place you go, there are challenges."