MLS All-Star Game at PPL Park?

WHILE PPL PARK is in the running to host the 2012 MLS All-Star Game, the decision to award the stadium hosting rights has not been etched in stone, contrary to a recent Internet report that the Union already won the bid.

The Union-centric soccer blog "Broad Street Hooligans" claimed (and then retracted, somewhat) that someone connected to the stadium witnessed a cellphone text to a Union official that the club was awarded the match, to be played on Aug. 1.

But nothing is official, according to Union CEO and managing partner Nick Sakiewicz.

While the team is lobbying to host the annual midsummer game, Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber has yet to notify Sakiewicz of a final decision.

Other candidates include the expansion Montreal Impact's Saputo Stadium, Sporting Kansas City's Livestrong Park, and the Vancouver Whitecaps' newly remodeled BC Place.

Furthermore, a league representative told the Daily News that an announcement regarding specifics for the game is "yet to be determined" and that "it probably wouldn't be [made] until early February."

That is not only because the host club is undetermined, but also because the ideal date and time for broadcast rights holder ESPN also aren't finalized.

"We have certainly made it known to the commissioner our extreme interest in hosting the event here in Philadelphia, but we are still waiting to hear back," Sakiewicz said from Florida, where he attended the MLS combine.

Sakiewicz said he did speak with Garber, who is also at the Combine, but only informally.

"I've spoken with the commissioner, but there has been no official announcement from the league to our organization that we won hosting rights," Sakiewicz said.

One major stipulation this season is Garber's desire to have the game hosted in a soccer specific stadium. That would eliminate Lincoln Financial Field.

PPL Park officially seats 18,500, but has a capacity of about 22,000 when counting standing-room space on the upper concourses.

Also, last year's game was at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J., so MLS might want to take the game somewhere farther west this year.

But that hasn't swayed Sakiewicz one bit.

"We are very confident that PPL Park would be a great venue for the All-Star Game," Sakewicz said. "It's something personally that I want to come to our building, I think it would be great for our city, and I know our fans would really take to it. But right now we are still waiting just like everyone else to see which way the league decides."