Philadelphia, PA

• Soccer in Philadelphia
• About Lincoln Financial Field
• About Philadelphia, PA

Visit http://thegameisinphiladelphia.com/ to learn more about Philadelphia as a bid city.

The city of brotherly love is known for its sports passion and its love of soccer is constantly growing.

Prior to 2010, Philadelphia was home to the Kixx, who play in the National Indoor Soccer League. But in 2010, Philadelphia had plenty of reason to be excited: after a steady stream of support from local residents, more pro soccer came to the City of Brotherly Love.

This year, top-level men's and women's teams played their first games in Philadelphia. The Independence began play in the Women's Professional Soccer league, and the Philadelphia Union were introduced to MLS. The Union play their games at PPL Park - a new soccer-specific stadium recently built for the team.

Philadelphia is home to many professional soccer players. Bobby Convey has played in England, for the USMNT in the 2006 World Cup, and is currently playing for the San Jose Earthquakes. Midfielder Ben Olsen  - born in nearby Harrisburg - has made thirty-seven appearances for the USMNT.

The Philadelphia area is home to the Harrisburg City Islanders of USL's Second Division, Pennsylvania Stars of the NPSL and Philadelphia itself will add another NPSL team in 2010.

Completed in 2003, Lincoln Financial Field is located in South Philadelphia on Pattison Avenue between 11th and 10th Streets.

With a seating capacity of 67,594, the stadium has played host to the Philadelphia Eagles (NFL) since 2003 and the Temple Owls (MAC) since 2003.

In addition, the stadium hosted matches during the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup, a 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinal match between the United States and Panama that attracted 31,087 spectators, and the 2004 and 2005 NFC Championship Games.

Lincoln Financial Field is served by SEPTA Broad Street Subway Line.

Philadelphia is known for its big-city excitement and neighborhood charm.

The second-largest city on the East Coast, it is at the center of the Northeast Corridor and within a day's-drive of 40 percent of the U.S. population.

Made famous as the birthplace of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," Philadelphia's strength lies in its unlikely convergence of historic and cultural attractions, hip neighborhoods, substantial outdoor spaces, and world-class sporting events, all merging to create a truly dynamic urban destination.

Visitors relive history in "America's most historic square mile," Independence National Historical Park, home to the Liberty Bell, the National Constitution Center, Independence Hall, and the President's House (a recently discovered architectural footprint of George Washington's presidential residence).

In addition, Philadelphia was recently named the number two sports city in the nation by the Sporting News.