Philadelphia is arranging the 2024 Copa America and other soccer games at Lincoln Monetary Field

Dan Hilferty was currently at the center of arranging for the 2026 Planet Cup in Philadelphia as chairman of the neighborhood organizing committee. But his current move to grow to be the new CEO of Comcast-Spectacor has place him even additional in the center of the action.

Comcast is one particular of the most influential sponsors of the neighborhood Planet Cup, and surely the most nicely-recognized name. Comcast-Spectacor is just one particular arm of the organization, whose Television division owns the Spanish-language rights to the 2026 tournament (and this year’s Women’s Planet Cup), as nicely as rights to the English Premier League, the Olympics and the U.S. national team’s household games.

Distinctive branches ordinarily operate alone. But for a thing this huge, there is overlap behind the scenes.

“We discover synergy and [are] we’re figuring out how we can operate closely with FIFA to strengthen the fan expertise,” mentioned Hilferty. “But also, very frankly, to make certain that not only our clients, but Philadelphians in common have the chance to be a element of this terrific occasion.”

How it plays out will be one particular of the greatest neighborhood football stories of the subsequent 3 years. There has currently been a lot of controversy surrounding plans to develop a sports field complicated at FDR Park to serve as a Planet Cup coaching facility that summer time.

A vocal club in South Philadelphia opposes improvement on parkland recognized as the Meadows. A similarly vocal club reacted by noting the lack of recreational sports facilities in the city. Neighborhood officials have attempted to argue that there is space for each.

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Protesters at a meeting in January about plans to develop a sports field complicated at FDR Park.. … Study Much more Jessica Griffin / Employees Photographer

Hilferty did not comment on the subject, even though it was not as well surprising – it was additional dealt with by the City Assembly. But he has been involved in other locations, like a series of current meetings with FIFA on subjects such as hotel capacity.

“They really feel quite superior about our attitude,” Hilferty told FIFA. “Not only with [stadium] internet site, creating sponsorships, but also arranging every thing, from exactly where we will organize the fan fest to exactly where we are with all the hotels.”

The place of the fan festival is one more huge item when it comes to items outdoors the sports complicated, each for locals and out-of-town guests. Penn’s Landing has been the best place for a when, but Hilferty mentioned there is nonetheless no selection.

“It is a dialogue with persons at FIFA and we have not identified a final place at this point,” he mentioned.

The subsequent huge issue on the calendar is earning the proper to host subsequent year’s Copa America, the South American championship tournament that will come to the U.S. as a warm-up for 2026. As the Copa America Centenario did in 2016, it is anticipated to spark interest, and serve as a test drive for the Planet Cup host web sites.

But there is no assure that it will only be played at Planet Cup areas. Cities that came up quick in the bidding could get Cup games as a consolation prize, as could important markets like Phoenix and Chicago that did not bid for Planet Cup games at all. So Philly will have to compete.

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Lincoln Monetary Field hosted games in the 2016 Copa America Centenario and could host games when the tournament returns to the United States subsequent year.. … Study moreCal Sport Media by way of AP Photos

Hilferty mentioned the Planet Cup organizing committee would not be officially involved, but sent a message to the entities that would take the lead.

“I surely hope they are in charge, regardless of whether it is the city, [the] Convention Bureau and Guests Bureau, let’s have a superior shot at that.”

The Eagles will also be heavily involved — and Cup-sized games would undoubtedly be at Lincoln Monetary Field. No matter whether the USA plays right here or not, the crowd will quickly exceed Subaru Park’s 18,500-seat capacity.

“Our area is household to a big and passionate soccer neighborhood,” the Eagles mentioned in a statement. “We will usually be interested in participating in conversations that could lead to bringing globe-class soccer events to Lincoln Monetary Field for these fans to delight in.”

When the Planet Cup committee may possibly not be officially involved in the arranging of the Copa America, Hilferty knows that every person in the city shares the duty of organizing the occasion right here just before 2026. Linz has not hosted a important soccer match due to the fact August 2019, when the American females came to town immediately after the Planet Cup and attracted is almost 50,000 fans — the biggest crowd for a stand-alone friendly in group history.

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The US women’s national soccer group drew 49,504 fans to Lincoln Monetary Field for a game there in 2019.. … Study moreMitchell Leff / Getty Photos

The pandemic was naturally a element, but 3 and a half years is a lengthy sufficient wait. European teams will return to the US for tours this summer time, and the Concacaf Men’s Gold Cup will also be held.

Nor has the place for the men’s Nations League final 4 been set however. It is an occasion exactly where the U.S. will most likely play European stars like Medford’s Brenden Aaronson and Downingtown’s Zack Steffen so they can take the summer time off. They have not played in Linz just before, and it is uncomplicated to think about them receiving a stormy reception.

“If it is international events, if it is neighborhood events like the Unity Cup, to perhaps get some [English Premier League] teams to come and play [here], we’re seeking at all sorts of possibilities,” Hilferty mentioned. “Obviously the city is involved, the Convention and Guests Bureau is involved, the Eagles are involved, the Union is involved. That is why we continue to appear for techniques to strengthen the game by inviting premier teams to play right here – males and females.”

Final week, Hilferty was one particular of the guests of honor at the Union’s annual Legends of Football fundraising dinner for the team’s charitable foundation. The occasion raised additional than $282,000.

“We are all quite proud of the Philadelphia Union, [what] The Philadelphia Union Foundation does for our terrific neighborhood in Chester and beyond,” he mentioned.

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Dan Hilferty (left) with Union co-owner Richard Leibovitch on stage at the Union Foundation’s Legends of Soccer Gala.. … Study additional Jonathan Tannenwald / Employees