What The Heart Wants

The Start Of A New Era

ABC 6 Sports were broadcasting a 90-minute pregame show from Urban Outfitters Stadium ahead of Lifetime's coverage of Saturday's match against Orlando. Jamie Apody hosted the station's coverage with Sarah Bloomquist and Jeff Skversky inside the stadium doing interviews with fans, Hearts employees, and others of interest while also giving facts about the stadium and its construction. The Hearts' players began arriving around 2pm, near the start of ABC 6's broadcast. Jamie asked several of them about their feelings ahead of the home opener.

Elizabeth Eddy: This is my third home opener as a pro, with each of them in a different city. I'm excited for the opportunity to take the field in front of these fans. If they bring the noise and passion like they did for our preseason game against Temple, it should be a good day.

Steph Labbe: I didn't play in the match against Temple, so I don't have the experience in this building playing on front of the Heart Beats in the closed end like Sammy Jo and EJ do. I don't think Ashlyn (Harris, Orlando captain and goalkeeper) is prepared for what they can possibly do to an unsuspecting visiting goalkeeper.

Jen Hoy: You dream of walking out on the field and playing in front of your hometown fans. Today, that dream will become a reality for me, I hope.

At 2:30pm, the gates were opened and, in short order, the stands began filling. Both teams came out onto the field at 3pm to begin warm-ups. Sarah interviewed Lori Lindsey, former Independence midfielder and color commentator for today's game on Lifetime, before Jeff read off a list of facts about Urban Outfitters Stadium.

* Built on the grounds of the old JFK Memorial Stadium, US venue for Live Aid in 1985.

* Design is based on JFK's layout, with a horseshoe seating formation around most of the field and the north end of the stadium having a standard bleacher-style set-up.

* Capacity is 19,148.

* Constructed for $28 million and built in 10 months.

* Host of the 2018 NWSL All-Star Game and on the short list for a US Women's National Team friendly ahead of World Cup qualifying November 3-18 in Detroit.

After a short interview of Bill Palladino, Brian O'Hara, and Jason Dambach (plus Addie), Sarah sent the broadcast back to Jamie for some final words.

***

Dalen Cuff (voiceover): Today, the newest team in the NWSL hosts its first match. For the Philadelphia Hearts, this day has been a long time in coming. From their first selection in the expansion draft on November 3rd, everything Wendy Gebauer Palladino and Erica Dambach have done has been targeted with today in mind. On the other side stands the Orlando Pride, semifinalists in last year's NWSL playoffs and a team chosen by several to go a step further this year and play for the league title in Vancouver on October 13th. The Hearts and the Pride, next on Lifetime.

Following the opening montage, Dalen began speaking again.

Dalen: Welcome to Lifetime's coverage of the NWSL. From a sold-out Urban Outfitters Stadium in Philadelphia comes the first-ever home match for the newest member of the league, with the Philadelphia Hearts taking on the Orlando Pride. Good afternoon, I'm Dalen Cuff. When the schedule makers decided to have Orlando be the first opponent for the Hearts in their new stadium, it must have seemed like irony to Philly general manager Wendy Gebauer Palladino. The team's first player and captain, Ali Krieger, was an NWSL First XI selection last season playing for the Pride, but was chosen by the Hearts in the expansion draft. Let me bring in the newest addition to the Lifetime Sports family, former US National Team and Philadelphia Independence midfielder, Lori Lindsey. Lori, explain to our viewers the thoughts going through the Hearts' players' heads as they prepare to debut as part of this expansion team.