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As COVID-19 restrictions mean Major League Soccer fans will have to watch their favorite players from venues outside the park, Subaru and the Philadelphia Union is using those empty stadium seats for a greater good—to find homes for adoptable dogs!
Subaru of America and the MLS organization, the Philadelphia Union, will soon host their first-ever home game at the newly renamed stadium, Subaru Park, on August 25, 2020.
In light of the ongoing implications of COVID-19, fan attendance has gone to the dogs, with Subaru and the Union hosting the first Subaru Park home game with a unique and different cheering section in the stands.
Subaru of America, Inc. and the Philadelphia Union today announced that Subaru Park, home of the Union, will provide stadium seating to the likenesses of local adoptable dogs at home games in the 2020 season, starting with the very first home game on Tuesday, August 25. These cardboard cutouts of dogs available for adoptions will temporarily fill in for real-life spectators at the Union’s home opener and very first game played at Subaru Park.
Inspired by the Union’s legendary Sons of Ben team supporter group, the “Dogs of Ben” cutouts will represent a real pup available for adoption in the greater Philadelphia area. Working with local shelters, including the Providence Animal Center, Subaru will fill the stands at midfield with the cardboard four-legged Union fans with the goal of uniting the real-life pups they depict with new owners.
“At Subaru, our love for pets runs as deeply as our love for soccer, and from the onset of our partnership with the Union, we knew we wanted to bring our furry friends out to Subaru Park and bring awareness to adopting shelter pets,” said Alan Bethke, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Subaru of America, Inc. “While home games may look a bit different this year, we hope the Dogs of Ben add some fun to gameday while helping to unite local dogs in the greater Philadelphia area with loving owners.”
“We are thrilled to be hosting the first Philadelphia Union game at Subaru Park on August 25 and to introduce the innovative ways we are incorporating our fans, community, partners, and even adoptable pets into a Union gameday,” said Tim McDermott, President, Philadelphia Union. “As a community-first minded company and alongside our partner Subaru, we will continue to look for ways to help and highlight organizations in need.”
Beginning with the first Philadelphia Union home game on August 25, viewers can spot the Dogs of Ben on partner station PHL17. Those looking to take home a real-life furry Union fan of their own can head to www.philadelphiaunion.com/subaru to learn more.
Subaru and the Union joined forces in February, kickstarting a multi-year stadium naming rights partnership that gave the name Subaru Park to the 18,500-seat sports and events destination and home of the Union. Together, the two companies are committed to supporting the greater Philadelphia community with charitable programs, including the Dogs of Ben program announced today, as an extension of the Subaru Love Promise vision.
Dogs of Ben is a part of the Subaru Loves Pets initiative, which is dedicated to helping improve the safety and well-being of animals in communities nationwide. The automaker’s commitment to pets is one part of its Love Promise company vision. For more information about Subaru Loves Pets, please visit www.subaru.com/pets.
