A lot is riding on a new Philadelphia-area MLS stadium, besides what's happening on the pitch: the new facility will be the first part of the redevelopment of a brownfield area.

The area of Chester along the Delaware River where the $155-million stadium is planned has been designated by the state as a brownfield area; that is, it will receive special state attention and funding as part of a Brownfield Action Project.

"This comprehensive mix of recreational, residential and commercial development will bring new jobs and tax revenues to a city that has struggled for decades, and will provide a tremendous opportunity to reconnect the surrounding neighborhood with the waterfront," said Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Acting Secretary John Hanger said in a statement. "The stadium will be a catalyst for future waterfront development in Chester."

The stadium is slated to seat 18,500 and be open for the 2010 season. It's part of a $400-million redevelopment, now given special status by the state.

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