A Rooftop Soccer Field is Coming to the Bok Building This Fall Along With an Indoor Field and Retail Store
The Bok Building (1901 S 9th S.) has been a hot spot for foodies looking to grab a bite, some drinks and take in the amazing views. However, come this fall foodies won’t be the only ones flocking to the rooftops. New York-based U90 Soccer Center just announced plans to install a rooftop soccer field on the Bok’s unused 7th floor terrace. (Don’t worry, the bar and Irwin’s will still remain).
The new soccer fields (or Football pitch for the purists out there), are part of an initiative to provide more safe and inviting places for local soccer lovers to engage with the the sport. In addition to the rooftop field, an indoor field will also be installed as well as a soccer retail store where visitors can visitors can not only buy merch but also customize their own. If you need to take a load off from playing soccer, the retail space will also feature a lounge with gaming and TV’s.
The fields themselves will be smaller than a traditional soccer field which is typical for urban fields. The rooftop field will out outfitted with nets to prevent soccer balls from flying into the streets below.
Zac Rubin, executive director of U90 Soccer Center confirmed the details with the Philadelphia Inquirer and added “What I’ve found in speaking to members of the Philadelphia soccer community: There is a significant lack of recreational space in metro Philadelphia, just space for kids, adults, people to play sports of all kinds. So we’re going to look to step into that need.”
The soccer fields will operate the same way as the U90’s New York location where adults will pay to play in the mornings then it will feature children’s programing during the day while the fields will then be open to pickup games from 7 pm until midnight.
Although, the fields will feature a pay to play format Rubin adds the the Bok soccer fields “will utilize grant programs..and work with local sponsors on programming for adults and children, including the K-8 students who attend Southwark School across the street.” states the Inquirer. Rubin also added “We work on a model where we, within reason, never turn somebody away. We try to make the space and the programming we run inclusive in every way.” Also, as you would’ve guessed the soccer retail space will also be open for World Cup watch parties this November.
