There’s talk of a Subaru Park expansion to let more people in at the Chester Stadium, writes David Asch for KYW.

The Philadelphia Union’s growing popularity means that major league soccer’s fourth smallest stadium could use some more seats.

Currently, the Chester stadium has a seating capacity 18,500, ranking 26^th out of 29 MLS stadiums.

The Philadelphia Union is looking to add premium areas to the stadium first and has asked the architecture firm Gensler to explore expansion options at the riverfront venue.

“[With] the [Lionel] Messi mania that’s kind of sweeping the United States now and the MLS, then you think ahead to a couple of years to the World Cup coming, we expect the interest and the growth in the MLS will continue in a really big way,” said Union President Tim McDermott.

Premium seating would be added in the next few years, then more capacity. Up to nine projects are under consideration.

“We’re only about a couple hundred season ticket holders away from being into a waiting list,” he added, “then as that waiting list would grow, that’s when we would entertain the capacity concept.”

Learn more about soccer’s continued growth and expansion plans at Subaru Park at KYW.