On this episode of the SeventySix Capital Sports Leadership Show - College Sports Edition, Wayne Kimmel interviewed the President of the Philadelphia Union, Tim McDermott.
McDermott is President of the Philadelphia Union and Union Sports & Entertainment and oversees all club business operations for the Philadelphia Union, Philadelphia Union II, Philadelphia Union Academy, as well as the Union’s campus master plan and development project which includes the Union Power Plant, Subaru Park, and the construction of the WSFS Bank Sportsplex. Since joining the Union in 2016, McDermott’s efforts have been focused on increasing the brand strength, fan base, and revenue opportunities as well as a continued commitment to growing soccer and making a positive impact on the community.
Under his oversight, the Union reached many milestones ahead of the 2023 season including the highest partnership revenues and largest season-ticket base all-time, historical highs in television ratings, social engagement and earned media coverage.
In 2023, McDermott put further action into his commitment to revitalize the Chester waterfront as construction on the WSFS Bank Sportsplex began, a project that culminated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony in July 2025. With his vision coming to fruition, the building of the sportsplex lends opportunities for growth in tourism, job creation, and economic impact as well as a safe space for community members to gather. Additionally, working with the greater vision of the club in mind, the sportsplex will further the Union’s overall commitment to youth development and pathway to the pros as it brought all the Union’s teams to one campus.
Tim McDermott:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timmcdermott2/
X: https://x.com/TimMcDermott6
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timmcdermott6/
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Tim McDermott and Philadelphia Union
01:30 Youth Development and Academy Success
06:39 The Unique Position of MLS in Youth Sports
11:12 Preparing for the World Cup 2026
14:57 Business Opportunities and Challenges Ahead
19:19 Vision for the Future of MLS
20:16 Innovations in Technology and Fan Experience
23:41 Managing Operations and Growth
31:36 Impact of Media Rights on Fan Engagement