The Daily Numbers: 50 members of the Sons of Ben who were on hand for a sunrise tailgate party yesterday to mark the groundbreaking for the new soccer stadium in Chester.
2,000 seats in the 18,6340-seat facility that have been reserved for Sons of Ben members.
186 townhouses, 225 apartments, 200,000 square foot convention center, 42,000 square feet of retail space, 435,000 square feet of office space and a 1,350-space parking facility that were all supposed to be part of a $500 economic development along the riverfront. Developers yesterday indicated they may have to adjust some of those numbers in light of the economic downturn.
2 ski-masked bandits armed with shotguns who held up a thrift store in Collingdale.
2.8 percent cost of living increase for state legislators that will be turned down by newly elected Rep. Nick Miccarelli, who will serve the 162nd District. State Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-160, also indicated he will be donating his increase to the Daily Times Merry Christmas Fund, which benefits the Salvation Army.
78,315 bucks a year, what a state rep will make after the COLA increase. That’s up from $76,163.
9 hour standoff between a man suspected in a murder and police outside West Chester yesterday that ended when the suspect took his own life.
35 million dollars in revenue expected to be generated by this weekend’s Army-Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field. That includes 50,000 out-of-town visitors filling 17,000 hotel rooms.
19 billion cards, letters and packages expected to go through the mail this holiday season, according to postal officials. Dec. 20 is the deadline for priority and first-class mail to be delivered by Christmas.
Other key dates: Dec. 11 for anything headed overseas; Dec. 16 for parcel post in the domestic U.S.
900,000 hunters who headed for the hills across the state yesterday to mark the first day of the rifle deer season in Pennsylvania.
55,000 promotional brochures promising free gambling and meals that were mailed out by mistake by the owners of the Holiday Casino at Penn National Race Course near Harrisburg. They were supposed to go only to 1,000 of their best customers.
33 floors, how far a man plunged to his death from the Loews Hotel in center city yesterday morning.
5 percent decline in revenue collections in November in Pa. That makes 7 straight months revenue has been down in the state.
10,000 dollars and 50 video games ripped off by a gunman who hit the Game Stop store in the Parkside section of Philly yesterday.
3 cent decline in cost of gas over the weekend. Average price in the region is now down to $1.98.
4 straight losses for the Sixers, who face Chicago again tonight.
100,000 dollars bail for Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress, who is free while facing gun charges that likely will keep him out of the lineup again Sunday when the Eagles invade the Meadowlands.
0 losses for Villanova men’s hoops team. They put their unblemished mark on the line at the Palestra tonight against Penn.
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Call me a Phanatic: A look at the ups and downs of being a Philadelphia sports fan.Want to know how good the Eagles are, or aren’t? We’ll find out Sunday, when the Birds get their second shot at the Giants. Win and they keep their playoffs alive and salvage a little pride from a disappointing season. Lose and the season is over.
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I Don’t Get It: What is it with athletes and guns? Some apparently believe they need them for self-defense when they’re out in the public.
Ever think about not putting yourself in those kinds of situations?
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Today’s Upper: Kudos to Republican Nick Miccarelli, who won the state House 162nd seat. He’s going to forego his cost of living increase. And to Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-160, who will donate his to the Merry Christmas Fund. Bravo, gentlemen!

Quote Box: “It’s fantastic. It’s really a dream come true, I’m looking forward to coming down to Chester more.
-- Mark Orr, a member of the Sons of Ben soccer booster group from Quakertown, on yesterday’s groundbreaking ceremonies in Chester for new stadium that will be home to the region’s MLS franchise.