The loyal soccer fanatics known as the Sons of Ben have been waiting a long time for Major League Soccer to arrive in Philly.

They’re getting their wish this year.

But they’re going to have to wait a little longer to watch their new team play in the swank new stadium that is being built in the shadows of the Commodore Barry Bridge in Chester. The first game played there won’t come until Week 11 of the MLS season on June 27.

The MLS’ newest franchise, the Philadelphia Union, will kick off the league’s 2010 season on the road in Seattle on March 25.

They better get used to traveling.

The Union actually will play eight of their first 10 games on the road, and 10 of their first 12.

That is no doubt in part because their stadium is still being built.

The Union will play two home games at Lincoln Financial Field before moving down I-95 to Chester.

They will play D.C. United on April10 and FC Dallas on May 15.

The first game on the Chester waterfront will be June 27 at 5 p.m. when the Union host the Seattle Sounders at what looks will be called PPL Park. The team is in the process of negotiating naming rights for the stadium with the Allentown-based energy group.

“It’s a challenge,” admitted Union President Tom Veit of the start of the season with all those games on the road. “But we have a team manager that knows all about how to handle challenges,” Veit said, referring to Peter Nowak, the veteran soccer guru running things for the Union.

Look at the bright side, the tail end of the season, in summer and through the fall, is loaded with home games.

In the meantime, the Union might want to consider a name change.

How about Road Warriors.