Updated February 2025 after the PLL confirmed 2025 tour stops.
Last August I was biting into a (slightly soggy) cheesesteak on South Street when a kid in an orange-and-navy jersey sprinted past yelling, “Let’s go Archers!”—right there it hit me: the club finally feels like Philadelphia’s own. Yes, the Premier Lacrosse League still travels from city to city, but since 2024 the Archers have planted their flag in Philly. Here’s how that happened, why it matters, and what the fan scene looks like now.
Quick Answer for the Impatient
Home City: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Birth Year: 2019 (one of the PLL’s six original teams).
Home Venue for City Weekend: Subaru Park in Chester—right on the Delaware River, twenty minutes from Center City if traffic behaves.
From “Touring Team” to Philly Pride
When the PLL launched in 2019 every club shared a rolling schedule—no fixed hometowns, just week-to-week tour stops. It was fun, but fans kept asking, “Whose jersey am I actually repping?” League bosses listened. In late 2023 they assigned each club a city; the Archers drew Philadelphia, thanks to decades of local high-school and college lacrosse culture.
Timeline at a Glance
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2019 | Archers LC debut; Will Manny scores first-ever franchise goal. |
| 2020 | Pandemic “bubble” season in Utah—club reaches quarterfinals. |
| 2023 | Archers finish 8-2 and snag the PLL Championship. |
| 2024 | Assigned Philadelphia as official home city; first “Philly Weekend” sells out lower bowl at Subaru Park. |
| 2025 | Roster tweaks aim to repeat title run—rookie Connor Shellenberger signs a multi-year deal. |
Why Philadelphia? Three Fast Reasons
- College Hotbed: Penn, Drexel, Villanova, Saint Joseph’s—talent pipelines everywhere.
- Youth Numbers: Local rec leagues report 18 % growth since 2021. My cousin’s U10 team had to split into two squads last fall.
- Pro-Sports Appetite: Eagles and Sixers fans already own “loud and loyal;” Archers games tap that vibe (with fewer f-bombs—usually).
Fan Experience: What Game Day Feels Like
Picture tailgates that smell like soft pretzels and portable grills, a live DJ mixing Meek Mill, and orange foam arrows waving above the crowd. Tickets start around $25, so families show up big. One usher told me he’d never scanned so many youth-league jerseys in one afternoon.
Where the Players Live & Work
The league’s part-time model means only a handful of guys stay in Philly year-round:
- Tom Schreiber – Commuter; offseason skills coach in New York.
- Graham Hossack – Splits time between Halifax (NLL) and suburbs of Philly; claims Wawa coffee beats Tim Horton’s (bold).
- Mac O’Keefe – Lives nearby; runs shooting clinics in South Jersey three nights a week.
FAQs in Straightforward Language
Q: Will the Archers ever play a full home-and-away schedule like other pro leagues?
A: Not yet. The PLL keeps its touring model but adds one “home weekend” in each club’s city.
Q: Do Archers tickets cost more now that they have a home base?
A: Prices went up a few bucks (supply–demand, right?) but still sit under most MLS seats.
Q: Is there a supporters’ group?
A: Yep—Arrowheads. They tailgate in Lot C, bang a drum after every two-pointer, and accept newcomers with high-fives.
Bottom Line & Your Turn
The Archers call Philadelphia home, but their spirit still travels nationwide with the PLL caravan. If you love fast sticks, sharp passing, and the occasional 100 mph two-bomb, catch a game—whether in Chester or on TV.
Been to a Philly weekend? Have a tailgate tip (best hoagie vendor, secret parking spot)? Drop it in the comments. I’ll be sampling suggestions next time the orange arrows fly.
