Sons of Ben

2016 • 73 minutes

About this movie

Major League Soccer debuted in the United States in 1996 and though Philadelphia is a top five market with storied sports franchises, it was not awarded a team. Ten years later it still didn't have a team so a band of die-hard Philadelphia soccer fans did something crazy: they formed a supporters group fof a team that didn't exist. Naming their group after famous Philadelphia Benjamin Franklin, they called themselves the SONS OF BEN. They had one goal -- bring professional soccer to Philadelphia. Hoping to expand to to 100 members by the end of a year, they soon had 1,500 drum-banging, song-singing followers. Together these Sons of Ben started a movement that helped bring into existence the Philadelphia Union, changing the Philadelphia soccer landscape forever and helping to revive a struggling community abandoned by government, business, and its neighbors.

Ratings and reviews

Great interplay between the struggle to get a team and the personal struggles of the people at the heart of the project. Loved it and provided me with a new found respect for Nick Sakiewicz.

I give this movie 5 stars, even though I have not seen it...yet. As a Galaxy fan, this doc is already inspiring me to make a movie about the Los Angeles Riot Squad...I'm a film major and this is my opportunity!!! Go Galaxy!!!!!

This movie shows the passion behind the supporter led drive to bring a MLS team to the city of Philadelphia. If you are a sports fan (any sport) this is a great documentary about passion overcoming struggle.