February 4, 2018 marked a day in Philadelphia sports history. The Philadelphia Eagles clenched their first Super Bowl Championship, a feat that was decades in the making. Appropriately so, the city of Philadelphia is now gearing to celebrate the world champions, their own The Philadelphia Eagles.
As the Eagles ran out onto the U.S. Bank Stadium field ready to face the New England Patriots, two messages were conveyed. The first was a message of solidarity with Philly native, Meek Mill as they supported him during his controversial imprisonment. Running on the field as Meek Mill’s “Dreams and Nightmares” blasted, the Philadelphia Eagles communicated their second message, they were not finished. As Meek’s line states, “Hold up wait a minute, Y’all thought I was finished,” The Eagles let the Patriots know the underdogs were there to come out on top. The Eagles brought home the Vince Lombardi Trophy following a sensational victory against The Patriots with a score of 41-33.
In honor of the champions, on Thursday February 8, 2018, the City of Philadelphia will celebrate the Eagles with a parade that will begin at Lincoln Financial field at 11am, spanning to the Philadelphia Art Museum. A formal program is slated to begin at 1:00pm.
If planning on travelling to the parade, be aware significant travel delays are expected. There are numerous road closures, detours, parking restrictions and changes to public transit that will occur the day of the parade. Some of the streets that will be closed include:
- Benjamin Franklin Parkway between 16th Street and 20th Street (including Logan Circle)
- 17th Street between Arch Street and Vine Street
- 18th Street between Arch Street and Vine Street
- 19th Street between Arch Street and Vine Street
- Race Street between 20th Street and Logan Circle
- 20th Street between Race Street and Callowhill Street
- Benjamin Franklin Parkway between 20th Street and Eakins Oval (all lanes)
- 21st Street between Spring Garden Street and Winter Street
- Local access to Pennsylvania Avenue only (all traffic must turn left)
- 22nd Street between Spring Garden Street and Race Street
- Local access to Park Towne Place only (residents)
- 23rd Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
- Local access only as conditions allow
- 24th Street between Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Park Towne Place
- Park Towne Place between 22nd Street and 24th Street
- Local access to Park Towne Place only (residents)
- Pennsylvania Avenue/Callowhill Street between 20th Street and 21st Street
- Local access to Barnes Foundation driveway (westbound) only
- Eastbound open from 21st Street
- Spring Garden Street between 22nd Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
- Local access only as conditions allow
- Spring Garden Tunnel
- Waterworks Drive
- I-676 westbound 22nd Street off-ramp
- 2000 Winter Street
- Kelly Drive between Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Strawberry Mansion Drive
- Martin Luther King Drive between Eakins Oval and Montgomery Drive
- Spring Garden Street Bridge at 31st Street
- Anne d’Harnoncourt Drive
- 25th Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Kelly Drive
The City will provide up to date information via text alerts and the City’s Twitter account, PhiladelphiaGov. Residents and visitors should sign up for free parade text alerts by texting “ReadyEagles” to 888-777. In addition to the street closures, public transportation organizations such as SEPTA and PATCO will instate Parade Day Service. For more information regarding travel to the parade utilizing SEPTA please visit http://www.septa.org/eagles/. For information regarding travel to the parade using PATCO, visit http://www.ridepatco.org/news/news.asp?param=2&archive=0&publication=19&pubnumber=3786.
The Eagles’ dream is a reality, while the Patriots are potentially living out their worst nightmare. Fly Eagles Fly.