Hello, Delaware, Philadelphia, and the neighboring communities! Today marks the second most thrilling day for the Eagles fans – with hopefully a less stressful undercurrent than Sunday. We’re celebrating the Eagles Super Bowl Parade Day! Preparations for the major event started earlier this week with the city getting ready with fences and makeshift restrooms. The estimation rounds that over a million fervid fans will throng the city’s streets, a grim testament to the less edifying spectacles of large public events.
Despite the early buzz and eagerness, the official start of the parade isn’t scheduled until 11 a.m. The parade commences from the intersection of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue in South Philadelphia. The procession then travels north on Broad Street, aiming to culminate at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway between 12:30 and 1 p.m. The formal ceremony is set to burst into life at 2 p.m. at the foot of the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps, planning to wind up around 3:15 p.m.
Excitement was ticking high for Teddy Warren and his nephew, Desmond who were up early and had their bus parallel parked at Walnut and Broad Streets by 8:30 a.m. A scene symbolizing the overly eager fans at the whimsical event. They even placed cones in the spot next to the Doubletree at 3:30 a.m, where most of their tailgating family members have huddled. It’s vaguely amusing how a parked car and a Philly garbage truck made room for their robust bus.
Fifteen years of enthusiastic attendance at Eagles games have warped Teddy’s perspectives into ludicrous proportions, it seems. His bus purchase gambit occurred three years into his fandom journey as he and his wife wanted exclusive restroom privileges. Ever since then tailgates have become routine family affairs, bringing in more and more people they meet at games.
However, disparity arises in their culinary choices. While most fans stick to conventional food choices, Teddy and Desmond opt to serve lobster tail, steaks, and lamb chops. ‘We never just do burgers and hot dogs,’ proclaimed Desmond, a statement seemingly meant to distinguish them from common fans and their crude sustenance.
Yes, they have a bus that is yearning for a few upgrades. Including a fresh Super Bowl decal and the famous Saquon Barkley reverse hurdle. ‘It brings us closer,’ Desmond professed on their preposterous rituals, ‘On Sunday, no matter what, we’re cooking, we’re together.’ Indeed, a poignant take on expensive bonding rituals.
To include as many wave and desperate fans as possible, the parade route brims with jumbotrons for sound amplification. The event showed a shred of sensitivity as American Sign Language translators will take the stage during the broadcasted speaking portions. It’s a nod to inclusivity, or perhaps a more cynical ploy to appear inclusive, as space on the south side of Eakins Oval is designated for wheelchairs and ADA accessibility, but proportions remain finite and privileges will be handed out in a first-come-first-served manner.
The parade even informed the paratransit drop-off locations: 2300 Pennsylvania Ave. and 20th and Spring Garden streets. However, despite the city’s half-hearted attempts at inclusivity, it echoes shallow against the orchestrated hoopla.
Amid the flowing sea of people, Jade Beasley, 26, and Lauren Burns, 25 from Conshohocken, Pennsylvania rolled out of their hotel beds in Chinatown at an ungodly 4:30 to secure a good view of the parade. Their preparation, consisting of snacks, coffee, and ‘liquid pride,’ seemed to them an ample fortification against the day. Both of them had simplistic motivations with their excitement anchored upon the player ‘Jalen’.
Aarathi Kallur, 24 and Sidhart Sathya, 25, both from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania echoed similar sentiments. They missed out on the 2018 parade but expressed that the victories tasted sweeter this time. ‘Since that Super Bowl, I’ve become so much more invested in this team,’ sighed Sathya, ‘It feels much more personal to me.’ A sentiment that encapsulates the hypnotic influence of team sports.
Reggie Laster, a 55-year-old fan, and Madison Laster, his 21-year-old daughter negotiated their way out of Middletown, ready to plunge into the chaos between Race and Vine Streets in Center City, a site perched on the latter half of the parade route. Despite all the season’s criticisms, the fandom remains undeterred and claimed the Super Bowl win as a form of vindication.
Christian Leamy, a native of New Castle, embarked on a daunting journey from his current home in Alaska to join the festivities. Along with his 15-year-old nephew Owen Davis from Buckeye, Arizona, they braved the journey, citing the whole event as the prime attraction more than the individual players. ‘Just hanging with the in the city, just like you said, just electric during that time period. It’s just so much fun. It’s just something I couldn’t miss,’ Leamy pointed out, underlining the curious, mass hypnotic appeal of sports-centered festivities.
Finally, for those considering tagging along, selecting your viewing spot will depend on your comfort level with large crowds, your ability to withstand the cold, and your tolerance for unruly behavior. Faint-hearted should gamble on the southern part of the route for fewer crowds. As you inch closer to the museum, the crowds mushroom, and your chances to snatch a good view dwindle. The event will have jumbotrons installed along the route, a nod to those wanting to avoid the dreadful crowds.