If the 2018 photo above stirs memories of Eagles elation, that shoulder-to-shoulder joy on the streets as confetti dropped and the championship green gang rode by to endless and deafening cheers, well, get ready for Super Bowl victory parade, the sequel.
The NFL champs, The Philadelphia Eagles, will be feted with a parade celebration scheduled for Friday, Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day, when fans can show their love for the team that spanked the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.
City officials said in a press conference Tuesday that the parade will kick off at 11 a.m., beginning at Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, near the Birds’ home turf Lincoln Financial Field. The players and team officials, in an open air bus, will proceed north on Broad, pass City Hall and Love Park with the procession culminating in a celebratory program in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Jumbo screens will be placed along the route. Players will descend the steps of the museum, between 12:30 and 1 p.m., and the program will start at about 2 p.m.
Fans making their way to the celebration can be sure that roads will be closed, parking will be restricted and somebody other than Philadelphia police officers will be blowing the whistle. Employers probably should get ready for suspicious calls from workers saying things such as “My car broke down,” “My babysitter didn’t show up,” or “My grandmother’s in the hospital.”
The Eagles 40-22 victory set off days-long celebrations among fans who cheered in bars, restaurants and at Super Bowl parties at home and then poured out onto the streets to share the joy. Then, they flooded athletic stores to pick up their championship gear to show their Eagles and city pride and get wardrobe-ready for Friday’s parade.
The celebration was delayed until later in the week because of forecasts that predicted inclement weather on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, according to Eagles president Don Smolenski, who confirmed the Friday date and discussed the parade during an interview Monday on 94 WIP. Before the interview, the Eagles had posted a video on social media hinting at a Friday celebration. “See ya Friday” the message said, along with a video of Broad Street narrated by actor Bradley Cooper. “At 13 miles, Broad Street is Philadelphia’s longest straightaway,” Cooper said. “It may only be 100 feet wide, but we’ll find a way to make room for everyone.”
WHYY contributed to this report.
