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Through experience or reputation, Philadelphia is known to fans as one of the best sports cities in the nation.
Baseball’s Phillies and football’s Eagles date back to the origins of their leagues. Basketball’s 76ers and hockey’s Flyers achieved marquee status through early and continued success. And soccer’s Union seamlessly joined just this century.
Uniforms with “Philadelphia” on the front have featured names of the best to ever play on the back like Schmidt, Chamberlain, Clarke, Bednarik, Carlton, Dawkins and Iverson.
The history and prestige of Philadelphia’s teams are exceeded only by the passion and fervor of their ardent fans. A connection exists deeper than mere fandom, more a true investment in the teams, “we” win or lose, not “they.” That bond can best be summed up in the words of former Flyers coach Fred Shero, “Win today and walk together forever.”
Those fans congregate at the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, where the four top major teams all play. (The Union play in nearby Chester.) Citizens Bank Park is one of the most beautiful in baseball, intimidating Lincoln Financial Field has sold out every game for the last 25 years and Wells Fargo Center echoes the intensity transferred from the legendary Spectrum. Each venue has its own character, and is a perfect place to cheer (or boo, when warranted) while enjoying great food, beer, friendships and an unmatched atmosphere.
Major leagues are just the start. Philadelphia also is a college basketball hotspot, a hotbed for boxing, golf and running and where many smaller leagues have found success. And spectators from across the nation converge on Philly for annual events like the Penn Relays, the Army–Navy Game and the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta.
Here is a primer on everything you need to know about sports in Greater Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Phillies (Major League Baseball)
The oldest pro sports franchise in the city is the Philadelphia Phillies, founded in 1883.
The team has captured two World Series titles — in 1980 and 2008 — and eight National League pennants.
Some of baseball’s greatest have taken the field for “The Fightin’ Phils,” including Robin Roberts and Rich Ashburn from the 1950s era, Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton from the ’70s and ’80s, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley from the 2000s, and recent stars like Bryce Harper and Aaron Nola.
Citizens Bank Park — Photo courtesy Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies have played at gorgeous Citizens Bank Park since 2004, moving from iconic Veterans Stadium.
The cozy ballpark holds 43,000 fans with views of the Center City skyline over the outfield wall. Ashburn Alley, a concessions corridor behind centerfield, features numerous food stands (check out Bull’s BBQ, Chickie’s & Pete’s, Federal Donuts and plenty of cheesesteaks), an interactive kids play area, the Phillies Wall of Fame, a merch store, rooftop bleachers and an intimate view directly into the visiting bullpen. Full-service restaurant pubs include Harry The K’s and Pass & Stow.
Phillie Phanatic — Photo courtesy the Philadelphia Phillies
The fans, attired in red or maroon, are among the most impassioned and involved in sports. The atmosphere at “The Bank” is loud, enthusiastic and intimidating to opponents, and many players choose to come play for the Phillies because of it.
The team also features arguably the best mascot in baseball, the Phillie Phanatic, a large friendly green birdlike creature designed by an alumni of Jim Henson’s Muppet shop.
Philadelphia Eagles (National Football League)
Whether clad in midnight or Kelly green, the Philadelphia Eagles are one of the most recognized football franchises in the world.
Founded in 1933, the team owns 15 division titles, five conference championships, three NFL titles and a Super Bowl victory in 2017.
With a lengthy list of greats including Chuck Bednarik, Reggie White, Donovan McNabb, Brian Dawkins, Steve Van Buren, Jason Kelce and Brandon Graham, “the Birds” have been consistently successful over much of their existence.
Eagles’ fans have earned a reputation that exceeds the reality (but only a little), best described as fervently loyal. (See: the tired story of targeting a raggedy Santa with snowballs.)
“Go Birds” is as common a greeting in Philly as hey or “yo.” The atmosphere at Lincoln Financial Field (opened in 2003) is raucous, but all in good fun. Each home game weekend, there are few better experiences in the NFL (even when boos ring out from time to time). Arrive in Eagles gear and cheer along. Arrive in a Cowboys or Giants jersey and prepare for friendly ribbing and razzing.
Lincoln Financial Field — Photo courtesy Philadelphia Eagles
Experiencing an Eagles game at “The Linc” is overwhelming in the best way. The stadium holds nearly 68,000 fans, and has sold out every home game since 1999. Among over 60 concession stands are Zac’s Burgers, Tony Luke’s, Chickie’s & Pete’s, and the Quick & Carmichael.
Two recent major motion pictures have featured the Eagles, Invincible, the story of walk-on Vince Papale, and Silver Linings Playbook starring Philly’s own Bradley Cooper.
Philadelphia 76ers (National Basketball Association)
1-2-3-4-5-76ers. Play the song when the Sixers post a win.
The 76ers moved to Philadelphia in 1963 after two decades as the Syracuse Nationals. It didn’t take long to win their first title in Philly in 1967, adding a second in 1983, along with four more Eastern Conference championships.
Wells Fargo Center — Photo by Visit Philadelphia
Over the years, many of the league’s best have called Philly home, like Wilt Chamberlain, Charles Barkley, Moses Malone, Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Allen Iverson and Joel Embiid.
Sixers’ fans are passionate and knowledgeable in a positive and celebratory atmosphere. Games at the Wells Fargo Center are always full of entertainment, from the tradition of having a local celebrity or newsmaker ring a replica Liberty Bell for luck before games to the playing of that funky theme song after a victory and everything in-between, like post-game concerts and the Sixers Dream Team Dancers. Famous superfans — Meek Mill and Kevin Hart to M. Night Shyamalan and Will & Jada Pinkett Smith — sit regularly at courtside, high-fiving with “regular” fans.
Check out some of Wells Fargo Center’s top amenities in the section about their Flyers co-tenants below.
Philadelphia Flyers (National Hockey League)
The iconic Flying-P logo of the Philadelphia Flyers has remained unchanged since the team’s expansion debut in 1967.
It took just seven seasons for Bobby Clarke, Bernie Parent and the “Broad Street Bullies” to capture their first Stanley Cup in 1974, repeating a year later. The team reached the Final six more times over the next four decades, including three appearances in the 1980s, again in 1997 led by Hall of Famer Eric Lindros and a Cinderella run in 2010.
The team even nudged the course of the Cold War with an underdog victory over the Soviet Central Red Army team in 1976.
— Photo by Visit Philadelphia
The environment at the Wells Fargo Center is loud and persistent. The crowd, many decked in orange and black jerseys bearing their favorite childhood skater on the reverse, is known for its high “hockey IQ.” Fans are ready to erupt the moment a goal is scored (or a scrum breaks out), but just as pumped for a great pass or monster save.
The team’s profile was raised exponentially in 2018 with the introduction of their now-world-famous giant orange mascot, Gritty, who has become a media (and internet) darling.
For both Flyers and 76ers games, there’s plenty of fun and food available throughout Wells Fargo Center before and during games. The arena, opened in 1996, boasts over 40 options for food and drink, including Federal Donuts, Shake Shack, Chickie’s & Pete’s and Marc Vetri’s MVP, plus restaurants such as Garces Eats, Launch Test Kitchen and Stephen Starr’s Adrian, and full-service bars like Clarkie’s & Chamberlain’s, The Center Bar and whiskey spot Showplace Bar.
Other features include a 6,600-square-foot 4K LED center-hung scoreboard (that can spout fire), the Gritty C.O.M.M.A.N.D Center for kids and a rage room known as the Disassembly Room.
Philadelphia Union (Major League Soccer)
The Philadelphia Union have been thrilling soccer fans since 2010, including capturing the 2020 Supporters’ Shield for best regular season record, three U.S. Open Cup finals appearances and a run to the MLS championship match in 2022.
Subaru Park — Photo courtesy the Philadelphia Union
Some of the sport’s top players have taken the pitch for the Union, including Andre Blake, Sébastien Le Toux, Alejandro Bedoya, Dániel Gazdag and Ilsinho.
Stunning soccer-specific Subaru Park in Chester has hosted matches since the Union’s debut season. The crowd brings together the liveliness of European soccer and the ardor of Philly fans. The stadium holds nearly 20,000, led by the friendly but rowdy Sons of Ben supporters’ group who enjoy their own private entrance leading to a 2,000-seat dedicated cheering section known as The River End.
The marquee feature of the stadium is the impressive views of the Commodore Barry Bridge, which soars above the site, and the Delaware River below. Sideline stands are covered by cantilevered roofs designed to protect fans from the elements without obstructing the view.
Concessions include favorites like cheesesteaks from Philip’s Steaks, soft pretzels shaped like the Union’s logo and local craft beer. Fans gather outside in Subaru Plaza for pregame parties, pet adoption events, a pop-up bar and a community produce garden.
NCAA College Basketball
For a century, Philadelphia has been a hotbed for college basketball, led by its seven-decade old informal league of area college programs known as the Big 5.
Founded in 1955, the association consists of the city’s six Division I-A schools — the Villanova Wildcats, Temple Owls, Penn Quakers, LaSalle Explorers, St. Joseph’s Hawks and Drexel Dragons — who compete for the annual title of Big 5 champions based on head-to-head matchups.
In all, the six schools have garnered four NCAA National Championships and four NIT titles while producing stars like Kyle Lowry, Jameer Nelson, Aaron McKie, Malik Rose, Tom Gola, Jerome Allen, Guy Rodgers, Lionel Simmons and Mark Macon.
The Big 5 has also awarded a women’s champion since 1980. Three more area schools compete in NCAA Division II basketball: the Thomas Jefferson Rams, Holy Family Tigers and Chestnut Hill Griffins.
— Photo by G. Carroccio
The Palestra in West Philadelphia, which dates back to 1927, is known as the “Cathedral of College Basketball.” It’s Penn’s home arena (and was the traditional home to the Big 5), as well as the site of the first-ever NCAA Tournament Final, and has hosted more regular season men’s games than any arena in America.
St. Joe’s plays at Hagan Arena, with LaSalle at Tom Gola Arena, Temple at The Liacouras Center and Drexel at Daskalakis Athletic Center. Villanova hosts most games on campus at Finneran Pavilion, with bigger matchups at the Wells Fargo Center (which also hosts a new annual Big 5 tournament).
As big sports leagues take center stage, Philadelphia has long been friendly to smaller leagues and lesser-known sports. Tickets are affordable with better seats, a family-friendly atmosphere and non-stop action.
Philadelphia Wings (National Lacrosse League)
Indoor lacrosse teams named the Philadelphia Wings date back to the 1970s, including the version that captured six championships between 1989 and 2001.
The current Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League have played at Wells Fargo Center since 2018. Games are filled with continuous play, tons of scoring, non-stop music and hype, kid-friendly activities, and tons of giveaways.
— Photo courtesy Philadelphia Wings
Philadelphia Waterdogs, Premier Lacrosse League
The city’s newest team is the Philadelphia Waterdogs of the Premier Lacrosse League, professional college-style field lacrosse.
Founded in 2020, the team was awarded to Philly in 2024, playing select home games at Villanova Stadium and Subaru Park, where the team won the league title in 2022 and reached the semifinals in 2023.
Philadelphia Phoenix, Ultimate Frisbee Association
The Philadelphia Phoenix play in the Ultimate Frisbee Association. Informally known as Frisbee football, the sport is similar to football in that teams toss a disc player to player downfield with the goal of scoring in an endzone. The Phoenix, founded in 2013, will split their home games between Turf Field at Neumann University in Aston and the James Ramp Memorial Recreation Center in Pennypack Park starting in 2024.
The Philadelphia area is also an important stronghold for fans of individual (non-team) sports from tennis to billiards to skating, but is most well-known for its golf and boxing history, events and figures.
PGA and LPGA Golf Tournaments
The Philadelphia region is home to two of golf’s premier professional courses.
Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square and Ardmore’s Merion Golf Club (both in Delaware County) have both held numerous PGA and LPGA championship events over their histories.
Aronimink Golf Club, founded in 1896, has hosted many prestigious events including the 1962 PGA Championship, the 2020 Women’s PGA Championship, and the 2023 Senior PGA Championship, and will be site of the 2026 PGA Championship, in conjunction with the nation’s semiquincentennial.
Merion Golf Club opened the same year as Aronimink, with a resume just as impressive. The course hosted the U.S. Open on five occasions (including 1930, when Bobby Jones’ victory clinched the first-ever Grand Slam), with three more scheduled in 2030, 2040 and 2050, along with the U.S. Women’s Open in 2034 and 2046.
Philly Boxing History
The most famous boxer from Philadelphia, Rocky Balboa, didn’t exist off the silver screen, but the city has a long and significant history of producing real-life champions and holding prominent events.
Any discussion about boxing in Philly starts with “Smokin’ Joe” Frazier. One of the greatest of all time, Frazier took heavyweight gold at the 1964 Olympics, held the heavyweight title from 1968 to 1973 and defeated by Muhammad Ali in “The Fight of the Century” in 1971. The building from which he ran his gym from 1975 until his death in 2011 can still be seen North Philly.
Other prominent Philadelphia-born or bred boxers include former world champions Bernard Hopkins, Danny Garcia, Meldrick Taylor, Buster Drayton and Tyrell Biggs.
The nearly 40-year-old sports hall in South Philly now known as 2300 Arena had been named “Venue of the Year” by ESPN2 boxing. Several boxing events are also contested at Parx Casino & Racing in Bensalem, Temple’s Liacouras Center and other sites.
Philadelphia is also home to a number of key national events and tournaments which return annually.
These events bring nationwide attention to Philly and create a deep connection between the city, the athletes who travel to compete and the fans who make the pilgrimage.
College Football: Army–Navy Game
About halfway between West Point and Annapolis, Philadelphia was a natural choice to host the college football’s annual Army–Navy Game, which it has done 90 out of 125 times.
The rivalry matchup between the U.S. Military Academy Black Knights and U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen has been hosted at JFK Stadium, Franklin Field, Veterans Stadium and now Lincoln Financial Field.
Spectators experience constant cheers of “Beat Navy” and “Beat Army,” traditions like the friendly “prisoner exchange,” the National Anthem and alma maters performed by academy choirs and bands and regular attendance by the President of the United States. (The Army–Navy Game is currently rotating sites and returns to Philadelphia in 2027.)
Thoroughbred Racing: Pennsylvania Derby and Cotillion Handicap
There are only about 100 Grade 1 thoroughbred races contested in the U.S. each year, and two are held at Bensalem’s Parx Casino & Racing.
Run since 1969 and 1979 respectively, the million-dollar-each Cotillion Handicap and Pennsylvania Derby (“The Kentucky Derby of the North”) are important Breeders’ Cup preludes. Top jockeys including Mike Smith, Gary Stevens, Ángel Cordero Jr. and Edgar Prado have graced the track’s winner’s circle.
Rowing: Head of the Schuylkill Regatta
There may be no sport as historically tied to Philadelphia as rowing, specifically sculling on the Schuylkill River, which is home to the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta first held in 1874.
One of the sport’s three “Fall Classics,” the last-weekend-in-October event (known as “America’s favorite regatta”) features over 8,000 entries from nearly 300 rowing clubs racing from Strawberry Mansion Bridge to Boathouse Row, and is considered one of the world’s premier rowing events.
— Photo by R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia
The regatta features scholastic, collegiate, masters and open divisions, and is headlined by the Philadelphia Gold Cup Challenge, first won by John B. Kelly Sr., father to late actor and Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly.
Track & Field: Penn Relays
The renowned Penn Relays, which debuted in 1895, is the oldest and largest track and field meet in the country.
Competed annually at Penn’s Franklin Field (built to hold the event) during the last full week in April, the Relays feature over 15,000 athletes from a dozen nations participating in more than 300 track and field events in high school, college, Olympic and masters level competitions in front of 110,000 spectators.
True to its name, the Penn Relays were the first to popularize the 4x400m relay, and featured the first-ever use of a stadium scoreboard.
— Photo courtesy Penn Relays
Distance Running: Philadelphia Marathon, Philadelphia Distance Run and Broad Street Run
Philadelphia is a runners’ city as well, with a handful of annual long-distance events open to both professional racers and the general public.
Philadelphia Marathon
The city’s oldest distance race is the Philadelphia Marathon, first run in 1954.
Held the third Sunday of November, it ranks among the 10 largest in the nation with over 30,000 runners from over 40 countries, beginning and ending at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It attracts 60,000 spectators and is a key qualifier for the Boston Marathon.
Philadelphia Distance Run
At half the distance, the Philadelphia Distance Run (PDR) half marathon has been held annually since 1978 on the third Sunday of each September.
The top-level international race features over 2,500 runners completing a lap from the Barnes Foundation to Eakins Oval.
The current records for men and women are both the fastest ever recorded for a half marathon in the U.S. And in 2021, the PDR became the first American road race to offer a non-binary division up to elite level.
Independence Blue Cross Broad Street Run
Possibly the most popular Philly public road race is the 10-mile Independence Blue Cross Broad Street Run.
Each first Sunday in May, upwards of 35,000 to 40,000 race down Broad Street from Einstein Medical Center to the Philadelphia Navy Yard in what has become the largest 10-miler in the nation. Interested runners enter a lottery to gain a bib and a starting spot.
While very few of us will ever suit up in uniform for our favorite teams, each of the professional sports venues at the South Philadelphia Sports Complex offer behind-the-scenes tours.
All three professional stadiums in Philly offer behind-the-scenes tours for fans.
Citizens Bank Park
Citizens Bank Park offers public tours year-round. The tour runs approximately 75 minutes and includes access to the Phillies’ dugout, broadcasting booth, Hall of Fame Club, press club and media room, plus a special audiovisual presentation.
Tours are available during the season Monday through Friday and the offseason Tuesdays and Thursdays, and tickets can be purchased directly from the team.
Lincoln Financial Field
Tours of Lincoln Financial Field are offered both as guided with a group and self-guided.
Untimed self-guided tours can be completed in around 30 minutes and include a visit to the field, the Eagles’ locker room, team tunnel, interview room and the chance to take photos with the Lombardi Trophy.
Group tours run 90 minutes and include all locations from the self-tour plus the sideline lockers, press box, broadcast booth, sensory room and solar energy facilities.
Tours are offered all year on non-event days. Self-guided tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster and group tours through the team.
Wells Fargo Center
Flyers, Sixers and Wings fans can tour the Wells Fargo Center on weekdays, with tours running 60 to 90 minutes.
Tour highlights include views from the premium club box level and balcony, the New City Terrace, press box row and Gritty C.O.M.M.A.N.D. Center, plus details about the arena’s day-to-day operations and the history of Philadelphia sports and entertainment.
Bonus: All guests receive a commemorative photo and frame and group tours include a ticket to a Wings game.
With fans this passionate and dedicated, you don’t need to go to the game to enjoy the game.
McGillins Old Ale House — Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia
Philadelphia offers some of the top sports bars in the nation, with great food, beer and cocktails to enjoy while watching a game on big screens nearly every night, whether it’s a random early regular season game or a tough and tense playoff game.
From famous local chains like Chickie’s & Pete’s and P.J. Whelihan’s to historic spots like McGillin’s Old Ale House to giant entertainment halls like XFINITY Live! Philadelphia, there are great sports bars in every corner of the city, including the 22 highlighted here.
The only way to fully experience Philly? Stay over.
Book the Visit Philly Overnight Package and get free hotel parking and choose-your-own-adventure perks, including tickets to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Franklin Institute, or the National Constitution Center and the Museum of the American Revolution.
Or maybe you’d prefer to buy two Philly hotel nights and get a third night for free? Then book the new Visit Philly 3-Day Stay package.
Which will you choose?