Staff Blog
Most Important Sporting Venues in Philly
Jim Caple at ESPN recently laid out what he believes to be the 100 most important sporting venues in America. The list ranges from Yankee Stadium (1) to California Memorial Stadium (100) where DeSean Jackson used to to tear it up for Cal with everything in between (50 is the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum). Four Philly venues made the cut.
34. The Palestra
Location: Philadelphia. Opened: 1927. Capacity: 8,722.Because it was one of the first arenas built without “obstructed-view” pillars and posts (what a concept) and has hosted more NCAA basketball games than anywhere else.
The Palestra should top any Philly list and it was nice to see it get a mention. I’d quibble that it should be slightly higher but I’m biased towards the Big 5 and the list is skewed away from bball (MSG, the Coliseum, Allen Fieldhouse and the Rucker are the only venues above it).
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Three more ATJ
38. The Spectrum
Location: Philadelphia. Opened: 1967. Capacity: 18,136.Because it’s been the site for six Stanley Cup finals, four NBA Finals, two Final Fours, the Christian Laettner shot in the 1992 NCAA East Regional and, unfortunately, the Wing Bowl. And had only “Rocky” actually been filmed here (see No. 73), it would rank even higher.
That Laettner shot capped a hell of a game. 38 might be high for the old girl, but she will be missed.
71. Franklin Field
Location: Philadelphia. Opened: 1895. Capacity: 52,593.Because this is considered the oldest college football stadium in the country, has been the site for the Penn Relays for more than a century and is where one of the most infamous moments in American sports occurred when Philadelphia fans booed and pelted Santa Claus with snowballs.
Um, it’s the oldest football stadium in the country. Sure, Penn football isn’t anything to write home about, but the relays are a big deal, the Birds played there forever and it’s still used as the classic football stadium in movies (Invincible and Unbreakable, to name two recent ones).
86. Mitchell and Ness
Location: Philadelphia. Opened: 1904. Capacity: Not applicable.Because no retail company has been more responsible for the vintage jersey craze than this one, which has been producing old-time big league jerseys since the late ’80s.
Starting a craze that ended years ago is still historic? Look, I love that Mitchell and Ness is in the heart of Philly as much as the next guy, but the fact that this is above the Dean Dome, Assembly Hall, and the Oakland Colliseum seems wrong.
Anyway, the list is an interesting read. I would have liked to see The Legendary Blue Horizon on there somewhere but suppose that that may be splitting hairs. Any other Philly locations that should have made the cut?
Seems like Boxing really should hit the list. I don’t know enough about the real ins and outs of Philly boxing – e.g. where did Bouie Fisher train Bernard Hopkins? The Blue Horizon has style but I get the idea there is a real deal gym tucked away here in Philly that should make that list. Anybody have any insight into that?
Also, the Schuylkill has racked up some big moments in rowing. And yes, rowing is a legit sport.
Jack Kelly is the greatest sculler the United States has ever produced. He began rowing with the Chamonix and Montrose Boat Clubs of Philadelphia, but in 1909 he joined the Vesper Boat Club. Between 1909 and his competitive retirement after the 1924 Olympics, Kelly won every sculling title available to him, including the World Championship in both singles and doubles, the Olympics in singles and doubles, and many national titles in both boats. Kelly was a bricklayer and later a contractor. His daughter Grace Kelly, Grace Kelly, became a movie star and later Princess Grace of Monaco.
One of Thomas Eakins most famous paintings, The Champion Single Sculls, features the Schuylkill and one of its bridges.
See http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/eapa/ho_34.92.htm for a good image.
Striking, no?