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A sellout crowd of 69,943 filled Lincoln Financial Field in December for the pageantry, patriotism and pigskin that is the Army/Navy Game. Navy scored its fifth straight win against the Cadets by a 26-14 margin, earning its fourth consecutive Commander in Chief’s Trophy and becoming the first senior class in school history to go 8-0 against Army and Air Force.
 It marked the 80th time in the rivalry’s storied history that it was played in Philadelphia. More than 50,000 visiting fans generated over 17,000 hotel room nights and $35 million in economic impact, according to a recent study by Econsult.
Fans and area residents again showed their support for our troops serving overseas by contributing items for care packages via Operation Gratitude. The Sports Congress and Philadelphia Army/Navy Host Committee also hosted 500 Philadelphia School District students at the game through the Red, White & You program.
This year’s game goes to Baltimore, before returning to Philadelphia in 2008 and 2009. For more information, visit the award-winning Web site www.PhillyLovesArmyNavy.com. |
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 The lacrosse season is just underway at colleges throughout the nation, but Philadelphia is already finalizing plans for crowning this year’s Division I Women's champion. The NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Championships will be hosted by the University of Pennsylvania at historic Franklin Field, May 25-27. Philadelphia set record attendance numbers in hosting the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championships at Lincoln Financial Field in 2005 and 2006.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.DrawPhiladelphia.com or call the Penn ticket office at 215-898-6151.
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The US Lacrosse National Convention returned to the Pennsylvania Convention Center in January, and for the second straight year attracted more than 5,000 lacrosse enthusiasts. The event has established itself as the largest educational opportunity for lacrosse coaches, officials, and administrators in the world.
"The Pennsylvania Convention Center has become a second home to us over the years," said Sarah Oglesby, director of special events, US Lacrosse. "We have grown from a small annual meeting to a full blown convention, and Philadelphia has welcomed us with open arms every year."
US Lacrosse will return to Philadelphia, January 17-20, 2008. |
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The 113th annual Penn Relays will take place April 26-28, at historic Franklin Field
on the University
of Pennsylvania’s campus.
Last year, more than 114,000 fans were on hand for the Relays, the
best-attended annual track event in the U.S. For more information, go to www.pennathletics.com.
Now in its 18th year, Philadelphia’s Broad Street Run will be held on May 6. The Broad Street Run is known as the country’s fastest 10-mile course and had 13,550 participants last year. The race also benefits the American Cancer Society. For more information, visit www.broadstreetrun.com.
The Dad Vail Regatta and Stotesbury Cup will kick off spring with two of the biggest rowing competitions in the country. The world-renowned Dad Vail, the largest collegiate regatta in the U.S., will mark its 69th year, May 11-12. A week later, the Stotesbury will celebrate the 81st year of the world’s largest high school regatta, May 18-19. Both regattas will be held on the Schuylkill River in picturesque Fairmount Park. For more information, please visit www.dadvail.organd www.boathouserow.org.
On May 19, the 77th Radnor Hunt Races will continue their annual tradition with six steeplechase races for a total purse of $210,000. For more information, go to www.radnorraces.org.
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Click here for more sporting events. |
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(Pictured from L-R signing the“declaration” in Signers’ Hall at the National Constitution Center: Joseph M. Torsella, co-chair, PSC Olympic & International Sports Project; John Page, COO, Global Spectrum; Stephanie Naidoff, director of commerce and city representative, City of Philadelphia; George Washington (in bronze); legendary gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi; Benjamin Franklin; Bob Levy, chairman, PSC; and Steve Penny, president, USA Gymnastics.
Philadelphia and USA Gymnastics (USAG) formally announced in December their partnership to host the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Gymnastics at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia (June 19-22). USAG President Steve Penny, Legendary Gymnastics Coach Bela Karolyi, and the Philadelphia Local Organizing Committee made the announcement in Signers’ Hall at the National Constitution Center.
This will be the first time the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Gymnastics will be held in Philadelphia. The USAG National Congress and Trade Show, a forum for up to 2,000 coaches and club owners from around the country, will also be held that week in Philadelphia at the Philadelphia Downtown Marriott and Pennsylvania Convention Center.
The event is estimated to generate $15-$20 million in economic impact for the region, and will include five hours of live network coverage on NBC.
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 As an official Community Partner of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), Philadelphia will promote the initiative of “sportsmanship” to area high school students during 2007. “Real Athletes Are Good Sports” is the USOC’s theme this year as part of its multi-year National Olympic Education Program.
Throughout the year, Olympians and Paralympians will speak to students about their personal histories and experiences. These athletes will share encouraging stories, which demonstrate that good sportsmanship is an important aspect of athletic competition. For more information, visit www.usoc.org. |
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 We have to be honest — we didn’t realize it was a big anniversary year for the Sports Congress until somebody mentioned it to us. But as we enter our 20th year, the “platinum” anniversary by modern accounts, we couldn’t help but reflect on the wonderful journey that’s brought us to this point.
First, we need to recognize the “founding fathers” of PSC who had the vision to create our commission as part of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau in 1987. There were only a handful of sports commissions in the country at that point focused on luring sports business to their communities, so the concept was still a fairly novel one.
Tom Muldoon, David Brenner, Bill Giles, Fred Shabel, Tom Collins, and others set things in motion, with legendary track coach and civic leader Jim Tuppeny serving as first Executive Director. Thanks also to Diane McGraw who served so ably as the organization’s second Executive Director for several years.
PSC’s key to success, without question, is the wonderful partners we have from throughout the region. The university athletic departments, professional teams, venues, civic and business leaders, and the leadership and volunteers from almost every sport who we’ve worked with to attract events and conventions to the region.
There have been many collective accomplishments to be proud of — from hosting US National Team Soccer games at Franklin Field and Veterans Stadium to producing 15 Army/Navy Games with our partners at the service academies, Eagles, and Phillies. NBA, NHL, and MLB All-Star games, the X Games, NCAA championships in a number of sports, and much more has made this such a rewarding and exciting team to be a part of.
And “team” is the key term. Public and private sector support has made it all possible, including partners like the City, State, Delaware River Port Authority, Comcast-Spectacor, and many more. Plus the National Governing Bodies and rights holders whom it’s been our pleasure to partner with over the years.
And we'd surely be remiss if we didn't recognize and extend our gratitude to PSC's only two chairmen in our 20-year history — David Brenner and Bob Levy. Both have been unwavering in their commitment and enthusiasm in promoting our great city, offering tremendous leadership and support through the years.
We’ll look ahead in the coming months to what’s in store for Philadelphia. We hope the next 20 years will be as memorable as the last. Larry Needle, PSC Executive Director
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