It was Philadelphia's 3rd straight Memorial Day Weekend hosting record–breaking lacrosse crowds. After setting new attendance records for the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championships at Lincoln Financial Field in 2005 and 2006, the University of Pennsylvania's Franklin Field was the site of the NCAA Women's Championships this spring.
Record crowds (12,503 over the weekend) were on hand to see the Northwestern Wildcats (below) win their 3rd straight national title against teams from the University of Pennsylvania, Virginia and Duke.
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The logo for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials — Gymnastics (above) was recently unveiled by USA Gymnastics and the US Olympic Committee. The event will be held at the Wachovia Center, June 19–22. To volunteer or receive information regarding ticket sales, go to www.PhiladelphiaSportsCongress.org.
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For the second year, the Lance Armstrong Foundation's LiveStrong Challenge of Philadelphia will be held on August 25 & 26 at Montgomery County Community College. Philadelphia is the only location in the Northeast U.S. that will host the event.
More than 160 of the world's best professional cyclists returned to Philadelphia in June for the 23rd annual Philadelphia International Championship, the longest running and richest single–day cycling event in the U.S. It was the final leg of the Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling, which included races in Reading and Lancaster. More than 100 professional international women's cyclists also competed in the 14th annual Liberty Classic.
The Exelon Invitational, hosted by Jim Furyk, was held in June at The Ace Club in Lafayette Hill, PA. Furyk and Charles Howell III lost in a "fourball" match to the international team of Retief Goosen and Padraig Harrington.
Already one of the largest triathlons in the country, more than 3,500 participants took part in the 3rd annual Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon in Fairmount Park during June. The event included Olympic and sprint distance races, plus a kids duathlon and fun run.
The 111th annual Devon Horse Show and Country Fair was held in May at the Devon Horse Show Grounds. The 10–day event showcased horses and their riders in a variety of events. Since 1972, the event has raised nearly $6 million to benefit the nearby Bryn Mawr Hospital.
The 99th Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) Championships, the U.S.'s oldest collegiate rowing championships, were held this spring on the Cooper River in New Jersey. The top Division I, II, III, and club rowing teams in the country compete each year in the event.
The USRowing Club National Championships were held in July on the Cooper River in Pennsauken, NJ. More than 1,400 athletes competed in junior, intermediate, and senior events.
Click here for more sporting events. |
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The Philadelphia Sports Congress partnered with Drexel University's LeBow College of Business for an energetic panel discussion on marketing Philadelphia as a sports destination. Nearly 100 guests attended the event held at Citizens Bank Park.
Pictured from left to right: Larry Needle, executive director, Philadelphia Sports Congress; Don Schumacher, executive director, National Association of Sports Commissions; Michael Harris, director of marketing and special projects, Philadelphia Phillies; Kevin Klipstein, CEO, U.S. Squash; Ike Richman, vice president of public relations, Comcast–Spectacor; and David West, instructor, LeBow College of Business.
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As a community partner of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), the Sports Congress hosted a F.L.A.M.E.S (Finding Leaders Among Minorities Everywhere in Sport) leadership program at Citizens Bank Park during June.
Guest speakers included Philadelphia 76ers President and General Manager Billy King, Temple Fencing Coach Nikki Franke (a two–time Olympian) and members of the Chinese National Softball Team.
F.L.A.M.E.S. is a one–day program focused on teaching leadership skills and lessons in the Olympic ideals of vision, persistence, commitment, discipline and focus. Participants included high school minority student–athletes from the surrounding five–county area. Each student was nominated by a coach, administrator, athletic director or teacher.
Pictured: Local Philadelphia students, the Chinese National Softball Team, and local Olympic athletes posing along the first base line at Citizens Bank Park. |
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 Philadelphia will roll out the red carpet when USA Table Tennis (USATT) brings the 2008 U.S. Olympic & National Team Trials — Table Tennis to Drexel University's Daskalakis Athletic Center in Philadelphia, PA, from January 10–13, 2008. This event, combined with the U.S. Olympic Team Trials — Gymnastics (that Philadelphia will host in June 2008) makes Philadelphia one of only two U.S. cities to host two Olympic Trials events leading up to the 2008 Olympic Games.
"We are proud to partner with Philadelphia and Drexel University to bring one of our most prestigious events to the City of Brotherly Love. Philadelphia put together a compelling bid, and we are confident this will be a successful event," said Teodor Gheorghe, USATT Executive Director. "In January, fans will have an excellent opportunity to see the nation's top table tennis athletes as they continue on the path to Beijing in 2008."
The U.S. Olympic & National Team Trials — Table Tennis is expected to draw the elite 24 table tennis athletes from across the country based on rankings by USATT. Athletes will compete on January 10 in the qualification round followed by three days of finals. The event will be open to the public with tickets on sale in the coming months. For more information, visit www.PhiladelphiaSportsCongress.org or www.USATT.org.
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Pictured from left: Larry Needle, executive director, Philadelphia Sports Congress; Steve Gleason, executive vice president, IPC/Amerimar Management Company; Bob Levy, chairman, Philadelphia Sports Congress; Lezlie Hiner, founder, Work to Ride; Kareem Rosser, student, Work to Ride; Ryan Howard, first baseman, Philadelphia Phillies; and Tasha Harris, student, Work to Ride.
Philadelphia Phillies' first baseman Ryan Howard was presented with the 2007 John Wanamaker Athletic Award by the Sports Congress at a ceremony in June. The award was based on Howard's record–breaking 2006 season, which culminated in his receiving the National League's Most Valuable Player Award.
"Howard caught the attention, and admiration, of fans and media around the country last season," said Philadelphia Sports Congress (PSC) Chairman Robert P. Levy. "We couldn't ask for a better ambassador for Philadelphia."
Since 1961, the Wanamaker Award has been presented to the athlete, team, or organization that has done the most to reflect credit upon Philadelphia and their team or sport. PSC, a division of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, presents the award each year in conjunction with IPC/Amerimar Management Company, CBS3, and the Philadelphia Daily News.
A Lifetime Achievement Award was also presented to Philadelphia University Men's Basketball Coach Herb Magee, who became the winningest coach in Division II basketball history during 2007, and is now fifth on the all-time wins list. In addition, Work to Ride, an equestrian program geared toward disadvantaged youth, received the Sports Congress Community Service Award.
To view a list of previous John Wanamaker Athletic Award and Community Service Award winners, visit www.PhiladelphiaSportsCongress.org. |
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 As we celebrate PSC's 20th year, we're taking the chance to look back at some of our highlights over two decades. And "our" is certainly the operative word. It's been a wonderful succession of partnerships with our area professional teams, universities, venues and sports leaders (plus the City, State and Delaware River Port Authority) that has allowed Philadelphia to host such an impressive event lineup. Here is a quick look:
 Fifteen Army/Navy Games, "Philadelphia's Bowl Game," which PSC is proud to produce on behalf of the City, in conjunction with the Eagles and the service academies.
Crowds of more than 40,000 each attended US National Soccer Team games
against DNEPR and Sheffield Wednesday at Franklin Field (1989) and Veterans
Stadium (1991).
Several major international soccer matches at Lincoln Financial Field since 2003, including FIFA Women's World Cup matches in 2003.
All-Star Games galore, including the NHL (1992), MLB (1996) and NBA (2002).
A triumphant return to the East Coast for the ESPN X Games, which drew record crowds at the Wachovia Center and events throughout the city in 2001 and 2002.
The U.S. Figure Skating Championships & Olympic Trials at the Wachovia
Center in 1998, starring Michele Kwan and many Olympic hopefuls.
Numerous Men's and Women's NCAA Basketball Tournament matchups over the years, with the 1991 Duke/Kentucky Regional Final overtime thriller leading the way.
The 2000 NCAA Women's Basketball Final Four, featuring a Tennessee/Connecticut championship game.
Gymnastics events, including the 2001 U.S. Championships and 2006 Tyson American Cup. The 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials — Gymnastics, will be at the Wachovia Center next June.
Record–breaking crowds for the 2005 & 2006 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championships, and the 2007 NCAA Women's Lacrosse Championships.
Many sports–related conventions, including the National Soccer Coaches Association, US Lacrosse, National Sports Forum, US Youth Soccer Association, US Olympic Committee Board of Directors, and many others.
Add in dozens of other events, from Volleyball to Field Hockey to Dragon Boat Racing, and you have a very busy, exciting and rewarding 20 years of sports in Philadelphia. We're grateful to have been a part of it, and looking forward to many more wonderful memories.
Larry Needle, PSC Executive Director
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In June, employees of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PCVB), and Philadelphia Sports Congress, participated in the first annual Independence Dragon Boat Regatta on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia. |
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The PCVB is currently conducting an audit of the newly launched and redesigned Web site, www.PhiladelphiaUSA.travel. As a respected stakeholder, we value your opinion of the site and welcome your suggestions on how to make it even better. Please take a few minutes to give us your feedback.
We greatly appreciate your time and input.
Begin the survey.
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