Philadelphia Eagles fans took to the streets Sunday to celebrate their team’s decisive NFC Championship victory against the San Francisco 49ers. For a handful of die-hard fans, the only thing evidently capable of bringing down the mood was gravity.
The city’s Mayor Jim Kenney cautioned Eagles fans to “celebrate joyously, safely, and respectfully and show the same love we have for our team to our city. Go Birds!”
Roads in downtown Philadelphia were shut down for the anticipated post-win revelry from 8th through 20th streets and from Race to Lombardy streets. Inside the designated traffic box flowed a sea of green-clad celebrants, many chanting, “Fly, Eagles, fly.”
While most people were apparently to remain grounded, some sought out a better view. Over a dozen fans mounted a SEPTA bus stop near South Broad Street, close to city hall. These Birds fans did not last long in their newfound glass roost.
The moment the structure gave under the weight of the fans was caught on tape, along with reactions from onlookers.
A woman can be heard crying out, “Oh my God,” while a male bystander says, “I told you.”
The Daily Mail indicated that there were “multiple injuries” resulting from the bus stop breakthrough.
Following the Eagles’ Super Bowl victory in 2018, a similar incident occurred when a rabble brought down the awning outside the Ritz Carlton hotel in the city’s downtown.
After the collapse of the awning, which also resulted in injuries, a number of Eagles fans ran off with the debris, reported Global News.
Police greased the poles all over downtown Philadelphia in advance of Sunday night’s celebrations.
Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw told CBS3 that “the greased poles are not an invitation for some personal challenge or reality TV competition.”
Notwithstanding the commissioner’s clarification, some Eagles fans took it upon themselves to scale poles across the city:
As fans began to spill out of the traffic box and reportedly became “intense,” police in riot gear intervened and began dispersing the crowds.
Commissioner Outlaw said of the win and general atmosphere in the city, “There’s nothing like a sporting event to bring everyone from all walks of life together for one common goal. … We’ve been through a lot in the last few years and I think this is really, really great to be able to come together.”
The Eagles will play the Kansas City Chiefs at State Farm Stadium on Feb. 12 in Glendale, Arizona.
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