PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The NFC championship game is days away. The Eagles are on the doorstep of their second Super Bowl appearance in three years and their third in a decade.
Fans could not contain their excitement as they attended an early morning pep rally at Xfinity Live on Friday, hosted by NBC10 and the Today Show.
“Go Birds! Let’s go!” shouted Kim Righi, of South Philadelphia.
Righi, a bartender at Lincoln Financial Field, showed up to the event in a green wig and a green feather coat over an Eagles jersey. She said the snowy victory over the Rams last weekend was the best game she has worked at.
Floyd White III, a season ticket-holder for 22 years, enjoyed the snow game too, but he is ready to turn the page to Sunday’s matchup with their division rival, the Washington Commanders.
“It’s gonna be electrifying,” he said, “65,000 of my best friends in that building, and it’s gonna be great. We look forward to it. The team’s ready to go. The city is ready to go. I’m ready to go. You’re ready to go. We’re gonna rock and roll!”
Fans were also out and about early Saturday morning grabbing some last-minute gear from the Eagles Pro Shop at Lincoln Financial Field. The hubbub around the stadium has fans and residents alike eager for Sunday's kickoff.
“The energy every weekend is just incredible. Like you know that the fans show up so it just keeps us really really excited every weekend," said Amanda Lopez, who lives near the sports complex.
Ahead of the game, the city has been preparing for fans to potentially flood celebratory hot spots.
“We’re all working in a collaborative, inter-governmental way and that’s exactly how we’ll ensure success on Sunday,” said Mayor Cherelle Parker. “I want you to know that we are ready.”
Metal barricades were set up around City Hall. The city did not say definitively that crews would be greasing the poles to deter climbers, though Parker alluded to the tradition during a pep rally on Thursday.
“Listen y’all, don’t make us need to grease those poles. Y’all know how y’all do!” Parker said to the hundreds of Eagles fans in attendance.
The city also announced parking restrictions in key locations. Parking will be prohibited around City Hall and along the South Broad Street corridor in South Philadelphia starting at noon on Saturday.
Parking restrictions will take effect along South Broad Street in South Philadelphia and at Frankford and Cottman avenues in Mayfair on Sunday. Cars that are left behind in areas labeled “temporary no parking” will be moved.
The city also said some road closures are possible “to maintain public safety” at the South Philadelphia Sports Complex and in Center City following the game, between 13th and 15th streets and Arch and Lombard streets. Drivers are advised to avoid the area.
For those attending the game, SEPTA will add extra service on the Broad Street Line. Express trains will leave the Fern Rock Transit Center every 10 minutes between 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Kickoff is at 3 p.m.