The Penn Relays, the oldest and largest track and field competition in the United States, returns this week to Franklin Field (200 S. 33rd Street), with events being held from April 23-27. The University of Pennsylvania Division of Public Safety has issued an advisory that traffic and transit use will be heavy throughout the area on these dates.

The Penn Relays Carnival will take place on Tuesday, April 23, with the CYO Relays scheduled from 4:30-10 p.m. Motorists should expect congestion in the area of 200 S. 33rd Street during their evening commute on that day.

The competition continues Thursday, April 25 through Saturday, April 27, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Motorists should expect heavy traffic volume and delays around Franklin Field and the immediate surrounding area all day on these days.

Also, 33rd Street from South Street to Walnut Street will be closed for approximately one hour, on Saturday, April 27, from 6 to 7 p.m.

For more information about The Penn Relays, which has been held annually since April 21, 1895, go to: pennrelays.com.

The annual Philadelphia Marathon returns this weekend, with events taking place from Friday, Nov. 17 through Sunday, Nov. 19. Two main events, a half-marathon and marathon will be held on Saturday and Sunday respectively. As always, the marathon events that draw thousands of visitors and participants, will shut down many roads in the city. Here is a summary of what roads and streets in West Philly will be closed to accommodate runners. Also, check out information below on cheer zones. Race maps are available here.

Both races kick off at Benjamin Franklin Parkway at 7 a.m.

Cheering zones for Saturday’s Half-Marathon:

• 33rd and Walnut Street
• 33rd and Market Street
• 34th and Girard Avenue (Philadelphia Zoo)

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Starting today and through Saturday, April 29, the annual Penn Relays will be held on the University of Pennsylvania campus, where hundreds of young athletes from the U.S. and abroad will compete. The competition also brings thousands of spectators and other guests to the area. Watch out for increased traffic on and around Penn’s campus and SEPTA bus detours during the event.

As usual, races will be held at Franklin Field located at 233 S. 33rd Street. The event schedule can be found here and tickets are here. Livestreaming is available here. For more info, visit: https://pennrelays.com.

Coach Duane Jones of the West Philly Tarheels by Morris Park/Papa Playground, the Tarheels’ home field, which has recently been torn up for replacement work on a sewer under the field. (Photo by Sam Newhouse)

The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) is currently working on infrastructure improvement projects across the city. But some work has put out a West Philly youth football organization, and their coach is concerned the work will leave his home field even worse off than it already was.

The West Philly Tarheels on the field. (Photo courtesy of the Tarheels)

Coach Duane Jones of the West Philly Tarheels said preseason drills for his Pop Warner football organization are due to start in Morris Park at 66th and Lansdowne – also known as Papa Playground – in March. But ongoing work to repair a sewer running under the field will prevent them from playing there until April at the earliest, if the project finishes on schedule. Jones is also concerned the field, already uneven and prone to divots and instability that have caused more than a few twisted ankles, might be even more unstable after the work.  Continue Reading

Photo via thepennrelays.com.

The Penn Relays, the oldest annual track and field event in the nation, is being held this weekend at Franklin Field (233 S. 33rd Street). The competition goes on through Saturday, April 28, and the event schedule can be found here.

Thousands of athletes and guests visit this event annually, so watch out for increased traffic and delays in the University City area.

The last time the Eagles won a championship, the roar that followed the final whistle could be heard as far west as 40th Street, according to one newspaper reporter.

Some 67,000 fans poured out onto 33rd Street after the Eagles beat the Green Bay Packers in a 17-13 nail-biter to win the NFL Championship on Dec. 26, 1960. The game was played at Franklin Field at 33rd and South Streets, which the Eagles called home from 1958 to 1970.  Continue Reading