Franklin Field
Photo: NASA World Wind · Public domain · source
- Capacity
- 52,600
- Year opened
- 1895
- Club
- —
- Country
- United States
- Sport
- American football
Overview
About the stadium
Franklin Field is a sports stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the eastern edge of the University of Pennsylvania campus. With a capacity of 70,000, it primarily serves the university's American football, track and field, and lacrosse teams. It is named after Penn's founder, Benjamin Franklin.
Location and surroundings
The stadium sits at the eastern edge of the University of Pennsylvania campus in Philadelphia. It is named after the university's founder, Benjamin Franklin, tying it firmly to Penn's heritage. Beyond competitive sport, the grounds are used by Penn students for recreation, intramural and club sports, including touch football and cricket. Weather permitting, the venue also hosts Penn's commencement exercises, making it a social heart of campus rather than a sporting facility alone.
Main uses
Franklin Field is the home of the Penn Relays and the university's venue for football, track and field, and lacrosse. It is the oldest still-operating college football site in the nation. It was the first college stadium in the United States with a scoreboard and the second with an upper deck of seats. Its 70,000 capacity allows it to host major athletic and community events for the university.
History
Journey through time
The history of Franklin Field reaches deep into the origins of American college sport, and the stadium holds several firsts tied to technical innovation and to the broadcasting of games.
Construction and opening
Franklin Field is the oldest still-operating college football site in the nation. It was built at the eastern edge of the University of Pennsylvania campus and has served football, track and field, and lacrosse from its earliest days. Its naming after Benjamin Franklin, the university's founder, underscores its close bond with Philadelphia's academic tradition.
Major renovations
The stadium earned its place in history through technical firsts. It was the first college stadium in the United States to feature a scoreboard and the second to add an upper deck of seats. These innovations made it a pioneer in spectator comfort and in the modern organization of sporting events.
Notable moments
In 1922, it was the site of the first radio broadcast of a football game on WIP, as well as the first television broadcast of a football game by Philco. From 1958 through 1970, the stadium was the home of the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). In December 1960, it hosted the NFL Championship Game, where the Eagles defeated the Green Bay Packers by four points.
Atmosphere
Matchday
The atmosphere at Franklin Field grows out of the long tradition of the University of Pennsylvania and from the stadium's decades of hosting both student sport and professional games.
Fan culture
As the oldest still-operating college football site in the nation, Franklin Field holds a special place among fans. It serves not only competitive games but also student recreation, intramural and club sports, including touch football and cricket, and, weather permitting, commencement exercises. This versatility makes it a living social center of campus, where sporting passion intertwines with the academic life of the university community.
Big matches
The stadium is the home of the prestigious Penn Relays, one of the most important track meets of its kind. From 1958 through 1970, the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL played here. The high point of those years was the NFL Championship Game in December 1960, when the Eagles defeated the Green Bay Packers by four points. These contests made Franklin Field a venue for major professional and collegiate sport alike.
Practical info
Visiting the stadium
Franklin Field is located right on the University of Pennsylvania campus in Philadelphia, making it accessible within the city and its university surroundings.
How to get there
The stadium lies at the eastern edge of the University of Pennsylvania campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its position within the university campus means it is easily reached on foot from surrounding university buildings and the city neighborhood the campus occupies.
Tickets and tours
The 70,000-capacity stadium hosts the university's American football, track and field, and lacrosse teams, as well as the Penn Relays track meet. Tickets for university events and the Penn Relays are typically arranged through the University of Pennsylvania. The grounds are also used by students for recreation and intramural sport.
Visitor tips
- What you'll see: college American football, track and field, lacrosse, and the famous Penn Relays.
- Why come: it is the oldest still-operating college football site in the nation, rich with broadcasting and design firsts.
- Where it is: the eastern edge of the University of Pennsylvania campus in Philadelphia.
- Did you know: in 1922 it hosted the first radio and first television broadcasts of a football game.
Map
Where to find the stadium
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Plan your visit
Pennsylvania, United States
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