Philadelphia Sports and Concert Events

Philadelphia

Philadelphia is the fifth-largest city in the United States and the largest city in Pennsylvania, occupying all of Philadelphia County. As of the 2000 census, the population was 1,517,550. Philadelphia is one of the oldest cities in the United States (it was first settled by Swedish colonists in 1669) and has played a critical role in American history and the development of the United States. During part of the 18th century the city was the second capital and then-largest city of the United States. At that time it eclipsed Boston and New York in political and social importance, with Boston-born Benjamin Franklin playing an extraordinary role in its rise. Philadelphia was a planned city founded and developed by William Penn, a Quaker. Philadelphia was the capital of Penn's colony. During early immigration by Quakers and others when immigrants purchased land in the city, they also received farm land outside of the city. This was intended to allow the city's population to leave the city easily. Penn also required lots of alley ways and open spaces in to hopes of controlling fires and disease (which were then common problems in London). It was a major center for the independence movement during the American Revolutionary War. Among the colleges and universities in Philadelphia are: Curtis Institute of Music, La Salle University, Drexel University, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia University, Saint Joseph's University, University of the Arts, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia Temple University, The Art Institute of Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson University, Holy Family University, and Chestnut Hill College. Colleges and universities in the vicinity of Philadelphia include Bryn Mawr College, located in Bryn Mawr; Haverford College; and Villanova University, located in Villanova, all three located northwest of Philadelphia on the Pennsylvania Main Line; Swarthmore College, located in Swarthmore; and Widener University, located in Chester. Philadelphia has a long and proud history of professional sports teams. Philadelphia sports fans have a reputation of being devoted to their teams in good times and bad. Among the professional sports teams based in Philadelphia are: Philadelphia Eagles (National Football League), Philadelphia Phillies(Major League Baseball), Philadelphia 76ers (National Basketball Association), Philadelphia Flyers (National Hockey League), Philadelphia Phantoms (American Hockey League), Philadelphia Soul (Arena Football League), Philadelphia Wings (National Lacrosse League), Philadelphia Kixx (Major Indoor Soccer League). The Philadelphia Charge (Women's Soccer) and Philadelphia Barrage (Major League Lacrosse, lacrosse) plays at the stadium of Villanova University, which is located in Villanova. In the past Philadelphia has also been home to the Philadelphia Athletics (MLB, now the Oakland Athletics), and the Philadelphia Warriors (NBA, now the Golden State Warriors). The city's original NFL team was the Frankford Yellow Jackets (Frankford being a section of the city located in the northeastern part of town); the club disbanded during the 1931 football season, then re-emerged under the same ownership two years later as the Philadelphia Eagles.