John F. Kennedy Stadium

John F. Kennedy Stadium

John F. Kennedy Stadium (or JFK Stadium) was an open-air stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that stood from 1925 to 1992. The South Philadelphia stadium was situated along Broad Street at a location that is now home to the massive Philadelphia Sports Complex. At the stadium's peak it sat 100,000 to 110,000 people before settling at a capacity of about 75,000 during the later years. Designed by the architectural firm of Simon & Simon [* [http://www.phila.gov/phils/docs/Inventor/graphics/archser/S067.htm City Architect; Department of City Architecture; Philadelphia Information Locator System] ] , the style was classic 1920s with a horseshoe seating design that surrounded a track and football field. Bleachers were located at the open end. The field was convert|710|ft|m wide and convert|1020|ft|m long. It was built on a convert|13.5|acre|m2|sing=on tract and made of concrete, stone, and brick. ["JFK Stadium: End Zone Near", "Philadelphia Inquirer", (February 5, 1992), page B2.]

Opening and names

JFK Stadium was constructed in time for the 1926 Sesquicentennial International Exposition, marking the Exposition's opening. Originally known as Sesquicentennial Stadium when it opened April 15, 1926, the structure was renamed "Philadelphia Municipal Stadium" [cite book| author=E.L Austin and Odell Hauser| title=The Sesqui-Centennial International Exposition (Chapter XXX "MUNICIPAL STADIUM") pp 419-423; Philadelphia, PA (1929)] after the Exposition's closing ceremonies. In 1964 its name was changed once again, to John F. Kennedy Stadium, in honor of the 35th President of the United States, who had been assassinated the year before.

ports

On September 23, 1926, an announced crowd of 120,557 packed the then-new Stadium during a rainstorm to witness Gene Tunney capture the world's heavyweight boxing title from Jack Dempsey. The stadium's first tenants (in 1926) were the Philadelphia Quakers of the first American Football League, whose Saturday afternoon home games were a popular mainstay of the Exposition. While the Quakers won the league championship, the league lasted only one year.

A decade later, the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League started a four-season stint as tenants of Philadelphia Municipal Stadium before moving to Shibe Park for the 1940 season.

The stadium became known chiefly as the "neutral" venue for a total of 42 annual Army-Navy Games played there between 1946 to 1979, and during the 1960s it served as Navy's home field when they played Notre Dame. Undefeated Rocky Marciano knocked out Jersey Joe Walcott there in 1952 to win boxing's heavyweight championship.

The stadium was also home to the Philadelphia Bell of the World Football League of 1974 to 1975.

Concerts

JFK Stadium occasionally hosted rock concerts, including the American portion of Live Aid on July 13, 1985. Notable music groups to play at the stadium included The Beatles, Van Halen, The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Police, Yes, Aerosmith, Marvin Gaye and B.B. King, Michael Jackson, The Beach Boys, U2, Genesis, Pink Floyd, and the Grateful Dead. Led Zeppelin was set to end their 1977 U.S. Tour at the stadium, but canceled the tour's final seven shows following the sudden passing of Robert Plant's son. Journey recorded a concert at JFK Stadium in 1983.

Closing & Demolition

After years of poor maintenance, JFK Stadium was condemned on July 13, 1989 by Mayor Wilson Goode. A concert on July 7 by the Grateful Dead was the last public event held there, and the stadium was demolished in 1992. The 1993 Philadelphia stop for the Lollapalooza music festival was held at the JFK Stadium site on July 18, 1993. The site was an open field as construction had not yet begun on the Wachovia Center. This was the show at which Rage Against the Machine did not play in protest of the Parents Music Resource Center. [cite news | first=| last=| coauthors= | title=Lollapalooza 1993 - John F. Kennedy Stadium, Philadelphia, PA| date=2007-02-18 | publisher=Jane's Addiction.org | url =http://janesaddiction.org/lollapalooza/lolla_details.phtml?lollaID=84| work = | pages = | accessdate = 2008-09-17 | language = ] The Wachovia Center now stands on the site, which is part of a complex that includes the Wachovia Spectrum, Lincoln Financial Field and Citizens Bank Park.

References

*"City Closes JFK Stadium," "The Philadelphia Inquirer", July 14, 1989.
*"Goodbye To JFK Stadium As Demolition Firm Is Hired," "The Philadelphia Inquirer", March 10 1992.
*"Wreckers, 1, JFK Stadium, 0," "The Philadelphia Inquirer", April 21, 1992.

External links

* [http://www.archive.org/audio/etree-details-db.php?id=16239 Grateful Dead's July 7, 1989 JFK Concert]
* [http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&z=16&ll=39.901353,-75.171894&spn=0.012115,0.020084&t=h&om=1&msid=109804128487098833957.00000111c425c664f8d8f&msa=0 Site of JFK/Municipal Stadium via Google Maps]
* [http://www.hagley.org/library/exhibits/dallinexhibit/events/municipalstadium.html Aerial photograph of JFK/Municipal Stadium in 1927]

succession box
title = Home of the
Philadelphia Eagles
years = 1936 – 1939
1941
before =
Baker Bowl
Shibe Park
after = Shibe Park
succession box
title = Home of the
Liberty Bowl
years = 1959 – 1963
before = first stadium
after = Atlantic City Convention Hall


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