Image source: philadelphiaeagles.com
The Philadelphia Eagles and their fans have been a fixture of the urban culture of their home city since the team’s founding in 1933 and have found their way into the popular consciousness of America. Whether it’s the furor and candor of their fan base that impresses most sport publications or the team’s legendary rivalry with the New York Giants, the Philly Eagles have never failed to make an impression.
Image source: Forbes.com
Sports is serious business in Philadelphia, and the team itself became a rallying symbol in the biographical and historical film Invincible, depicting a fictionalized version of its first game against the Giants in 1976. The colorful history of the Eagles goes beyond the heated rivalries and the requisite shenanigans that came with them. During the talent shortage that took place during the Second World War, the understaffed Eagles merged with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1943, forming the Phil-Pitt Combine, more commonly known as the Steagles.
Sports in the City of Brotherly love enjoys massive support from the fan community, of which the Eagles are a shining example. The fanbase of the Eagles has been one of the most devoted and eye-catching in the NFL, capable of making extreme turnarounds in ticket sales with little to no assistance. Their unrelenting support for their home team has managed to become a cultural quirk, whose somewhat exaggerated depiction is shown by Robert De Niro’s role in the film Silver Linings Playbook.
Paul Benn is a Philadelphia-based attorney and sports fan. Follow this Twitter account for more updates on the Eagles and other sports teams from Philly.
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