Philly pole-climbing sparks warnings for Super Bowl
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Police aren't saying what steps they will take to deter fans from climbing poles for the Super Bowl. Photo: Thomas Hengge/Anadolu via Getty Images
A Temple student's death after the Eagles' NFC Championship celebration is raising concerns about Philadelphia's Super Bowl safety plans.
The big picture: Thousands of revelers, many of them climbing poles, engulfed Broad Street last Sunday to celebrate the Eagles punching their ticket to New Orleans.
- Dozens were arrested, per police, who reported several "significant" incidents that left many injured, including a stabbing outside Lincoln Financial Field and two shootings.
The latest: Tyler Sabapathy, an 18-year-old Temple student and talented gymnast, died Tuesday after falling from a light pole in Center City during Sunday's celebration.
- "He no doubt had a bright future ahead of him, and it is so tragic that we will not be able to see how he would have made his mark on the world," Temple president John Fry said in a statement.
What they're saying: Philadelphia officials declined to say at this time whether they're taking new steps to protect safety for the Super Bowl.
- Police told Axios they're not discussing specific tactics they deploy to discourage pole climbers. But the city said the police department uses an "extensive camera system and other investigative tools" to prevent crimes and catch people committing dangerous acts.
"We will continue emphatically urging people to not climb poles, structures or other fixed objects at any time," the city said in a statement.
- "We will continue to urge everyone to celebrate responsibly, and we will continue to enforce the law to keep all Philadelphians safe."
Zoom out: New Orleans officials have warned they will not tolerate any pole-climbing for the Super Bowl, especially in the French Quarter, where most of the poles are older.
- Those caught could be criminally charged and face fines for public damage.
- "We're a very tolerant city," New Orleans police chief Anne Kirkpatrick said Tuesday, "but we're … not gonna put up with lawlessness."
Flashback: In 2023, Philly police installed barricades and greased poles in Center City to discourage pole-climbing, but several people still managed to scale the posts.
- Last Sunday, Philly built corrals around poles in Center City, instead of greasing them, the Inquirer reports.
The bottom line: It's unclear whether police will pull out the grease this time, but fans are likely to return to Broad Street after the Eagles-Chiefs rematch on Feb. 9, regardless of the outcome.