Philadelphia mayor implores fans to not "climb light poles" if Eagles win Super Bowl
Days before the Philadelphia Eagles play in Super Bowl LIX, city officials are preparing for potentially tens of thousands of fans to hit the streets after Sunday night's big game. The city is trying to avoid a repeat of some of the dangerous situations after the Eagles' NFC championship win over the Washington Commanders.
City officials say keeping safe during a potential Eagles Super Bowl celebration is their top priority. Mayor Cherelle Parker, Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel and other city officials gave an update on the city's security plans for after Super Bowl LIX.
The city is preparing for larger crowds than what it saw after the NFC championship game. If the Eagles win Sunday, the mayor and police commissioner are urging fans to celebrate safely.
"Don't climb light poles or anything else," Parker said. "Please, Philadelphia, I implore you as your mayor, don't climb light poles or anything else."
Philadelphia has already started setting up barricades along South Broad Street, and some businesses in Center City have boarded up their windows ahead of Super Bowl Sunday.
The city couldn't stress enough for people to celebrate responsibly because of what happened after the NFC championship game.
Dozens of people were arrested after the Eagles punched their ticket to their second Super Bowl in three years, and another incident involved a fan shooting a gun into the air at Frankford and Cottman avenues in Northeast Philadelphia.
The city also experienced a tragedy during the celebrations when Temple University student Tyler Sabapathy fell to his death after climbing a light pole.
Philadelphia officials say there will be an all-hands-on-deck approach this weekend with police officers around the city.
Ahead of Super Bowl Sunday, Temple announced there would be a heightened police presence along Broad Street around the university's main campus. Students were advised to plan to get back to campus if they decide to venture into Center City crowds after the game.
"Students are encouraged to refresh themselves with the Good Neighbor Initiative. ... Celebrations that involve violence of any kind, damaging property or littering in our community will not be tolerated," a statement on the university's website reads.
Bethel says the Philadelphia Police Department will be supported by state police and the fire department, as well as drones and a tactical operations team.
SEPTA will also work with police to help control the size of crowds during the celebrations by preventing people from boarding trains at certain times.
The city did not reveal, for tactical reasons, if police would be greasing poles, but the mayor repeatedly urged people not to climb them or anything else.
