Some of the greatest moments of the group have come in recent years. For the Eagles’ Super Bowl LII victory, Tampdelphia hosted a watch party at a local hotel, where they opened the walls to three ballrooms, had three large projectors, and two hot buffet lines.
There were around 550 people in attendance, and Parone emceed the event wearing a tuxedo and Kelly Green baseball hat.
“I said, ‘Welcome to the Eagles’ Super Bowl,’ and I got a standing ovation,” Parone said. “I said, ‘These are my people.'”
What started as a local gathering with a few people in 1994 has now turned into a way of life for some Philadelphia fans in Tampa Bay. The Tampadelphia Facebook group has more than 4,000 followers, and 700 Eagles fans attended the Super Bowl LIX watch party.
With the Eagles in town for a Week 4 matchup against the Buccaneers, there will be some extra juice at Tampadelphia. There will be an event at Roadhouse Grill on Saturday from noon to 7 PM. Parone said he’s not going to the game because of the heat, but he certainly won’t be alone on Sunday.
“When you go through life and you go to work every day, every week, every month, every year, and you bust your [butt], you’ve got your projects, you’ve got a bunch of pressures,” Parone said, “… by Sunday, just give me three hours to hide, get something good to eat and drink, and watch my team. And that is where I come in. That’s what Tampadelphia is all about. Tampadelphia doesn’t exist. Where the group is is Tampadelphia.” — Written by Matt Ryan