PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Eagles fans from the Allentown, Pa. area, down to Allentown, N. J., united on the Birds’ first-ever Black Friday gameday.
“Thanksgiving games were always great,” Lucas Stengel, of West Deptford, N.J., said. “Black Friday, couldn’t ask for anything better on a Friday.”
For Eagles fans, there’s no sweeter deal than a chance to watch their team play.
“I think it’s awesome, I usually ski on Black Friday,” Matthew Cranston, from Allentown, New Jersey, said. “But I had to come out for the Birds today.”
Fans all day were dressing the part: trading in Kelly Green for pitch black.
“The thing is, I just bought a Kelly Green jacket like last week, and then I seen they post it’s going to be black,” Jared Austin, from New Castle, Delaware, said. “I feel it’s Black Friday, I get it, but I’m like dang.”
Black or green — most dressed in layers. But the strong winds were no problem for the superfans.
“We’re used to the cold in Philadelphia,” David Cam, from Lower Macungie, said. “It’s even colder in Allentown, so we’re used to it. We’ll be fine.”
Tailgaters stayed warm at their grills.
But among the typical tailgating cookouts, cornhole and commotion, one parking lot was even rowdier than the rest.
And that’s because Jason Kelce, of the Eagles, and of Super Bowl fame, stopped by Lot K with his podcast, New Heights.
“It’s great to be around people who just love the Eagles, love Kelce, love the family,” fan, Jim Bulgarelli, from Kennett Square, said. “It’s just great.”
Like so many fans crammed in, straining to get a glimpse on their tip-toes, 69 News got some decent views from afar.
Kelce’s podcast posted the outcome of the group’s Belly Bucking competition.
“It was funny, it was just guys basically just bopping their bellies,” Courtney Callinan, from Media, said. “I don’t know who won, it was so chaotic, but I was just excited to meet Jason on his way out.”
According to the post, Jason Kelce won. But perhaps the real winners were the ones who actually got to meet Kelce.
“He was so kind,” Callinan said, “and he spoke to all the fans so it was like super nice.”