Franklin Field - Penn Quakers
Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86
Franklin Field 235 S 33rd St Philadelphia, PA 19104
Year Opened: 1895 Capacity: 52,593
College Football’s Oldest Active Stadium
Opened in 1895, Franklin Field in Philadelphia, PA is recognized as the oldest still-active stadium in all of college football. The facility originally had wooden stands, which were rebuilt with concrete in 1922, with the upper deck added in 1925. This 130-plus-year-old stadium even served as the home field of the Philadelphia Eagles back in the 1950s and 60s, in the days before the team changed their logo to the modern version used today.
While its 52,593-seat capacity is no longer filled with fans like it used to be, this venerable stadium is still proud to be the home of the UPenn Quakers. The Quakers began playing football in 1876 and hold the record for most college football games played by any team in any division (over 1,400); the team also holds the record for most games played at a single stadium, with over 850 played at Franklin Field.
Food & Beverage 2
There are several concession options at Franklin Field, but the prices are pretty steep compared to some other stadiums you may have been to. The home side features options such as pizza and hot dogs, while the visiting side offers cheesesteak, a Philadelphia staple. Snacks include packaged candy and pretzel braids (with or without cheese sauce). Food prices range from $5.49 for candy all the way up to $13.79 for cheesesteak.
For drinks, Franklin Field offers a selection of bottled water, Powerade, bottled soda, and premium or domestic beer, and the prices here are even higher. Bottled water clocks in at a steep $5.49, while bottled Pepsi products cost a whopping $7 plus. Beer runs $14 to $16.
Atmosphere 2
Franklin Field is a decent stadium with an imposing look and feel as you walk up. However, the lack of fans in attendance can make this huge stadium look practically empty. Given its age, it lacks some of the modern amenities you may be used to, though it does feature a modern video scoreboard. I did not see a mascot during my most recent visit, although they do have one, and the UPenn band is very small.
Neighborhood 5
Philadelphia is a great city to visit, with lots of tourist attractions and plenty of restaurants and hotels. UPenn’s campus is located on the other side of the Schuylkill River from the city center, where you will find all the classic tourist spots such as Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. You will find restaurants serving cheesesteak sandwiches on almost every corner, so you can join the great debate between Cooper Sharp and Cheez Whiz. I recommend Cleavers, but locals will flock to any neighborhood pizzeria, corner store, or deli counter to buy their beloved sandwiches.
The reason cheesesteak is such a big deal in Philly is not actually because of the steak, but due to the bread – local bakers in the city have perfected hearth baking techniques that produce a crusty exterior with a soft interior, perfect for soaking up the juiciness of the meat and cheese without making the whole sandwich a soggy mess.
Fans 3
Ivy League fans tend to be all in; even a tiny crowd will feel like a lot more due to how loud and intense the fans are. There appear to be are more alums at UPenn football games than there are students, but the alums are still proud of their team and willing to yell at the top of their lungs.
The reason the score in this section is not higher is because even a few thousand fans in a venue the size of Franklin Field are swallowed up by its enormity, and also because so many of the UPenn fans who did show up left early. Even during my most recent visit, many left during a game that came down to a missed field goal as the clock expired.
Access 4
Parking will be very difficult, but in big cities like this, many residents don’t even have cars. Instead, they use mass transit systems to get around, such as the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), a comprehensive mashup of subways, trolleys, trains, and over 100 bus routes. The trains and subways tend to be faster than the buses, which can easily get stuck in traffic, and you can also use Uber or Lyft.
There is also an international airport right here in Philadelphia, and if you are willing to take the train from there, you can pay $6 to $8 to go 4 stops to Penn Medicine Station, which is only about a 4-minute walk from Franklin Field.
Once you get into the stadium, it is easy to move around – the concourse will allow you to walk all the way around the facility. There are plenty of bathrooms to accommodate the size of the crowd, and at a typical game, you won’t see any lines at the concessions due to how small the crowd size is.
Return on Investment 2
Tickets to Franklin Field start at $15, or you can pay a little more to sit in the few rows of red and blue chairback seats on the south side of the field. Almost all the seats in the stadium are metal bleachers without backs, but you can sit in the chairbacks if you want to; they are located right next to the band.
If you are in the area, it is worth a trip to Franklin Field for its history if nothing else, but if you are looking for a lot of energy, passion, and pageantry from your football experience, you likely will not find that here.
Extras 2
If you are interested in seeing a history of Pennsylvania athletics, take a stroll over to The Palestra, UPenn’s legendary facility. With no pillars or arches inside, every seat in this venue has a perfect view of the court, and its unique vaulted roof makes it one of the loudest arenas in all sports due to the echo chamber created by its barrel-shaped ceiling. A wrap-around hallway acts as the concourse and is filled to the brim with photos, plaques, murals, and trophies galore. The Palestra has also hosted more total basketball games, teams, and NCAA tournament games than any other arena.
Final Thoughts
Franklin Field in Philadelphia, PA is a classic football stadium that is steeped in history. While the experience won’t be over the top like at some of the bigger FCS programs, it is still a facility that is worth a look if you are in the area – it stands as a testament to how far college football in the United States has come.
