On Wednesday April 30th, our chapter hosted a luncheon titled, Parading the Eagles to Victory: How Philadelphia Pulled off a Great Celebration. Guests were treated to a behind the scenes look into the prep, planning and logistics that go into a seamless day of celebration.

Attendees gathered at The Union League at 11:30am for a half hour of networking and lunch was served at noon as the panel discussion got under way. Autumn Gargiule of STV served as moderator and guided the four member panel:
Natalie Faragalli: Office of Special Events, City of Philadelphia Communications Director
Dominic Mireles: Office of Emergency Management, City of Philadelphia Director 
John Rink: PATCO, General Manager
Shakirah Smith: SEPTA, Program Manager, 2026 Special Events

Imagine planning for an event that might not happen. That was just part of the job description for our panelists before the Eagles landed a coveted spot in the Super Bowl. Food trucks, jumbotrons, port o potties and barricades can’t be ordered just a few days before a huge victory parade. It takes a lot of planning and preparation. If you bleed green, you were most likely nervous for the big day. Our panelists were certainly on the 
edge of their seats watching the game. If the birds got the W, they were immediately springing into action to execute their plan. As we all know, The Eagles were the victor and the parade went off without a hitch! Safety was the main priority on this day for our panelists. Driving to the parade was not an option; you were not able to access it by car. So in 18 hours, close to 400k people were safely moved by train or on foot. This was in part due to police departments across several counties partnering as a region to ensure the safety of all attendees. PATCO, SEPTA and the city also worked together to ensure everything from crisis communications to hazard vehicle mitigation and everything in between, flowed seamlessly. 

The success of such a large event came down to prepared and informed participants. Communication with birds fans by text, emails and press conferences played a huge role in safely and efficiently getting them to and from the parade route. 

PATCO, SEPTA and The City of Philadelphia are working together to make continuous improvements for large events. Our esteemed panelists agreed, communication with attendees will continue to be key, especially in the wake of the 2026 WORLD CUP as many visitors will be from other countries, not familiar with our city and will speak other languages. 

Click here to view photos from the event!