Visit Philadelphia organized a 'Bird Call' campaign at the Penn Bookstore for visitors to leave support for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Credit: Chenyao LiuPenn community members left messages of support for the Philadelphia Eagles at the Penn Bookstore Monday as part of the "Bird Call" campaign, a citywide promotional effort leading up to the Super Bowl.
The campaign, organized by Visit Philadelphia, placed retro telephones at five locations across the city, including the bookstore, Dilworth Park, and Temple University's Student Center. Fans will be able to leave messages at the locations through Tuesday to have a chance to be featured in hype videos and social media promotions.
Visit Philadelphia's Vice President for Communications Jenea Robinson wrote to The Daily Pennsylvanian that while Visit Philadelphia wanted to include locations in Center City for the campaign, the group “also focused on engaging students and local residents in University City, making the Penn Bookstore a natural choice.”
“This initiative is a key part of Visit Philadelphia’s efforts to foster civic pride,” Robinson wrote. "Students from across the nation come to our universities and often become some of Philadelphia's biggest ambassadors. We're excited for students, professors, and university staff to join in and show their support for the Philadelphia Eagles!”
College junior Siddharth Chitta, a Buffalo, N.Y. native, said he left a message encouraging the Eagles to “demolish” the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl after the Chiefs eliminated the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. He called the Philadelphia atmosphere during the NFL season "unifying" despite not being from the city.
“On campus, we have a lot of different people from a lot of different areas, but when it comes to football, it feels like everyone comes together as Eagles fans,” he said. Chitta added that because the Bills are not in the Super Bowl, “now all my love goes to the Eagles.”
The event was part of a wave of celebrations throughout Philadelphia after the Eagles clinched a Super Bowl berth. Thousands of green-clad Eagles fans crowded Broad Street on Sunday night, as some climbed lampposts and lit fireworks.
College junior Ethan Farber, who attended the Eagles’ NFC championship win over the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field, said he and his friends joined other Eagles fans to celebrate on Broad Street.
“People were everywhere — purposely backfiring their engines, slamming on their horns,” he said. “The energy was so, so high throughout the city.”
The "Bird Call" phone will remain at the Penn Bookstore through 2 p.m. Tuesday. Fans who want to leave a message for the Eagles but can't make it to one of the five locations can call (267)-352-4496 anytime up until game day.
The Eagles will face the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl in New Orleans on Feb. 9.
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