Penn Athletics and Historic Philadelphia Inc. unveiled the sculpture Saturday, honoring Franklin Field, the nation’s first stadium.
The sculpture, in the shape of a jersey number 1, depicts a historical event at the stadium and was designed by Philadelphia-based artist Roselyn Dooley. The April 4 announcement was the latest in a program celebrating the city’s 52 “firsts.”
“Penn Athletics always enjoys the opportunity to showcase our historic facilities, especially Franklin Field and the Palestra. It is obviously a great honor for Franklin Field to be part of the ’52 Weeks First’ exhibition held throughout the city throughout America’s 250th anniversary, and we were thrilled when the city approached us about joining the stadium,” he wrote in the Daily Pennsylvanian.
The statement continued: “With the Penn Relays game just a few weeks away, it was clearly the perfect time to honor Franklin Field this year, and the timing couldn’t have been better.”
Speakers at the event highlighted the stadium’s historical significance as the nation’s first functioning scoreboard, two-story seating arrangement, and the location of a televised college football game.
“America’s story doesn’t unfold in the halls and conventions,” Philadelphia Historic District President Amy Needle said at the event. “There are developments in places like this, too.”
Needle added that the “shared civic experience through sports” that Franklin Field has created is “very American, very Philadelphia.”
Speakers discussed some notable moments in the stadium’s 131-year history, including the Penn Relays Carnival, which Franklin Field has hosted every year since its opening in 1895.
“We want to have a tradition,” Eric Roman, assistant director of communications for Penn Relays, told DP. “You want to have that culture. That’s what brings Penn students to Penn… They want to be a part of that tradition. That’s what makes Penn so unique for some new schools, probably because we have such a long history.”
Penn Relays Executive Director Scott Ward highlighted that Usain Bolt joined Penn Relays on the track at Franklin Field in 2010.
“Franklin Field certainly doesn’t have the crowds it used to have, but it comes alive every April during the Penn Relays,” Ward said.
He added that at its peak, the stadium “frequently drew more than 70,000 fans for soccer matches.”
This event highlighted the importance of Franklin Field not only in Philadelphia’s history, but also in Penn’s history.
“There is no better partner for today’s First Tival than the University of Pennsylvania, whose legacy is deeply tied to this place and the history we celebrate,” Needle said.
Ward expressed similar sentiments about the stadium’s legacy.
“When I think of a stadium that was built over 130 years ago and is still in use, I think of all the staff who have given their blood, sweat and tears over the years to keep it running,” he said. “I think about this university’s commitment to historic preservation,” he said.
He added, “As Franklin Field evolved, so did the sport, and the people who appreciated the evolution of the sport the most were the fans.”
Philadelphia’s “52 Weeks of Firsts” program will commemorate a unique “first” that happened in the city each week throughout 2026. The city commissioned artists to create sculptures for each week of the campaign, featuring designs unique to each site.
Ward said the artists who designed the Franklin Field sculpture were “inspired by the energy of competition, the tradition of Penn Relays, and the iconic architectural structure of Franklin Field.”
These events are part of a citywide effort to celebrate this year’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Alongside the city’s programs, Penn Libraries is planning a series of performances, conferences, and exhibitions throughout the year to celebrate National Day.
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