It’s Time to Bring Army/Navy Back to Philly – Permanently
The Yearly Tradition to End the College Football Season Is A Staple In Philly.
In Philly, we would like to say that we had something to do with the beginning of college football. That’s because — well — we did. This weekend, during one of the most successful football seasons in recent memory for both Army and Navy, we will have just one thing missing when their iconic rivalry game kicks off in Northwest Stadium in Maryland for the 125th meeting: a 31–13 victory for Navy. It should be played at Lincoln Financial Field — not in 2027 — but every year.
PHOTO: ClutchPoints
The season is the first for both the Army and Navy to be ranked since October 1960. It was also the first year that both teams were undefeated, shortly after the end of World War II in 1945. Nothing would complement this history as well as playing one of the most popular college football games each year in the city where college football all started.
Just weeks after the first collegiate football took place just sixty miles from Philadelphia between the College of New Jersey (Rutgers) and Princeton — America’s first Thanksgiving Day Game took place in 1869 on the Grounds of the Germantown Cricket Club as mentioned in the Evening Telegraph.
Philadelphia didn’t just host its first Army/Navy game one hundred and twenty-five years ago in 1899 at Franklin Field; no other city has hosted more contests — 90 in all — for the traditional last regular-season game in the college football season.
In 2024, the Phillies and Eagles have had game events honoring our men and women in uniform. The Eagles proudly dubbed their November 14th game against the Commanders as a Salute to Service Game, met with families the night before away games to provide tickets, and conducted Operation Homefront. The Flyers have a Military Appreciation Game, and the Sixers have a Military Appreciation Night that donates 500 tickets to veterans and their families.
With the need for a neutral site, South Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field is perfect—between West Point, New York, and Annapolis, Maryland. The game that has also been previously played at JFK Stadium (Municipal) and Veterans Stadium — Philadelphia is also set to host fellow servicemen and families alike, as evident in some of the other events that Philadelphia is hosting at Lincoln Financial Field, such as the April 2025 AMA Supercross Championship, Monster Jam, 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the 2027 NCAA Mens Lacrosse Championships.
Sure, the last Army/Navy Game was played in Philly in 2022, and the late-season tradition will return in 2027. But for an annual event that is such a perfect fit, let’s just make it a December weekend in Philly.
Every year.
PHOTO: ClutchPoints
Discover more from Philadelphia Sports Nation
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.