John F. Kennedy Stadium

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John F. Kennedy Stadium (or JFK Stadium, originally known as Philadelphia Municipal Stadium) was an open-air stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that stood from 1925 to 1992. Its design was classic 1920s' style, consisting of a horseshoe surrounding a track and football field, with bleachers at the open end. The stadium once sat 100,000 to 110,000 people, but in later years had a capacity of about 75,000. The stadium was in South Philadelphia along Broad Street.

In one sense, it was decades ahead of its time, because all of the city's professional sports teams' facilities are now located in that area.

It was first constructed in time for the 1926 Sesquicentennial International Exposition. It hosted the first Gene Tunney versus Jack Dempsey heavyweight boxing match in which Tunney won the championship and a light heavyweight boxing match between Georges Carpentier and Tommy Loughran.

The stadium was known chiefly as the site of numerous Army-Navy games. It also hosted concerts from time to time, notably the American portion of Live Aid on July 13, 1985. Notable music groups to play at the stadium include U2, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Yes, Michael Jackson, The Beatles, Genesis and Pink Floyd. Led Zeppelin was set to end their 1977 U.S. Tour at the stadium, but cancelled the remaining 7 shows on the tour following the sudden passing of Robert Plant's son. Journey recorded a concert here in 1983. The Philadelphia Eagles football team played here from 1936 to 1939. The stadium was also home to the Philadelphia Bell of the World Football League of 1974 to 1975.

After being poorly maintained over the years, the stadium was condemned on July 13, 1989 by Mayor Wilson Goode. A concert on July 7 by the Grateful Dead was the last public event held at the stadium. It was demolished in 1992. The Wachovia Center now stands on the site.

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[edit] References

"City Closes JFK Stadium," The Philadelphia Inquirer, July 14, 1989.
"Goodbye To JFK Stadium As Demolition Firm Is Hired," The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 10, 1992.
"Wreckers, 1, JFK Stadium, 0," The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 21, 1992.