Penn Athletics and Historic Philadelphia, Inc. honored Franklin Field, the nation’s first stadium, with a sculpture unveiling on Saturday.
The sculpture — which was shaped like the number one and depicted historic events at the stadium — was designed by Philadelphia-based artist Roselyn Dooley. The April 4 unveiling was the latest installment of a program celebrating 52 of the city’s “firsts.”
Speakers at the event highlighted the stadium’s historic significance as the location of the nation’s first functioning scoreboard, double-decker seating arrangement, and televised college football game.
“The story of America just doesn’t unfold in chambers and conventions,” Historic Philadelphia President Amy Needle said at the event. “It unfolds in places like this.”
Needle added that the “shared civic experience through sports” created by Franklin Field is “quintessentially American and Philadelphian.”
Speakers discussed several notable moments in the stadium’s 131-year history, including the Penn Relay Carnival, hosted by Franklin Field every year since its opening in 1895.
“You want to have traditions,” Penn Relays Assistant Director of Communications Eric Rauman told The Daily Pennsylvanian. “You want to have that culture. That’s what’s going to bring Penn students to Penn … they want to be a part of that tradition, which makes Penn so unique to some of the newer schools, perhaps because our history is so long.”
Penn Relays Executive Director Scott Ward highlighted that Usain Bolt participated in the Penn Relays on Franklin Field’s track in 2010.
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“Franklin Field certainly doesn’t get the crowds it did back in the day, but every April during Penn Relays, it comes back to life,” Ward said.
He added that at its peak, the stadium “frequently had over 70,000 fans in attendance for its football games.”
The event highlighted Franklin Field’s significance not only in Philadelphia’s history but also in Penn’s.
“There’s no better partner for today’s ‘Firstival’ than the University of Pennsylvania, whose legacy is deeply connected to this place and to the history we’re celebrating,” Needle said.
Ward also echoed a similar sentiment about the stadium’s legacy.
“When I think about a stadium built over 130 years ago that’s still in use today, I think about all the staff over the years dedicating their blood, sweat, and tears to keep it running,” he said. “I think about the commitment this University had to its historic preservation,” he said.
He added, “as Franklin Field evolved, so did sports, and those who appreciated this evolution of sport the most have been the fans.”
Philadelphia’s “52 Weeks of Firsts” program spans the entirety of 2026, commemorating a unique “first” that took place in the city each week. The city commissioned artists to create a sculpture for each week of the campaign, featuring designs unique to each site.
According to Ward, the artist who designed the Franklin Field sculpture took “inspiration from the energy of competition, the tradition of Penn Relays, and the iconic architectural structure of Franklin Field.”
The events are part of a citywide effort to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence this year. Alongside the city’s programming, Penn Libraries has scheduled a series of performances, conferences, and exhibitions to celebrate the nation’s anniversary throughout the year.
