Staff
Philadelphia is a city known for many things⎯be it culture, famous landmarks, food, or a lively atmosphere. Perhaps the biggest thing it is known for though is a proud sporting tradition. Philly is a place that is synonymous with sports, and that sees local residents make them a central part of life. While this applies to many different sports, there are some that Philly is most well-known for, and that it does best.
But which sports might these be?
Ice hockey
As noted in an interview with retired icon Brett Hull by Betway Insider, the current season is showing why so many people all over the US love hockey. The sheer excitement NHL games deliver makes it something people can’t get enough of, and this is even truer if you bet on hockey matches as well. Backing one side to win or making a prop bet on individual players in a game is, after all, the perfect way to bring more fun to following this sport.
Of course, the NHL is a major deal across Philly and sees a lot of support for the Flyers. This is not a shock when you think of how successful the side has been over time. They have, for example, won the Stanley Cup twice and claimed eight Conference championships.
While the team might have had the most success in the 1970s and 1980s, modern-day players, such as Travis Konecny, still show they are a force to be reckoned with. This is confirmed even further when you read of hot young prospect Emil Andrae’s recent 3-year deal. All this makes ice hockey one of the sports that Philly is known for doing at a high level.
Basketball
While the free-scoring exploits of Alex Ovechkin, who according to Brett Hull is a “freak of nature” might explain why ice hockey is such a top sport nationally, it is not the only game around that has plenty to attract fans with. Neither is it the only sport that Philadelphia is known for excelling in!
Basketball is another great example of the city’s proud sporting history, and it is a major deal across all neighborhoods. With three NBA titles in 1955, 1967, and 1983, the Sixers are a big reason for this and explain why this is a sport that Philly is known for doing well in.
When you also think of the big-name NBA superstars to have come from the city (such as Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, and Kyle Lowry), the links between the city and basketball become even clearer. They represent some of the biggest names in NBA history and show why Philadelphia is known as being one of the best places for basketball.
Football
Some teams stand-out in certain sports and grab people’s attention nationally. The two teams that have caught Brett Hull’s attention this season are the Seattle Kraken and New Jersey Devils. Football is no different and over time, has seen some teams emerge as ones that all fans know about.
This is certainly true for the Philadelphia Eagles, and their success over the years has seen the city become a top footballing hotspot. Recent years have cemented this reputation, with a Super Bowl LII title in 2017 to reflect on and a run of Conference/division wins in the 2000s and 2010s.
There was also, of course, an appearance at the Super Bowl in 2022, which resulted in a close defeat. With regular playoff runs also spread across the Eagles’ history, they show why Philly is such a top city for football. The Eagles also have a bunch of fierce rivalries with sides such as the Giants, and this makes Philadelphia a city that is fully integrated into the NHL.
Boxing
In the same way as NHL great Wayne Gretzky’s goal record makes him stand out as a true icon, though according to Brett Hull this will be the only one of Gretzky’s records to broken by Ovechkin. The feats of some boxers from Philly have seen the state become known for excellence in the ring.
Multiple world title winner Bernard Hopkins stands out in particular, and he is a proud native of Philly. Over his illustrious career, he not only won many titles across various weight divisions but became known for his mastery of the art. Matthew Saad Muhammed was WBC Light Heavyweight Champion for over two years and is another Philly native who sums up why the city is known for boxing greatness.
Philadelphia is a top city for many sports
With the crazy year the Bruins are having in the NHL, who Brett Hull picks as his team of the East to make the Stanley Cup finals, or the season the Bucks are having in the NBA, you can easily see how many cities across the US have a real passion for sports. There is nowhere quite like Philly though⎯both in terms of the awesome fans who follow the city’s top teams and in the sheer excellence shown across the sporting pantheon in Philadelphia. All this has allowed it to become known for doing certain sports best and being a real hub for them nationally.