March Madness was the start of a year where Philadelphia can show why it’s ‘special’
The opening rounds of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament served as the opening act of a sports calendar that includes the PGA Championship, World Cup, and MLB All Star Game.
John Middleton flew home Sunday afternoon from spring training just as the March Madness doubleheader neared tip-off in South Philly. He has a season to get back for as the Phillies season starts on Thursday. But two-days of college hoops also means that Middleton is nearly in the batter’s box for a historic year in Philadelphia sports.
The opening rounds of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament was the opening act of a sports calendar that includes the PGA Championship in May at Aronimink, the World Cup in June at Lincoln Financial Field, and the MLB All Star Game in July at Citizens Bank Park.
“It’s very exciting and it gets exciting the closer you get,” Middleton said. “But it’s a little bit like my daughter’s wedding and that it’s exciting but it’s a huge responsibility. There’s a million details and you’re worried about getting them all right. So there’s some anxiety there, but that’s probably good because it’s keeping you focused and really pushing hard. But like my daughter’s wedding, I’m going to really enjoy it and when I wake up the next day in the morning, I’m going to say ‘You know that was great, but I’m awfully glad that it’s over. Happy that it happened but glad my life is back to normal.’”
The two days of March Madness drew nearly 60,000 fans over three ticketed sessions. UCLA head coach Mick Cronin had cheesesteaks delivered from Dalessandro’s to the team hotel, Nick Sirianni sat courtside on Friday night, and Tennessee and Virginia played down to the wire on Sunday night. The arena was lively both days as hoop heads packed it.
Next up: golf. The PGA Championship trophy — which is named after John Wanamaker’s son — is already at Aronimink and the staging for the event is being built.
“Driving in everyday, the first thing I see is the merchandise tent,” said Jeff Kiddie, Aronimink’s head golf professional. “It’s like ‘Alright. We’re here.’ It’s super exciting. We’ve had events at the club but to have one of golf’s four majors is an honor.”
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The deluge of sporting events for the nation’s 250th birthday is similar to how Philly was feted in 1976 for the Bicentennial when the city hosted the MLB, NHL, and NBA All Star Games along with the men’s Final Four. Fifty years later, that remains unmatched. But Middleton said this year is still a chance to show off Philly like they did in 1976.
“I think this is an opportunity for Philadelphia to kind of step up and be recognized for its extraordinary role in the history of this country, and I think to celebrate it,” Middleton said. “This is an opportunity for Philadelphia to really put its name out there. Certainly across the country, but I think even more broadly around the world.”
The PGA Championship has not been at Aronimink since 1962 and it’s the first major to be in Philly since 2013 when the U.S. Open came to Merion. The Truist Championship last May at Philadelphia Cricket Club was well attended, providing a taste of what to expect at Aronimink.
“The Truist showed how excited Philly golf fans were to have professional golf back here for the first time since 2018,” Kiddie said as Aronimink hosted the BMW Championship that year. “Philly has shown it’s strength in how fast tickets have sold out and how well hospitality sales have gone. 3,500 volunteer registration filled up as quickly as possible. It’s not just exciting for the club but it’s exciting for the area. What an incredible year we’re having in Philadelphia with sports and the 250th celebration of the country. So it’s pretty incredible that we kind of get to kick that off after NCAA basketball.”
Middleton grew up in Havertown and was in the 600 Level at Veterans Stadium for the 1976 All Star Game. President Ford threw out the first pitch, Mark Fidrych talked to the ball, and George Foster was the game’s MVP. But the stars of the show were the Philly fans, who booed every Reds player during pre-game introductions.
Fifty years later, that game — and the year — is still a memory. This summer, Middleton will be in charge. Two days of March Madness was a reminder that it’s coming soon.
“I want people to understand why I love the city and why I love the people here,” Middleton said. “I was born here. I’ve lived here my whole life. I have no intention of moving anywhere else despite people say ‘You should move to Florida and save on taxes.’ We’re not moving to Florida. We’re staying in Philadelphia. And I want the world to understand what makes it so special.
“The history is obviously the foundation of this event culminating on July 4th. Philadelphia is the birthplace of modern democracy, and I think that’s such an important point that too many people forget. It needs to be reinforced and people need to understand that all these people came to Philadelphia 200-plus years ago and kind of created a whole new way of governing a society and it’s the best form of governance that there is in the world. It’s not perfect but it also allows for improvement over time that the citizens can change the course of the government and meet so that it meets the changing needs of the society. That’s all I would like. I want people to understand the incredibly important role Philadelphia played in all of that.”