In Super Bowl-hyped Philly, 'everybody is being nice to each other' - well, almost

Eagles fan Kevin Roberts had never met Walt Hoppe before, but that didn't stop him from grabbing Hoppe's arm in the center of Reading Terminal Market on Saturday and urging other Eagles fans to taunt him.

Roberts had good reason. Hoppe, of Mayfair, was wearing a Dallas Cowboys shirt and a New England Patriots hat.  In Philadelphia. On the day before the Eagles play the Patriots in Super Bowl LII.

"You wrong on so many levels," Roberts said, shaking his head. "You got to be kidding me. Can you believe this guy?"

In a city without a Super Bowl win to its name, Saturday in Philadelphia was full of hope, giddiness, and, of course, spontaneous outbursts of "E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!" Strangers complimented one another on their Eagles gear. And generally couldn't seem to stop smiling.

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"It's like Christmas today, it really is," said Phil Grant, 35, of Mount Airy, as he stood among life-size cutouts of Eagles players in the courtyard of City Hall. "Everybody is happy. Everybody is being nice to each other."

Unless, of course, you were wearing Patriots (or Cowboys) blue!

Among the city's excited were those at the region's airports headed to the big game. Philadelphia International Airport warned passengers to arrive early and allow extra time Saturday because the airport was busy with Eagles fans heading to Minneapolis.

At Northeast Philadelphia Airport, which typically serves smaller and private planes, staffers said they had 12 flights scheduled to depart for Minneapolis on Saturday.

Among those bound for the excitement was Kevin Smith, 38, of Phoenixville, who brought along a case of Underdog beer from Stable 12 Brewing Co. The Phoenixville brewery released the beer around noon Friday, naming it after the long-shot status that seems to have emboldened rather than discouraged the Eagles. Four hours after Underdog hit the market, it was sold out.

"This is at least my minimum contribution," Smith said of the beer, liquid thanks to his friends for allowing him to hitch a ride on their plane.

David Adelman, 45, booked a private plane to Minneapolis on Saturday morning for him and five of his friends through Wheels Up, a membership-based private flight aviation company.

"There are two important elements: getting the plane and getting the tickets," he said.

Adelman is president and chief executive of Campus Apartments, a West Philadelphia-based company specializing in student housing. He grew up an Eagles fan on the Main Line and said he made the decision before the NFC championship game to go to Minneapolis if the Eagles reached the Super Bowl.

"I went in '05 to Jacksonville and it didn't feel as exciting as it feels now," he said. "I think people just feel this team really has a chance to get it done."

If they do – and even if they don't – one place expected to attract thousands following Sunday's game is the intersection of Frankford and Cottman Avenues, where fans traditionally pour into the streets after city sports teams' victories. Nearby is the Mayfair Diner, where manager Gerry Miller, 57, said Saturday she was excited, not nervous, about the likelihood of rowdy crowds Sunday night.

"I'm prepared for a really good, boisterous crowd because that's what we do. That's what we're known to do," she said.

Miller chuckled at the rumor that police were going to use gear oil instead of Crisco to grease the poles to try to prevent Eagles enthusiasts from climbing them.

"Now you really think that's going to stop somebody that really wants to climb that pole from climbing that pole? Absolutely not," she said. "You can't stop them from doing this. These are traditions! This is Philadelphia! We bring it all. It's going to be a lot of fun."

Standing at Frankford and Cottman on Saturday selling cookies were opportunistic Girl Scouts Jayanna Taylor and Zoe Harris. While business was a bit slow, their hopes for an Eagles win were high.

"They're going to make the Patriots go home crying," said Harris, 14.

Meanwhile, business was booming for Mike Chambers. As soon as he opened the back of his truck and started setting up his Eagles shirts and hats for sale at Frankford and Cottman, hungry fans started to appear as if out of thin air.

Chambers, 39, a general contractor from Tacony, said he's been coming to the intersection every night for more than a week after he gets done with work. He's sold more than 400 shirts at $15 and $20 each.

But don't look for him there Sunday.

"I have a ritual I have to do. Believe it or not I have to clean my kitchen from ceiling to floor," he said. "Every time I do that no matter what team they play, they win."

Back at Reading Terminal Market, Roberts continued to playfully ask anyone wearing Eagles gear to taunt Hoppe for wearing a Cowboys shirt and Patriots hat.

Hoppe admitted he doesn't even like the Patriots. "I hate the Patriots, but I hate the Eagles even more," he said.

That only fueled Roberts' good-natured ribbing, especially when Hoppe revealed he's 81.

"He ain't gonna make it to 82," Roberts joked.