The East Coast city of Philadelphia is set to welcome sports fans from around the world this spring, with an exciting schedule of annual sporting events taking place.

Starting in late March 2019, visitors can participate in ‘America’s favourite pastime’, with the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team competing in their first home game of the season on 28th March 2019. The Philadelphia region will also play host to some of America’s most prestigious annual sporting events, and this April the city will celebrate the 125th running of the Penn Relays, the oldest and largest track and field competition in the US. In May, Philadelphia will host the annual 10-mile Broad Street Run and also the Devon Horse Show, which is the largest and oldest outdoor multi-breed competition in the United States.

Further information on spring sporting events in Philadelphia is below:

Return of the Major League Baseball Season in March 2019 
Major League Baseball (MLB) is the oldest of the four major professional sports leagues in the US and Canada and the 2019 season will begin on 20th March 2019. The Philadelphia Phillies’ first home game will take place at the city’s Citizens Bank Park on 28th March against the Atlanta Braves, who are well-known rivals of the Phillies. Citizen Bank Park will also host themed nights throughout the season, including a Star Wars™ charity night on 17th July 2019, when fans can dress up as their favourite Star Wars™ character and pose for photographs with characters from the movies at the game. Visitors to Philadelphia have plenty of opportunities to enjoy the iconic baseball experience since the MLB regular season is scheduled to end on 29th September 2019. For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.mlb.com/phillies.

125th Running of the Penn Relays: 25th – 27th April 2019
The Penn Relays is the oldest and largest track and field competition in the US, with the inaugural event taking place on 21st April 1895! In 1914 the Relays became an international event when Oxford University crossed the Atlantic to compete and since then, famous figures who have competed in the prestigious relays include former astronaut Buzz Aldrin and politician Bernie Sanders. This year will celebrate the 125th running of the Penn Relays and will see American and international athletes take place in events such as hurdle races, racewalks and 100m sprints. The Penn Relays will take place at the University of Philadelphia’s Franklin Field and tickets to attend are available to purchase online. For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.pennrelays.com.

Broad Street Run: 5th May 2019
Taking place on Sunday 5th May 2019, the 40th Blue Cross Broad Street Run will mark Philadelphia’s official start to the running season. Starting at Broad Street and West Fisher Avenue, around 40,000 runners participate in the 10-mile race, which has been named as one of the fastest 10-mile courses in the US by Runner’s World. The Broad Street Run will pass by several of Philadelphia’s neighbourhoods and landmarks, including Philadelphia City Hall and the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, before finishing at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Dedicated cheer areas will be set up along the entire street, allowing travellers to cheer on the runners and enjoy the city views and various entertainment performances along the course. For more information, visit www.broadstreetrun.com.

Devon Horse Show & Country Fair: 23rd May – 2nd June 2019
Devon Horse Show is the largest and oldest outdoor multi-breed competition in the United States, drawing competitors and spectators from around the world. Taking place for 10 days from 24th May – 3rd June 2019, this horse and carriage show provides visitors with a country fair atmosphere and continues a tradition going back more than 110 years. Along with events such as a Shetland Pony Steeplechase and dressage performances, the fairground at the show will also be filled with boutique shopping stands, unique food stalls, an art gallery and a fun fair with a Ferris wheel. General admission tickets to the Devon Horse Show cost from £38 ($50). To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.devonhorseshow.net.

For more information on Philadelphia, visit the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau’s website,
www.discoverPHL.com

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Photo Captions (From Left to Right): 
Image 1: Citizens Bank Park is the Phillies’ home stadium. Image courtesy of Miles Kennedy for PHLCVB.
Image 2: The Devon Horse Show & Country Fair will take place from 23rd May – 2nd June 2019. Image courtesy of Leslie Parker.
Image 3: The Broad Street Run will take place in Philadelphia on 5th May 2019. Image courtesy of Independence Blue Cross.

For Further Press Information, please contact:
Greg Evans – Philadelphia UK Office
Tel: 07768 341790 / 01633 480 754
Email: [email protected]

GEC PR
Tel: 020 3907 6824
Email: [email protected]

About Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau
Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB), www.discoverPHL.com, a private non-profit membership corporation, is the official Tourism Promotion Agency for the City of Philadelphia globally, and the primary sales and marketing agency for the expanded Pennsylvania Convention Centre. The PHLCVB competes with its counterparts worldwide for convention and tourism business. The organization has divisions dedicated to the multicultural, sports, and life sciences markets.