Bucks County Eagles Fans Head To Super Bowl Celebration

Danny Sweeney and Carl Salega at the Croydon Station Thursday morning.
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com

Predictions of chaos and unmanageable crowds that preceded Thursday morning’s commute to Philadelphia for the Eagles’ Super Bowl celebration, but the reality was much calmer and much more manageable for those taking SEPTA’s Regional Rail.

The three Levittown-area SEPTA stations servicing the parade goers – Croydon, Langhorne and Woodbourne – had long lines before daybreak but those lines quickly vanished as the first trains headed to the Eagles celebration arrived.

The first SEPTA trains hit area stations shortly after 5 a.m. and the last train headed down around 9:20 a.m. In the time between, other trains picked up passengers and transported them to the city.

Fans said the lines were moving quickly and they were pleased with the way transportation was handled.

Carl Salega is a lifelong fan of the Eagles. Shortly after 7 a.m., he was lined up to get on the train at Croydon in Bristol Township. He was five years old when the Eagles won their last championship in 1960. He attended the 1980 and 2005 Super Bowls, but skipped this year’s because of the cold weather in Minnesota.

“We really have no idea what we are getting into, no one really does,” laughed Danny Sweeney, who was standing in line at the Croydon Station with Salega leading up to the platform. The two, meeting another group, had no real plan once they get to the city other than the goal of reaching the Super Bowl celebration ceremony at the base of the Art Museum.

Excited chatter and E-A-G-L-E-S chants continued as time passed before the 7:15 a.m. train directly to Center City arrived. The excitement and jubilation in the air was palatable on Thursday morning.

“It’s a once in a lifetime think, you just never know if this is going to happen again,” said Greg Hober.

Hober’s group was expecting a long day in the city and has planned accordingly by making reservations for lunch following the five-mile victory parade.

“The Art Museum is going to be mobbed, so I think we are going to try to avoid that,” said Stephen Carroll, one of Hober’s traveling companions.

At the Woodbourne Station in Middletown, the crowds were amiable and manageable all day long.

“Yeah, I’m excited,” said Jairus James, who decided that he was going to be going to the parade earlier in the week.

The 500-space parking lot was about 75 percent filled, but still had extra spots as of 8:30 a.m.

The situation at the Langhorne Station in Middletown was very similar.

“As soon as we won, we knew that we wanted to go down,” said Rick Bodine.

Bodine’s job as an HVAC contractor meant he was unable to commit to a trip the city earlier than Thursday morning, but he ended up heading to the festivities.

Bodine aimed to make it to the Art Museum at some point during the parade, he said.

“As soon as we won the Super Bowl, we knew that we were going,” said Gianna D., who was boarding the train in Langhorne with Myles G.

A diehard Eagles fans, Myles G. and Gianna D. boarded the train at the Langhorne Station. Myles said he has been waiting for this parade for as long as he has been a fan.

The couple planned to meet their friends at Temple University before making their way to the Art Museum.

While there was not any tailgating allowed at any of the three stations, that didn’t stop passengers from bringing down drinks. Around 7:45 a.m., a man carrying a case of Bud Light joined the fans heading to the Langhorne Station.

Those who took Regional Rail to the celebration needed certain types of fare passes. SEPTA sold all 50,000 of their special Eagles celebration passes by midday Wednesday, while advising the intercity subway system was free all day Thursday.

SEPTA had ambassadors and officers at each open station to help passengers. Bristol Township and Middletown both had their own emergency management officials at the stations and dusted off their papal visit plans form 2015.

Bristol Township and Middletown police said Eagles fans were well behaved and reported no problems.

Trains returning from Philadelphia are expected to bring Eagles fans back to Bucks County starting at 2 p.m. and ending around 9 p.m.