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John F. Kennedy Stadium (or JFK Stadium, originally known as Philadelphia Municipal Stadium) was an open-air stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that stood from 1925 to 1992. The South Philadelphia stadium was situated along Broad Street at a location that is now home to the massive Philadelphia Sports Complex. At the stadium's peak it sat 100,000 to 110,000 people before settling at a capacity of about 75,000 during the later years. Designed by the architectural firm of Simon & Simon^[1], the style was classic 1920s with a horseshoe seating design that surrounding a track and football field. Bleachers were located at the open end. The field was 710 feet wide and 1,020 feet long. It was built on a 13.5 acre tract and made of concrete, stone, and brick. ^[2]

JFK Stadium was constructed in time for the 1926 Sesquicentennial International Exposition. Marking the Exposition's opening, the first event the stadium hosted was the first Gene Tunney versus Jack Dempsey heavyweight boxing match in which Tunney won the championship.^[3]

The stadium was known chiefly as the site of the annual Army-Navy games from 1946 to 1979 and during the 1960s served as the home field for Navy when they played Notre Dame. Undefeated Rocky Marciano knocked out Jersey Joe Walcott there in 1952 to win boxing's heavyweight championship. The Philadelphia Eagles professional football team played here from 1936 to 1939 before the team moved to Shibe Park in 1940. The stadium was also home to the Philadelphia Bell of the World Football League of 1974 to 1975.

JFK Stadium occasionally hosted rock concerts including the American portion of Live Aid on July 13, 1985. Notable music groups to play at the stadium include The Beatles, U2, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Yes, Aerosmith, Michael Jackson, The Beach Boys, Genesis, Pink Floyd, and the Grateful Dead. Led Zeppelin was set to end their 1977 U.S. Tour at the stadium, but canceled the remaining 7 shows on the tour following the sudden passing of Robert Plant's son. Journey recorded a concert here in 1983.

After years of poor maintenance, the stadium was condemned on July 13, 1989 by Mayor Wilson Goode. A concert on July 7 by the Grateful Dead was the last public event held at the stadium. It was demolished in 1992. The Wachovia Center now stands on the site, which is part of a complex that includes the Wachovia Spectrum, Lincoln Financial Field and Citizen's Bank Park.

• "City Closes JFK Stadium," The Philadelphia Inquirer, July 14, 1989.
• "Goodbye To JFK Stadium As Demolition Firm Is Hired," The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 10, 1992.
• "Wreckers, 1, JFK Stadium, 0," The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 21, 1992.

Philadelphia Portal

• Grateful Dead's July 7, 1989 JFK Concert
• Site of JFK/Municipal Stadium via Google Maps
• Aerial photograph of JFK/Municipal Stadium in 1927

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