Army-Navy weekend underway in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- It's a big weekend for the United States Armed Forces.

The Army-Navy game is happening at Lincoln Financial Field this weekend, when our nation's finest will battle it out on the football field.

But before the two teams clashed on the gridiron, the cadets and midshipmen met in the Patriot Games.

The first event was on Friday morning - something of a "Rocky" relay event on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

It was a timed challenge for Army and Navy.

Both men and women had to do 30 pushups, jump rope 75 times and then carry 40-pound kettlebells up and down the steps.

"I'm pretty confident in our team," said Caitlin Johnson of the Army. "They've been training really hard, they're really driven individuals. I think they'll excel."

That confidence came through for Army who won the relay event.

But Navy muscled through the pullup challenge, beating Army in a tiebreaker that received a roar from spectators who crowded the shops at Liberty Place.

"We've been very blessed by Philadelphia," said Josh Temeles of the Navy.

Army didn't give up the fight. An intense game of tug of war brought the Black Knights right back in the lead. It was a strong finish on Navy turf at the Battleship New Jersey in Camden.

Some 50,000 people are projected to flock to Philadelphia this weekend to watch the game.

"We were at the game last year, in New York, or New Jersey. First time in Philadelphia, it's been fantastic," said Bob Dalton, who was visiting from Phoenix, Arizona. "The atmosphere is great. Philadelphia has been really, really good to us."

PHL sports projects this Army-Navy weekend will generate about $30 million in economic impact for the city.

"Ninety of the last 123 games have been hosted by Philadelphia. We know how to host the Army Navy game. We know what we're doing, we know how to show them a good time and we're really looking forward to this weekend," said Executive Director of Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association, Ed Grose. "Normally, this weekend in December is very quiet. It's just another great event that's good for us as we come off the pandemic."

The game day festivities kick-off on Saturday starting at 11 a.m.

The Exclusive Fan Tailgate starts at 11 a.m. Saturday and goes until 1 p.m. It's being held inside Citizens Bank Park's Hall of Fame Club.

Also at 11 a.m., the Army-Navy Fan Fest will take place inside Lincoln Financial Field's HeadHouse Plaza. Fans can enjoy live music, games, face painting and giveaways before the start of the game.

The time-honored tradition "march-on" to the field kicks-off at 12:15 p.m.

And finally, the Stadium Obstacle Relay will take place at 1:15 p.m.

The game officially kick's off at 3:10 p.m.

SEPTA announced that they will be adding extra service for Army-Navy Game.

In a press release they wrote, "SEPTA will accommodate passengers traveling to the game with a total of 10 sports express

trains on the Broad Street Line to NRG Station. The Sports Express trips will run every 10

minutes departing Fern Rock Station beginning at 9:05 a.m. until 12:20 p.m. stopping at Olney;

Erie; Girard; Spring Garden; Race-Vine; City Hall; and Walnut-Locust Stations."