Villanova championship parade set for Thursday morning in Philly

City hosting celebration for NCAA Men's Basketball Championship winners

Tom MacDonald

April 3, 2018

Villanova head coach Jay Wright reacts after cutting down the net after beating Michigan 79-62 in the championship game of the Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 2, 2018, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Philadelphia is dusting off its playbook from two years ago to host another Villanova NCAA victory parade Thursday morning.

The celebratory march, which begins at 11 a.m., will be far shorter than the Eagles’ Super Bowl parade.

“The parade starts at 20^th and Market, and it ends with a rally at Dilworth Park, people will be able to line up on Market Street to watch the parade go by,” said Ajeenah Amir, Mayor Jim Kenney’s deputy press secretary. That echoes the route from two years ago when the Wildcats also won the NCAA championship.

City officials are urging people to take mass transit because of the thousands who are expected to come to town for the event, Amir said.

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“Definitely recommending attendees taking SEPTA regional rail and the Broad Street line and the Market-Frankford El,” she said.

The parade will wind its way to Dilworth Park in the shadow of City Hall by about 11:45 for the rally. Streets in the area are expected to be shut down for the parade.

Last time Villanova paid the roughly $22,000 bill for the parade. About 60,000 people packed Market Street and the area around City Hall for the event.

The city is also offering a list of streets that will be shut down for the event below.

City and Villanova University to Host Celebration Honoring 2018 Men’s Basketball National Championship Team

PHILADELPHIA – The City of Philadelphia will celebrate Villanova University’s 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship on Thursday, April 5th, with a parade on Market Street starting at 11AM and a rally on Dilworth Park.

To ensure the safety of participants and the public, road closures and parking restrictions will be implemented in the vicinity of the event. Delays can be expected during the course of the event. Motorists are advised to avoid the area by using alternate routes, and allow for extra driving time in areas near the event. Please refrain from double-parking, which creates congestion, limits traffic flow and is illegal.

Media Information
For all media inquiries relating to the Villanova Championship Parade in Philadelphia, please contact Jon Gust, Director of Media Relations at Villanova University, at 484-612-2652 and/or Mike Sheridan, Director of Media Relations for Villanova Athletics, at 610-999-7558.

Road Closures
Parade elements will assemble on 2000-2900 Market Street beginning at 9:30AM. The parade will commence at 11:00AM. The parade will start at 20th & Market Streets and proceed eastbound on Market Street to 15th Street, southbound on 15th Street to South Penn Square, eastbound on South Penn Square, terminating on South Penn Square west of Broad Street. The rally portion of the event will commence at 11:45AM, and the event is scheduled to conclude at 12:30PM.

The following streets will be closed starting at 9:30AM until approximately 12:00PM on Thursday, April 5th:

2000-2900 Market Street
- Cross traffic will not be permitted during this timeframe

The following streets will be closed starting at 10:00AM until approximately 1:00PM on Thursday, April 5^th:

1600-1900 Market Street
16^th Street from JFK Blvd. to Chestnut Street
17^th Street from JFK Blvd. to Chestnut Street
18^th Street from JFK Blvd. to Chestnut Street
19^th Street from JFK Blvd. to Chestnut Street
20^th Street from JFK Blvd. to Chestnut Street

The following streets will be closed starting at 10:00AM until approximately 3:00PM on Thursday, April 5^th:

1500 Market Street
15^th Street from Race Street to Chestnut Street
S. Penn Square from 15^th Street to Broad Street

All affected streets will be serviced and reopened as the march progresses. Additional closures and lane restrictions may be necessary in the interest of public safety. Motorists are advised to use caution and obey instructions of the Philadelphia Police Department.

Parking Restrictions
The following streets will be posted as “Temporary No Parking” zones from 6:00AM-4:00PM on Thursday, April 5th:

1400 JFK Blvd. (South Side)
1500-1600 JFK Blvd. (Both Sides)
1700 JFK Blvd. (Both Sides)
1500-2900 Market Street (Both Sides)
15^th Street from Chestnut Street to Arch Street (Both Sides)
S. Penn Square from 15^th Street to Broad Street (South Side)

Please obey all “Temporary No Parking” signs. Vehicles parked in these locations during posted hours will be relocated.

Public Transportation
Due to related street closures, SEPTA Bus Routes will be detoured from their normal routes through the area beginning at 9:00AM on Thursday, April 5th through approximately 3:00PM. Detours will be posted and specific route changes will be made available on the System Status Page at www.septa.org.

Stairs and elevators to Dilworth Park from the underground concourse will be closed on Thursday, April 5th beginning at 9:00AM and reopened as conditions allow.

Public Safety Information
Leave no bags or items unattended. In an emergency or to report a suspicious person, activity or item (a backpack, a package, a container), notify a police officer immediately or call 9-1-1. Do not try to open, move, cover or touch a suspicious item.

The public should expect congestion in the area. If you are attending the event, make a plan regarding driving, public transit, parking, and supervision of children. It is recommended that attendees wear comfortable, weather-appropriate attire.

All locations referenced above and the surrounding area is designated as a “No-Drone Zone”. Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and drones of any kind are not permitted.

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