Why Philly's World Cup Fan Festival is at Lemon Hill

Axios

a day ago

The epicenter of Philadelphia's World Cup Fan Festival celebration is slated for Lemon Hill in East Fairmount Park next year.
Why it matters: The site is the next-best option for fans without tournament tickets — you can soak up the fun with watch parties, music and food. But it's an 8-mile trek from the action at South Philly's Lincoln Financial Field with limited transit and parking options.
Meanwhile, FDR Park and the Navy Yard are short walks from the sports complex.
So, what gives?
What they're saying: It comes down to safety and security requirements imposed by FIFA, Meg Kane, host city executive for Philadelphia Soccer 2026, tells Axios.
"The fan festival cannot be within a certain proximity of the stadium, given the number of fans that would access both," she said.
Kane added: "There were a lot of things out of our control about where it could be."
A FIFA spokesperson declined to discuss safety issues related to the fan fest locations.
By the numbers: Lemon Hill is expected to draw at least 15,000 people daily to the fan fest.
The Linc's capacity surpasses 69,000.
Catch up quick: Philly is hosting six World Cup matches next year.
The tourney runs for 39 days between June 11 and July 19.
Between the lines: Lemon Hill was chosen for the fan fest partly because of its walkability and access to public transit, according to Kane.
It's located in East Fairmount Park between Brewerytown and Kelly Drive — and is more than a half-mile walk from the Rocky Steps.
The site also meets FIFA's requirements in terms of size and scale.
Reality check: Transit around Lemon Hill is limited to SEPTA's Girard Avenue trolley and some bus routes.
The area lacks a metro stop, and parking could also prove to be an issue.
The intrigue: Philly's original plans for the festival, back in 2018, were:
Penn's Landing with the completed I-95 cap and park. But delays pushed back the completion date until 2029.
Memorial Hall (home of the Please Touch Museum) in West Fairmount Park.
What's ahead: Organizers are still working out the festival's exact plans and layout.
Meanwhile, the Parker administration is investing $5.2 million to get Lemon Hill fan fest ready, city spokesperson Natalie Faragalli tells Axios.
Improvements to the park include sprucing up the area (think removing dead trees), ensuring pathways are ADA-accessible, and sidewalk and street repairs.
Major landscaping and utility work could get underway later this summer, at the earliest.