Why and how greased pole climbing become a tradition in Philadelphia? Fans continue the sports tradition after Eagles win 

The residents of Philadelphia uphold their intense love for sports through their distinctive custom of pole climbing after winning major sports events. Many Philadelphia fans attempted to climb light poles around the city following the Eagles' 40-22 Super Bowl LIX victory against the Kansas City Chiefs even though the city took measures to stop this practice.

Philadelphia sports celebrations take on a unique character through pole greasing but this tradition started well before professional football became popular.

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Origins of Pole Climbing

Philadelphia residents have been climbing poles since the first annual Italian Market Festival back in the 1960s became a traditional part of city life. Teams at the festival battle to climb a 30-foot lard-coated pole, receive meat products, and present cards as prizes.

The practice is believed to have started in Mediterranean cultural areas such as Italy and Malta throughout history.

Michele Gambino, the festival manager, notes that the Italian Market's pole-climbing contest fosters a sense of community. Gambino told Audacy in 2022:

“If you really want to learn how to climb a pole, come to the festival this year and learn how to climb the pole. It’s like, come on, let’s just do it the right way!”

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The "grease the poles" phenomenon

The phrase "grease the poles" gained permanent status in the Philadelphia sports community after the Eagles won the Super Bowl title in 2018. The city took preventative measures before the game by applying oils to poles and traffic signals to prevent fans from scaling these structures.

The act of pole climbing was soon known throughout and became synonymous with the city's fervent sporting culture.

Bryant Simon, a history professor at Temple University, noted that the pole-climbing phenomenon surged in popularity during the Phillies’ World Series appearances in 2008-09, LA Times reports.

“What’s interesting about it is how quickly it has been imagined as a tradition.”

The greasing of the poles became a storyline during the Eagles' Super Bowl run in 2018, with the city deploying Crisco and hydraulic fluid to prevent fans from climbing.

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Reasons for greasing the poles

Primarily pole greasing serves as a safety precaution to stop enthusiastic fans from scaling the poles which protects them from harm. Safety becomes compromised when spectators choose to position themselves high above other fans because it creates a dangerous situation and emergency response becomes harder due to big crowds.

The Philadelphia authorities maintain celebrations at ground level because of these factors.

Philadelphia fans persist in climbing poles after big wins which results in ongoing escapades between fans and law enforcement authorities.

In some cases, other cities take proactive steps by applying lubricants to poles due to the expectation that Philadelphia sports fans will climb them in their victories.

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Pole climbing as a form of celebration

Pole climbing is now a tradition in Philadelphia celebrated as hometown pride. Climbing a greased pole during the Italian Market Festival, or after a sports victory, indicates community and city passion.

Rhys Hoskins, first baseman for the Phillies, told LA Times:

“It's just how this city is. It's a beautiful thing, in my eyes. That means a lot of good stuff is happening in this city.”

Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos added:

"It is kind of on par for the city of Philadelphia, right? When they get excited about something, all bets are off."

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The risk of pole climbing

While it is a great tradition, often fun and celebratory, there are risks. Tragically, an 18-year-old Temple University student, Tyler Sabapathy, died after falling from a light pole during the Eagles' NFC Championship celebration.

Sabapathy, a promising gymnast from Toronto, was celebrating in Center City Philadelphia when he fell from the pole and suffered a fatal brain injury. He died two days later at Jefferson Hospital.

Sabapathy was a freshman majoring in exercise and sports science and a member of Temple's club gymnastics team. He had an impressive athletic background, earning over 120 medals throughout his gymnastics career.