Philadelphia-related icons banned from Esplanade
By Haley Lerner
Boston’s Esplanade Association announced a ban on any Philadelphia-related products from the Charles River Esplanade in light of the New England Patriots facing off against the Philadelphia Eagles in next week’s Super Bowl LII.
Items such as Philadelphia sports apparel, eagles, cheesesteak sandwiches, cracked cooper bells, soft pretzels, Philadelphia brand cream cheese, anything in the shade “midnight green,” mummers, Will Smith, Sylvester Stallone and Crisco are all banned along a 3.5-mile stretch of the Esplanade.
Andrey Dimitrov, 35, of East Boston, said he found the ban to be humorous.
“I think it’s funny, nothing else,” Dimitrov said while walking along the Esplanade. “It’s a retaliation, obviously, because I heard they banned Boston cream doughnuts in Philly, so big deal. I think they just hate on Boston for being so good.”
These rule changes will remain in effect until Feb. 5, or until duck boats return to Boston’s streets for a victory parade.
Craig Regis, 29, of Back Bay, said he thinks the ban is funny if it is not serious.
“I think it’s cute,” Regis said. “I don’t know, I enjoy sports rivalries, so I can get into [it]. Yeah, but if they were dragging people off the Esplanade with soft pretzels that would be one thing. But it sounds like its more in jest. I’m all for it.”
Kelsey Pramik, the marketing and events manager for the Esplanade Association, said the ban was meant solely in good fun, and would not be enforced in any way.
“January can be a bit of a slow time for the park, just in the sense of the cold and snowing a lot,” Pramik said. “So, we were trying to think of a fun, creative way to tap into the excitement about the Patriots’ Super Bowl run and that’s what prompted this press release.”
Pramik said the association tried to convey the joking nature of the ban by listing Philadelphia’s most comical cultural icons.
“We tried to be a little ridiculous with like Will Smith, Sylvester Stallone, banning bald eagles, to take more of a playful tone,” Pramik said. “We hoped it would show through that it is not a serious ban.”
Pramik said the goal of the ban was for the Esplanade Association to join the Boston community in support of the Patriots by delivering comical news.
“We just felt like it would be some good light-hearted news in a time when there is so much else going on in the world that’s so serious,” Pramik said. “It’s in the same spirit as that store in Philadelphia which had banned Boston cream doughnuts.”
When asked what she would have to say to any Eagles fans, Pramik said they were welcome to visit the Esplanade once the ban was over.
“We hope they will come visit the Esplanade and see how beautiful it is starting Feb. 5,” Pramik said.
Olya Frenska, 34, of East Boston, said she thinks sports rivalries are peculiar.
“It’s a weird fight between the two states,” Frenska said. “It will be an interesting game next Sunday.”
Kevin Myers, 33, of Fenway, said he thinks Bostonians take the rivalry between the Patriots and the Eagles too seriously.
“I’m from outside Philly in New Jersey,” Myers said. “It’s very silly. Everyone can relax. It’s a game. I think this is why other sports teams’ fans look at Patriots fans as in a certain negative light and it’s because of things like this.”
Konstantine Pougatchev, 53, of Kenmore, said he did not approve of the ban if it was serious.
“That’s crazy,” Pougatchev said. “Anybody can just play whatever they want. Eagles fans have the right to do whatever they want and support their team. I see no problem.”
