Philly is a sports town, and that extends far beyond its major league teams.
While the Eagles, Phillies, Sixers and Flyers down at the South Philadelphia Sports Complex and the Union in Chester get all the national attention, there are vibrant and athletic scenes all around the city for any Philadelphian to watch and play, competitively or casually.
Other professional teams representing Philly include the Phoenix and the Surge in men’s and women’s ultimate frisbee, playing their most recent seasons at Neumann University and the South Philly Supersite, respectively. Both teams are tightly tied to the city’s ultimate scene, which is organized by the Philadelphia Area Disc Alliance.
The travelling Premier Lacrosse League has the Waterdogs, which have called Villanova Stadium home since it was assigned to Philly. Chester’s Subaru Park has been a regular postseason stop for the league.
And on the horizon is a WNBA franchise team coming in 2030, which will be co-owned by Sixers owners Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, with Comcast holding a minority stake.
Philly also draws major sporting events, and 2026 is set to be a banner year for that. There will be first- and second-round games of the NCAA March Madness men’s basketball tournament. Then, the weekend before Memorial Day, the 108th PGA Championship will be nearby at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square. Soccer will take over a good chunk of the summer with six games of the FIFA World Cup at the Linc and Fairmount Park’s Lemon Hill serving as an official fan festival site during the tournament. In July, Major League Baseball’s All Star Game will come to Citizens Bank Park.
If your relationship with sports is mainly watching it, it’s never hard to find a venue with a game on the screen and food and drink specials. If the English Premier League is your thing, we’ve made a list of the spots where fans of the 20 teams meet up during the season.
Philly’s women’s sports scene has grown significantly in recent years. Today, you can guarantee you’ll find it on the screens at Marsha’s on South Street, or at a Watch Party PHL event at bars around the city — until the Stoop Pigeon opens as a permanent home for Watch Party PHL, likely in Midtown Village’s Gayborhood, close to Broad Street.
For those wanting to relive their high school glory days, or just meet people and play sports, there are rec leagues, including soccer-specific CASA, which cohosts the annual Icarus Cup. Leagues through Heyday or Volo offer up other sports, including kickball, volleyball and broomball. Of course, there’s bocce in South Philly.
For racket sports, you can find tennis courts at both FDR and Fairmount parks, and pickleball, padel, racquetball and squash are also well represented in the city.
Perhaps one activity that encompasses the city the best is the simplest: running. There are plenty of big races through the city over the course of the year, including the Love Run, The Broad Street Run, the Philadelphia Marathon and the Rocky Run, to name a few.
For those who just want the simple joy of getting out and running, there are options all over town. Most parts of the city have at least one running group bringing folks together, and we’ve made a list to help find the best fit for all faces and paces. Many even let you run with or for a cause, like Philly Achilles or Students Run Philly.
Cycling is also present at all levels. The Philadelphia Cycling Classic will return in 2026, after a nine-year absence, bringing the world’s best cyclists back up the infamous “Manayunk Wall” and through other parts of the city. For the more casual riders, there’s the Philly Bike Ride. For the more exhibition-minded, there’s the Philly Naked Bike Ride. If you’re just seeking community and want to keep your clothes on, groups like CycleScenePHL and Wednesday Night Rides offer an abundance of rides and companions.
