The Tallest Building in the City
In 1894, a statue was placed atop Philadelphia City Hall. The structure was fashioned out of bronze by sculptor Alexander Milne Calder to resemble the city's founder, William Penn. Originally envisioned as a tribute to Penn, a deal was allegedly struck with the Philadelphia Art Commission to see that no building in Philadelphia would rise above the brim of Penn's hat. (At the time, Philadelphia City Hall was the tallest building in the world, and would remain so until 1908.)
Fast forward almost 100 years. It's the 1980s. Willard Rouse III, then a developer from the suburbs, sees an opportunity to make his mark. He's going to go BIG. After a brief scuffle with a local developer, Rouse secures enough property to put his plans into action. On April 5, 1984, he announces his dream project: he's going to build two office towers in Center City, and they're both going to cast shadows on City Hall.
Almost immediately, locals panic. Residents fear the towers are going to ruin Center City by turning it into an urban corporate park; large corporations will storm into the city and stomp out small businesses as stores give way to skyscrapers. Other complaints are grounded in the history of the city itself. Former Executive Director of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission Edmund Bacon said to the New York Times, "I think it's very, very destructive that he and he alone has chosen to destroy a historical tradition that set a very fine and disciplined form for the city."
Despite pleas from concerned citizens, Rouse wins. One of the buildings, One Liberty Plaza, breaks ground on May 13, 1985, and becomes the tallest building in the city when its 44th floor is installed on September of 1986. No longer does Billy Penn look down on all of Philadelphia.
A Chip on the Shoulder
Until 1986, Philadelphia sports franchises had won 16 championships across four major leagues (MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL). Until 1986. Immediately after One Liberty Plaza supplants City Hall as the tallest building in Philadelphia, local teams begin losing. And in the most soul-crushing ways possible.
The Flyers are first. They go to seven games with the Edmonton Oilers in the 1987 Stanley Cup finals but lose in the final game despite an early lead. Next are the Phillies. After enjoying something of a Cinderella season during 1993 in which they go further than anyone could have expected, they lose to the Toronto Blue Jays. Then the Flyers again in 1997, this time losing in a clean-sweep to the Detroit Red Wings. The early 2000s aren't any kinder. The 76ers fail to unseat defending champions the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2001, and the Eagles fall to the New England Patriots in 2004 Super Bowl.
So, what's happening here? How does a city go over twenty years without a successful sports franchise? (Outside of Cincinnati, of course.) And more relevant to Philadelphians, who can be blamed?
The Curse of Billy Penn
According to legend, whatever deal was struck to keep the statue of William Penn as the highest point in the city is the source of Philadelphians' sports woes. Once One Liberty Plaza towered over the brim on Penn's hat, a hex was placed on the city and its teams would suffer for it. And most Philadelphians believed it, to some degree. Stories abounded in the Inky and Daily News. Local news anchors would reference it when discussing losing seasons. Supposedly, even Mayor Ed Rendell got in on the act and had city employees dress up the statue of Penn in baseball caps and hockey jerseys in the 1990s anytime a Philadelphia team made it to their respective championship series, hoping to counteract the curse.
But all things must pass, including alleged curses. In 1999, Willard Rouse III decided he wanted to outdo his previous project and develop an even larger skyscraper. He hoped this would attract new companies into Center City which had been slowly developing into a business district. Concurrently, Comcast was eyeing a move from their location in Centre Square. While they were open to the idea of staying in the city, they were looking for a building which would expand on what they had been renting so they could bolster their operations and add to their R&D department. An agreement between Rouse's Liberty Property Trust and Comcast was reached and in January of 2004 Liberty announced the details of the new tower... with one important caveat.
The Comcast Center would be 60 stories, making it the largest building in Philadelphia. Not only would this look out over One Liberty Plaza but it tower over William Penn and City Hall. Not wanting to make the same mistake twice, Senior Executive Vice President of Comcast David Cohen came up with the idea of affixing a tiny 4-inch figurine of William Penn to the highest point on the Comcast Center.
So What?
Construction on the Comcast Center was completed in June of 2007 and, along with it, William Penn was returned to his rightful place atop Philadelphia. The following year, in October 2008, the Philadelphia Phillies ended the city's championship drought by winning the World Series. It looked like the Curse of Billy Penn had come to an end.
...or had it? As is the case with all things Philadelphia, the city can never have nice things. At some point after construction had completed, the figurine of William Penn was swiped from atop the Comcast Center and a replica was installed in its place. Since then, Philadelphia sports franchises have returned to their losing ways. The Phillies lost to the New York Yankees in the 2009 World Series, then withered away into one of the worst teams in Major League Baseball. The Eagles, never a source of inspiration for residents, continued to disappoint. They were lucky if they made the playoffs most seasons. Meanwhile, the Flyers maintained strong rosters and were able to make the 2010 Stanley Cup finals, but ultimately lost to the Chicago Blackhawks. And the 76ers... well, it's better if we don't talk about the 76ers.
Does this mean the Curse of Billy Penn lives again? Or did it ever really go away?