Championship parades are one of my favorite moments in sports. The celebration brings the championship to the fans. You don't have to pay $5,000 for a ticket to go - you don't even need a ticket at all. Which encourages fans to come in the hundreds of thousands to show their love and appreciation for their team.
Approximately 400,000 fans showed up yesterday to celebrate the Stanley Cup’s return to Pittsburgh. An impressive crowd given that the city's population is just over 300,000. The population of the metro area is just over 2 million, so a large amount of fans from the entire region of Southwest Pennsylvania ventured to see the parade. Or, from Kentucky. That too.
Maybe I can catch a ride back with them 😂 #PensParade pic.twitter.com/N3sCq2DsaE
— Lauren DeAngelo (@laaaa_uren) June 15, 2016
The whole city ✨ pic.twitter.com/ShTmlgRTlh
— 412 (@Shop412) June 15, 2016
The Phil Kessel love yesterday was pretty strong. Many have expressed that they would like to see him take the Cup to Toronto (and maybe eat some hot dogs out of it). Generally, the fans in Toronto are happy for the ex-Maple Leaf, and the desire to see him take the Cup to Toronto is more due to his media treatment during his time there.
@PKessel81 Kessel For President #PensParade #hotdogs #Penguins pic.twitter.com/4UQ8irGEAo
— RanDUM Beef (@RandumBeef) June 15, 2016
@fsmikey @FSBigBob Phil's reaction to the Kessel for president sign how can you not love him #priceless pic.twitter.com/5GSvKrOrEE
— Lowell Murray (@pghguyinva) June 16, 2016
Phil Kessel getting praised on stage at the Cup parade pic.twitter.com/l5uIpjCN4P
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) June 15, 2016
@cjudge RT @adamstiska: My highlight for the #PensParade @rustyyy_92 knows what's up 🻠pic.twitter.com/Qd60IdfmNf
— bcrice (@bcrice) June 15, 2016
@rustyyy_92 might be my new favorite, so glad i caught this! #BecauseItsTheCup #PensParade pic.twitter.com/7ls4X5mjCx
— Louis Weber (@stretch449) June 15, 2016
Today at the #PensParade @HkyNightPunjabi made an appearance and it was awesome @penguins #BoninoBoninoBonino pic.twitter.com/1aqwk59gaR
— Collin Chamberlin (@CollinComedy) June 16, 2016
It wasn’t just the players who were having fun.
I followed the Cup and man it was awesome. #PensParade pic.twitter.com/joYgBl1IHy
— Daniel Sax (@DanielSax) June 15, 2016
Also, not that it was up for debate, but seeing the Stanley Cup at these parades reminds you why it is the best trophy in sports. Just watch as it is hoisted through the crowd.
#PensParade pic.twitter.com/CZbLrZocwZ
— Nicole R. Rencewicz (@NikkiRencewicz) June 15, 2016
Great coverage by @PittsburghPG @PGSportsNow for the #PensParade https://t.co/HlJvt1WDsN pic.twitter.com/C09ghLSAFy
— rosa colucci (@PGRosa_Colucci) June 15, 2016
my face is sunburnt, every muscle in my body aches, I sweat in places I never knew I could, & still today was the best day ever #PensParade
— Laynie (@penstone) June 15, 2016
About Jillian:
Jillian Fisher is a sport anthropologist who focuses on sport culture and fan culture. Growing up with three older brothers, sports have always played a large part of her life. While she enjoys all sports, hockey has always been her first passion. Jillian has traveled across the world - from the Philippines to Italy and across the US - studying the impact of sports, all while cheering for the home team and discovering what makes each place so unique, even being referred to as the Anthony Bourdain of sports. She is currently filming her own web series, Out of the Park, that highlights the different cultures surrounding our favorite sports across the country. Always in search of the next event, Jillian can be contacted on Twitter, Instagram, or emailed at jillianfisher00[at]gmail.com