The Penn Relays, the oldest and largest track and field competition in the United States, returns this week to Franklin Field (200 S. 33rd Street), with events being held from April 23-27. The University of Pennsylvania Division of Public Safety has issued an advisory that traffic and transit use will be heavy throughout the area on these dates.

The Penn Relays Carnival will take place on Tuesday, April 23, with the CYO Relays scheduled from 4:30-10 p.m. Motorists should expect congestion in the area of 200 S. 33rd Street during their evening commute on that day.

The competition continues Thursday, April 25 through Saturday, April 27, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Motorists should expect heavy traffic volume and delays around Franklin Field and the immediate surrounding area all day on these days.

Also, 33rd Street from South Street to Walnut Street will be closed for approximately one hour, on Saturday, April 27, from 6 to 7 p.m.

For more information about The Penn Relays, which has been held annually since April 21, 1895, go to: pennrelays.com.

Starting today and through Saturday, April 29, the annual Penn Relays will be held on the University of Pennsylvania campus, where hundreds of young athletes from the U.S. and abroad will compete. The competition also brings thousands of spectators and other guests to the area. Watch out for increased traffic on and around Penn’s campus and SEPTA bus detours during the event.

As usual, races will be held at Franklin Field located at 233 S. 33rd Street. The event schedule can be found here and tickets are here. Livestreaming is available here. For more info, visit: https://pennrelays.com.

The Penn Relays will be held April 27-29 on Franklin Field.

Two big events are happening this weekend in Philadelphia that will cause road closures and traffic changes. The annual Penn Relays will be held on the Franklin Field, and the NFL Draft will take place for the first time since 1960 in the city – on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Both events will be held for three days – April 27 through April 29.

The NFL Draft Experience will take place on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, between 20th St. and Eakins Oval, and a number of road closures will be in place for this event. Until Monday, May 1, 5 a.m., Ben Franklin Parkway from 20th St. to the Art Museum will be closed. Kelly Drive will be closed at Fairmount Ave., and all traffic will be diverted.  Continue Reading

Photo via www.thepennrelays.com

The oldest annual track and field event in the nation, The Penn Relays, kicks off this week at Franklin Field (233 S. 33rd Street), and that means there will be a lot of additional traffic on the east end of Penn’s campus.

The 122nd edition of The Penn Relays starts Thursday and runs through Saturday. If you have the scratch, the events are worth attending (information on tickets is here). Some 15,000 athletes participate, some of whom you will likely see at this summer’s Olympic Games in Brazil.

Otherwise, it’s a part of town to avoid for a couple of days if you’re trying to get somewhere else. Expect heavy delays around the stadium all day Thursday through Saturday. On Saturday, 33rd Street from South Street to Walnut Street will be closed from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

If you make the trip to Franklin Field, here’s some info on what you can take in with you.

The annual Penn Relays started today, with the first running event held at 10 a.m. this morning at the University of Pennsylvania’s Franklin Field (see the full schedule here). The Penn Relays means thousands of guests on and around Penn’s campus, so we wanted to alert our readers to watch out for a lot of traffic and closed streets in the area.

33rd Street from South Street to Walnut Street will be closed for approximately one hour, on Saturday from 6 to 7 p.m., according to a traffic advisory by Penn Public Safety.

This Philadelphia institution is being held for the 120th time and will draw over 18,000 competitors from more than 60 countries to participate in 425 events. The event will be held through Saturday, April 26.

Photo courtesy ThePennRelays.com

The nation’s oldest and largest track and field event, the Penn Relays, kicks off tomorrow at the University of Pennsylvania’s Franklin Field (233 S. 33rd St.) and there are a couple things West Philadelphia residents should know about the event.

First, traffic near Franklin Field will increase significantly as a result of the Relays, which run through Saturday. Penn security officials said 33rd Street from Walnut to South will be closed for about an hour on Saturday, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Those planning to attend the event, which attracts some 15,000 athletes ranging from high school students to Olympians, should expect much tighter security than in the past due to the recent bombings at the Boston Marathon. Security will be tight at every entrance to Franklin Field and everyone will be checked with metal detectors. Bomb-sniffing dogs and bomb disposal teams will also be on hand.

Here are the rules:

• Backpacks and large bags (gym bags etc.) will not be permitted into Franklin Field or the Relay Carnival Village.

• Participants (athletes, coaches, team medical personnel) will be permitted to bring in backpacks. These bags will be thoroughly checked and will only be allowed in via the designated participant entrances.

• All bags containing food must be smaller than 12x12x6 (inches) and in clear plastic bags. Sealed plastic water bottles and cardboard juice boxes are permitted inside the clear plastic bags.

• Coolers, glass bottles and cans will not be permitted.

For more info, including ticket information and schedule of events, go to the Penn Relays website.