Villanova will hold Center City championship parade

The last Philadelphia sports-relatedparade down Broad Street was in 2008, in late October to celebrate the Phillies’s second World Series title.

On Friday there will be another championship march, this one on Market Street for the NCAA World Champion Villanova Wildcats.

Nova beat UNC 77-74 on Kris Jenkins’ improbable 3-pointer at the buzzer and Nova’s campus in Radnor, PA, 11 miles west of Center City erupted incelebration.

Much debate has taken place, and continues to echo between Philly sports purists over whether or not the Main Line university should hold a parade in Philadelphia. But the college and city officials determined it was worthy of a big celebration and at 1 p.m. it will commence at 20th and Market.

It is a similar route to the one taken by the last victorious Wildcats, the 1985 National Champs, who upset Georgetown in the only other Villanova Championship win.

The route will march five blocks straight down Market Street and finish at Dillworth Park next to City Hall.

Those looking to celebrate with the team sooner should head to campus this afternoon. At 5 p.m. Villanova will welcome its conquering heroes at the football stadium fresh after they land in Philly (heading home from Houston) around 4:30 p.m. The event is free to the public and doors open at 3 p.m.