The Army-Navy Game is more than a football match; it is an unforgettable spectacle in college sports history. This year marks the 123rd rematch on Saturday, and bragging rights will be up for grabs!
Philadelphia has hosted 89 of the 129 Army-Navy matches since they first met in 1890, with the New York area providing most other venues.
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The History of the Army-Navy Game
College football fans cannot ignore Army vs Navy when discussing classic rivalries. This weekend marks the 123rd meeting between Army Black Knights and Navy Midshipmen in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Ranking or record usually aren’t vital elements here – their historic ties as military personnel make this match-up necessary, with an annual turnout reflecting its significance.
Though not held in Philadelphia strictly speaking, Philadelphia remains the traditional host for this annual competition. Since 1932’s inaugural match-up, 89 out of 122 games have occurred there. This city serves as an ideal neutral ground, approximately halfway between the campuses for each school, ensuring an even playing experience for both sides.
Philadelphia stands out as an especially fitting host because of the city’s rich history and traditions surrounding baseball. New York hosts two tournaments (at Polo Grounds and Yankee Stadium), Baltimore in Maryland, and East Rutherford, New Jersey have also hosted games. Still, Philadelphia stands out for being home to these special tournaments.
Crowds for Navy football games typically draw large audiences, drawn in by its pageantry. Cadets and midshipmen make for dramatic pregame entrances before each match begins; both sides compete to outdo each other with outrageous stunts at halftime and during play. The event has also become famous for its humorous sideshow pranks, which delight audiences of all ages.
After winning each game, the winners exchange alma maters as part of a unifying tradition between their schools. Students from both teams enjoy showing support by singing alma maters together; once finished singing, they exchange flags in an act of unity that both schools look forward to each year – it truly is an unforgettable moment that everyone looks forward to being part of!
The Location of the Army-Navy Game
The Army-Navy Game has become one of the premier college football rivalries, taking place annually since 1898 and meeting 89 times between Philadelphia’s Black Knights and Midshipmen – and this weekend will mark nine times they have held host for this edition of “America’s Game.”
Typically, the Army-Navy Game has been held at venues between both schools’ home fields to accommodate its large crowds of spectators. But its organizers want to expand on tradition by giving more people access to this special event; that is why, on Wednesday, they announced that 2023’s Army-Navy Game will take place in Boston, making history. This marks the first time that it will be hosted in New England!
Boston was selected because it will serve as the only neutral site game on either team’s schedule this season, as it marks essential anniversaries such as the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party and the 225th birthday of the USS Constitution.
Fans who attend the Army-Navy Game can look forward to more than just its main event: fans can also experience other related activities like the Patriot Games and Army-Navy Gala, both organized by the PHL Sports division of PHLCVB. All are essential to making Army-Navy an enjoyable sporting event experience for everyone involved!
The matchup will be challenging for both teams; Black Knights have averaged more than 300 yards per game on the ground this season, while Midshipmen have had difficulty scoring against an elite Army defense. But there is one critical X-factor that may help determine its outcome: find out who it is by visiting SportsLine now!
The Schedule of the Army-Navy Game
The Army-Navy Game will take place on Saturday, December 10, for its 123rd meeting between these teams. Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia has been chosen as its host venue because neither academy’s stadium can accommodate the expected crowds. CBS will broadcast the event with Brad Nessler serving as play-by-play announcer, Gary Danielson providing color commentary, and Jenny Dell serving as sideline reporter.
Navy won its most recent meeting against Army 17-13 thanks to a second-half solid defensive effort and Tai Lavatai’s two-yard touchdown run that secured their win and gave them their first winning season since 2013. This marked their second consecutive victory and gave the Midshipmen their first winning season since 2013.
This year’s game marks a historic event: it will be the last Army-Navy Game held in Philadelphia before moving to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, due to economic considerations; by moving it, Philadelphia will lose millions in revenue and thousands of visitors annually.
This college football championship game has long been one of the premier events, drawing sports fans from around the globe and serving as an essential annual highlight on many fans’ calendars. Additionally, local businesses and hotels use large crowds to increase revenue.
Both teams have had a difficult start to the season yet have shown signs of improvement. Army has excelled at stopping the run – ranking fourth nationally – while struggling against passing games (114th nationally).
The 2022 Army-Navy game will start at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday. Before the match begins, cadets and midshipmen will march onto the field, which promises to be an exciting sight. Fans may also participate in various pregame activities, including a Stadium Obstacle Relay and meeting Special Operations Soldiers!
The Army-Navy Game on CBS
The annual Army-Navy Game is an integral event for both teams and fans. Both schools can display their military pride during this contest, and alumni from both schools celebrate their shared history during this one game of the year. Furthermore, this clash provides one of few occasions annually where both teams play together before an audience of national viewers.
This year’s Army-Navy game will be broadcast live on CBS from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia and begins at 3 p.m. The traditional pregame show with both armies’ bands playing will take place before game time begins, making this a fantastic way to end their respective seasons on a high note!
Although not one of the biggest college football matchups yearly, this event still draws large audiences each time. It is one of the oldest continuing rivalries in American college football history. Both teams’ records depend heavily on this game; both sides also have much at stake when facing each other in this matchup.
Though this game has been played at various locations around the country, most times, it takes place at a neutral site due to neither team having an on-campus stadium large enough to hold all the crowds that typically attend; Army’s Michie Stadium only seats 38,000 while Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium holds only 34,000. In 1983, due to coronavirus restrictions and attendance limits in Pennsylvania, this matchup took place at Rose Bowl in Pasadena instead.
This year’s Army-Navy game on CBS should be among the highest-rated college football games in 2018. As one of the two schools’ signature events and celebrations, this 123rd meeting in the series promises some unique traditions that viewers will remember for years. Last year’s conference reached its highest rating – 4.2 ratings with 7.57 million viewers recorded, an improvement from the 2.0 ratings that the series bottomed out at just several years prior.
