Mummers, Sixers May Follow Dad Vail?

What is the current status of the Mummers, the Sixers and the Army-Navy game? Fox 29 looks at the status of our biggest local public traditions.

It turns out that some big local traditions have big questions about their future.

Here is a look at 10 Philadelphia traditions we’ve grown to love.

The Mummers
Status: Endangered

The annual parade faced huge financial problems last year, and was almost cancelled.

The situation isn’t any different this year.

Kevin and Michael Bacon are throwing a benefit concert at the Electric Factory on Dec. 5 to raise money for annual parade on South Broad Street.

"There should always be Mummers," Kevin Bacon said last week.

The parade group needs $500,000 to pay for the parade and awards. Last year, the parade’s status was up in the air until mid-December.

If you want to contribute or help, go to:

http://www.savethemummers.com/news/a-message-from-the-president/

The 76ers
Status: Uncertain

It's just speculation, but ...

Would Comcast sell the 76ers to someone who would move the team? The Sixers aren’t exactly hot in Philadelphia – the team is dead last in the NBA in home attendance.

Comcast is rumored to being buying NBC and could need some spare cash. And the sale of the Sixers would get rid of one potential anti-trust concern in the NBC deal.

In 2006, Ed Snider said Comcast-Spectacor looked at “strategic alternatives” involving the 76ers and said Comcast would not sell the team.

Three years later, the situation may be different.

FYI, the Sixers’ predecessors, the Warriors, moved to California in the early 1960s from Philly because of attendance problems.

The Sixers would need to battle Charlotte and Memphis to get into Las Vegas, a city that is aggresively courting an NBA team.
 

Army-Navy game
Status: (Protected for now)

Five of the next 8 Army-Navy games will be in Philadelphia. The game will be in the Washington area in 2011 and in Baltimore in 2014 and 2016.

The game’s fate beyond that in Philadelphia is uncertain.

The Spectrum
Status: Going

The arena is closed, its seats are for sale and demolition is scheduled for spring 2010.

The Flower Show
Status: Cash Cow

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society runs the show, which is still going strong and receiving overflow crowds.

The Folk Festival
Status: Stable

Despite past rumors of a change of venue, the popular festival at the Old Pool Farm in Schwenksville is still going strong.

Penn Relays
Status: Strong

The annual track fest has corporate sponsors and Penn was a big endowment.

Columbus Day Parade
Status: Gone

The 50-year-old parade was canceled in 2009 due to a lack of funds.

Thanksgiving Day Parade
Status: Unknown

ABC and Ikea sponsor the annual parade.

Welcome America
Status: Stable

Another event with a lot of corporate sponsors who have stuck with the popular festival despite tough times.