Super Bowl 2023: Why is the city of Philadelphia greasing light poles?

For this writer, this one is a funny and sad one at the same time. I have to admit I never knew what greasing a pole meant until today, at least not in the context of sports, but it is a thing, and it is a thing because, unfortunately, fans don’t behave when their team wins.

When the Egles take on the Chiefs for Super Bowl 57, the city of Philadelphia will prepare for what could be a vast city celebration that could leave massive debris from uncontrollable fans. However, the city has yet to announce what steps it will take to prevent people from being injured and property damaged.

Joy Huertas, the spokesperson for the city, told NPR, “Protocols for the upcoming game are being evaluated by the police department including the greasing of poles. For public safety reasons, the city is not disclosing if/when the poles will be greased.”

What are grease light poles? And why is Philadelphia thinking of doing it?

This involves using paint rollers to coat lamp poles and other buildings with biodegradable gear oil in an attempt to discourage fans from attempting to climb them.

Greasing initiatives will be prioritized by the city government at high-traffic crossroads like South Broad Street in Philadelphia’s historic district. This magnificent thoroughfare extends the length of Philadelphia, broken only by the carved granite walls of City Hall.