1. Big 5 Hall of Fame
The Palestra has served as the home of Philadelphia Big 5 matchups since 1955, so make sure to check out the Big 5 Hall of Fame during your visit to the Palestra. The Hall of Fame honors the best players in Penn, Villanova, Temple, St. Joseph’s, and La Salle history making it a must-see for any college hoops fan.
2. All-Time Record Against Princeton
If you’re a Penn basketball fan, make sure to check out the sign that displays the Quakers all-time record against Princeton. Penn-Princeton is one of the best rivalries in the Ivy League, so take some time to see the display when attending a game at the Palestra.
3. Red and Blue Crew
The rabid Penn student section known as the Red and Blue Crew is arguably the best in the Ivy League. These diehard go all out to support their team with cheers, costumes, and all kinds of other antics. Keep an eye out for the Red and Blue Crew as you never know what they’ll come up with next.
4. Rollouts
Before each game, the Red and Blue Crew rolls out a sign displaying a disparaging message towards the opposition. The Red and Blue Crew has a new rollout for each game meaning you’ll never see the same one twice when attending a Penn game.
5. Penn and Palestra History on the Concourse
The Palestra concourse is a full-fledged museum dedicated to the history of the Palestra and Penn basketball. Arrive early and explore the concourse before the game to get the most out of your trip to the historic Palestra.
6. Penn-Princeton Rivalry
Penn and Princeton are the two most successful basketball programs in the Ivy League and as a result, have developed a fierce rivalry over the years. The rivalry is particularly intense since the Ivy League typically only receives one NCAA Tournament bid each year giving each and every matchup extra importance. There is always a lot at stake when the Quakers and Tigers square-off, so make sure to be in attendance when Princeton comes to the Palestra.
7. Streamers
The Penn students used to throw streamers on the court following the first Quakers basketball. Unfortunately, the tradition was banned, but you can still see them throw streamers after a Quakers victory, so look for the streamers if Penn takes home the W.
8. Penn Pep Band
Enjoy the musical stylings of the Penn Pep Band when attending a Quakers basketball game. The band is a big part of what makes attending a Penn basketball game such a special experience, so enjoy the show during your visit to the Palestra.
9. Philadelphia Big 5
Philadelphia’s Big 5 consists of the Villanova, Temple, St. Joseph’s, Penn, and La Salle and is one of the best multi-team rivalries in college sports. The Big 5 dates back to 1955 and originally was created to showcase Philadelphia’s basketball talent and raise money for the Palestra. The proximity of the schools means there is a lot of bragging rights on the line whenever these teams meet, so don’t miss the matchups between these schools.
10. Banners
The Palestra is home to tons of banners celebrating the rich history of Penn basketball and college basketball in the city of Philadelphia. Take in all of the banners hanging from the rafters to see all the history that has taken place here over the years.
