"We're Not Ready": How Next Summer Will Be Unmatched in Philly Sports, Says Dan Hilferty

A Glimpse into the Future: Philadelphia Preps for a World Cup Surge

Dan Hilferty, the CEO of Comcast Spectacor, was in his office at the Wells Fargo Center when he heard an unexpected sound — drums pounding and crowds chanting. Looking out the window, he saw red smoke rising in the distance. Thousands of fans were heading toward Lincoln Financial Field for a FIFA Club World Cup match. The scene was impossible to ignore.

“I thought to myself, ‘Wow,’” said Hilferty, who is also the chairman of the city’s Host Committee for next summer’s World Cup. “This is what we can expect next year for every match. Every day there will be something going on in this city.”

The eight games held earlier this summer at the Linc provided a glimpse of what the city can anticipate next year. With the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, PGA Championship, FIFA World Cup, and MLB All-Star Game all coming to the Philly area as part of the nation’s 250th birthday celebrations, the city is preparing for a surge of activity.

The World Cup, which will feature six games in Philadelphia, is expected to bring over 500,000 people to town. Tickets will sell out quickly, hotels will be fully booked, and the air may even be smoky with excitement.

“We’re not ready,” Hilferty said when asked if the city understands how intense the atmosphere will be. “Every match is a Super Bowl. To see each of these teams, these national teams with thousands of people marching from different areas of the city in a peaceful but boisterous way, will be something we’ve never experienced. What I saw that day, and was blown away by, pales in comparison to what we’re going to see every match.”

A Historical Perspective: From 1976 to 2026

John Middleton, now the CEO and managing partner of the Phillies, was at the 1976 MLB All-Star Game, sitting in his usual spot in the back of Veterans Stadium’s 600 Level. That year, Philadelphia was the center of the sports world, hosting four All-Star Games along with the NCAA Final Four as part of the Bicentennial celebrations.

Philadelphia fans made their presence known during the 1976 game, booing the rival Reds players so heavily that the players complained afterward. Fifty years ago, the fans didn’t need smoke — they brought their own.

“I was cheering for our guys,” said Middleton. “That’s the way my parents taught me to be. Don’t boo. Cheer.”

The excitement of 1976 is the closest comparison for what Philadelphia can expect in 2026. The city hosted an estimated 14-20 million visitors that year, including 1 million on July 4. The energy was palpable, with constant news coverage and a vibrant, positive vibe around the city.

“It was really fun to be a Philadelphian,” Hilferty said. “From a cultural perspective, a historical perspective, or a sports perspective, it was just really neat.”

The Evolution of Major Events

While the events in 2026 won’t be as numerous as those in 1976, they are far grander than 50 years ago. The MLB All-Star Game in 1976 didn’t include a Home Run Derby; players simply attended a luncheon on Monday afternoon, played that night, and left town. Today, it’s an “All-Star Week.”

Philadelphia has hosted many big sporting events, but it’s been 100 years since the city hosted something with the worldwide appeal of the World Cup. The 1926 heavyweight title match between Gene Tunney and Jack Dempsey was the last event of that scale.

“It’s great,” Middleton said. “It’s going to appeal to everyone. Anyone who has any kind of an interest is going to find something special for that interest in Philadelphia in 2026. Arts and culture people will like it. Sports people will like it. History buffs will like it. It’s exciting.”

A New Chapter for Philadelphia

Hilferty retired in December 2020 as the CEO of Independence Blue Cross after 10 years. Less than a year later, he had a new role. David Cohen, who was the chairman of Philly’s World Cup committee, was appointed as the U.S. ambassador to Canada. He called Hilferty in the summer of 2021 and asked if he could handle his World Cup duties.

“My wife Joan was like, ‘Yes. Get out of the house,’” Hilferty said.

Although he wasn’t the city’s biggest soccer fan — Hilferty attended games in college at St. Joe’s to support friends, followed the Union, and caught a big match in England — he loved big events. He helped bring Pope Francis to Philadelphia in 2015 and was part of two political conventions. This was another chance to do something big.

Hilferty estimates that Philadelphia expects to generate $770 million in economic impact during the two weeks the World Cup is in town. The city will also buzz when the games are at MetLife Stadium, as some fans are expected to stay in Philly and travel to North Jersey.

As he watched from his office as the fans marched toward the Linc and was in the stadium for one of the games, Hilferty realized that this was just an appetizer for what next summer will be like. Everyone knows it’s coming, but Hilferty thinks they still might not be ready for how it will feel.

“To be a part of this has been one of the greatest experiences of my professional life, my life as a true-blue Philadelphian,” Hilferty said. “Fifty years from now, I would hope that Philadelphia is perceived as a true world-class city and as a destination city not just as attracting business but tourism and culture. We’ll be seen as a true world-class city and a place where people want to come to. I hope that soccer is elevated.

“And selfishly, I hope people look back 50 years from now and say, ‘Who is that old guy in the picture with the 2030 Stanley Cup?’”