Of all the questionable calls made on Sunday in the AFC and NFC championship games — and yes, there were many! — the biggest one wasn’t on the field.
No, it was made by the Empire State Building in New York City, which lit up in green and white to celebrate the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl 57 berth. It then displayed the Kansas City Chiefs’ red and yellow after the win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
What the what? Why would the iconic skyscraper do such a thing in a city that DESPISES The City of Brotherly Love’s sports franchises (and the hate is mutual. I can attest after spending four years of college outside of Philly)?
As For The Win’s resident native New Yorker, I needed answers. So I hopped on the subway to 34th street, pointed my recorder up and spoke to the building itself.
So, uh, what happened on Sunday?
Gotta do better next time. Read the room better. New Yorkers deserve better.
Every New Yorker seeing the Empire State Building right now pic.twitter.com/AjxyvBxGkx https://t.co/MAqKZJNCKo
— Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) January 30, 2023
OK, but what's the reasoning behind the decision?
[The building scratches its observation deck with its large antenna, sheepishly.]
Look, I’ll be honest: We really could use some unity right now. People are yelling at each other online, we’re more divided than ever. I thought lighting it up for the Eagles would show that even New Yorkers can get along with other fanbases.
Fly @Eagles Fly! We’re going Green and White in honor of the Eagles NFC Championship Victory. pic.twitter.com/RNiwbCIkt7
— Empire State Building (@EmpireStateBldg) January 29, 2023
But you just ended up dividing things further.
OK fine, you got me: At first, I thought, “Poor Jets fans! They haven’t seen me lit up like this since … well, basically never.” I got these lights in 1976, after all.
I’m still one of the tallest buildings in the city. I see all the suffering and pain. I hear Jets fans cursing from bars around the five boroughs. Heck, Madison Square Garden’s like an eight-minute walk from here. You should hear the things Knicks fans say after games.
So, let’s give Gang Green fans something to aspire to. Maybe even give them hope that Aaron Rodgers’ coming to save them.
it warranted for the empire state building to turn green because its the first time they get to use those colors cuz the jets are poverty. Wouldn't want it to go to waste
— Dham🫶 (@dhamlinsclone) January 30, 2023
Oh no.
[Lets out an enormous sigh, its girders groaning.]
You can’t do anything now without it being a big deal online. So like everyone else, I doubled down and did the Chiefs colors. Didn’t go great either.
That hurt us more than it hurt you.
We’re now lit for the @chiefs in honor of their AFC Championship Win pic.twitter.com/t0tExEievk
— Empire State Building (@EmpireStateBldg) January 30, 2023
How do you come back from this?
[Glares with its top windows.]
Look, I feel awful. But this is nothing. This is New York City. You can bounce back from anything here and still be loved. Just ask the Jets.
