City of Champions Mural

The brilliantly blue City of Champions mural tells the story of Philadelphia’s greatest sports triumphs. In the center of the mural is a trophy-like depiction of City Hall, flanked by more than a dozen portraits of famous local athletes who have contributed to outstanding moments in Philadelphia sports history. The mural is striking because of the unity it creates among such a diverse group of athletes, from boxers to baseball players, and even a rower. The concept was developed by Ken Avallon, President of the Board of Trustees for the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame, Keith Baldwin, President of Spike’s Trophies, and David McShane, one of our staff artists with a long history of painting sports-themed murals.

While most of our murals are not lit at night, IBEW Local 98 came through and installed lights on City of Champions, which really make the mural pop. So, as you’re driving down Grant Avenue, keep an eye out, even after dark, for this inspirational mural.

McShane’s goal was to represent unity and the timelessness of sports. At the mural’s dedication, he spoke to the way that sports and teams bring people together: “This passion is what really bonds us together. Race, religion, gender and class are no boundaries for this kind of passion; this bond that we have. So the successes of our teams and athletes are really our successes. This mural celebrates these moments because they are all moments that we share together.”

The mural is a reminder of the city’s accomplishments, its talented athletes, and its unendingly supportive fans. City of Champions is a proud trophy for the city and a token of appreciation for the sports that unite us all.

In honor of the Eagles’ historic Super Bowl win in 2018, artist David McShane created an extension of his 2015 City of Champions mural, extending the mural at Spike’s Trophies in the Northeast.