Sports

Airport statues: Rocky at PHL + Franco at PIT

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Yo, Adrian. And everyone else.

Next time you find yourself at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), be sure to stop by Terminal A -West to snap a selflie with the Rocky Balboa statue that is now a permanent fixture.

The 10-foot-tall bronze scultpure is one of three original Rocky casts created in 1980 for the Rocky III film by A. Thomas Schomberg in collaboration with Sylvester Stallone.

To mark the installation, PHL held a Rocky look-alike contest.

Contest registrants were encouraged to access the terminal using a PHL Wingmate Pass and were reminded that “raw eggs are subject to the TSA’s 3-1-1 rule for liquids and raw meat must be completely frozen and packaged.”

PIT Airport’s Immaculate Reception statue – relocated & fixed

Pretty much everyone in Pittsburgh is delighted with the new $1.7 billion landside terminal at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT), which features plenty of space, lots of light, oodles of art and a new (probably temporary) spot for the selfie-friendly statue depicting the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Franco Harris making the famous Immaculate Reception.

But fans quickly pointed out that some of the details in the background collage were a bit off.

No worries, airport officials say, they’ll fix that.

Yes, that’s a basketball court at IND Airport

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Travelers flying into Indianapolis International Airport (IND) will notice that the airport’s central terminal currently looks like a basketball court.

The WNBC All-Star 2025 game is taking place in Indianapolis on July 18 and 19, and the airport is marking the occasion by covering the public Civic Plaza with a replica floor image of the official WNBA All-Star basketball court.

The basketball court appliqué features 19 stars from the Indiana state flag, the Indiana Fever team colors, all of the WNBA teams’ logos and the WNBA’s three-point line. The court will be in place until July 21.

No pick-up basketball games are allowed while the faux court is in place, but there are some events planned.

The line-up includes a “Run the Court” social media contest with a chance to win a scheduled game of HORSE on the court floor.

Other events include community “Zumba on the Court” (July 8), performance jump roping with the Indy Air Bears (July 10), Kicasso Shoe Painting (July 11), the HIPOK9 Trick Dog Show (July 14), and the Young at Heart Senior Line Dancers (July 16).  

For travelers who do want to shoot some hoops, there’s a traditional arcade-style Pop-A-Shots in the Pacers Courtside Club restaurant in the Civic Plaza year-round that’s free to play during the restaurant’s operating hours.  

Free mini-golf at Denver International Airport

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Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to get some fresh air during a layover?

A few airports around the country have outdoor decks where you can do this.

And one of them is Denver International Airport (DEN), which has three post-security outdoor decks with comfortable seating, firepits, views of the airfield and pet relief areas.

At DEN, you’ll find one outdoor deck on each concourse: at Concourse A-West (near Gate A15), on Concourse B-West (near Gate B7) and Concourse C-East (near Gate C67).

If you’ve got a long layover and are willing to go back through security, there’s also a lovely, 82,000-square-foot open-air plaza located pre-security between the Jeppesen Terminal and the Westin Hotel.

Open now through September 30, the deck has lounge seating, grass-like turf and a variety of events.

One of our favorite events on DEN’s summer agenda is free mini golf.

Throughout June, travelers and community members may play a free round of nine holes on the plaza from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

As it does every year, free mini-golf at Denver International Airport is a great candidate for Airport Amenity of the Week.

Super (Bowl) places to go. Fun things to do.

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Philadelphia Eagles fans flying to New Orleans from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) to be part of the Super Bowl festivities on 14 flights on Friday, February 7.

To give passengers a Big Game send-off, the airport, PHL airline partners and PHL Food & Shops have decorated the airport and boarding gates and will have special swag and food available. 

We’re sure the shops and restaurants at Kansas City International Airport
(MCI) are sending off Kansas City Chiefs fans in style as well.

The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is ready for fans to land.

Denver International Airport (DEN) to host its annual Puppy Bowl

Denver International Airport (DEN) and Denver Animal Shelter (DAS) will host the 9th annual DEN Puppy Bowl in the DEN’s Jeppeson Terminal on Friday, February 7 starting at 11 am Central time.

The event will be streamed live on the DEN Facebook page and after the in-terminal Puppy Bowl, the puppy players will be available for adoption.

New restaurant – with live music – at Houston Hobby Airport

The Stuck at the Airport team is a big fan of local live music – and great food – at the airport.

So we are delighted that travelers at William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) can now enjoy The Rustic, a Texas restaurant known for its farm-to-table cuisine.

The restaurant is near Gate 44 and offers sit-down dining and to-go options.

Cool airport amenity: pickleball courts

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It’s been quite a year for California’s s Long Beach Airport (LGB).

The airport marked its centennial year with special events, a new mural, a historic video series, a collectible series of vintage-style posters and branded giveaways.

But they’re not done yet.

The airport recently debuted a new trademarked slogan – america’s coolest airport –, interred a centennial time capsule and introduced pop-up pickleball courts for the holiday season.

The pickleball courts are offered in partnership with the City of Long Beach’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine and are located just north of the Historic Terminal.

According to LGB officials, the two temporary pickleball courts will be activated periodically throughout the holidays.

We’re putting the Long Beach Airport pickleball courts in the running for Airport Amenit of the Week.

Eva Air issues Houston Rockets boarding passes

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Here’s a cute airline/sports team partnership.

As the Houston Rockets basketball team’s official airline partner, Taiwan’s Eva Air has created a Rockets-themed experience for passengers flying on the airline out of Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).

Houston travelers will see Rockets-branded signage and be able to download or print out Rockets-themed boarding passes and luggage tags.

The carrier currently flies between Houston and Taipei daily.

PHL Airport welcomes Wrestlemania

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Wrestlemania 40 is taking place in Philadelphia this week and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is ready to rumble.

The airport hosted a pep rally to welcome arriving wrestling fans and has photo ops and other activities planned for fans throughout the week.

Be sure to get a selfie with the replica wrestling ring set up in the food court in the connector between Terminals B and C. The ring has ropes, turnbuckles, pads and a branded backdrop.

At the top of Terminal E, you’ll also find three replica championship belts: the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship Belt, the Women’s World Championship Belt and a Philadelphia Phillies Belt.

All photos courtesy PHL Airport.

More about that basketball court at IND Airport

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Earlier this week, the sports department at StuckatTheAirport.com declared the basketball court at Indianapolis International Airport (IND) the Airport Amenity of the Week.

Even though it was only Monday. And even though the temporary court is a no-real-basketballs-allowed promo for the festivities and special events surrounding the NBA All-Star 2024 game to be held in Indianapolis on February 18.

Here’s more about that court and more information about what IND Airport has in store for travelers now through the NBA All-Star 2024 weekend.

About that court

The basketball court is a decal located pre-security in the airport’s public gathering area, which is called the Civic Plaza. The court is 50 feet wide by 94 feet long and is the same size as a professional basketball court. The basketball goals are courtesy of the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

Basketball graphics galore at IND Airport

Graphics celebrating the NBA All-Star 2024 weekend are also in the IND bag claim area and other parts of the airport.

And there’s more to come.

IND officials tell us that a 6-foot-tall ceramic basketball will be rolled into the bag claim area, there will be live music from local musicians, custom artwork by local artists in the airport’s KIND Gallery, and pop-up shops with all manner of NBA All-Star merch.

Blue Skies at IND

If you’re heading to Indianapolis during the NBA All-Star 2024 weekend, or anytime, be sure to look for the newest major piece of public art at IND Airport.

Blue Skies, by Brenna McCarty, is suspended more than 65 feet in the air from the terminal roof structure and is composed of hundreds of acrylic spheres.

Airport Amenity of the Week: IND’s basketball court

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This must be what they mean when they say ‘Hoosier Hospitality.’

The 2024 NBA All-Star game will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 18.

To promote the exhibition game and to make fans feel welcome, Indianapolis International Airport (IND) has turned its central terminal area, called the Civic Plaza, into a full-length basketball court, complete with stanchions, glass backboards, and a painted ‘hardwood’ floor.

The only thing missing? The basketballs.

No dribbling, dunking, or basketball playing is allowed.

Alaska Airlines has a deal for Kraken Fans

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In some cities, it’s all about the basketball playoffs right now.

But in Seattle, hopes are pinned on the professional ice-hockey team known as the Seattle Kraken.

The Seattle Kraken will play against the Dallas Stars in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. And to celebrate, Seattle-based Alaska Airlines is offering special fares to Dallas as well as sweepstakes for a chance to win tickets to Game 2 in Dallas.

Here’s the deal: through May 5, Alaska Airlines is offering

*$99 tickets each way between Seattle and Dallas – to either Dallas Love Field (DAL) or Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW);

*Priority boarding for any guests sporting Kraken gear at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport:

*And a chance to win two roundtrip tickets to Dallas and a pair of tickets to Game 2 of the second round of playoffs. Enter by retweeting the @SeattleKraken “I want to fly away” tweet.

(Official sweepstakes rules here.)

Alaska Airlines is the official airline sponsor of the Kraken, and they’ve even added another flight to Dallas from Seattle on May 2 with flight number #9232 in honor of the NHL’s 32nd franchise.