Take a bus trip to the Eagles celebration
DOUGLASVILLE » Philadelphia will be the place to be on Thursday, when the city hosts a parade to honor the Philadelphia Eagles — Super Bowl Champions for the first time in franchise history.
For those who want to go to the parade, but who may not want to drive, Klein Transportation announced that it would be taking reservations for seats on charter buses to the parade, departing from Wyomissing, Douglassville and King of Prussia.
“It’s exciting. We’re so happy to be able to offer this service. People have been waiting so long for this win — so we’re super excited. Being able to get people there to experience the parade is a great feeling for us,” said Alison Klein Sherman, Klein Transportation vice president.
The effort, teased on Facebook Sunday night and then announced Monday morning, quickly became very popular.
“We posted that we would be offering it and to watch for a link to make reservations,” Sherman said, adding the link was posted at about 7:45 a.m. Monday. “Calls started to come in slowly, and then at around 11, the phones went crazy.”
Klein was getting so many phone calls, Sherman said, that it was necessary to set the phone system to send calls directly to voicemail. The voicemail message indicated that callers should go to the website to make a reservation, but indicated they would be placed on a waiting list for seats.
“I thought it would be busy. I had no idea it would be to the extent that it is,” Sherman said.
By 3 p.m. Monday, the company had sold out two buses — each with 54 seats, and was close to having a third bus filled.
“We updated Facebook and the website to explain. Even though they are entering their reservation information, they are on a waiting list until they’re confirmed,” Sherman said, adding the message will be updated once capacity is reached.
Christa McCusker, sales and marketing supervisor for Klein Transportation, said the company has four or five buses to work with. She added that for many in the area, getting to
Philadelphia is a “daunting task.”
“We don’t want them to have to worry about the train or driving on the Schuylkill,” said McCusker. “They will have a reserved seat on the bus with other Eagles fans. It should be a
lot of fun.”
The parade begins at 11 a.m. Thursday at Broad and Pattison streets, according to city officials, and will then head north to the Art Museum. Additional details are expected to be released by the city on Tuesday morning.
According to McCusker, the buses will be leaving very early on Thursday.
“People told us they don’t
care when the bus leaves. They said, ‘just put us on the bus,’” McCusker added.
Klein buses will depart Thursday from the Vanity Fair overflow lot behind Willoughby’s on Park Road in Wyomissing at 5:15 a.m.; and from the Klein school bus lot, 1336 Benjamin Franklin Highway in Douglassville at 5:45 a.m. As of Monday afternoon, Sherman said no-one had made
a reservation to be picked up in King of Prussia, but if someone does, that bus will depart at 6:30 a.m. from the King of Prussia Park and Ride on King of Prussia Road.
McCusker said the company will work to get fans as close to the parade route as possible.
“But we will be directed by the city,” McCusker said, adding that additional information will be released Tuesday morning. “Motorcoach parking and routing information will be directed to us, with drop-off and pick-up points, that we will share with the passengers.”
The cost for trip to the parade is $30 and reservations are required. McCusker said no walk-ups will be accepted.
For more information about the trip or to find out if waiting list reservations are still being accepted, visit www.kleintransportation.com/bustours/make-a-reservation. aspx?tourid=ph2007 or www.facebook.com/kleintransportation/
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