1902day.year
The Philadelphia Football Athletics defeat the Kanaweola Athletic Club of Elmira, New York, 39–0, in the first-ever professional American football night game.
In 1902, the Philadelphia Football Athletics win 39–0 over Elmira’s Kanaweola Athletic Club in the first professional American football night game under electric lights.
Played under newly installed electric floodlights, this 1902 match at Philadelphia’s baseball park marked a pioneering moment in sports history. The Philadelphia Football Athletics showcased their dominance against the visiting Elmira team, winning decisively 39–0. The success of the night game demonstrated the potential of artificial lighting to extend sporting events into evening hours. Although electricity technology was still in its infancy, the crowd was enthralled by the novelty. This innovation paved the way for modern evening scheduling in American football and other sports.
1902
Philadelphia Football Athletics
Kanaweola Athletic Club
Elmira, New York
American football
night game