New York sports fans saw red when a hometown landmark, the Empire State Building, lit up green and white to celebrate Sunday night’s big win by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Aficionados of the New York Giants took to Twitter to blast the landmark property on 34th Street when it saluted the Eagles after the team beat the San Francisco 49ers to win the NFC championship. The Eagles, who now advance to the Super Bowl, are archrivals of the Giants and beat the team in a playoff game a week ago.
“Fly @Eagles Fly! We’re going Green and White in honor of the Eagles NFC Championship Victory,” the Empire State Building tweeted on Sunday, seemingly oblivious about the brouhaha that would follow.
A flood of angry — and sometimes profane and hilarious — responses ensued, from New Yorkers and other tri-state area residents, who viewed the green-and-white display as inexcusable. The New York Sanitation Department described the Empire State Building’s move as “treacherous, traitorous and unforgivable.” Another post said, “King Kong should have destroyed you.” And one person tweeted, “Are you changing your name to the Keystone State Building?”
Empire State Realty Trust, the New York-based owner of the Manhattan tourist attraction, didn’t respond to an email or phone call seeking comment.
The skyscraper’s Twitter account later announced that it had changed the building’s lighting to the colors — red and gold — of the Kansas City Chiefs, who will face off against the Eagles in the Super Bowl after beating the Cincinnati Bengals to nab the AFC championship.
During the tweeting back-and-forth, the Giants themselves chimed in, perhaps tongue in cheek, posting, “I’m just here for the comments.”