Philadelphia News Briefs: 6/9/15

1.) Philadelphia made the 37th spot on WalletHub’s ranking of sports cities. That was a good deal lower than Pittsburgh, which snagged the 2nd spot on the list. The list of 272 cities was ordered based on a number of factors, including the amount of professional teams based within the area, the degree of fan engagement, and the teams’ performance. Pittsburgh had lower ticket prices than Philly, which was more on a par with New York or Boston when it came to costs. Philadelphia also lost points in the area of stadium accessibility, owing to the fact that Citizens Bank Park is outside of the main city center.

This image of the “Vatican Splendors” touring exhibit was taken when the show landed in Tampa Bay, Florida.

2.) A touring show called “Vatican Splendors” will be arriving in Philadelphia right in time for Pope Francis’ visit in September. The show will take place at the Franklin Institute and will feature fine art and other precious items from the Vatican’s vast collection. Highlights include artwork by Michelangelo, embroidered silk vestments, religious relics and bone fragments of Saints Peter and Paul. The exhibit uses maps, frescoes, and documents to bring visitors through the history and evolution of the Catholic Church. Galleries will be made to look like the papal chambers and catacombs. Vatican Splendors opens September 19th.

3.) The Made in America music festival will return to Philly – and just Philly – this summer. Last year concert organizer Jay Z made the ambitious choice to go bicoastal, having the festival in Philly and Los Angeles at the same time. The concert in LA was plagued by issues, however, and was widely considered not to be a success. That may be part of the reason why the show will stay put in Philadelphia this year.