New ‘Rocky’ Statue to Be Installed at Philadelphia Airport

The steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art have been immortalized in the film Rocky. But they'll soon join another Philadelphia location that will house a statue of the famous character portrayed by actor Sylvester Stallone.

The Philadelphia International Airport will get its own Rocky statue, the public affairs manager of the City of Philadelphia Department of Aviation confirmed to CBS News Philadelphia on Thursday, Aug. 14. The Department of Aviation purchased the statue, which will now be part of the City of Philadelphia's permanent collection.

A spokesperson for the City Department of Planning and Development said that the Philadelphia Art Commission unanimously voted to OK final approval of the proposed statue and its placement at the airport.

In an Art Commission Artwork Acquisition Approval Proposal from the Philadelphia Art Commission on July 30, the Rocky Monumental Statue is described as an original bronze 3 of 3 casting created by sculptor A. Thomas Schomberg. The proposal also stated that the statue will be 10 feet tall and stand on a 3-foot-tall-by-4-foot-square black steel base.

Rocky will be installed at the airport's Terminal A-West, on the second floor concourse after the TSA screening checkpoints. Officials selected the area for its background view of airplanes, a spot that will allow travelers to take selfies and group photos with the statue. 

"The Department realized that this was a unique opportunity to enhance the guest experience by purchasing an iconic statue that is solely associated with the City of Philadelphia by its residents and people from near and far who travel to Philly to partake in its celebrity and story of triumph," the managing principal of The Sheward Partnership stated in the proposal.

An installation date has not been confirmed.

According to Schomberg's website, the artist, who is well-recognized for his creation of the Rocky statue, has three statues in a limited-edition series. The three editions of the Rocky Monumental Statue are No. 1 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, No. 2 in a private collection of Sylvester Stallone, and No. 3, which was available for purchase. Version No. 3 will now call the Philadelphia airport home.