The first group of Philadelphia‘s die-hard fans showed up at 5 p.m. Thursday (2/13) for the Super Bowl parade, setting up camp almost a full day before the victory parade kicks off at the corner of Broad and Pattison.

“I figure I’d be here first so I can get me a nice spot so I could see the whole thing,” said Eric McClellan to 6ABC.

The three-mile stretch from South Philly to the Art Museum will soon be packed with an expected million people watching the Super Bowl parade. Starting at the stadium complex, the parade heads north on Broad Street until City Hall, then weaves along Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

McClellan and his friend Daishon Sanders grabbed prime spots near the ending celebration. “It’s going to be legendary. I gotta see it,” McClellan said.

The city put up huge viewing screens along the route to show both the parade and Super Bowl highlights. At the Art Museum steps, the big finale starts at 2 p.m. and wraps up by 3:15.

By Thursday evening, roads started shutting down for the Super Bowl parade. The city’s emergency command center kicked into gear, with mobile units and extra cops taking their spots across town.

Public transit geared up to handle the crowds, with SEPTA changing its train schedules and fares. Officials warned that cell service might be spotty in the packed crowds.

Fans were lined up at SEPTA stations by 5:30a today (2/14) to head to the Super Bowl parade route. By 9:10a, police were expanding some barricades along the east side of Broad Street to accommodate the crowds.

For folks wanting to avoid the biggest crowds, officials suggest checking out viewing areas near the stadium complex, where big screens show all the action.