Rocky Statue Could be Headed Back to Art Museum

by KYW’s Mike Dunn

It looks like the "Rocky" statue is making a comeback at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the mayor says it’s a knockout for local tourism.

Mayor Street says the number one site that tourists here ask to see is not the Liberty Bell but the Rocky statue:

“There are so many people who really really relate to Philadelphia through that story and hard work and commitment and all, and I think it's good.”

So Street is thrilled that the statue may be moved to an area near the art museum.  This time, though, it won’t be on the steps but on the grounds nearby.  The Fairmount Park Commission on Wednesday approved moving the controversial statue from the Spectrum, in South Philadelphia, to an area near the art museum steps.

The city art commission must still okay the move, but attorney Jimmy Binns, who is pushing the idea, thinks the art experts won’t have a problem:

“This is not something that you get at the dollar store.  This is a very impressive piece of sculpture by a very impressive sculptor, Thomas Schomberg.”

Binns says Stallone himself will pay for the move and the landscaping, which could be completed by year’s end -- when Stallone’s last "Rocky" film premieres.  This renews a huge controversy from the 1980s over whether the statue should be on the steps themselves.

Earlier, city councilman Frank Rizzo seemed miffed that marketing may be deciding the issue:

“If we do a Donald Duck movie in the city of Philadelphia, are we going to have a Donald Duck statue?”

There was no immediate word on when the art commission would vote on the idea.