New Yorkers are seeing green—and not from envy over the Eagles' NFC Championship win—as the Empire State Building sparked outrage by illuminating itself in Eagles colors once again, igniting memories of last year's lighting debacle.

As the Empire State Building glowed a vibrant Eagles green following Philadelphia's NFC Championship victory over the Washington Commanders, New Yorkers were quick to express their frustration, recalling a similar uproar from 2023. With city officials poised to criticize yet again, and the building's own X account anticipating backlash, one has to wonder: is the Empire State Building a monument to skyscrapers or just another scoreboard in a long-standing game of New York vs. Philadelphia?

The Empire State Building is no stranger to shedding its usual hues for a bit of team spirit. In fact, this isn't the first time the iconic skyscraper has donned the colors of its rivals. New Yorkers expressed anger and disappointment over the Empire State Building being lit up in Eagles colors during their NFC Championship run, recalling a similar controversy from 2023. Perhaps the building should consider changing its name to the 'Empire State of Eagles.'

This recent lighting spectacle has rekindled what some might call the 'great color war' debate. Much like choosing a pizza place in Brooklyn, opinions vary dramatically when it comes to which team's colors should be celebrated atop the skyline. While Eagles fans are undoubtedly thrilled by the display of support, many New Yorkers are still fuming, feeling that their beloved city skyline has indecently switched allegiances in a split second. Local pride appears to burn hotter than the building’s neon lights.

The Empire State Building's X account definitely anticipated the backlash, as it preemptively issued a message regarding potential negative reactions. It's almost as if they were bracing for an online storm, knowing full well how passionate New Yorkers can be about their sports teams. One can almost picture them sitting in a dimly lit room, furiously tweeting with a sense of foreboding, reminiscent of someone nervously opening a can of tuna in a room full of cats.

Adding fuel to the fire, former New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley scored not one, but two touchdowns in the NFC Championship game. As if New Yorkers needed another reason to dread that glowing beacon of green, the ghosts of Giants fans are probably shaking their heads at the notion of celebrating a team that plays in a state that often gets mistaken for a cheesesteak’s sidekick.

Reactions on the ground have been swift. Many local officials and city figures, including the ever-vocal former sanitation commissioner Jessica Tisch, chimed in to express their dissatisfaction. Critics argue that the Empire State Building should prioritize local pride over accommodating the birds from Philly. It’s not just a matter of aesthetics; they believe it’s a matter of principle. After all, when in Rome (or New York), you don’t drape the Coliseum in the colors of rival gladiators, do you?

The controversy from 2023 serves as a painful reminder that all lighting decisions aren’t made equally. The Empire State Building literally could light up like a Christmas tree in the off-season, yet choosing Philadelphia’s favorite hue doesn’t exactly scream 'New York's Finest.' Yet, in an entertaining plot twist, the building’s plans are to switch to the colors of the AFC Championship winner next. For the sake of everyone’s sanity, let’s hope it doesn’t end up casting a similar gloomy pall over the city again, as fans brace for what the next round of color choices might bring.

As the City That Never Sleeps watches the bright green glow fade away, many are left to ponder: Is there a polling booth we can hit to vote on the next lighting decision? After all, democracy works in every aspect of our lives—except when it comes to this giant building’s color choices. In the end, whether it’s painted in Eagles green or stands proudly in Giants blue, what happens atop the Empire State Building is bound to leave some proud, some angry, and most likely, some hilariously confused. The only consensus we seem to have is that the next NFC winner will definitely have a spotlight to which they are eternally welcome. But for now, the Eagles may want to keep their victory songs at a respectable volume lest they wake the city from its green-tinted slumber.