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  • Writer's pictureLloyd Brown

Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia Eagles


Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29

Lincoln Financial Field 1 Lincoln Financial Field Way Philadelphia, PA 19148

Year Opened: 2003 Capacity: 69,956


 

Flying High in Philly

The Philadelphia Eagles are one of the oldest professional football franchises in continuous existence, as they were founded in 1933. Their home since 2003 is Lincoln Financial Field, located in the City of Brotherly Love’s Stadium Complex. Lincoln Financial Field is the sixth stadium the Eagles have called home since their founding. It has a capacity of 69,176, including 172 luxury suites .

The Eagles have been one of the most consistent winning teams in the NFL, as they are always in the hunt for the very tough NFC Eastern Conference Championship on an annual basis. The Eagles have appeared in three Super Bowls, finally bringing home the Lombardi Trophy in 2017. In addition to the Super Bowl, the Eagles won three NFL Championships in the pre- Super Bowl era.

Food & Beverage 4

Philadelphia is a city known for its distinctive foods, and they are readily available at Lincoln Financial Field. The concession offerings include foods from Philadelphia favorites Tony Luke’s (roast pork Italian sandwiches and cheesesteaks), Chickie’s and Pete’s (Buffalo chicken, Buffalo chicken cutlets and crab fries), Bassett’s Original Burgers (Mac n’ Cheeseburgers, picnic burgers) and Planet Hoagie (veggie wraps and hoagies).

Lincoln Financial Field has been recognized on several occasions as being the “most vegetarian-friendly stadium in the NFL.” It offers veggie wraps, veggie hot dogs, garden burgers and many other plant-based products. It also offers many gluten-free and kosher items in its stadium concessions menu.

This diversity does come at price, as the prices at Lincoln Financial Field are much higher than most NFL venues.

Atmosphere 5

The Eagles and Lincoln Financial Field provide a great game day atmosphere. Pregame activities get started three hours before kickoff when the HeadHouse Plaza opens. The plaza is located at the north end of the stadium and it features the Eagles Pro Shop, interactive games, a video screen with features on the upcoming game, live entertainment, visits by Swoop and the Eagles cheerleaders and autograph opportunities with former Eagle greats. The inner gates to the stadium open 90 minutes before kickoff.

Lincoln Financial Field has some great traditions not typically found at some of the newer franchises. These include a team song, “Fly, Eagles, Fly,” which I sung after an Eagles score and the cheer E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES! which erupts at most any time during the game. The theme from the movie “Rocky” is played prior to the opening kickoff, sending the fans into a frenzy. The stands are filled by a sea of green-clad Eagle fans no matter how bad the weather is.


Neighborhood 4

Lincoln Financial Field is in the Philadelphia Sports Complex, which is located just west of I-95, a few miles south of downtown Philadelphia. Its neighbors in the complex are the Wells Fargo Center, home of the Philadelphia 76ers and Philadelphia Flyers and Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies. Also located in the complex is Xfinity Live, which offers a variety of dining and entertainment options. Unfortunately, there are no hotels within walking distance of the stadium, the Philadelphia International Airport is only a few miles south of the complex and offers dozens of accommodations.

Although there is not much available to do in the immediate neighborhood surrounding the stadium, downtown Philadelphia and the Historic District are just a short drive or subway ride away. It is a wonderful city to bring history alive to your children or to visit the “Rocky” statue at the foot of the steps to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Fans 4

Philadelphia fans have long gotten a bum rap as being some of the nastiest in the major league sports. Events cited included throwing snowballs at Santa Claus and the convening of an in-stadium court to deal with unruly fans. Fortunately, these events are long in the past and the atmosphere in Lincoln Financial Field is a big change from the old Veteran’s Stadium. Fans are extremely passionate about their Eagles, as they have sold out every game since 1999. There is also a 70,000-person wait list for tickets, second only to the Green Bay Packers in that regard. Most ranking articles place the Eagles fans near the top for loyalty and many NFL players find the stadium to be one of the most intimidating environments to play in.

Philadelphia fans cite three games as “rivalry” games each season, with the NY Giants, Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers filling out this description. Eagles fans are welcoming to visitors if you strike up a conversation with them about football or what are some of the best places to visit in Philadelphia that may not be one of the main tourist haunts.

Access 4

Lincoln Financial Field is easily accessible via either I-76 or I-95. Take the exit marked “Stadium Complex.” There are more than 21,000 parking spaces available at the facility.

Like most major cities in the northeast, public transportation provides an economical and convenient alternative to driving to the stadium. The Broad Street line (Orange Line) has a station located just two blocks from the stadium (AT&T/ Sports Complex Station). This is the best line for those traveling from downtown Philadelphia to the game. SEPTA offers an Independence Pass, which is good for unlimited rides within a 24-hour period. This allows for fans from out of town to see the many famous historical sites in the area as well as the game on just one card. Taxi and rideshare services are available at the Corner of Citizens Bank Avenue and Pattison Avenue.

There are seven main entrance gates into the stadium. Once inside the stadium, you will find wide concourses with plenty of restrooms and concession areas. Monitors are positioned throughout the concourses to ensure you do not miss any of the action.

Return on Investment 4

Eagles games are always sellouts, so you will have to use a secondary market to find tickets for Lincoln Financial Field.

Concession prices are above average when compared to other NFL markets. Expect to pay $12 for a beer, $6 for a soft drink and $12 for a hamburger. The parking rate in the official stadium lots is $40. However, cheaper rates are available in nearby lots or by using the SEPTA subway system ($13 for a daily pass with unlimited usage) to get to the stadium.

There are few hotel options within walking distance of the park. Downtown Philadelphia hotels are usually in the $180 and up range per night, but cheaper options ($100-$150) may be found in and around Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), which is just a few miles south of the stadium complex off I-95.

Extras 5

In addition to serving as the Eagles home field, Lincoln Financial Field serves as the home of the Temple University Owls football games and it frequently hosts the Army-Navy game each fall. It also has served as the site of the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championships on a regular basis.

Lincoln Financial Field is one of the “greenest” stadiums in the NFL. It has more than 11,000 solar panels and 14 wind turbines installed on the site. This provides about 30% of the electrical needs of the stadium on a game day.

The stadium has been chosen as one of the pitches for the 2026 World Cup to be hosted by North America.

In 2019, the Philadelphia Flyers met the Pittsburgh Penguins in an NHL Stadium Classic game at “the Linc.” The game attracted 69,620 fans in what became the largest hockey game ever in the state of Pennsylvania.

The stadium has hosted concerts featuring such performers Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Chesney, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran and the Rolling Stones.

Final Thoughts

The Eagles franchise has been one of the longest running organizations in the NFL and has a great history of success. Lincoln Financial Field is a major improvement on its former home at “The Vet.” Game days feature sellout crowds, rabid fans, great Philadelphia food fare and a quality team on the field. This all adds up to a great fan experience in the City of Brotherly Love.

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