 Lincoln
Financial Field
Philadelphia, PA
Some fans call it The Linc,
but whatever people call it, all fans agree that Lincoln Financial
Field is a vast improvement over Veterans Stadium. For three
decades, dating back to 1971, the Eagles shared the multipurpose
Veterans Stadium with the Philadelphia Phillies (MLB). In the 1990s the Eagles began to
desire a new stadium
for several reasons. Veterans Stadium was considered one of the worst venues in
the league, in part because it was known as having the worst turf
in football. In 1993, Eagles owner, Norman Braman, wanted to
build a new stadium similar to Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo.
Braman sold the team to Jeffrey Lurie, who continued the quest for
a new stadium in Philadelphia. For over five years, the Eagles
struggled to gain financial support for a stadium. In February
1999 the State of Pennsylvania approved funding, and in December
2000 the City of Philadelphia and the Eagles agreed on a deal to
construct a stadium. Construction adjacent to Veterans Stadium on
a new stadium began in April 2001. In
June 2002, Lincoln Financial Group, a financial services firm that
has its headquarters in downtown Philadelphia, agreed to pay
$139.6 million for the naming rights.
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 The Eagles played their first game at Lincoln Financial Field
against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 8, 2003. The 68,000
seat stadium is located at 11th Street and Pattison
Ave. The stadium
looks similar to other NFL stadiums that have been completed in
past years. Nearly two-thirds of the seats are located on the
sidelines and are 60 feet from the field. Two three tier
grandstands of seats are located on both sides of the gridiron.
Two tier sections of seats are located beyond the endzones. The
stadium features three open plaza corners for views of the city
and into the stadium.
The
exterior of the stadium has a pair of wing-like coverings over the
upper deck. These wings form some protection from the elements for
some fans and serve to focus
stadium noise back towards the field, enhancing
the game experience. Two 27ft. by 96ft. video boards are located
between the lower and upper decks in the endzones. A number of
amenities are at Lincoln Financial Field, including 117 luxury
suites, 9,000 club seats, a 100,00 square foot fan oriented plaza
and an Eagles team store.
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