Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Philadelphia Eagles, has been open since August 2003, and with the recent spike in stadium renovations across the NFL paired with an expiring lease in 2032, “The Linc” could be set for a major change.
The list of major stadium renovations and new construction across the NFL has grown significantly in the past few years: the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans have already broken ground on new stadiums, while the Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs, and Washington Commanders plan to follow suit. Could the Eagles be next?
Yes, the Eagles have a few options when their lease expires in 2032, but they won’t be leaving Philadelphia.
The bottom line: A retractable roof is a strong possibility
CBS Sports Eagles reporter Jeff Kerr laid out a few options for the team in his article, but the idea that stood out was a potential move toward a retractable roof.
“If the Eagles do decide to renovate Lincoln Financial Field or build a new stadium, getting a retractable-roof stadium is a strong possibility."
Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie is undecided on the idea of a roof, according to the CBS Sports article:
“I don’t have a strong opinion on it, because you’re torn,” Lurie said at Super Bowl media night. “I love outdoor football. I love it. I love the cold games. I like the hot games. I like the snow games.
“On the other hand, Philadelphia deserves to host the Super Bowl, NCAA Final Four, and lots of great events. It’s an incredible sports city, so yes, you’ve got to balance all those things.”
The Super Bowl has been held outdoors only twice in the last ten matchups, supporting the argument for a retractable roof.
The bottom line? If the Eagles want to host a Super Bowl, they’re going to have to construct a roof. Other teams are taking the necessary steps to be considered, and Philadelphia may soon follow.
The Eagles have another choice with two big options
Kerr explained in his article that the Super Bowl LIX champions essentially have two main options for their stadium future. They could stay in their current location, which would likely lead to the retractable-roof scenario — or they could move down the road.
“They also could move outside of the complex and remain in South Philadelphia by building a new stadium at the Navy Yard — which has undergone significant upgrades over the past decade,” Kerr said.
The Navy Yard sits just over a mile from The Linc, so the Eagles would remain in South Philadelphia and become the centerpiece of the area. A lot of the decisions will depend on the outcome of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex redevelopment.
“Until the new arena location in the South Philadelphia sports complex is concrete, the Eagles will have to be selective if they choose to go with a new stadium,” Kerr added. “The Eagles haven’t committed to the project with Comcast Spectacor, the Phillies, and the 76ers — and that complicates things.”
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Only time will tell what the future holds for the Birds and their South Philly home, but one thing is for certain -- they look highly unlikely to be making a move outside of South Philadelphia.