Lincoln Financial Field
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Lincoln Financial Field, familiarly known as The Linc, is the home stadium of the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles. It has a seating capacity of 68,532. The stadium was named in June of 2002 when Lincoln Financial Group paid $139.6 million for naming rights over the next 21 years. It is located in South Philadelphia on Pattison Avenue between 11th and 10th Streets, closer to the area's stretch of Interstate 95 than to Pattison.
The stadium replaced the old Veterans Stadium after over two years of construction. While its total capacity barely changed, the new stadium contained double the amount of luxury and wheelchair-accessible seats, along with the newer, more modern services. Like the Vet, Lincoln Financial Field has a jail inside the stadium, in this case one with four jail cells.
The stadium opened on August 8, 2003 with a preseason friendly match between European soccer giants Manchester United and FC Barcelona. Some matches in the FIFA Women's World Cup for soccer were also played there in 2003. Bruce Springsteen performed three concerts there in 2003. Also, the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship in 2005 and 2006 were held there. The Army-Navy football game is also played at the stadium, and the stadium is scheduled to host more in the future.
Temple University's Division I-A college football team also plays their home games at Lincoln Financial Field, paying the Eagles $6 million a year to do so.
[edit] Notable games
Aug. 3, 2003: Lincoln Financial Field hosts its first ticketed event, a soccer match between Manchester United and FC Barcelona
Aug. 22, 2003: The Eagles host the New England Patriots in the first preseason football game at Lincoln Financial Field.
Sept. 6, 2003: Lincoln Financial Field hosts its first regular season college football game, a college matchup of city rivals Villanova and Temple. Villanova prevailed 23-20 in double overtime.
Sept. 8, 2003: The Eagles and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers square off on Monday Night Football in the first regular season NFL game, dubbed the “Inaugural Game” at Lincoln Financial Field. Tampa Bay won, 17-0.
Sept. 23, 2007: Wearing 1933 throwback uniforms celebrating the team's 75th Anniversary, the Eagles set multiple team records in a smothering 56-21 victory over the Detroit Lions, their 2nd most points in team history. It was the first time the Eagles ever had a 300-yard passer (Donovan McNabb), a 200-yard receiver (Kevin Curtis), and a 100-yard rusher (Brian Westbrook) in the same game.
- NFC Divisional Playoff: January 11, 2004 (Philadelphia Eagles 20, Green Bay Packers 17). This is when The Miracle of 4th and 26 occurred. Donovan McNabb connected on a 28-yard pass to receiver Freddie Mitchell on 4th and 26. This led to the game-tying field goal that sent the game into overtime. In the overtime period, Brett Favre tossed an interception to Brian Dawkins, which set up David Akers game-deciding 37-yard field goal.
- NFC Championship: January 18, 2004: (Carolina Panthers 14, Philadelphia Eagles 3). Eagles lose their 3rd straight NFC Championship game.
- NFC Championship: January 23, 2005: (Philadelphia Eagles 27, Atlanta Falcons 10). Eagles advance to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1980. They would go on to lose to the New England Patriots by a score of 24-21.
- NFC Wild Card Game: January 7, 2007: (Philadelphia Eagles 23, New York Giants 20). David Akers wins the game with a field goal as time expires.
[edit] Picture Gallery
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