Gov. Josh Shapiro on Eagles stadium talks: ‘They’re going to stay in Philly’
"We’re also going to do it in a way that protects the Eagles and protects the taxpayers," Shapiro said.
A week after Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie made clear that all options are on the table when it comes to the future home of the team, including the possibility of leaving the team’s longtime home of South Philadelphia, the top elected official in Pennsylvania pumped the brakes on a move outside of the city.
“We’re not going to lose the Birds. They’re going to stay in Philly, and we’re going to make sure of that,” Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said on the latest unCovering the Birds podcast.
The Eagles are at Lincoln Financial Field until 2032 under their current lease agreement. But the team has begun what Lurie called “exploratory research” on a new or renovated stadium. Last year, the organization sent out surveys to season-ticket holders to seek input on the prospects of a stadium renovation or a new building. It is similar to what the Eagles did before they moved from Veterans Stadium to Lincoln Financial Field in 2003.
Lurie said the goal is to have a more “definitive approach” to the team’s stadium plans in a year or two. Until then, they will continue to seek input from fans and also will be paying close attention to new NFL stadiums in Nashville and Buffalo, as well as renovated international soccer stadiums such as Bernabéu in Madrid and Camp Nou in Barcelona as case studies.
Lurie wouldn’t rule out any potential locations if the team builds a new stadium.
“Whatever’s best for the fans,” he said. “I mean, we don’t really go on a geographical basis. It’s whatever’s best for the fans. And I can’t tell you where [the planned stadium in] Cleveland is, Barcelona is, I don’t know. Honestly, the bottom line is whatever is best for the fans.”
Shapiro — who talked on the podcast about his Eagles fandom, the NFL draft in Pittsburgh on April 23-25, his thoughts on Jalen Hurts, and more — said the Eagles are “doing what they should do.”
“They’re asking fans what they think,” he said. “They’re thinking about their future. I’ve got no problem with that and I appreciate the way in which they’re doing it. I actually thought Jeffrey’s comments were very thoughtful and sober and he wasn’t saber-rattling.”
The governor undoubtedly will be involved in stadium discussions in some capacity. Public funding from the city and state played a role in building Lincoln Financial Field.
Shapiro plans to make sure the Eagles stay in Philadelphia, but said “we’re also going to do it in a way that protects the Eagles and protects the taxpayers. I’m confident that when it comes time to sitting down and having a conversation that we’ll be able to have a really productive and professional conversation.”
Jeffrey Lurie has owned the Philadelphia Eagles, which he purchased in 1994, longer than his son, Julian, has been alive. But in recent years, the younger Lurie, heir to the franchise and now 31, has assumed a more pervasive and influential role in the organization. While the Eagles have made no secret about Julian’s increased involvement with the team, specifics about his role have been scant. In recent months, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane spoke to nearly two dozen sources on and off the record to gain a better understanding of not just who Julian Lurie is and what he does, but - most important of all - whether he’ll be ready to assume the reins as Eagles Chairman and CEO, whenever the time comes. Jeff shares the biggest takeaways from his reporting with Inquirer columnist Mike Sielski in this companion episode to Jeff’s feature article about the Eagles' succession plan. Listen here.
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