Situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Lincoln Financial Field is a multi-use stadium that is also the home field of the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles as well as the football team from Temple University. The venue is in the South Philadelphia section of town on Pattison Avenue, between South Darien and 11th streets. I-95 runs alongside the stadium area, which is a component of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex. Lincoln Financial Field seats 69,176 people. The stadium is commonly referred to by Philadelphia as "The Linc."
Construction of Lincoln Financial Field commenced in May of 2001 and the venue opened to the public on August 3 of 2003. Lincoln Financial Field was designed to be the replacement for Veterans Stadium. Though visitor capacity is roughly the same, the new venue offers twice as many handicap-accessible seating options, double the amount of luxury suites and an array of modernized services. Inside the stadium are numerous LED displays and an impressive amount of ribbon boards.
Lincoln Financial Group purchased the naming rights to the field in June of 2002, for a price of $139.6 million to be paid over the course of 21 years. State and local subsidies for the stadium's construction came to nearly $188 million. Another source of funding was the sale to season ticket holders of "Stadium Builder's Licenses."
It is common for the annual Army-Navy game to be played at the venue, given Philadelphia's location that falls approximately halfway between the academies. The stadium is also chosen for this event due to its ability to hold sizeable crowds as well as its historic significance. Home games of Division 1 football's Temple Owls team are also played at the stadium, with the University paying $1 million to the Eagles annually for the privilege. Exhibition matches between Major League Soccer's Philadelphia Union team and a number of well-known international teams routinely take place at Lincon Financial Field, particularly when Talen Energy Stadium's seating capacity is anticipated to be insufficient for a given event. In three different years, NCAA lacrosse championships have also been held at the impressive venue.
It was announced in spring of 2013 that substantial upgrade work would be undertaken at Lincoln Financial Field. With the improvements expected to take roughly two year, the cost was projected to top $125 million. Changes were to include the addition of expanded seating, a pair of modernized HD video displays, upgrades to existing amenities, improved WiFi and pedestrian bridges in the upper level areas. Priorities for these improvements were reached after consultation with fan groups, season ticket purchasers and advisory teams. Most of the planned upgrades, WiFi included, were in place by the date of the 2013 home opening game. The improved video displays and audio systems were in place by the 2014 opener.
