Lincoln Financial Field will host up to 6,000 fans for this weekend's Ravens-Eagles gameGETTY IMAGES
The Eagles will have fans in attendance for Sunday's game against the Ravens, but said that "tailgating would be prohibited" following the city's announcement that its coronavirus restrictions will be loosened, according to McCrystal & McDaniel of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. Philadelphia yesterday said that it will "loosen its coronavirus restrictions to allow crowds of up to 7,500 people at the city’s largest outdoor venues, a step that will put thousands of Eagles fans back in the stands at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday." The limits include "participants or athletes, staff, and spectators." The Eagles indicated that for the team, that "means between 5,500 and 6,000 fans would be permitted to attend each game." For Lincoln Financial Field, which seats more than 69,000, that "means about 8% of its seats will be filled" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 10/14). The Eagles said that Lincoln Financial Field will "undergo a thorough cleaning, disinfecting and sanitation process before, during and after each game." In Philadelphia, Rose & George reported "numerous hand sanitization stations will be located throughout the stadium" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 10/13).
STEP TOWARD NORMALCY: In Philadelphia, David Murphy writes he does not "know if the City of Philadelphia is making the right decision," nor does he "know if the Eagles are making the right decision in taking the city up on its offer." Murphy: "We are currently living in a society that is in desperate need of any semblance of normalcy that can be achieved while treating the reality of our circumstances with a commensurate level of regard." As such, if the city of Philadelphia, the Eagles and the 7,500 people who are "willing to be on hand for a football game are comfortable with allowing that to happen, there is no fundamental reason why it should not" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 10/14).
PHASED APPROACH: In Philadelphia, Marc Narducci reports Temple Univ. will "begin a phased approach to sell tickets to football games." If "all goes well" Saturday -- when complimentary tickets will be provided only for families of Temple football players and coaches -- then the plan will be to "offer a prorated, three-game season-ticket plan for games" on Nov. 5 against SMU, Nov. 21 against ECU and Nov. 28 against Cincinnati. Temple fans who renewed their season tickets for the '20 season will be "given priority on the purchase of the limited number of seats available for the team's three November games" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 10/14).
