Big Changes Are Coming To Tailgating At Eagles Games, And You Better Adapt Or Die
Icon Sportswire. Getty Images.6abc -- Tailgating is a Philadelphia tradition, but fans who bring an RV, bus or trailer to Eagles games will soon face new parking rules and higher costs.The Sports Complex Parking Venture is changing its oversized vehicle parking policy beginning Oct. 4, when the Eagles host the Los Angeles Rams. The changes apply only to Eagles home games.
Under the new policy, oversized vehicles will be directed to designated parking areas by lot attendants outside Lincoln Financial Field. Those areas will be in Lot D and the upper section of Lot N.
…Oversized vehicles will pay $200 for four parking spaces, with the option to purchase two additional spaces for $100, bringing the maximum to six spaces. Standard-sized companion cars and trucks will not be permitted in the designated oversized vehicle areas. Drop-offs also will not be allowed.
At the very least, the Eagles are looking to make some major renovations to Lincoln Financial Field within the next 5-6 years. The team is locked into the Linc through 2032, and then they'll either need to make some significant changes or build a new stadium entirely. All while that's happening, the Sixers and Flyers are building a new stadium for 2030. Which means there is a shit ton of money being pumped into the Sports Complex over these next few years, and you're out of your goddamn mind if you don't think these teams would try to recoup some of that money.
Is this a cash grab? Abso-fucking-lutely. There's no way you can look at $200 for an oversized vehicle and see it any other way besides a cash grab. Especially considering you get your 4 spaces for the oversized vehicle, but you can't even use those 4 spaces to park any other car. You'd need to spend an extra $100 on parking if you have any other cars in your group.
However, that's small potatoes. That's a quick cash grab, but where the real money is going to be made is by starting to limit tailgating all together. The real money is going to be made once they tear down Xfinity Mobile Arena, and put a few more bars, restaurants, and shops down there. They're already starting to limit where the oversized vehicles can park in just lots D and N.
And they're making it a real pain in the dick to set up any massive tailgates because you only have 4 spots to work with, and you can't have anyone come by to drop off any equipment. So if you have anyone else coming with you that packed the coolers and chairs and speakers, they are going to have to lug all of that across the lots to get to you.
Now I know a lot of people are going to hate this move. Tailgating is basically a religion in Philly. It is a part of the fabric of being a Philly sports fan. But some of these massive tailgates really have nobody to blame but themselves for this one. They've been getting away with murder for years, but they've flown too close to the sun. It's one thing if you're heading to the game with your dad, your uncle and your cousins, and you guys have a grill fired up and maybe a blackstone to make some breakfast sandwiches. You have a Yeti 45 filled with some Miller Lites, and you guys are great. But some of these tailgates are running these major catering operations. They have become literal events. It seems like some of these tailgates have turned into a full time service industry job, and obviously the teams don't want to see anybody turning a profit in their parking lots besides themselves.
At the end of the day, change is inevitable. The Sports Complex was never going to stay exactly how it is, and there was always going to be a push to start building out the area around the stadiums to offer more bars, restaurants, and retail spots. I'm sure these teams have wanted to make these changes for a while, but they knew how much tailgating means to this city. But the tailgates have gotten out of control, and now they are pulling the trigger. There's no stopping this. It's going to happen, and you either need to adapt or you die.
Personally, I think it's a great thing. As someone who doesn't go into Lincoln Financial Field a ton for Eagles games, I would love to go down to the stadiums more often and still have an option to watch the game. But right now your only options are to stand in line at Xfinity/Stateside Live for a few hours so you can get in, or leave the tailgates early enough that you can make it to a bar in time to have a seat. It would be great if there were a few more options right there at the stadium to get a proper buzz going in the parking lots, and then still be able to watch opening kickoff. I'm sure a lot of people are going to hate these new rules, but there's simply nothing you can do about it at this point. It's happening whether you like it or not.