Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The Philadelphia Eagles will move their
training camp home this summer, holding practices at both the NovaCare Complex
as well as Lincoln Financial Field after staging the team's annual preseason
practices at Lehigh University for the last 17 years.
The new training camp plan features a number of free, public practices at
Lincoln Financial Field as well as private practices open to media and
invitees only at the club's NovaCare facility.
"There are so many people at Lehigh University who went above and beyond to
accommodate us and to make training camp a special place for fans to travel
each summer to get an up-close look at the team," Eagles team president Don
Smolenski said. The city of Bethlehem has been part of our lives every summer
for the past 17 years."
The Eagles become the 21st NFL team to move practices to their own facilities,
citing the logistics of moving practices from their own home.
This will mark the first time that Eagles' training camp will take place in
the city of Philadelphia since 1943 when practice was held at St. Joseph's
University.
"I'm excited that Eagles' training camp is returning to Philadelphia," said
mayor Michael Nutter. "I'm looking forward to visiting Lincoln Financial Field
with other Eagles fans to give coach (Chip) Kelly and the team a warm welcome
to the city."
Lehigh had been home to Eagles' training camp since 1996. Other venues
Philadelphia has trained at include West Chester University (1980-95), Widener
University (1973-79), Albright College (1968-72) and in Hershey, Pa.
(1951-67).
The Sports Network