EAGLES SAY GOODBYE
Philadelphia Eagles players say goodbye to fans on Aug. 13, 2012, at Lehigh University's Goodman Campus. Few knew it would be a final farewell to Bethlehem.
(Photo by BILL ADAMS | The Express-Times)
The
will have training camp this summer in Philadelphia, ending a 17-year relationship with
in Bethlehem, the team said today.
The announcement, detailed this afternoon in a news conference at the NovaCare Complex in Philadelphia, effectively ends the longstanding tradition of Eagles fans having free access to practices during the majority of training camp.
Team president Dom Smolenski said the Eagles will open Lincoln Financial Field perhaps four or five times during training camp for team practices there. Admission will be free but parking may not be, depending on city rules, he said.
Most of the training camp practices will occur at the NovaCare Complex, where they won't be open to the public. Certain VIPs, such as corporate sponsors and longtime season ticketholders, will have invitation-only access at NovaCare, the team said.
Before training at Lehigh, the Eagles held training camp at West Chester University. The Eagles praised Lehigh for its hospitality and cooperation the past 17 years.
"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," Smolenski said in a news release. "We especially want to thank and recognize Joe Sterrett, dean of athletics, who opened the doors for us 17 years ago and has been supportive every step of the way, and Mary Kay Baker, director of conference and special housing services, who was there for us on a daily basis to make sure everything ran smoothly. It's people like them who made this such a difficult decision for us.
"The city of Bethlehem has been part of our lives every summer for the past 17 years."
Eagles staff told Lehigh officials that they were exploring other training options but kept making payments to the university for this summer's camp in case the other options didn't work out, Sterrett said. The university will miss hosting the team this summer but understands the Eagles' new coach Chip Kelly has to decide what he thinks is the best practice regime for the team, Sterrett said.
"They made their payment commitments as if they were coming back," Sterrett said. "I think they were genuinely studying everything."
A financial settlement is being worked out, he said.
The team becomes the NFL's 21st to bring training camp to their home facilities. The team said it helps with efficiency, but is still committed to gives fans access.
"The interaction with our fans during the training camp period remains a huge priority," Smolenski said. "As such, we are currently planning to utilize the opportunities available to us at Lincoln Financial Field to have a number of open practices (which will be free) available to all of our fans. We'll announce those specific plans in the coming weeks."
This will be the first summer since 1943 that the Eagles will train in Philadelphia.
"The Eagles and Lehigh University recognize that their longstanding relationship is changing but not ending," Smolenski added, "and both parties have expressed a desire to explore community programs in the future."
Last year, former coach Andy Reid's oldest son, Garrett, was found dead at training camp after a long battle with drug addiction. Reid was let go at the end of last season after a 4-12 record and 14 years.
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter said he was excited that Eagles training camp will be held at home.
"I'm looking forward to visiting Lincoln Financial Field with other Eagles fans to give Coach Kelly and the team a warm welcome to the city!" he said.
The Eagles held training camp at West Chester from 1980 to 1995. Before that, the team held training camp at Widener University, Albright College and in Hershey, Pa.
The move back to team headquarters is becoming something of a trend in the NFL. The New York Giants in January elected to return training camp back to their complex in East Rutherford, N.J., after 16 years at the University at Albany.
Reporters Lynn Olanoff and Brad Wilson, and The Associated Press, contributed to this report.