Lincoln Financial Field guide: What to know about the Philadelphia Eagles’ home stadium (2024)

Editor’s note: This article is part of theStadium Guidesseries, a comprehensive guide to your NFL team’s stadium experience.

Buy tickets on StubHub to Philadelphia Eagles games at Lincoln Financial Field here.

Locals call it “The Linc.” Manchester United and FC Barcelona christened it in August 2003. An Ed Sheeran concert holds its attendance record (77,900 in 2023). Robert De Niro is banned from the venue for life. (Well, at least his character in “Silver Linings Playbook” is …) Charlie Day (as the Green Man) tripped on acid during a tailgate there in “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.”

A block from the South Philly site where Veterans Stadium was demolished, Lincoln Financial Field is the $512 million sports cathedral that links this football-crazed city together. It’ll host the Philadelphia Eagles for a 22nd season. Temple University, the same span. It’s hosted 14 Army-Navy games (and will again in 2027). It’s hosted four NFC Championship games; two send-offs to Super Bowls. Its patrons, brimming with vigor and beer, overpower the ambiance with their praise, insults and sophisticated commands. Its heroes never forget it. Neither do its villains.

The Linc is a landmark due to Philly’s football lore. Its tailgate scene supplants all other Sunday plans. Painted buses, grills and faces are seen by foot. Burgers and brats are scarfed by hand. The famous “Philly Philly” exchange is embronzed near Lot K. It’s there, before kickoff, that the stadium’s structure beckons — its twin iconic canopies curled like wings.

The Athletic has compiled 32 stadium guides, one for each NFL team, to give fans vital information about the game day experience. We’ve also asked readers to weigh in on the best food, beer and tailgate options at each stadium, among other things, to help football fans enjoy their visit.

Insider tips

2024 must-watch game at stadium: vs. Dallas Cowboys, Dec. 29

The Eagles are the favorites to win the NFC East. But Decembers are unpredictable. Philadelphians learned this the hard way in 2023. With a relatively blasé slate of home games in 2024, save for a cross-state meeting with the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 15, the most embraced rivalry in the NFL should easily be the hottest home ticket, considering the potential stakes.

Fan tradition to know: Fly Eagles Fly

Brooks Kubena’s favorite thing

Eagles fans are boisterous. They’re belligerent. They’re also intelligent. Apart from The Linc’s tailgating scene — which easily ranks in the top five of the 22 stadiums I’ve visited — the most distinct experience of taking in an NFL game in South Philly is hearing the sport-smarts of its fan base. It’s not quite like the eerie synchronization of, say, Nebraska (Memorial Stadium is dead quiet when the Cornhuskers play offense). Eagles fans ain’t cheering for just anything. And, yes, you’ll hear slurs and swears. But I’d never before attended a game in which an entire stadium demanded its team do a specific thing by chanting a spontaneous command. “RUN! THE! BALL!” Jason Kelce told me this was nothing new. Many Philly mainstays agreed. I still wrote about it. As an outsider, it’ll be new for you, too.

The Athletic’s stadium ranking: 15

Jon Machota ranked all 30 NFL stadiums in August 2023.

Entering its third decade of use, The Linc lacks the Instagrammable grandeur of the NFL’s newest stadiums, like SoFi and Allegiant, which both look more like they belong on the moon. But you came here for a football game, right? There’s not a bad seat in the house. There’s open air and all the elements of fall and early winter. And there’s a bunch of berserk fans you can easily join on the Broad Street subway line to a postgame party in the neighborhood of your choice.

Fans’ game day advice

The Athletic surveyed NFL fans for their feedback on the following questions:

What is the ‘best bang for your buck’ seating section?

Buying GA tickets and going in super early to get a spot in one of the standing-room-only areas (Headhouse Plaza, Chrysler Jeep Corner, South Corner, Pepsi Zone Plaza, Bud Light Eagles Nest, stairs right under the Bud Light Eagles Nest). Drawbacks, you are going to lose your spot if your whole group leaves for food/drinks/restroom, so best to only let one person leave at a time. If you absolutely want a dedicated seat, wait until right before or slightly after kickoff and the prices on third-party ticket sites will likely drop substantially. — Ryan C.

What’s the can’t-miss food?

There’s a kosher stand on the east side/away sideline side of the stadium (behind Section 116). The lines are shorter than the regular concessions and the hot dogs and sausages are considerably better than the stuff from the regular grills. — Nacho B.

Can’t go wrong with a cheesesteak from Tony Luke’s and crab fries from Chickie’s & Pete’s. — Ryan C.

What’s the best beer option?

While there were no specific recommendations, there was a consensus that the beer options are expensive relative to other NFL stadiums.

Where is the best spot to take a photo?

In front of the Nick Foles and Dougie P. Philly Special Statue out front of the stadium. An all-time iconic moment in Super Bowl history. — John B.

What are the kid-friendly activities/options at the stadium?

There are usually kid-friendly activities in the Pepsi Lobby. There are also “My First Eagles Game Certificates” for kids at the guest services locations at Sections 121, 136, 206 and 226. Pretty cool keepsake for kids going to their first game. Also, Section 217 is the alcohol-free family section, which I’m told is a little less raucous than the rest of the stadium. — Ryan C.

Where is the best place to tailgate?

The K-Lot and Jetro Lot received multiple mentions and the latter received the distinction of the, uh, most festive tailgating scene.

What to know if you go

Stadium address: One Lincoln Financial Field Way, Philadelphia, Pa. 19148.

Year opened: 2003.

Roof? No roof.

Playing surface: Hybrid grass/turf.

Stadium capacity: 67,594.

2023 average attendance per game (per Pro Football Reference): 69,878.

Tickets: $395 is the average StubHub ticket cost at Lincoln Financial Field for a 2024 NFL game, according to StubHub.

Bag policy: Bags (including backpacks, fanny packs, cinch bags) must be clear plastic, vinyl or PVC no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches for game entry. Also, up to one-gallon clear freezer bags are allowed. Small non-clear bags no larger than 4 1/2 by 6 1/2 inches are permitted.

Outside food policy: Food wrapped in clear plastic is permitted.

ADA information: Lincoln Financial Field is fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. North Gate is the designated ADA gate. Any persons with disabilities may use this gate for expedited entry as well as the Tork and Hyundai VIP entrances. Contact Fan Services at 267-570-4400 for more information.

Tailgating policy: Tailgating is not permitted in the parking lots north of Pattison Avenue and west of Darien Street (Lots Q-W and the lot near the Nova Care Complex). Find a map of these parking areas by clicking here.

Transportation options: Driving, rideshare, SEPTA.

Learn more: https://www.lincolnfinancialfield.com/a-z-stadium-information/

The Stadium Guides series is part of a partnership with StubHub.

The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.

(Top illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; photos: Perry Knotts / Getty Images and Ric Tapia / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)