RE: Where will Temple play FB in 2020?
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Temple football to sign contract extension with Eagles to play at least five more years of home games at Lincoln Financial Field
by Marc Narducci, Updated: February 10, 2020- 10:37 AM
ELIZABETH ROBERTSON / Staff Photographer
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Temple and the Eagles have agreed to a contract extension that will allow the Owls to continue playing home football games at Lincoln Financial Field for at least five more seasons, according to multiple sources.
The deal is for the next five years, with a five-year option for the Owls. Temple still hopes to build its own stadium. The strong preference is for an on-campus stadium, but all ideas are on the table, according to multiple sources.
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Temple originally signed a 15-year agreement to play at the Linc in a deal that expired after the 2017 season. In that agreement, the payment of $15 million was made up front. After the 2017 season, Temple had two one-year options and exercised both. The second option expired after this past season.
Those one-year deals cost more per year than the $1 million average of the previous deal, according to a Temple source. Another source said the fee was comparable after taking into account inflation and the present-day value of the original deal.
Financial terms of the extension are not known.
Temple’s original plan was to build an on-campus stadium off 15th Street. But for that to happen, it will need for 15th Street to be closed along the two blocks between Norris Street and Montgomery Avenue. The school has not received the legislative permission to do so. Neighbors in that area have opposed the proposed 35,000-seat stadium, which has been projected to cost $130 million.
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Multiple sources have said Temple is considering building the stadium on another part of campus if the university cannot get approval for its desired site.
Discussions have included building an off-campus stadium, but several Temple sources say the school prefers having a stadium on campus. The school thinks it will be more profitable to own its own stadium.
In addition to the rental fee, the school received no revenue from parking and only 10% of concessions, according to a Temple source. Another Temple source estimated that with game-day expenses such as security and other personnel, it probably costs, including the rent, $3 million a year to play at the Linc.
Capacity at the Linc is 69,796, and Temple hasn’t been able to fill half the stadium in most games. Here are Temple’s announced home attendance averages (and overall records) in recent seasons, according to NCAA.org and the American Athletic Conference, the Owls’ league.
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2019: 29,460, 8-5
2018: 28,470, 8-5
2017: 27,318, 7-6
2016: 27,225, 10-4
2015: 44,159, 10-4
2014: 23,370, 6-6
The 2015 season included home sellouts against Penn State and Notre Dame.
According to many players over the years, the Linc has been an attractive place to play. Coaches have indicated it is a good selling point in recruiting and several of the current Temple players have said that playing in an NFL stadium is important.
Posted: February 10, 2020 - 10:30 AM
Marc Narducci | @sjnard | mnarducci@inquirer.com
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