Eagles, Comcast Spectacor announce adjustments to parking rules for oversized tailgate vehicles
Eagles tailgate community pushes back at parking changes
Major parking changes for oversized vehicles at Eagles home games spark backlash from tailgaters as new designated lots are enforced in South Philadelphia.
PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Eagles and Comcast Spectacor announced slight adjustments to the new rules for oversized vehicles on game day that sparked controversy among the longtime tailgate community.
What we know:
Comcast Spectacor Chief Operating Officer Phil Laws, Philadelphia Eagles COO Frank Gumienny, and members of the tailgating community gathered outside Lincoln Financial Field to address the parking changes.
It was previously announced that starting Sunday, oversized vehicles would only be allowed to park in specific sections of Lot D and the upper section of Lot N. Officials on Friday announced that oversized vehicles will still be permitted to park in Lot P, following the same tailgating rules.
Fans with an oversized vehicle prepaid parking pass will have four parking spaces included, with a chance to buy two more for $100. Those without a prepaid pass will have to buy one for $200, with the opportunity to buy two more spots.
The Philadelphia Tailgating Association, a group that formed in response to the new parking rules, and the Philadelphia Eagles met this week to discuss the rules. The meeting resulted in a slight concession to the recently implemented rules for oversized vehicles, allowing a one-hour drop-off window beginning when parking gates open. This, the association wrote, will allow groups to unload equipment and supplies before relocating their vehicles.
The Eagles and Comcast Spectacor met with representatives from the tailgating community earlier this week to work through the concerns.
What they're saying:
Eagles Chief Operating Officer Frank Gumienny said the new adjustments to parking at The Linc have been a "constant evolution," taking elements from what worked during packed events in South Philadelphia last summer.
"Our goal is to get everybody – 70,000 people – down here safely, park, have a great time, keep the culture, and fill up The Linc for kickoff on Sunday," Gumienny said.
"We get a bad rap. We are not all bad guys," Eagles tailgater Dwayne Ross said. "Work together for everybody. Everyone deserves to park."
Gumienny said things are now "in a good spot."
Comcast Spectacor Chief Operating Officer Phil Laws said the organization has received and responded to hundreds of emails from fans and worked to address their concerns.
"We have answered hundreds of emails and addressed issues to make it smoother," Laws said.
Local perspective:
One of the biggest concerns initially was the relocation of longtime tailgaters who have parked in the same areas for years.
Fans will also have the option of paying for additional parking spaces to account for the space their tailgate occupies, a change expected to help ease congestion and parking problems.
For some longtime tailgaters, the new setup may mean less room.
"It’s a little tight here if I’m not on the end," Eagles tailgater Eric Wayne said. "If there was another car next to me, it might be a little tighter, so it would probably be ideal to get set. But for the first game we’ll probably get four, look how it goes, and if we need more, go from there."
The Source: Information provided by the Philadelphia Tailgating Association and previous FOX 29 reports.