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The Philadelphia Eagles have released their schedule for training camp and as part of the announcement, the team said only one practice will be open to the general public. From their press release:
“The Eagles will host a public practice at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, August 4 at 7:00 pm. The evening’s festivities will honor and celebrate our country’s armed forces as part of Military Appreciation Night presented by Dietz & Watson.
As the team continues to build upon its fundraising efforts and overall commitment to advancing autism research, individual tickets for the public practice at Lincoln Financial Field will be $10 per ticket. One hundred percent of the ticket proceeds will support the highest quality and most impact autism research to improve the lives of affected individuals and families now, as well as foster the acquisition of knowledge, technologies, and discoveries that will bring new opportunities in the future.”
The team also announced players will report for training camp on Wednesday, July 24, with the first day of practice on Thursday, July 25th.
Fans will no doubt be disappointed in the continued lack of training camp practices that are available to the general public, but part of the issue is training camp is now held at the NovaCare Complex, where there is simply not enough room to accommodate all who would like to attend. In previous years, as many as 18 practices open to the public were held at West Chester Lehigh, but over the years, those numbers dwindled to five and now just the one.
But for many Eagles fans, that summer tradition of making the pilgrimage to wherever it was the Birds were holding minicamp was always a highlight of the football season, and provided a ton of memories.
The practices at WCU were like my summer day care July - August
— Ted Burnes (@PhllyPhan) June 18, 2019
I grew up walking distance from WCU. My dad would take me to training camp a few times a week. Being up close to the players at a young age really plays a part in getting people to love the game, and there needs to be a lot more of it
— Andrew (@TheFuppet) June 18, 2019
I worked at Lehigh in the University Center in (where they took meetings). We had an unwritten rule to leave the players alone. I broke it when I blurted out “you the man!” to McNabb. I was angry that I a) sounded stupid b) broke the rule and c) broke it for McNabb and not BDawk.
— Tim Wilkinson (@TimWilkinson79) June 18, 2019
I have been taking my kids to training camp since the Buddy days at West Chester. It was a summer ritual for the family. I’m not too upset since The Linc was never the same anyway. pic.twitter.com/RRDaCB9U68
— Bonner (@SudsGlenside) June 18, 2019
Scheduled summer vacation around training camp n the kids Loved it..the open practices at the Linc r boring n not kid friendly. Tried it the 1st yr and haven't been back..i can see why attendance was going down... some ppl r mad cuz they sold Free tickets on eBay for a profit
— Tim E Luzier (@20Schmidtfan) June 18, 2019
I remember seeing Reggie and Jerome casually strolling around downtown West Chester, but being too afraid to approach them because I was 7 and they were gigantic humans. Reggie noticed and gave me a friendly smile and wave. His face is burned into my memory.
— Andrew (@TheFuppet) June 18, 2019
Lehigh every year from 2002-2005. It was incredible & I’ll never be convinced the Eagles aren’t missing an opportunity to forge an even stronger bond with their fans.
— Alfred (@aletter11) June 18, 2019
I remember my little brother standing next to me and getting Randall Cunningham to sign his football and Randall started to move on and I yelled hey you can’t sign my little brother’s ball and not mine and he stopped and signed it. I was relieved.
— Notorious MTG (@MattGrumbrecht) June 18, 2019
Actually, went to both places; but best memories are of Widener College carrying players helmets after practice as they walked the roughly quarter of a mile back to locker room
— Jerry Iannacci (@jiruns) June 18, 2019
I used to manage a group home for abused and neglected teenage boys in the city, we took them out to West Chester and the Eagles would have them on the field, kids absolutely loved it
— WiffleBall1 (@WiffleBall1) June 18, 2019
Oh, how could I forget this one? Was interning for WCOJ summer of 2004 and got to do a live report from Lehigh. Interviewed the record number of fans that flocked there, and got to watch the birth of McNabb to TO from the sidelines.
— Andrew (@TheFuppet) June 18, 2019
I can remember the 70’s and going to Widener. The players would walk down the street to toward the fields. Easy to get autographs
— Jim McDermott (@boonie08) June 18, 2019