December 21, 2015
The Cardinals aren't the only ones who blasted the Eagles this week.
On Friday, Mayor-elect Jim Kenney criticized the team for having a "very solid and stubborn attitude" in regards to its relationship with Temple University, the Philadelphia Business Journal reported.
Temple paid $1 million in rent to the Eagles this season to play in Lincoln Financial Field, plus a fee for stadium operations. With Temple's lease ending in 2017, the Eagles said that they want to increase that rent to $2 million plus $12 million up front for the new 30-year lease, Philly.com reported.
That's one of the reasons that Temple is considering building a new, $100 million stadium on campus. Kenney opposes the plan because it could disrupt "the continuing peace and harmony of the community."
Kenney said in public remarks that he believes the Eagles should give Temple a better deal. He has said before that the Steelers don't charge rent when the University of Pittsburgh plays. A Pitt official told Philly.com that the university does actually pay rent, but it also receives some revenue from concession sales.
Related story: Kenney criticizes Temple plans for new football stadium
"The Eagles have a point of view and I don’t agree with their point of view. It’s all about dollars and cents, and I don’t know if we’re going to resolve that or not," said Kenney.
An Eagles spokesperson described Kenney's remarks as "very discouraging and upsetting."
The mayor-elect met with Temple's president and board chairman on Thursday to discuss the issue in a meeting that the school described as "cordial."
Read the full story here.
