Philadelphia Eagles fans heading to Thursday night’s home opener against the Dallas Cowboys will have extra SEPTA trains after all, thanks to a last-minute deal with FanDuel.
The sports betting platform agreed to cover up to \$80,000 in costs to restore 10 express trains on the Broad Street Line, plus free postgame rides from NRG Station. The sponsorship comes after SEPTA, facing a \$213 million budget shortfall, cut all special event service last month as part of 20% systemwide reductions. Without the funding, thousands of fans would have been left without dedicated transit options.
Under the agreement, SEPTA will operate the 10 sports express trains in conjunction with six local trains. Riders leaving Lincoln Financial Field will have about 70 minutes to catch a train, with fares waived beginning at halftime. SEPTA estimates half the sponsorship cost will cover operating expenses, while the rest pays for free rides.
The announcement arrived amid legal and political wrangling. Hours before the deal was finalized, a Philadelphia judge issued an injunction ordering SEPTA to maintain express service, siding with a lawsuit challenging the agency’s cuts. A court hearing is scheduled for Thursday morning on whether the injunction should be extended.
Meanwhile, state lawmakers remain deadlocked in Harrisburg over a long-term solution to fund public transit. House Democrats held a rally outside NRG Station on Wednesday, criticizing Senate Republicans for delaying budget negotiations. They welcomed FanDuel’s sponsorship but argued that essential services should not rely on private companies.
The scramble to secure a sponsor followed warnings from the Eagles that fans should arrive early and carpool to avoid gridlock. State Sen. Frank Farry said Uber had also offered to fund operating costs, but the Eagles opted to partner with one of their existing sponsors instead.
Source: Phila. Inquirer