PHILADELPHIA sports fans face being stranded by public transport service cuts.
The Philadelphia Eagles will take center stage on September 4 when they host the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL season opener.
But fans attending Lincoln Financial Field are facing a travel nightmare.
The city’s public transport service SEPTA is facing major cuts to address a budget deficit.
SEPTA says that cuts will begin on August 24 unless new funding can be agreed under state legislature.
Up to 40 per cent of public services are at risk across the city this month.
All of Philadelphia’s sports teams are based in one area to the south of downtown.
The sports complex is served by the Broad Street Line connecting fans to downtown.
If SEPTA is unable to secure more funding from the state, there would be no trains on that line after 9 pm local time.
The Eagles-Cowboys game kicks off at 8.20 pm, meaning there’s no way for fans to ride the subway back to downtown.
Governor Josh Shapiro called the proposed cuts “devastating.”
He wrote on X, “These cuts would be devastating — but they’re completely avoidable.
“I’ve proposed a plan to support mass transit for two years in a row and flexed funding directly to give the Legislature time to act.
“The House passed my plan three times. The Senate needs to get this done.”
The Eagles currently only have one more home prime time game scheduled in 2025.
That is on November 16 against the Detroit Lions.
But potential MLB playoff games involving the Philadelphia Phillies could be staged at night.
NFL WEEK 1 SCHEDULE
(All times ET)
Thur 4 Sept
8.20 pm – Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles
Fri 5 Sept
8pm – Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers
Sun 7 Sept
1pm – Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons
1pm – Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns
1pm – Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts
1pm – Las Vegas Raiders at New England Patriots
1pm – Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints
1pm – Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Jets
1pm – New York Giants at Washington Commanders
1pm – Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars
4.05 pm – Tennessee Titans at Denver Broncos
4.05 pm – San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks
4.25 pm – Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
4.25 pm – Houston Texans at Los Angeles Rams
8.20 pm – Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills
Mon 8 Sept
8.15 pm – Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears
The NBA and NHL seasons will also begin again in October.
And fans attending Philadelphia 76ers or Philadelphia Flyers night games face the same issue.
A spokesperson for Comcast-Spectator said in a joint statement on behalf of the teams, “The Phillies, Flyers, 76ers, and Eagles collectively share deep concerns about the potential impact of SEPTA’s proposed budget cuts.
“Ensuring the best experience for our fans, employees, and the surrounding South Philadelphia community starts with sufficient access to public transportation to and from our venues.
“We are hopeful for a resolution prior to implementation later this summer.”
