UPDATED: 3:10 p.m.
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) -- Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson is anything but shy. So, when he got word that it’s possible Eagles fans could start attending their games in a limited capacity if the city of Philadelphia allows it, he took to Twitter and let his more than 300,000 followers know how he felt.
“Make. It. Happen,” Johnson tweeted, tagging the City of Philadelphia and Mayor Jim Kenney.
“I know a lot guys was texting each other, you know, just saying, like, 'Yeah, you know, I know Lane said something on Twitter about "We need you,"' because we do need everybody,” Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham told The WIP Morning Show on Wednesday.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf and Health Secretary Rachel Levine came out with new guidance on Tuesday. Starting Friday, they are loosening restrictions on public gatherings. According to the state’s guidance, the allowable occupancy for venues that hold over 10,000 people is 15%, with a maximum of 7,500.
Related
However, the city of Philadelphia will need to approve whether fans can enter Lincoln Financial Field, and they expect to announce a decision next week.
“Need that energy in the The Linc from #EaglesNation,” Johnson added in his tweet.
If the city gives the go-ahead for a limited number of fans at the Linc, then the first possible chance for that would be next Sunday, Oct. 18, against the Baltimore Ravens. This Sunday, the Eagles are visiting the Pittsburgh Steelers. Heinz Field will start hosting fans at games, using about 5,500 seats. Steelers season ticket holders who didn’t opt out this season will get priority.
This will be the first time the Eagles play in front of live spectators this season, and that’s something Graham is looking forward to — even though it won't be Birds faithful.
“To have even the boos, the boos we miss. Not even our fans, but being at away games," said Graham on SportsRadio 94WIP.
When will Subaru Park get its 'soul' back?
Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin, a local guy, knows the importance of Philly sports fans and what they mean to home field advantage — especially at Subaru Park in Chester, where the Union draw loyal, loud, knowledgeable and passionate supporters.
“Not having them there has been soulless,” Curtin said. “It has this awful, empty feeling when we’re out there.”
While the situation is up in the air with the Eagles, the club announced Wednesday a limited number of fans — part of a total limited occupancy of roughly 2,775 people, including staff and the teams — will be allowed starting at Sunday night’s game.
The Union’s first home game after Friday is Sunday night against Montreal.
Curtin explained not having fans takes away “the emotions of the game. You don’t feel the momentum of the game, so that’s something that everybody misses.”