PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Big changes are coming and will affect the way fans park and tailgate at the South Philadelphia Sports Complex for Eagles games — and fans are not happy.
In a memo to season ticket holders, the Sports Complex Parking Venture (SCPV) said the new guidelines will be implemented “in an effort to provide a smoother, more convenient parking experience for guests.”
The changes by the SCPV will go into effect at the next Eagles home game on Sunday, Oct. 4.
There will be “hand parking” — attendants will direct drivers to an open spot where they must park. They will not be able to choose their own spot. That will affect many fans who have been parking in the same spots and lots for years.
“From a traffic standpoint, from a logistical standpoint, I do understand,” Sean Holden, who runs the Hungry Dawgz tailgate, told NBC10. “But when it comes down to affecting the traditions, the camaraderie that you have … you’re taking away the one thing Eagles fans truly pride themselves in.”
Typically, the biggest tailgates take place in the same spots, every Eagles home game. Carmen Conti, who leads one of those tailgates, told KYW Newsradio announced changes would upend everything.
“In F Lot, we call ourselves a neighborhood because everybody knows each other,” he said. “It’s like knocking on your door, I’m going to come over. ‘Hey you got this? I gotta borrow this.’ ‘Yeah, no problem, here you go’. We’re a family, we’re neighbors.”
There are designated parking lots — D and N — for oversized vehicles. Oversized vehicle pass holders assigned to Lots E or H will be assigned spots in those lots.
Those with oversized vehicles like RVs, buses and trailers are limited to a maximum of six spots — four spots for $200, with the option of paying for two additional spots for $100. That will impact tailgates that typically use 10 to 20 spots and take over large sections of a lot, such as Jeremy Smith’s tailgate.
Smith is the green-bearded fellow who cooks for swaths of Eagles fans on Sundays. But he said rule changes wouldn’t allow him to bring his smoker to the same lot as his tailgate crew.
“The biggest thing is to keep the oversized and the regular vehicles together. That’s our biggest gripe,” he said.
Kellie Berrios said she foresees the changes causing logistical issues. “Putting all these big tailgates in one lot is going to be not enough space for everybody,” she said.
Conti took issue with not getting to pick parking spots anymore. “People are going to be backing up in the streets waiting to be hand parked, and this is supposed to ‘lighten up traffic?’ I don’t think so,” he said.
That’s why he plans to form the Philadelphia Tailgate Committee with the other big tailgaters. Conti and Smith said they would try to be able to bargain with the entities implementing these changes.
“To have a seat at the table so we can discuss things like adults would be really nice. I understand that they want to fill up every space, but don’t change our culture for it,” he said.
“We told FIFA we wouldn’t change our tailgate culture for them. So why are you changing it for us?”
SCPV, in its memo, said the changes will “ease traffic flow, keep lanes clear and preserve parking availability for all guests.”
The Eagles have not commented on the changes.
Meanwhile, efforts by the tailgaters to reach out to the Eagles, Comcast Spectacor, SCPV, Mayor Cherelle Parker and City Council haven’t gone anywhere yet.
Under new guidelines, fans will not be able to park wherever they want
Under new guidelines, fans will not be able to park wherever they want
