Feb 13, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; A general overall aerial view of Lincoln Financial Field. The stadium is the home of the Philadelphia Eagles. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Kirby Lee
Eagles' preseason games aren't the only major sporting events happening at Lincoln Financial Field this summer, and because of that we've been given a look into one of the ugly sides of the business of sports.
The Linc is hosting eight games of the FIFA Club World Cup this month, which is showcasing some of the best soccer teams in the world. So far, the atmospheres in Philadelphia have been electric. Clubs like Flamengo (Brazil) and Wydad (Morocco) have had passionate displays, even setting off flares in the stadium which caused a pass during a game over the weekend.
Although the games have been played in good spirit, they've also revealed some dark secrets for Eagles fans this upcoming season. Eagles Nation posted a picture on X of drink prices on social media and to be frank, they don't look good. The post shows that a bottle of water costs $10, while a soda is $9.50. Alcoholic beverages like premium canned beer are $16.50, while domestic canned beer is $14.50:
Preview of drink prices at the Linc this year from the FIFA Club World Cup last weekend.
$10 for a bottle of water. 😳#Eagles pic.twitter.com/1EMB2Q4rjG
Concessions being expensive at the Linc isn't news to anyone. But considering the heat wave Philadelphia and the rest of the northeast is currently enduring, the prices are hard to justify. $10 for a water in this type of weather might as well be extortion.
According to The Weather Channel, there's an extreme heat warning for portions of east central and southeastern Pennsylvania in effect until Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. Today's high temperature is 99 degrees; Tuesday's is 101; and Wednesday's is 98.
Chelsea FC will take on Esperance de Tunis tomorrow at the Linc, but the game doesn't start until 9 p.m. Even then, The Weather Channel's hourly forecast predicts it'll be around 92 degrees.
Heat has become a concern of players, coaches and fans at the Club World Cup. On Saturday, Borussia Dortmund's substitutes stayed in the locker room for the first half of their game in Cincinnati, instead of sitting in the heat, even though it was only 87 degrees. They came out of the second half and used umbrellas to shield themselves. PSG's coach Luis Enrique said the heat affected the tempo of one of their games.
At the Linc, fans are clearly burning a hole in their pockets trying to stay hydrated. Part of the reason why water prices are so high is because people know fans have to drink water to stay safe. Stadium officials, though, are certainly putting people in a dilemma if attendees don't feel obligated to fork up the money for a bottle of water.
