The NFL Hot Tickets: Week 8

Last week the theme had to be feast or famine. The average margin of victory was 21.6 points and there more wins by 30 points or more (4) than wins by less than 10 points (2). This week is sure to be different. Not only are there match ups between awful teams like the Rams-Lions game, but there are also a few grudge matches and grudge matches rarely get out of control on the scoreboard. This week the two biggest grudge matches are in the NFC East where the Giants play the Eagles in Philadelphia and in Green Bay where the Vikings play the Packers.

New York Giants (5-2) at Philadelphia Eagles (4-2) (1:00 PM ET)

APDonovan McNabb and the Eagles have a big NFC East battle against the Giants.

The New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles need this win for more than the obvious implications in the standings. The Giants have been sliding, first being dismantled by the Saints and then by the momentum-building Cardinals. A win in Philadelphia against the Eagles would be a huge lift for the players and a win that the media could not ignore. The Eagles still have a bad taste in their mouth from that Raiders loss. The offense hardly looked like a cohesive unit in the win against the Redskins, so pulling out a win here would mean a lot to the Philly fans as they begin to wonder, once again, if it is time to get rid of McNabb.

Lincoln Financial Field (One Lincoln Financial Way Philadelphia, PA 19148)

Lincoln Financial Field was a dangerous experiment in Philadelphia. The fans loved Veterans Stadium, but by the turn of the century the stadium was simply too far behind the times to remain a quality NFL stadium for both fans in the stands and players on the field. The result was that the new field had to be something special to quickly eradicate only ill will from fanatic Philadelphia football fans.

The stadium took 22,200 tons of reinforced and structural steel, 58,500 cubic yards of concrete, and two years to build. The Linc, as it is affectionately known, became a jewel in South Philly. Expanded seats and a bowl-shaped stadium made sure that every fan can see the game and that every person can sit comfortably with a cup holder. Any replays can be seen on one of three gigantic HDTVs. Two are 27 feet by 96 feet and one is 14 feet by 25 feet. There are also high tech televisions throughout the concourse so it is difficult to miss any action on the field.

The only drawback for an average fan is the steep steps that they have to climb to get to those seats. This is the price they pay for an unobstructed view though. The slightly more affluent fans have a little easier time, with 172 luxury suites that can comfortably accommodate 12 to 40 people. These fans get a great package deal that includes valet parking, a private restroom, and a visit from the Eagles cheerleading squad.

The Linc is a stadium that has shockingly replaced the Vet with ease. It has amenities for the average and not-so-average fan, while maintaining the rabid atmosphere that makes a football game in Philadelphia so intoxicating. This is a marvel for modern sports stadiums.

Food and Drink

APCan Eli Manning and the Giants steal a divisional road win?

The Linc has 308 concession stands located throughout the stadium with beer vendors at every level of action. In fact, the web site for the field even has a map of amenities for each level. The concession choices are the Liberty Bell Tap Room, the Liberty Grill, the Market St. Deli, Chickie’s and Pete’s, Penn Pizza, and Philly Favorites. The choices are pretty much standard for the 21st football venue. There are hot dogs, hamburgers, various breaded chicken meals, and pizza. Of course, this is Philadelphia, so what would Lincoln Financial Field be without cheese steaks. The one thing that sets this place apart food-wise is that fans can bring in their own food. It is highly recommended that fans find a great Philly cheese steak or hoagie and bring it to the game to avoid paying stadium prices for food.

The beer options are pretty mundane as well. There are domestic brands like Bud and Miller with imports like Fosters and Heineken. There a few microbrew options as well. Expect to pay between $6 and $8 depending on the quality and quantity of the beer.

Tickets, Parking and the Surrounding Area

The ticket prices range from around $100 for the 200 level to up near $750 for a seat near the field. The parking situation is actually pretty good at Lincoln Financial Field. The stadium is near I-95 and has parking for 22,000 available for about $20. There are private lots nearby for $10 to $15 as well.

It is recommended that fans stay in the parking lot before games. Not because of crime, but because of the tailgating experience. Hanging out before the game with a beer cooler and a little grill (or a big grill if you are a weekend professional) is part of the Eagles football experience.

After the game check out McFadden’s near Citizens Bank Park or Chickie’s and Pete’s physical location outside of the vendors in the stadium. Also travel to the Old City District, a popular bar district in Philadelphia.

New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles Tickets

Minnesota Vikings (6-1) at Green Bay Packers (4-2) (4:15 PM ET)

APBrett Favre makes his much-anticipated return to Green Bay.

This is a grudge match in the Midwest with division-title ramifications. Suddenly the Vikings are beatable after the loss last week to the Steelers and the Packers, a team that lost to the Vikings just three weeks ago, have a chance to get revenge on their home field. This is also the homecoming for Brett Favre. There is also bad blood between the fans and Favre (who are angry that he would not stay retired as a Packer) and Favre and the Packers front office (he is upset that they blocked his move to the Vikings last season and had to play for the Jets). This game has everything: postseason relevance, an unwelcome homecoming, and revenge.

Lambeau Field (1265 Lombardi Ave., Green Bay, WI 54304)

Stepping into Lambeau Field is something special. From the outside, the field looks small and the few modern renovations to the exterior are overpowered by the simple red brick work of the veneer. The stadium just seems too low to the ground to be a professional football venue and hold 72,928 people. Somehow, it all works though.

The seating is arranged in a seating bowl, so it seems like the fans are hovering near the field in a sea of green and gold. The stadium has undergone renovations and expansions over the years though, doubling the capacity. The Packers have added a premium and suite seating too, and modernized the stadium a little too, thanks to a $295 million renovation in 2003.

There is a single scoreboard that is dwarfed by modern day stadiums, but perfectly accentuates the atmosphere of the stadium. An atrium has been added as well, to let fans bask in the sunlight before entering the open air field and being attacked by harsh winds picking up a chill from the bay.

Despite the fierce wind and the persistence of the old architectural design, Lambeau Field feels like a blessed, historic football stadium and at times it seems like the ghost of Vince Lombardi is roaming the aisles. Every football fan should make a pilgrimage here at least once in their lifetime to experience football at its purist.

Food and Drink

APRyan Grant and the Packers look to hand Minnesota back-to-back losses.

The food and drink comes in three options, cheese, meat, and beer. In some stadiums the lack of a veggie burger option or some sort of sea food would be a disappointment, but this is Wisconsin. One of the local favorites is the Lambeau Cheese Curds, which is simply Wisconsin cheese deep fried in oil. More extravagant dining options like the cheese curds are available in the Atrium along with pizza and ice cream. The more adventuresome eaters will gravitate toward the Brat Pizza, which is pieces of bratwurst at the base, covered in sauce, and topped with cheese. There are three hospitals nearby so feel free to indulge. The food prices are cheaper than other stadiums, but still be prepared to spend more than the weekly grocery budget if fans are planning to feed a family of four.

Beer connoisseurs are sure to enjoy a trip to Lambeau. The field has 20 different types of beer to choose from. There are domestic options from Miller brewed close by in Milwaukee; standard imports like Heineken, Beck’s, and Fosters; and more upscale imports like Bass, Guinness, and Newcastle. This is Wisconsin, so there are some more local beers to try. Pabst and Blatz are cheaper local college options, but Spotted Cow is a must have for anyone entering Wisconsin for the first time. Beer prices are cheap too, not six pack at home cheap, but “what decade are we in” cheap.

Tickets and Everything Else

APAaron Rodgers gets a second chance against Brett Favre.

Tickets are going for just over $200 at the low end, and near $800 at the high end. These are great prices considering the rivalry between these two teams.

You can find parking at lots nearby the stadium or in one of the team’s many owners’ front yards for far less. Either way, feel free and perhaps obligated to tailgate for this game or dine and drink at one of the many sports bars near the many bars nearby, including Curly’s Pub (named for the player, coach, and founder of the Packers).

Remember though, this is a town of 100,000 people, not a metropolis, so the bar choices are not going to be as expansive as they are down in Chicago.

Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers Tickets

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