The NFL Hot Tickets: Week 9

Last week set teams like the Minnesota Vikings and the New Orleans Saints further apart from the rest of the field and threw other entire divisions into a topsy-turvy alternative reality that could not be imagined just three weeks ago. In the NFC East, the New York Giants lost their third straight game, the Dallas Cowboys won there third straight, and the Philadelphia Eagle moved into a first place tie with Dallas. This weeks spotlight games delve into the insanity of the East as the Cowboys travel to the Philadelphia in a battle for sole possession of first place and showcases the two of the best of the AFC with the Steelers traveling to Mile High to try and earn a first round bye down the road.

Dallas Cowboys (5-2) at Philadelphia Eagles (5-2) (Sunday, 8:20 PM ET)

APTony Romo looks to deliver the 'Boys a big NFC East road win.

This game is utterly and completely about first place in the NFC East and that is reason enough to make this one of the most important games of Week 9. The Dallas Cowboys have been on a roll since their bye week, relying on the accuracy of Tony Romo’s arm in each of the wins. The question for the Cowboys is can he remain turnover-free against an Eagles defense that has 11 interceptions so far and decimated Eli Manning’s confidence last week? The Philadelphia Eagles win last week was huge. It not only gave them a share of first, but seemingly set things right for Donovan McNabb, who struggled in the two weeks prior against sub par opponents. The questions for Philly is can McNabb continue to play as well this week and make those big throws that make the Eagles offense so dangerous?

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

The city of Philadelphia loves its football and they worshipped Veterans Stadium until its demise in 2003. Never mind that the concrete floor proved havoc for players or that the multi-sport design did not necessarily provide the best view of the game, Philly fans came to romanticize cheering and jeering (oh the jeering…and ice ball throwing and bottle throwing) and its dominating acoustics. The new stadium, Lincoln Financial Field, had to be beyond impressive to make the football faithful forget their Vet.

Six years later, Lincoln Financial Field is affectionately known as the Linc and is one of the most beloved stadiums in the entirety of the NFL. The stadium can accommodate up to 69,032, and is most often filled to the brim with Eagles fans. All these Eagles fans have a great seat thanks to the bowl-shaped design that accounts for every possible sight line. Each of these fans also has a place to put their drink with cup holders and can see any play they missed on one of three monstrous HD display screens on the field and the hundreds of smaller HD televisions located throughout the concourse. Its like the world’s best game room setup.

Like any modern sports venue, the Linc has suites to oblige the more affluent crowds. A total of 172 suites are dispersed in six locales throughout. These include 71 lower level suites located 34 rows back from the field on the east and west sides of the field, 14 Presidents Club suites stockpiled on top of those lower level suites, 77 club level suites located above the club level seating area on the east and west sides, and 10 Red Zone suites (also known as the HeadHouse) in the end zones. For some additional luxury, food and non-alcoholic drinks are free and every suite level is granted access to the club lounges.

Lincoln Financial Field carries on the tradition of supporting a sea of green, rambunctious fans, but does so with a little more creature comfort and class inside its 22,200 tons of reinforced and structural steel skeleton.

Food and Drink

Donovan McNabb has a wide array of weapons to work with on offense.

The Linc may have a multitude of concession stands throughout the Linc’s concourse, but the best place to get food is outside of the stadium. It is almost a must to visit one of Philadelphia’s famous food stops because this stadium has a rare policy that allows fans to bring in their own food. So, look for Chickie’s and Pete’s or another classic food joint and get a hoagie or Philly Cheese Steak and enjoy some good eats that are cheap by stadium food rates.

Of course, after demolishing the sandwich in the first quarter fans may still be hungry. The 308 concession stands offer these fans plenty of options, albeit standard sports venue options. Find hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, and fried chicken at various stands like the Liberty Grill, Market St. Deli, Penn Pizza, and Chickie’s and Pete’s (the vendor version of the restaurant).

Bud and Miller products and their ever growing list of extended brewed family are available along with a few local microbrews. The selection of imports does not go far beyond Fosters and Heineken. Beer prices generally fall in the $6-$8 range, so the prices are not too bad considering this is a major sporting event.

Tickets, Parking and the Surrounding Area

APEagles WR DeSean Jackson

Standing room only tickets are available for around $95 for this game, but 200-level tickets are available for just a few dollars more. The 100-level seating is going for around $650, with a few club seats around the same price.

Parking is never going to be easy when tens of thousands of people are headed to a single location, but the location of Lincoln Financial Field makes this game as easy as is logistically possible. The stadium is located in south Philadelphia near I-95 and has an expansive parking lot with 22,000 spots. Just pay the $20 and bring tailgating gear and enjoy getting three hours worth of gorging and boozing in before the game. Deals are lurking around the neighborhood, with private lots available for $10 to $15.

This fan-friendly stadium with fan-friendly policies is as fan-friendly in the parking lot as any other city, as long as they can weather the elements. The tailgating mentioned before is not only economical, but is a great time and should be apart of any Philly football experience. After the game though, the city is the place to be. Stay in the area and visit McFadden’s or get out and head down to the Old City District and bar hop to one’s hearts desire.

Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles Tickets

Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) at Denver Broncos (6-1) (Monday, 8:30 PM ET)

APBen Roethlisberger and the Steelers have won four in a row.

Pittsburgh is coming off a bye week after winning four straight and Denver is coming off the team’s first loss of the season. Both teams need to come out and prove that they will not lose momentum because of these hiccups. The Steelers could use the win to take sole possession of first place in the AFC North, something everyone expected them to have this season by now. The Broncos do not have the same division concerns (though the fans still have last season’s meltdown lingering in the back of their mind), but they do need to prove that they cannot be manhandled by every defensive stalwart out of the AFC North. Calling this a must win game for either team seems like a bit much, but this is definitely a game whose final will resonate with both teams for a few weeks as the playoff picture begins to sort itself out.

Invesco Field at Mile High (1701 Mile High Stadium Circle West, Denver, CO 80204)

The spirit of Mile High Stadium lives on at Invesco Field at Mile High, despite the space age appearance. The new stadium has done an honorable job of celebrating the football culture that bled through every seat in the old stadium and witnessed John Elway bring home two consecutive Super Bowls. The stadium maintains a team Hall of Fame known as the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame and encouraging fans to get and scream the Incomplete Chant, adding the sound effects. This is just as difficult as a crowd to play before as in the old stadium, but now the crowd is a little more comfortable.

Invesco Field has seating for 76,125 and spreads out over 1.7 million square feet, doubling the total area of Mile High and providing seating that is much more comfortable (i.e. bigger seats) for the modern fan. The extra square feet are also used to provide wider concourses, more restrooms, and even elevators and escalators for those with weary legs.

Like most modern NFL stadiums, the seating was designed to ensure that every seat has an excellent view of the stadium. In the event that someone misses a play fans can simply look up at the 96 by 27 foot scoreboard and video screen in the end zone at the south end of the stadium or turn their head and watch the 48 by 27 foot viewing screen at the north end.

APKyle Orton and the Broncos look to get back on track.

Also like every other modern NFL stadium, Invesco Field has its distractions for those not so gung ho over the game of football. A Sports Legend Mall in the south end of the stadium is an excuse to spend money shopping rather than eating and drinking.

Denver is a pretty cultured town, so it should be no surprise that there was a concerted effort to include public art incorporated into the stadium. The Metroplitan Football Stadium District commissioned two public art exhibits for the exterior of the futuristic looking stadium. The art projects are the Mountainscape on the east end and the Equipment Field on the west side by the Counties Gateway Plaza.

Invesco Field at Mile High is a treasure chest of a professional football stadium, with a great exterior and interior design and the amenities that are now necessary for the modern football fan.

Food and Drink

Invesco has much more than the hot dogs, hamburgers, and pizza found at every sporting event at every level, from high school to the NFL. Mile High has more delicious original options like a Mountain High Pizza Pie, a bevy of creative cuisine at the Red Zone, and a nacho bar Jalapeno Heaven (get bacon bits with your nacho cheese). This is a greasy, health-challenged heaven for Broncos fans and visiting football fans alike.

Anybody that has been to a bar in the last few years has noticed that even the most dive-ish bars have begun to usher in a new, more refined selection of beers. Many of these beers come from Colorado, so Invesco has terrific local brews like Fat Tire, Sunshine Wheat, and Blue Moon to go with standard domestic beers from Miller, Bud, and Coors. Beers will run from $6-$8.

Parking, Tickets, and the Surrounding Area

APBrandon Marshall is Orton's go-to target.

The nose bleed section (500-level) tickets are available for around $170 and the lower level seats (100-level) are available for upwards of $850, with a few luxury boxes in the thousands. The prices are typical for a big game between two of the better teams in the NFL.

Getting to Invesco Field at Mile High is going to be far from pain free, but that is the price anyone pays for going to professional sporting event. The stadium is nearby I-25 off the Colfax Avenue and 17th Avenue tucked into a part of the city that is a little less space-challenged. While this does not do much for partying after the game, it does make parking before the game much easier.

Park in the stadium lots for between $20 and $30 or find an outlying lot for as little as $10. Even head in on the light rail system and skip the horrors of parking altogether. Still make sure at least one friend is reserving a space to enjoy the tailgating scene before the game.

After the game, the sports fan that wants to go out will have to venture outside of this rather quiet neighborhood. Denver is a young town and there are plenty of neighborhoods to go and end the night. Lo Do and Larimer Square have boutiques, restaurants, cafes, and, oh yeah, bars. This is where the young professionals hang, so enjoy bar hopping here or head to the SoCo District and party it up with DJs and dance floors. There are more than enough options for any sports fans, but fans should stay closer to LoDo if they want to enjoy more of a sports bar atmosphere.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos Tickets

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