Year opened: 1922
Capacity: 60,658 when Eagles played there, up from 30,000 at opening and 52,593 currently
Names:
Franklin Field, 1922 to date
Pro football tenants:
Philadelphia Eagles (NFL), 1958-70
Philadelphia Bell (WFL), 1975
Postseason games hosted:
NFL Championship, Eagles 17 Packers 13, Dec. 26, 1960
USFL First Round playoff, Stars 28 Generals 7, June 30, 1984
USFL Eastern Conf. Championship, Stars 20 Stallions 10, July 8, 1984
Other tenants of note:
Univ. of Pennsylvania, 1922 to date
Philadelphia Atoms (NASL), 1976
Notes: Replaced earlier stadium of the same name that was built in 1895 and demolished and rebuilt into present facility. Hosted one home game of NFL Frankford Yellow Jackets, 1927. Hosted two USFL playoff games because of a scheduling conflict for use of Veterans Stadium with baseball’s Phillies. Hosted a CFL game between Hamilton and Ottawa, 1958. Hosted Army vs. Navy football game, 1922, 1932-35 (13 games in the series were played at the predecessor stadium). Hosted annual Philadelphia City Title high school championship game, 1938, 1940-41, 1943-72. Hosts annual Penn Relays track meet. Constructed and owned by the Univ. of Pennsylvania, it was named for Penn’s founder, Benjamin Franklin. Stadium was dedicated during halftime of Penn vs. Navy football game on Oct. 28, 1922 with President Warren G. Harding presiding. Upper deck was completed three years later. Site of first radio broadcast of a football game, 1922. NFL Commissioner Bert Bell died of a heart attack during a game between the Eagles and Steelers, Oct. 11, 1959. Lights installed in 1970 and venue hosted first Eagles appearance on Monday Night Football. Original grass surface was replaced with AstroTurf in 1969 and Sprinturf in 2004.
Fate: Still in use.
(View above shows stadium with additional temporary end zone seating. View below is a more modern depiction)
