Year opened: 1971
Capacity: 65,386
Names:
Philadelphia Veterans Stadium, 1971-2004
Pro football tenants:
Philadelphia Eagles (NFL), 1971-2002
Philadelphia Stars (USFL), 1983-84
Postseason games hosted:
NFC Wild Card playoff, Eagles 27 Bears 17, Dec. 23, 1979
NFC Divisional playoff, Eagles 31 Vikings 16, Jan. 3, 1981
NFC Championship, Eagles 20 Cowboys 7, Jan. 11, 1981
NFC Wild Card playoff, Giants 27 Eagles 21, Dec. 27, 1981
USFL Semifinal playoff, Stars 44 Blitz 38, July 9, 1983
NFC Wild Card playoff, Rams 21 Eagles 7, Dec. 31, 1989
NFC Wild Card playoff, Redskins 20 Eagles 6, Jan. 5, 1991
NFC Wild Card playoff, Eagles 58 Lions 37, Dec. 30, 1995
NFC Wild Card playoff, Eagles 21 Buccaneers 3, Dec. 31, 2000
NFC Wild Card playoff, Eagles 31 Buccaneers 9, Jan. 12, 2002
NFC Divisional playoff, Eagles 20 Falcons 6, Jan. 11, 2003
NFC Championship, Buccaneers 27 Eagles 10, Jan. 19, 2003
Other tenants of note:
Philadelphia Phillies (MLB – NL), 1971-2003
Philadelphia Atoms (NASL), 1973-75
Philadelphia Fury (NASL), 1978-80
Temple Univ. (college football), 1978-2002
Notes: The Vet was of an octorad shape (i.e., having eight radii) and the final design came about after much haggling between the Eagles and MLB Phillies. Hosted Army vs. Navy football game, 1980-82, 1984-88, 1990-92, 1994-96, 1998-99, 2001. Hosted annual Philadelphia City Title high school football championship, 1973-77 and 1979. Original AstroTurf surface, which became infamous over time, was replaced with NexTurf in 2001. Improper installation of the NexTurf surface caused the cancellation of a preseason game between the Eagles and Baltimore Ravens in 2001. During the 1998 Army vs. Navy football game, a railing collapsed and several West Point cadets were injured. Two auxiliary scoreboards were in use for football (as opposed to a more elaborate system for baseball) until a large Phanavision screen was installed. Original seating color scheme of orange, yellow, and brown was replaced by all blue in 1976. First football game was a preseason contest between the Eagles and Buffalo Bills, Aug. 16, 1971.
Fate: Demolished in 2004 the site is now used as a parking lot for Citizens Bank Park and Lincoln Financial Field.
