Jeffrey Lurie, the charismatic owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, has been making headlines since he took over the team in 1994. Recently, his loyalties were questioned when the Boston Celtics hit the market with a price tag expected to exceed $6 billion. The rumor mill cranked up when Bill Simmons hinted on his podcast that Lurie might be eyeing the iconic NBA franchise, which holds a special place in his heart as he grew up cheering for them. Could we see Lurie adding another trophy to his collection?

Well, he’s finally sharing his take! At Super Bowl Opening Night, Lurie was asked directly if he was interested in buying the Celtics. He responded, “I’m not really interested in acquiring another sports team.” Under his leadership, the Eagles won their first Super Bowl victory in 2018, and their value skyrocketed to an impressive $8.3 billion. Still, one can’t deny that taking over one of the teams you loved as a child would be a dream. But it’s different for Lurie, “I think it’s connected because they were my childhood team. I’ve got a tremendous amount of respect for their whole culture. I sort of see it as like a kindred soul in the NBA.”

Lurie has always had a passion for sports, especially growing up in Massachusetts as a die-hard New England fan. He even tried to snag the Patriots back in 1994 but lost out to Robert Kraft. Just a few months later, he made a bold move and bought the Philadelphia Eagles for $195 million—a decision that has paid off handsomely! Not to mention, Lurie sold 8% of the team to outside investors for over $600 million, which is no small change.

Now, with all the buzz around the Boston Celtics being up for sale, you might think Lurie would be tempted to dive into that action. But nope! He’s laser-focused on the Eagles, who are gearing up for their fourth Super Bowl appearance on Sunday. As he phrased it, “Wyc (Grousbeck) has been an outstanding owner. I love the way they’ve developed that team. We’ve got to celebrate so many banners over the years. But it’s not something that’s top of mind. My whole focus is on my love of the Eagles and to win another Super Bowl for Philadelphia. I’m obsessed, as you know.” 

So there you have it! It’s all about the Eagles for Lurie. While it would have been exciting to see him take on a new team to nurture, his current squad is soaring—no pun intended! There’s no update yet on who will take over the Celtics, but Jeffrey has plenty of visions for the Eagles and its hometown!

Jeffrey’s thoughts of building a dome for Philadelphia

If you didn’t know, the Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Philadelphia Eagles, has a lease running through 2032, but it may need some major renovations or even a complete replacement soon. Opened in 2003, the stadium has served the Eagles well, but owner Jeffrey Lurie knows that Philadelphia deserves to host marquee events. During Super Bowl Opening Night, he was asked about the possibility of a dome stadium and said, “I don’t have a strong opinion about it…. Philadelphia deserves to host the Super Bowl, NCAA Final Four, and lots of great events. It’s an incredible sports city. Does it deserve it? Yes. So we have to balance all those things.”

Sure, a domed or retractable-roof stadium could open the door for lucrative events and year-round entertainment, from concerts to major sporting events. However, it’s not that simple. Why? Well, the Eagles don’t own Lincoln Financial Field. It belongs to the city even though the team maintains full control over operations and event bookings.

But with Lurie recently selling 8% of the Eagles for over $600 million, he has funds that could go toward renovating Lincoln Financial Field or even building a new stadium. So what’s the holdup? The city of Philadelphia has been busy negotiating plans for a downtown arena for the Sixers. However, that project recently hit a snag. The Sixers decided to partner with the Flyers on a new arena in South Philadelphia instead. This unexpected shift has left many surprised and raised questions about the future of sports facilities in the city.

With all this uncertainty in the air and Lurie’s focus remaining on the Eagles as they gear up for their fourth Super Bowl appearance, it’s hard to say how this may turn out. What do you think? Is a new stadium on the horizon for Philly? Share your thoughts in the comments below!