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FoLLow us on Vol. 67 NO. 31 n JULY 31, 2014
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DIFFerence makers
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Reinvesting in the nest
n The South Philly Review is seeking nominations from its loyal readers for the 2014 class of Difference Makers to be profiled this fall. Visit southphillyreview. com.
no reservaTIons
n A Grays Ferry native talks about his venture at Harrah’s Resort, See page 24.
sPorTs
The Eagles’ president, Don Smolenski, lead a guided tour of the stadium’s improvements which began in the spring of 2013 and will be complete before the Sept. 7 opener . P h o t o b y R i c h a r d Ba r n e s
The Eagles’ home turf is nearing the end of a $125-million revitalization project. n By Bill Chenevert R e v i e w S ta f f W r i t e r
“S n Fans are campaigning to correct a former Phillie’s omission from the Hall of Fame. See page 28.
still gives me chills,” Don Smolenski, the Philadelphia Eagles’ president, said of the feeling he gets when he enters Lincoln Financial Field, 1020 Pattison Ave., which broke ground in May of 2001. Last summer, the Eagles’ front office announced a $125 million revitalization plan and last week, Smolenski led an eager troupe of sports reporters excited to see the Linc’s new look.
While Veterans Stadium, or the “Vet,” was the home of the Eagles from 1971 to 2003 at 3501 S. Broad St., Lincoln Financial Group purchased naming rights in ’02 for nearly $140 million to be paid over 21 years. Almost exactly ten years after its opening, the team announced a team-up with Gensler Architecture and Turner Construction that will be finished before the Birds’ home opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars on September 7, also their first regular season game. The changes are almost entirely cosmetic, but
An engaging Tune-Up
some will also provide welcome technological improvements to the control room such as more cameras for better gameday videography and replays. One of the most obvious and largest improvements are two HD video boards in the end zones – 22,000 square feet of Panasonic. According to the Lincoln Financial Stadium Revitalization Fact Sheet, the boards will be “High-Definition video boards made up of 10 mm pixels, which makes them the highest-resolution boards in the NFL.” The larger See the linc page 10 >>
A Queen Village resident has assumed leadership of a Philadelphia Youth Orchestra training program.
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