Eagles move training camp from Lehigh

Mar 15, 2013 - 4:50 PM Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The Philadelphia Eagles will move their training camp home this summer, holding practices at both the NovaCare Complex as well as Lincoln Financial Field after staging the team's annual preseason practices at Lehigh University for the last 17 years.

The new training camp plan features a number of free, public practices at Lincoln Financial Field as well as private practices open to media and invitees only at the club's NovaCare facility.

"There are so many people at Lehigh University who went above and beyond to accommodate us and to make training camp a special place for fans to travel each summer to get an up-close look at the team," Eagles team president Don Smolenski said. The city of Bethlehem has been part of our lives every summer for the past 17 years."

The Eagles become the 21st NFL team to move practices to their own facilities, citing the logistics of moving practices from their own home.

This will mark the first time that Eagles' training camp will take place in the city of Philadelphia since 1943 when practice was held at St. Joseph's University.

"I'm excited that Eagles' training camp is returning to Philadelphia," said mayor Michael Nutter. "I'm looking forward to visiting Lincoln Financial Field with other Eagles fans to give coach (Chip) Kelly and the team a warm welcome to the city."

Lehigh had been home to Eagles' training camp since 1996. Other venues Philadelphia has trained at include West Chester University (1980-95), Widener University (1973-79), Albright College (1968-72) and in Hershey, Pa. (1951-67).