Judge Tells Eagles, Lurie to Fork It Over

By DAN STAMM

Updated 2:58 PM EST, Mon, Jun 8, 2009

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The Philadelphia Eagles must immediately fork over $8 million dollars to the city.

A Commons Pleas judge ruled Monday that the Eagles owe the city millions in shared revenue generated from Veteran's Stadium luxury boxes constructed in the 1990's.

Eagles owner Jeff Lurie and Joe Banner argued in court that they reached an agreement with then-Philly-Mayor John Street to pay much less money. Current mayor Michael Nutter had no knowledge of the deal and wanted the Birds to pay the full $8 million.

“I’m so pleased that today’s favorable Court ruling has resolved a key part of this long-standing lawsuit between the City and the Eagles and I appreciate the hard work on all sides. I am also hopeful that the judge will rule shortly in the last final phase of the case so that this entire matter can reach a final conclusion,” said Nutter.

The team always knew that they owed the city money, Eagles' attorney Mathieu Shapiro told KYW News Radio 1060's Mike Dunn.

The Birds don't plan to appeal the decision but they still hoped to regain some of the $8 million.

A decision is expected next week as to how much money the city owes to the Eagles after a 2001 preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens was canceled due to shoddy turf conditions, according to Comcast SportsNet.

The team had to issue a refund to season-ticket holders and the city may have to fork up some of that bill. The settlement could be for anywhere from $5 million to $8 million dollars, the Birds attorney told 1060.

“We are glad we were able to come to an agreement with the City on the amount of money that we owe for the 2002/2003 suite flip agreement. We are equally pleased that the judge has indicated... that he will issue a ruling within the next week, as to what the City owes the Philadelphia Eagles, as it relates to the canceled game in August 2001," said Eagles Spokesperson Pamela Browner Crawley.

After both cases are settled the Birds could still have to fork over some dough to the cash-strapped city.