BRIC’s goal as an organization and movement has always been to deconstruct narratives taken at face-value so as a community we can understand the issues that affect us. There is danger in a single story, that is why our work is rooted in fostering a discourse where all community stakeholders are heard and have the ability to use their voice to create change.

The proposal and ongoing planning for an on-campus stadium has become a big subject of debate in Philadelphia. Since February 2016, we have explored why this is such a contested issue by examining the proposal, the reasons why a stadium is being considered, and what the North Philadelphia community has to say about the subject. We have additionally compiled data about on-campus stadiums throughout the country. The following is a report of what we found.

As a disclaimer, our bias comes from assessing the feasibility of this project with the pursuit of creating a unified community in mind. We invite you to engage in this discussion as a critical participant. You can email us at bric.community@gmail.com if you find anything we have not examined.

Updates

June 25, 2018 

On-campus stadium proposal will be delayed.

The university will not be filing with City Planning by its end-of-June goal.

READ MORE

Feature 1

The following is placeholder text known as “lorem ipsum,” which is scrambled Latin used by designers to mimic real copy. Nulla eu pretium massa. Aliquam bibendum, turpis eu mattis iaculis, ex lorem mollis sem, ut sollicitudin risus orci quis tellus.

Feature 2

The following is placeholder text known as “lorem ipsum,” which is scrambled Latin used by designers to mimic real copy. Nulla eu pretium massa. Donec ac fringilla turpis. Quisque congue porttitor ullamcorper.

Feature 3

The following is placeholder text known as “lorem ipsum,” which is scrambled Latin used by designers to mimic real copy. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. In sit amet felis malesuada, feugiat purus eget, varius mi. Quisque congue porttitor ullamcorper. Mauris id fermentum nulla. Sed a ligula quis sapien lacinia egestas.

The Stadium + Football Team

Is building a stadium moving the team to the major leagues?

The current home of the Temple University football program is Edberg-Olson Hall, located at the corner of 10th and Diamond St, where the football team routinely practices and has a range of services specialized just for them. “In 2012, Edberg-Olson Hall underwent a $10 million upgrade with a 15,000-square-foot expansion.” In 2014, additional funds were invested in reconstruction of the practice field there, which is used exclusively by the football team.And in 2015 $49,000 were invested in a “video nest” to record practices. We have found no plans delineating the fate of the practice field or training facility if the stadium is built.

THe Stadium + The Neighborhood

The expense of a stadium is being rationalized by stating that it will generate economic revenue and job opportunities for North Philadelphia, "This will be a huge economic boost to North Philadelphia," said President Theobald in a Temple News interview. The data collected does not support this. The following is an excerpt from a study performed in 2007 by researchers at Holy Cross:

Feature 1

The following is placeholder text known as “lorem ipsum,” which is scrambled Latin used by designers to mimic real copy. Sed a ligula quis sapien lacinia egestas. In sit amet felis malesuada, feugiat purus eget, varius mi. Nulla eu pretium massa.

Feature 2

The following is placeholder text known as “lorem ipsum,” which is scrambled Latin used by designers to mimic real copy. Quisque congue porttitor ullamcorper. Nulla lectus ante, consequat et ex eget, feugiat tincidunt metus. Mauris egestas at nibh nec finibus. Maecenas non leo laoreet, condimentum lorem nec, vulputate massa. Nullam sit amet nisi condimentum erat iaculis auctor.

Feature 3

The following is placeholder text known as “lorem ipsum,” which is scrambled Latin used by designers to mimic real copy. Sed a ligula quis sapien lacinia egestas. Fusce at massa nec sapien auctor gravida in in tellus.

The Stadium + Students

Similarly to the football team, having the stadium on-campus would be more convenient for students to attend. However, in the wake of five sports teams being eliminated less than two years ago “citing financial problems and inadequate facilities among” some of the reasons, some students have expressed it is undemocratic for the football team to be the only one that gets to see such an investment. “The cut left Temple with just 19 varsity teams — about half the number at a typical Ivy League school...Today, Temple has no baseball team or men’s track and field.” Therefore many athletes lost the chance to compete.

“At its core, Temple’s plan invites a critical question: Why do universities sponsor varsity sports at all? Is it to offer undergraduates an opportunity to challenge themselves in a meaningful way outside of the classroom, and learn something by playing? Or is it to help market the university, enhancing its brand.”

Detail 2

The following is placeholder text known as “lorem ipsum,” which is scrambled Latin used by designers to mimic real copy. Donec ac fringilla turpis. Quisque congue porttitor ullamcorper. Quisque congue porttitor ullamcorper. Donec eget risus diam.

Nulla lectus ante, consequat et ex eget, feugiat tincidunt metus. Nulla eu pretium massa. Maecenas non leo laoreet, condimentum lorem nec, vulputate massa. Vivamus a ante congue, porta nunc nec, hendrerit turpis. Vivamus sit amet semper lacus, in mollis libero.

JANUARY 18, 2018

Temple University announces it is taking the next step towards a multipurpose facility. 

READ MORE

FEBRUARY 22,2017

A Temple official disputed a report by the Temple News that the school’s study of the feasibility of building an on-campus football stadium has been put on hold.

READ MORE

FEBRUARY 21, 2017 

The university’s study into the feasibility of building an on-campus football stadium has been put on hold and administrators could not say when — or if — it would resume, The Temple News has learned.

READ MORE