Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro confirmed that the state will not provide funds for any new sports arenas. This is important because the Eagles’ lease expires in 2032, which raises concerns about their future home. Shapiro mentioned that discussions are ongoing about potentially bringing NASCAR to Philadelphia.
During a visit to Pocono Raceway on Sunday, Shapiro said he plans to keep talking with Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie and the Rooney family, who own the Steelers in Pittsburgh, about what support, if any, the NFL teams might need regarding their stadiums.
Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh opened in 2001, while Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia started welcoming fans in 2003 as part of a shared sports complex. The Eagles do not own Lincoln Financial Field. They will have to either renew their lease or construct a new stadium. Lurie expressed during the Super Bowl buildup that he feels “torn” about whether to replace the current stadium or stay where they have celebrated their two Super Bowl championships.
If a new stadium is suggested, it will not be funded by state money—just like Shapiro mentioned he wouldn’t help when the NBA’s 76ers looked into building a new arena last year. The Sixers’ owners did not seek financial assistance and chose to team up with Comcast Spectacor, their current landlord, to construct a new arena in South Philadelphia.
“I’m really concerned about the overall budget,” Shapiro said on Sunday before the scheduled NASCAR Cup Series race at the track. “I’m very worried about the economic situation because of federal cuts. We need to balance investing in tourism, sports, and excellent arenas with making sure we also put money towards what Pennsylvanians really need.”
“I can assure you that we want to ensure the Steelers and Eagles, along with all our professional teams, have great places to play that are welcoming for fans and generate revenue. We will keep talking with them about their needs and what can be done.”
NASCAR has shown some interest in expanding its unique race locations—from Mexico City to a temporary track at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum—and suggested the possibility of hosting a race in a Philadelphia stadium, specifically Franklin Field. This location is usually where the Penn Relays and college football games take place.
“There are some discussions happening,” Shapiro mentioned. “First and foremost, we don’t want to do anything that could hurt Pocono. The more NASCAR, the better. The more racing we can bring to communities that haven’t experienced Pocono yet, the more people will get excited about racing and plan a trip to Pocono next year. I want to see an increase in NASCAR and racing overall. I’m also looking forward to seeing more sports in general.”
In 2026, Pennsylvania will host several major events, including the baseball All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park, the World Cup at Lincoln Financial Field, and the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club. This big year will start with the NFL draft taking place in Pittsburgh next April.
“I worked really hard to bring that event to Pittsburgh along with the Steelers,” Shapiro said. “I’m thrilled for them.”
