Lurie and Banner

Bob Brookover had a good article recently on Lurie and Banner’s impressive track record, and yet the city’s odd lack of gratitude toward them. But one thing in his article that Joe Banner said stuck out at me, and I think it is why there are still reservations about the owner and team president. Banner said, “I don't think there's another owner who would have kept this team in Philadelphia for the economic deal we got on our stadium. I'm not trying to belittle the public contribution, but as it relates to what other cities did and other offers we had from other cities, I can't imagine many owners that would have come from someplace else and had the kind of loyalty that he demonstrated to these football fans and this city and the history of the franchise. I don't think anybody recognizes that. I don't think anybody thinks of that."”

 

Now, I certainly don’t dismiss the financial imperatives that drive today’s NFL, but Banner’s comment encapsulates so much about team management and disregards certain realities:

 

1)      Even if Lurie wanted to move, I doubt Paul Tagliabue would have allowed it so soon after the public relations disaster of the Browns abandoning Cleveland.

2)      The stadium deal the Eagles got was pretty good. Not as great as some cities, not as bad as others.

3)      Regardless of the details of the eventual stadium deal, the Eagles franchise is worth more now than it would be if it had moved to another city. Either Forbes or Fortune ranked it in the top 5 professional sports franchises, nearing $800 million in worth. So the tens of millions they (may have) lost out on on the Linc has been more than made up in the hundreds of millions in increased value because Lurie owns the most popular team in one of the most populous cities with some of the passionate fans in the country. Does Banner seriously think the Eagles would be worth $800 million in San Antonio? Please.

 

I don’t doubt that Lurie felt some loyalty to the city. And I, for one, appreciate his determination in keeping the team in Philadelphia. But Banner more than anyone should know that aside from loyalty, the decision to keep the team in Philly was a very smart and very profitable business decision. To suggest otherwise, or to downplay the financial angle, is just disingenuous on Banner’s part.