What is the “Eagles Court,” and how did it start?
In the 1990s, brawls between fans were getting out of hand, including at Veterans Stadium, the Philadelphia Eagles’ home at the time. There were fights in the tailgates and inside the stadium in the stands. Arrests were made. The city council and the organization’s front office got involved.
Judge McCaffery of “Eagles Court” (photo courtesy NFL.com)
What was the answer? A law court was established inside the stadium following a flare-gun incident in 1997. The court provided on-site justice for offenses that occurred during the game. It became known as the “Eagles Court.”
The court was presided over by Judge Seamus Patrick McCaffery, meting out punishments that included fines and the revocation of season tickets. For example, a drunk fan went into the bathroom, broke off the toilet seat, and wrapped it around his neck. He then ran around the stadium. His penalty? He paid a fine and was returned to his seat with security assigned to watch him for the remainder of the game.
Veterans Stadium is gone now, replaced by Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles Court is gone, too. That said, LFF has holding cells for rowdy fans.
