Does the Eagles owner hate Philly? (1 Viewer)

[GroveDiesel]

Sure seems that way from this article.

The fans' reaction to Lurie bothers Banner, who also would not rank among the region's most popular people even though he has helped produce a consistent winner.

"I have to tell you, that's personally frustrating to me in a public-relations sense," Banner said. "I know this is controversial, but 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."

 

[Banger]

didn't really get that impression at all. He's a little upset that the city didn't kick in more money for the stadium and said that most other owners would have looked to move the team but he stayed. To me that means he likes the city in spite of the fact that he could have gotten a beater deal somewhere else.

 

[Bushead]

I agree, I don't get that impression at all. I think his intention with those comments was actually the exact opposite.

Still, horrid timing to make that statement. No need right now in the middle of a playoff run. Has become a distraction locally already.

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

Lurie bought the team and made it the first class organization it is now from top to bottom, despite rumors that he was both strapped for cash and that he wanted to eventually take them to LA (he has Hollywood ties IIRC).

Between the Linc, the NovaCare Complex and all the different parts of the organization, Lurie has done a very good job.

Joe Banner and Jeff Lurie should get props for being such a good ownerhip / management team, and I can understand that that Banner would point out if pressed for a comment. Overall, Lurie is blending into the background and just hoping for a championship.

I don't get the comment above at all. Seems like a reasonable reaction, although I agree that the timing may not be the best to bring this up - but that was on the reporter, not Banner.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Philly fans don't like ANY owners. And with good reason: For most of their histories, the Phillies, Eagles and Sixers have been owned and run by people who don't care or don't know what they're doing. (The Flyers have, but Ed Snider isn't a fan favorite anymore given the team's precipitous decline.)

Those of us who are knowledgeable Philly fans appreciate Lurie and Banner. Lurie didn't make a great impression when he first got here because he seemed aloof and too eager to emulate the 49ers and too desirous of a new stadium. But once he put Reid in place, he's sat back and let Reid and Banner do their things, which they do very well. He deserves credit for that.

 

[AB in DC]

Why do I have a feeling that GroveDiesel didn't read the quote correctly?

 

[simsarge]

Doesn't he own another sports team?

 

[Please See Mine]

Doesn't he own another sports team?

you may be thinking of Jeffrey Loria, owner of the Marlins.

 

[theToes]

Philly fans don't like ANY owners. And with good reason: For most of their histories, the Phillies, Eagles and Sixers have been owned and run by people who don't care or don't know what they're doing. (The Flyers have, but Ed Snider isn't a fan favorite anymore given the team's precipitous decline.) Those of us who are knowledgeable Philly fans appreciate Lurie and Banner. Lurie didn't make a great impression when he first got here because he seemed aloof and too eager to emulate the 49ers and too desirous of a new stadium. But once he put Reid in place, he's sat back and let Reid and Banner do their things, which they do very well. He deserves credit for that.

This isn't completly accurate. Philly fans love Ed snyder (flyers) and loved Pat Croce when he owned the sixers.Banner was on 610 WIP this morining. His point was that when Snyder made the deal for the Wacjovia Center to br built and keep the Flyers in the city limits, he was widely praised by the media.When Lurie made the deal for the Linc he did not receive the same fanfare. Banner said that Lurie could have gotten a better deal moving the Eagle out of Phila. but decided to take the lessed deal and keep the team within the city limits.I think most Eagles fans are pretty positive when it comes to Lurie. the major critisism he takes is being under the cap when the team could use more impact players.

 

[Please See Mine]

The quote rubbed many fans the wrong way because they feel like the team belongs to them (rightly or wrongly) and they don't like the idea of the owner telling them they should be grateful that he didn't take the team out of Philadelphia. Many fans consider Lurie and Banner's greatest motivation to be to make money and that also causes them to be a little negative toward the ownership.

Overall, it really makes no difference to anyone as long as the Eagles win.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Croce was the face of the Sixers when he was involved with them, but he only owned about 2% of the team, Comcast and the Sniders owned the rest. Ed Snider is the only Philly majority owner that fans have liked in my lifetime, and his star has fallen in recent years. Like Al Davis minus the obnoxiousness and litigiousness, he was once an innovator but now seems more interested in cronyism.

The Carpenters were good owners, but they were kind of invisible when they owned the Phillies. They are remembered fondly because the late '70s/early '80s glory days happened under their watch, but I don't recall people having much of an opinion about them at the time. Of course, the business of sports didn't get as much media coverage back then as it does now.

Lurie is up there with the Carpenters and the '70s and '80s era Sniders, and people don't give him enough credit for that.

 

[scratcher]

I understand where Banner was coming from... but I can't feel too bad for a guy that own's the 5th most valuable team in the league...