World Cup, NFL Draft, New Stadiums in PA … and No State Cash?

Pennsylvania is one of the most important states in the country for pro sports, and it has a fast-growing list of upcoming major events and stadium needs. Teams and leagues shouldn’t necessarily expect much financial help from Gov. Josh Shapiro, though. 

Speaking Sunday at NASCAR’s Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway, Shapiro said heightened fiscal challenges are complicating any consideration of taxpayer help for teams and facilities in the commonwealth.

“I’m very worried about the overall budget,” Shapiro said. “I’m very worried about the overall economic situation given the federal cuts. You want to balance investing in tourism, investing in sports, investing in great arenas and facilities, with making sure that you’re also investing those dollars in things that Pennsylvanians need most.”

Arguably at the top of the list of sports-related asks in Pennsylvania is a potential new or renovated home for the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles. The team’s lease for the 22-year-old Lincoln Financial Field expires in 2032, and the venue is quickly falling behind newer NFL facilities such as SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas in multiple respects, including technology and revenue-generating abilities. 

Before the team’s rout of the Chiefs in February’s Super Bowl LIX, Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie acknowledged, “We’re starting to talk all about it and think about what our options are.”

Center of Activity

Shapiro’s comments arrive as other upcoming events and stadiums with potential needs in Pennsylvania include:

• The 2026 FIFA men’s World Cup, which will include six matches at Lincoln Financial Field
• The 2026 MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park, home of the Phillies
• The 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh
• First- and second-round competition in next year’s March Madness at a newly renamed Xfinity Mobile Arena
• Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, home to the Steelers, is a facility three years older than Lincoln Financial Field
• PNC Park in Pittsburgh and Citizens Bank Park, MLB ballparks that are each more than 20 years old
• A forthcoming arena for the NBA’s 76ers and NHL’s Flyers. Shapiro has already said the commonwealth will not be involved in that building, but the project will also include a large-scale development of the South Philadelphia sports complex 

“We want to make sure the Steelers, we want to make sure the Eagles, and all of our pro teams have outstanding places to play, that are welcoming for fans, that generate revenue,” Shapiro said. “We’re going to continue to dialogue with them about what they need and what’s possible.”

Shapiro’s comments are notable on multiple fronts. He was a short-list candidate to be the vice presidential candidate on the Kamala Harris–led Democratic ticket last year, and he is expected to be a major contender for the party’s presidential nomination in 2028. 

Many other states, such as Illinois, have shown growing resistance to public financing for pro sports facilities. Missouri is a notable outlier, recently approving bonding for new or renovated facilities for the Chiefs and Royals, but that state is trying to prevent possible team relocations to neighboring Kansas.