Fans Ready To Welcome Eagles

Fans of the Philadelphia Eagles are flying high once again. The birds are back in Bethlehem for the 15th year.

Today, head coach Andy Reid, rookies, and some veterans like Michael Vick reported to training camp.

Thousands of fans are also expected to flock to Lehigh University over the next three weeks.

"This is our 15th year here, so everything is down to a science now," said Anthony DaGrosa, marketing events manager.

Fans are awarded free days of watching football and the chance to score an autograph or two.

"The way it works is if you arrive between 7:00 and 9:00, campus opens at 7:00 and we hand out raffle tickets, so anybody who shows between 7:00 and 9:00, automatically gets a chance to win an autograph," said DaGrosa.

Link: Official Training Camp Guide

But getting there early could be a problem if you traditionally travel Route 309 through Coopersburg, Lehigh County.

Construction congestion is the name of the game, but PennDOT officials suggest taking Old Bethlehem Pike, which runs parallel.

And once you're at training camp, no worries.

"We can put 3,000 people in the bleachers and then there's a ton of fence line," said DaGrosa. "So we're expecting really good crowds again this year and a good time."

The team is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its 1960 championship.

Fans are hoping this is the year they'll win again.

The Eagles will play their first preseason game on August 13 against Jacksonville at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.