Philadelphia Eagles Nearly Relocated To Arizona in 1984

by Jon Azpiri | January 15, 2009 at 11:22 am

134 views | 0 Recommendations | 0 comments

As the Philadelphia Eagles head to Arizona for the NFC Championship game this Sunday, it's important to note that the team may have been located there permanently back in 1984.

Back in the the 80s, Eagles owner Leonard Tose made a secret deal with Arizona real-estate developer James Monaghan to move his team to Phoenix. The agreement saw the team moving to Phoenix, with Monaghan receiving 25 percent of the team in exchange for $40 million.

Tose was scheduled to announce the deal on Dec. 17, 1984, a day after the Eagles season ended.

Prior to the announcement, journalist Bob Hurt broke the story in the Arizona Republic. News of the move caused a huge outcry from Philadelphia fans and politicians. The reaction was so strong that Tose backed out of the deal as the city offered to provide some financial assistance for the team.

Not surprisingly, many fans think that Tose's plan to move the team to Arizona was nothing more than an empty threat designed to get the City of Philadelphia to offer him a sweetheart lease and new facilities. Others think that the deal was legit, as Tose needed the $40 million to cover massive gambling debts.

Bluff or not, the Eagles stayed in Philadelphia and Arizona eventually got an NFL team when the St. Louis Cardinals moved to Phoenix in 1988. Those two teams will now be meeting in one of the unlikeliest NFC Championship games in history.

Sadly, one fan who won't be able to watch the game is Bob Hurt, who passed away on January 3, 2009.

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon