- FanDuel paid $80,000 to restore SEPTA’s Sports Express train service for the Eagles’ home opener, covering extra pre-game trips and free post-game rides amid the agency’s $213 million budget deficit.
- The sponsorship highlights how underfunded U.S. transit agencies are turning to private companies for support.
PHILADELPHIA – The public transit system in Philadelphia turned to an unusual partner to keep trains running for the Eagles’ home opener: a legal sports betting company.
FanDuel paid $80,000 to restore SEPTA’s Broad Street Line Sports Express service on Thursday, after budget shortfalls forced the agency to suspend extra game-day trains. The sponsorship covered additional pre-game trips and free post-game rides for fans leaving Lincoln Financial Field.
“We are proud to collaborate with SEPTA to make planning easier by providing fans with free and reliable transportation after the game,” said Mike Raffensperger, President of Sports at FanDuel – one of the sportsbooks in Pennsylvania.
The agreement helped SEPTA avoid service disruptions on one of the busiest days of its year amid a $213 million budget deficit.
The “challenging time for SEPTA” comes from a 20% cut in rail and bus services over the last few weeks. With 32 bus routes eliminated, the full service is scheduled to return Monday, alongside a 21.5% fare hike. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro also approved transferring hundreds of millions in capital funds to cover daily operations, though these were meant for long-term repairs.
“Transferring capital funds to cover operating expenses, with no commitment to replace them, is not a sustainable long-term solution,” SEPTA said in a statement.
FanDuel To Invest In Transit Longterm?
The FanDuel sponsorship reflects a trend in the U.S. as transit systems search for new funding sources.
“Transit agencies are underfunded throughout much of the United States. As a result, they often seek out unconventional revenue sources to help cover their gaps,” said Yonah Freemark, a researcher at the Urban Institute.
However, the issue extends beyond Philadelphia. Agencies in Chicago, San Francisco, and Rhode Island are also warning of service cuts, layoffs, or fare hikes as ridership remains below pre-pandemic levels. Nationally, ridership is at about 85% of 2019 figures, according to the American Public Transportation Association.
The NFL betting site provided relief for one night of football. But with major events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics ahead, transit leaders say more stable government funding will be critical.
