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Temple's on-campus football stadium gaining momentum

The long process to move Temple's football team out of Lincoln Financial Field and into North Philadelphia is gaining steam, according to several sources.

Temple’s head coach Geoff Collins, center background, watches Dan Archibong, left, Michael Dogbe, right, warm up before the Temple Owls play the UCONN Huskies in Philadelphia, PA on October 14, 2017. DAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Temple’s head coach Geoff Collins, center background, watches Dan Archibong, left, Michael Dogbe, right, warm up before the Temple Owls play the UCONN Huskies in Philadelphia, PA on October 14, 2017. DAVID MAIALETTI / Staff PhotographerRead moreDAVID MAIALETTI

Temple continues to edge closer to making an on-campus, 35,000-seat football stadium a reality, several sources have confirmed.

Amid speculation that a vote on the stadium would take place Tuesday at the board of trustees meeting, several  sources said that would not be the case. An update on the stadium is likely to be presented.

Still, several sources have suggested that the project is gaining steam, although all suggested there is still work to do. Temple disclosed a plan for a stadium more than two years ago. One of the biggest issues is taking in the concerns of the neighbors.

The plan calls for a retail and stadium complex. The site would be bounded by Broad Street to the east, Norris Street to the north, 16th Street to the west and Montgomery Avenue to the south. The cost is expected to be between $130 million and $150 million.

Temple's lease at Lincoln Financial Field expired after this season, but the Owls had signed an amended agreement with the Eagles that allowed them two option years, 2018 and 2019. Temple exercised its 2018 option during the fall of 2016.

A source confirmed that the 2019 option recently was exercised by Temple.

A person familiar with the situation said construction of the stadium would take between 18 and 24 months.