PHILADELPHIA — Ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles’ home opener against the Dallas Cowboys, the train on Thursday afternoon to Lincoln Financial Field was business as usual: packed with fans decked out in green, chanting “Fly, Eagles, Fly,” on their way to the game.

However, this particular train had an unusual sponsor: FanDuel.

The sports betting company announced Wednesday that it would restore cut game-day service and pay for train fares home from the South Philadelphia Sports Complex on Thursday, as a state funding battle has led the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), the local transit agency, to implement massive service cuts.

The Eagles issued a travel advisory on Tuesday, announcing they would open parking lots early and encouraging fans to plan for extra travel time, carpool and arrive early. The team also asked fans without a ticket to the game to avoid the area and make plans “to enjoy the game with family and friends at another location.”

That was until FanDuel stepped in, spending up to $80,000 to make fares free for fans traveling home from Lincoln Financial Field, starting at halftime on Thursday.

“As an official team partner of the Eagles, we are proud to collaborate with SEPTA to make that planning easier by providing fans with free and reliable transportation after the game,” FanDuel sports president Mike Raffensperger said in a statement.

Headed to the Linc on SEPTA on Thursday, two friends said they likely would have split an Uber to the game without the restored service.

“A lot of people would have been stranded, or people who wanted to just even come hang out, support their city, and support their team, are unable to,” Raghu Nuguri, 28, said.

Austin Price, 27, said he is glad service was restored for Thursday’s game, but that it’s not a long-term solution.

“A corporate sponsor to sponsor public transportation that is a public service that we pay taxes for is embarrassing as a city,” Price said.

Raghu Nuguri and Austin Price ride SEPTA to the Philadelphia Eagles’ home opener against the Dallas Cowboys. (Brooks Kubena / The Athletic)

While transit came through for Eagles fans on Thursday, students headed back to school, commuters and others relying on public transit have not been as lucky, facing longer wait times and decreased service. The transit system is facing a significant funding shortfall, while state Democrats and Republicans battle over how to fund transit in the state’s largest city. Pennsylvania’s budget is two months overdue, in part because of political divisions over transit.

“I think it’s a pretty sad state when, because of inaction from the Senate … we have to resort to getting funding for transit through a gambling company that’s just going to fund a few hours of our transit,” said Rep. Tarik Khan, a Democrat in the State House representing a portion of Philadelphia. “I mean, I’m grateful for FanDuel for stepping in for this, but what about the other 364 days of the year?”

The cuts, a portion of which went into effect at the end of August, involve a 21.5 percent fare increase and a 20 percent service cut, including the elimination of 10 express trains on game days and additional trains after games end. Some of those measures have been put on hold by a temporary injunction issued by Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Sierra Thomas-Street. According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, SEPTA could have faced penalties if it didn’t provide the added game day service.

“Everybody’s hoping for a solution,” Ruben Muller, a SEPTA conductor, told The Athletic on Thursday afternoon. “Tonight, you have people leaving work and people trying to get the game at the same time. So if you limit the service, a lot of people wouldn’t even fit.”

Whether FanDuel or other private sponsors will step in for other Eagles games — or potential Philadelphia Phillies postseason games or other major sporting events — remains unclear.

“As far as future sponsorships for service, we are discussing other games with potential sponsors, including FanDuel, but nothing is confirmed,” a representative for SEPTA told The Athletic.

(Photo: Matthew Hatcher / Getty Images)