Inside Citizens Bank Park

South Philly – there is nothing else like it in America.  Before we go any further, let me be open and honest: I am born and raised about a five-minute drive and a 20-minute walk from “The Vet”.  Citizens Bank Park’s parking lot is where The Vet once stood.  I grew up loving Mike Schmidt and the Phillies.  We share a birthday and he hit a lot of homers, so he was my favorite player as a kid.  I once put makeup on next to him before a TV broadcast a few years back, and the kid in me came out.  It is one of my favorite career moments, right up there with the time I peed next to Vin Scully.  Anyways, where was I?  Oh yeah, South Philly.

One of the great joys of life is seeing what a new ballpark does for the emotions of baseball fans.  I’ll never forget that April day in 2010 when Target Field opened for the first time.  Same here.  The optimism and passion ratcheted up a few notches when Citizens Bank Park opened in 2004, and you still feel it now in 2025 when the Phillies take the field.  

There are so many great things about a ballgame in South Philly, but the thing that stands out most for a fan is simple: the food!  From Campo’s Steaks to Chickie & Pete’s Crabfries to Bull’s BBQ (named after Greg Luzinski), the options are endless.  Kevin Tedesco is in charge of the food at the ballpark, and trust me when I say the quality is unmatched around the game.  Ballpark food is costly, sure, but this is one place where you will get your money’s worth.  PJ Whelihan’s, Tony Luke’s, Old City Creamery, a beer at Pass and Stow … the list goes on and on and on! Walk around Ashburn Alley beyond centerfield and take your pick of some of the best food in baseball.  And that’s just a small sample! 

If you have kids, The Yard has it all.  It’s in the right field corner of the main concourse just before you hit Ashburn Alley, so grab a steak and let the kids have some fun while you eat!

Philadelphia, by far, is the most convenient stadium complex in all of America.  Interstates 76 and 95 are within 2 minutes, tops, with no traffic, of course.  Xfinity Live is a great spot before and after games.  All four major sports teams share the same parking lots.  Getting in and out, for the most part, is a breeze.   Whoever designed this complex gets my sincere thanks! 

The late-2000’s and the 2020’s have been REALLY good to the fans in Philly, with the team reaching three World Series, winning it all in 2008.  My brother and I were there in the 400-level when Eric Hinske swung at Brad Lidge’s curve ball and the place erupted like I’ve never heard.  That passion still resonates today, and you can feel it when things are good … and bad! 

Like most places around the game, the passion for Phillies baseball runs down through generations, and that is palpable as well.  Walk around the ballpark and you will see jerseys from Schmidt and McGraw to Rollins, Howard and Utley to Harper and Wheeler. 

A Phillies game is an experience.  The ushers can tell you about Richie Ashburn’s playing career if they are of a certain age.  They remember when Harry Kalas first said “outta here!”.  My mother worked a few seasons giving away promotional items at the gate.  Why? She loved the ballpark.  Growing up on the 2500 block of Warnock Street, we could hear the cheers coming from The Vet from our front step! We loved the Phillies.  We lived and died with each season. I’ll never forget sitting in my neighbor’s house in October of 1993 when Joe Carter walked off the Phillies to win it all. We sat there, silent, for at least 5 minutes before anyone said a word.  I just turned 18. It was my first sports disappointment as an adult. 

That passion still lives on today when you catch a game in a place that will never be duplicated – South Philly. 

With views running past South Philly and into Center City, Citizens Bank Park is the gem of the stadium district.  After 33 years at The Vet, Citizens Bank Park made the most passionate Phillies fans happier than you could imagine.  

Phanatic Artwork – The Phillie Phanatic, created in 1978, usually rides his red ATV around the park.  But here, the popular mascot is depicted in art form.   

Harry The K – Known for his famous call, “That Ball’s Outta Heeeeere!”, Harry Kalas’ statue down the left field line gives fans a trip down memory lane.   Kalas was a Phillies announcer from 1971 until his passing on April 13th, 2009 in Washington, DC.  He collapsed in the broadcast booth at Nationals Park.  He was 73.

Ashburn Broadcast Booth – The wide-open concourse the runs along centerfield in Philly, Ashburn Alley is a tribute to Richie Ashburn, the longtime Phillies centerfielder and broadcaster!  “Whitey”, who was known for his iconic Jeff cap and pipe, played 12 of his 15 MLB seasons for the Phillies, making four all-star games.  Richie passed away in New York at the team hotel on September 9th, 1997 at the age of 70.  He was inducted into Cooperstown in 1995 by the Veteran’s Committee.

The Yard – Down the right field line, kids can play at a mini-CBP while the local nine plays a few hundred feet away.  Kids can play wiffle ball, shoot hot dogs out of the launcher like the Phanatic, climb the Phanatic’s wall and much more!

The Best Area to Heckle – Philly fans (I grew up one, so I can say this!) aren’t known for let’s say, ummm, being the friendliest at times.   Visiting pitchers warm up just a few feet away from the fans hovering around the right field bullpen.  As nice as those flower beds are, they serve as a nice bumper between the opponents and home fans.

The Home Run Liberty Bell – With thousands of LED lights, the Liberty Bell beyond right-center field puts on a show when the Phillies hit a homer and win a game.  The original, 5,000-pound Liberty Bell at Veterans Stadium is now at Citizens Bank Park as well. 

A Unique RF Wall – With a height north of 13 feet, the right field wall also has a gate, providing for some interesting plays in the field.