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Citizen's Bank Park
Rating Details »
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
85 reviews for Citizen's Bank Park
Look, it's a review from someone who's NOT from Philly! I will try to keep this as objective as possible. I really thought about giving it 3 stars but then realized I was docking for stuff I think is dumb, not for stuff I think needs improvement. Anyway. Overall good place.
I'm on a quest to visit every MLB park, and CBP was my most recent visit. I was here for Game 4 of the World Series. Great game, better Yankee win (let the hating commence)
Nice ballpark, but has definitely fallen prey to the whole Ballpark-as-a-Mall that most modern parks have succumbed to. I thought Yankee Stadium was bad with the evil corporate sponsorship, but this was truly awful in this respect. I really felt like I was in the King of Prussia mall. While in a ballpark, I have never been so barraged with advertisements (or people trying to get me to buy shit I don't want/need like in Ashburn Alley. Also, the nosebleed seats are definitely higher up than any I've been in. And the fans can be huge douchebags, but that goes for anywhere, especially if you're coming in as a fan of the opposing team (and hey, I was all decked out in all Yankees fan at the World Series, I'm lucky all I got was verbal abuse)
That being said, this place has a great vibe, though slightly less drunk than back at the Vet (only slightly). I liked that you could find lots of different kinds of beer, and the McFadden's attached to the stadium is a nice touch. Oh, and it's pretty cheap for a baseball stadium (I think it was about the same as in Chicago, $6.25 for a regular beer sold in the stands)
Very easy to get to and from on SEPTA, which is saying a lot because SEPTA is a total sham.
Nice park you've got here, guys! Glad we got to beat you in it twice.
I had a really good time here. Definitely worth the trip down from NYC.
I'm still on a high from attending last night's Game 5 where the Phils rallied and fended off a Yank "clinch." The crowd was AWESOME, the seats, even though in the 400 section, were good. The stadium looks great. Prices can be high, but I've seen higher at Nats Stadium and Fedex Field (DC area). I also like that it's relatively easy to get here (yeah, Broad Street line) or, as we lucked out, free shuttles provided by the MLB from nearby major hotels.
One complaint, I wish they would display the speed of the pitches a bit more prominently.
I also loved the songs that would play when the Yankees would hold their tea parties on the mound. Those seemed to be plentiful when Burnett was at the plate. Lol.
In honor of us tearing the Dodgers a new A-hole at the moment I may as well get the Citizen's Bank Park review that I had on the back burner over and done with. back in the day a few of Yelp's Finest got together to watch the Phillies decimate The Cubs (sorry Burger Assassin). And overall the game gave me the chance to enjoy and experience the bulk of what our stadium had to offer.
We were in the Nosebleed section which is something that I thought was going to be extremely awful. But in all actuality they managed to provide a much better view then I expected. And the jumbotron was especially exciting. I had a good laugh of the extent that some people went to just to get on it. the majority of the beer and food were what you'd generally expect from a ball park - $6-7 Budweiser and over priced chicken fingers. But it also did hook up a minuscule amount of better options if you looked in the right places. And it goes without saying that it hooked up an impressive amount of Phillies memorabilia. Overall it may never have the mystique that The Vet had. But it definitely has plenty to make it the new kind of classic.
I recently came back to CBP for a few games...and was lucky enough to watch the NL East clincher from section 129. NICE!
The main reason for the update...was that I went to a few other ballparks since my initial review, and Citizen's Bank is not as expensive, concession-wise, as the other parks. It's not cheap, by any means...but they are less-ridiculous.
A new complaint though...WHERE are the ATMs? Is this place not named after a BANK?! I had to walk halfway around the stadium to find one...and when I got there...there were 4 people ahead of me in line. I don't expect one at every section....but seriously....you're sponsored by a BANK. Get some more ATMs!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/31/2009
I find it very important to review the stadium on its merits a as sports arena...and not my personal… Read more »
Phillies, Phanatic, phood, phans and phrackin good times.
Moving away from my beloved Philadelphia has made me appreciate Citizen's Bank SO much more (as if I didn't love it enough).
Seeing the seats filled with such passionate (you know how we roll, we boo, we cheer, we throw snow balls at Santa) fans and to capacity! Gotta love watching our World Series Champions!
**Sidenote
Cause honestly... Nats Stadium reminds me of Citizen's Bank, but let's get real... they SUCK (and do not compare to the Phils). I mean it's like a waste of money for them to even be a pro team, they NEVER sell out and when the stadium has fans, a third of the fans are cheering for the opposing team. Although it makes for getting Phillies vs. Nationals tickets uber easy.
I really liked CBP, especially after multiple visits to Nat's stadium. This place is like heaven!
The park is really nice and well designed. Our seats completely sucked (last row) but we had a great view and the breeze coming through was very welcome as well. I would dare say there isn't a bad seat in the house.
I didn't eat anything here, but they had some good selections with lots of local products and business owners. I liked it... just couldn't afford it.
I also LOVE the convience to the Septa. And its not completely packed leaving. We were back in our hotel, after stopping and getting pizzza in less time then it would take me to get home from the Nat's game. I was pleased.
While it doesn't have the history that Fenway or Camden or Wrigley has, this place is a well designed park that is definitely worth visiting.
It was a night made for watching some baseball...
Saw the Phil's squeak past the Reds here the other night - all thanks to Shane Victorino's base hit in the bottom of the ninth - talk about a crowd roar!
I know that a stadium cannot possibly be held accountable for meteorological conditions, but if ever there was a better night for some baseball - I challenge someone to let me know about it!
We were parked somewhere between 1st and the outfield - don't know if those are 'great' seats, but I don't think there really is a bad seat in that house! We did have the opportunity to visit a box behind home plate and the change of perspective was very interesting.
I was lucky enough to be the guest of a box ticket-holder so we had no hassles from parking to seats to drinking our faces off and satisfying our hunger - only small complaint, not to sound ungrateful, was our attendant - a bit surly who couldn't bother to smile or pretend to act civil - maybe the wrong line of work for you sweetheart, but hey, guess everyone has an off night once in awhile...
From a design-standpoint, I like the layout of this stadium (I am a big fan of Camden Yards)...just one question - is that little wall at 210, you know the one being slowly covered by creeping greenery, Philly's answer to the Big Green Monster?
Congrats Shane for making it to the All Stars!
still gets 5 stars...i'm just excited that we were able to sneak beers into the stadium for game 4. Haven't done that since throwing Ecto Cooler vodkas up the gated ramps at the Vet circa 1993.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/8/2009
If you can't have fun here; you can't have fun anywhere. Tailgating since 9am on a day like today… Read more »
I finally got to visit this park after living here for a while. It''s located pretty close to the SEPTA stop which made for an easy walk. After being frisked briefly(I hadn't been frisked since I saw the Stones in 2005), I proceded to hand over my ticket and entered the ball park. It's a little confusing if you haven't been there before because the signage is somewhat limited. I was looking for Section 4XX, when all the signs were saying 100 something. Thankfully the people I was with knew where to go. We got on the elevator and took it to the 2nd floor. Then we took an escalator to the third floor. From there we walked over to the stairwell to our section. A park employee directed us to our seats.
For being in the 400 section we had an excellent sight line/view. I could clearly see the field and the players. The Jumbotron/big honkin TV also provided a clear and easy display to see who was up next in case you couldn't hear the announcer.
The concession stands on the 3rd level were pretty well laid out and set back far enough so that any lines that formed didn't hinder your travel through the main concourse/walkway. I was almost tempted to get a grilled kielbasa at one stand due to the marvelous smells wafting over to me. I ended up getting a Yards Pale Ale at Brewerytown, which was 6.75. Not too shabby. I did laugh when the women serving me carded me. I also laughed thinking that I paid 6.75 earlier for a plastic pint bottle of Miller Lite when I could have gotten Yards for the same amount. It reminded me of the Wachovia Center where people were paying 7 bucks for Bud Light when for the same price you could get Hoegaarden.
All in all it was a very nice park. If only the Cubs had won. Then it would have been perfect.
I came here for the O's and Phillies series this past weekend. I will say that the concept of the "Sports Complex" really turns me off, as it feels so sterile and institutional being way out on the edge of town and with very little in the surrounding area, but I enjoyed my experience here and it's a beautiful ballpark. I was impressed with Septa's ability to handle the throughput of a sold-out crowd coming to the stadium, and would definitely recommend it over parking which I had a miserable time with leaving a Villanova game at the Wachovia Center.
The thing I like about Citizen's Bank Park is that it feels new, but doesn't feel like they crammed too much into it. Having recently been to Nationals Park, I've become cynical towards the recent tendency to over saturate ballparks with lights and sparkly things and entertainment options. CBP has enough to entertain kids for a little while, and to give you a reason to come early for a game, but it doesn't take away the focus of the actual ballgame, which is what a stadium should be all about.
We walked around a bit and were impressed with the openness of the lower concourse. I like how you can walk around the entire perimeter but can still see the field. And the ivy wall is gorgeous! Food choices are typical ballpark prices, and give a good representation of the flavors of Philadelphia. It's nice not to see a bunch of generic hot dog, hamburger, chicken tenders, pretzels, and popcorn.
Our seats were way in the back row of the upper deck, but visibility was excellent. The architects did an excellent job of positioning the main of center so you can have a good view of the Philadelphia skyline. From where we were seating you could see in 360 directions with no obstructions. One complaint though is the outdated scoreboard over the jumbotron. It looks a lot like the original one from Camden Yards, back in 1991. It was cumbersome to read, and looked out of place compared to the HD screen, and other sparkly new screens throughout the park.
So CBP isn't overwhelmingly unique, and does look a lot like most of the new parks, but it has enough flair to give it some personality. I love the lit up liberty bell in right center, and enjoyed the view of the city. Also this was my first time seeing the Philly Phanatic, which is easily one of the most entertaining mascots in baseball.
From a fan assessment point of view, I wish Philly fans would put as much effort into cheering as they do booing!
I really liked this park. Conveniently located on a SEPTA line, but also with plenty of parking.
I'm from Boston, so Fenway is home, and loved, even though it's so old. We sat out in left field, in the upper section. It was basically the equivalent of sitting on the Green Monster, but for $34, oh, and that included $10 worth of concessions. Green Monster tickets currently go for $160 apiece (no concessions), so this was a refreshing change.
Big, new, lots of food choices. I've been yelled at by a few people for not trying the crab fries. Wide aisles, lots of space to walk. Good seats, a nice, old time feel for a new park. Oh, and the Phillies won, so that was awesome.
I'd definitely come back for another game, and next time, I'll be sure to get the crab fries, with the cheese.
Went here for the first time last week and was quite impressed. Very nice new park. The only reason it loses a star is because there really wasn't anything about it that totally stood out to me. It was just a REALLY nice Baseball stadium plain and simple.
For example; San Fran has its location, Wrigley has the ivy and history, Millwaukee has the killer atmosphere. CBP is just really, really nice looking but that's about it. It's still high up on my list of Stadiums, it's just not the best.
On another note; I loved the fans. The Phillies lost unfortunately, but the fans were as entertaining as an outsider would expect Philly fans to be.
Take me out to the ball game! Take me to Citizens Bank Park! Buy me some cheesesteaks and BBQ! Crab fries, soft pretzels; Ump, what did you do!?!
I am a huge fan of baseball. It is one of my loves and my favorite sport, by far. Even though I am a huge Braves fan ( oh, shut up ), I enjoy watching any team play. However, when the Braves come to Philly, I meet them at Citizen's Bank Park.
Having lived from one corner of the USA to the next and being an extensive traveler, I have been to many stadiums around the USA, including Philly's previous Veteran's Stadium. Citizen's Bank Park is, without a doubt, the most sophisticated baseball stadium I have visited. There are three floor levels, from the main floor to the third floor you can easily reach it via an open outdoor escalator. There are lso elevators for folks who choose to use them.
I've entered through different gates and I never fail to see amusements for the kids. The park staff is very friendly to all who enter their gates, but for the kiddies, they have slides, pitching balls, face painting and so much more! http://philadelphia.ph... My granddaughter was picked to be on first base last year and got to stand along with the Phillies first baseman, Ryan Howard, she also has an autographed ball by him! She was on TV and thank heavens my son, who is a huge Phillies fan, taped the game!
This stadium has more concession stands and eateries than I have ever seen at any stadium, be it football or baseball. You want food, they've got it! Citizen's Bank Park food offerings, redefines Ballpark cuisine! I have tried most of these places and be it a cheesesteak, crab fries, kielbasi, hot dogs, piled high sandwiches or BBQ, you will leave here filled with satisfaction. Bull's BBQ is the largest grill in all of major league baseball's stadiums. It has an outdoor picnic area and grills and BBQ's anything from turkey, pork, beef and sausages to chicken. http://philadelphia.ph...
In honor of the recently deceased Harry Kalas, they had paid homage to him with Harry The K's, which has served beverages and foods from finger food to an upscale menu. McFadden's which is a sit down eatery and Sports bar is conveniently accessed from both inside and outside of the enclosed park.
I am there to watch the ballgame, food is brought to you, as well as beverages, constantly! If and when I do venture away from my seat to grab a bite, I still do not miss the game, thanks to the numerous screens and shouts from the stands.
Seating is comfortable with a lot of leg room, wide screen TVs adorn this open stadium and beautiful displays of a lit up replica of the Liberty Bell, which rings every time the Phillies hit a home run. Guests also enjoy a fantastic view of the Center City skyline. Oh, by the way, that is real grass on the field.
Tickets can be purchased in advance and online. This year they have a new package that includes your ticket for the game and a $10.00 food voucher than can be used at any stand or eatery. They sell for $32.00 -$34.00.
One thing that I will never forget and that is how badly I wanted Chipper Jones to autograph a baseball, for my Grandson. He refused, right in front of my grandson. Later, as we sat behind the dugout, we watched a line form and who came out, Chipper Jones to sign at least 20 balls. Since then I have bought his baseball and bat, but it killed me to do so. As we were walking towards the parking lot, after the game left out, we passed the area where the Phillies players were leaving, Jim Thome got out of his Hum V and signed quite a few balls. I gave mine to my son, since he is a big fan, but I will never forget those two episodes.
The way I look at it, if you do not find love for this stadium, it is because you are jealous or envious.
Every time I walk into Citizen's Bank Park, I am loving it and knowing that my next few hours will be full of good times and good eats. Batter up! Play ball!
Although I lack the gene that allows a person to get excited about sports, I still love seeing games at this stadium. It is so well designed, there is hardly a bad seat in the house. Even the ones in the pavilion take my breath away. And I love, love, love how the city is framed in the outfield.
The stadium is located in South Philly, wayyyy down there, away from downtown. It is nice because people can tailgate, which is like a great anthropological discovery for someone from a city whose stadium is right downtown. You can come early? And cook burgers? And drink beer? And you don't have do it at a bar? Fascinating!
I was pleasantly surprised to discover the games feel shorter when you watch them at the stadium. I think this has a lot to do with the fact that the fans are kept entertained, even in the lull between innings. Plus the Phanatic has an effing hot dog bazooka! Come the hell on! But seriously, even if you don't know a thing about baseball, you will not be bored.
The tickets are relatively cheap for a professional sporting event, although they have become more difficult to obtain since the Phillies won the world series. Prior to this season, I used to be able to get decent seats the same week of the game without using a reseller. This is just what happens when your team kicks some serious ass, I suppose.
Thank god they have decent beer here. Seriously. Brewerytown carries Victory on tap and Dogfish Head in bottles. Since Prima Pils is my favorite pilsner, that makes me first a happy lady... then a drunk lady, despite the $7 price tag.
In addition to real beer, there is real food! There are even vegetarian options other than fries and pretzels. At my last game, I tried a cheesesteak from Tony Luke's. It was bready, but certainly nowhere near the worst I've ever had. Someone caught a ball about 10 seats down from me and THANK GOD the camera did not pull out enough to catch me scarfing that thing down. My dignity is still intact for the moment.
Finally, I have read a few reviews that say Phillies fans are violent assholes, but I have to disagree. Passionate? Definitely. Are there a few bad seeds? Of course, there always are. Believe me, I come from drunken, violent, asshole fan MECCA. If there is anything I am an expert in, it is perhaps this topic. If you have an issue, there are ushers all over the place and it is made clear that they take complaints seriously.
Since the only other baseball game I've ever attended was a rained-out Trenton Thunder disaster, I'll start by stating the probably-obvious: this stadium is awesome.
I don't even like watching sports, but my boss hooked me up with 2 $50 tickets near 3rd base and I thought I'd be stupid not to go. And whadda ya know? I actually had fun.
The seats are pretty comfortable, and security itself isn't the nightmare I've experienced at other big public arenas like museums or concert venues. They checked my bag, sure, but fortunately missed my top-secret compartment where I stashed some homemade veggie pizza pockets and trail mix (Note: I do not officially advocate breaking the rules, but it'd be more of a crime to pay for the over-priced and mediocre ballpark food).
The most entertaining thing, aside from watching parents' increasing anxiety as their kids' overpriced ice cream spilled down their shirts, was the Philly Phanatic. He rode that ATV around the field like nobody's business, and kept me enthralled in trying to figure out exactly why we made up our own species for a mascot, and how the man in the suit doesn't pass out under that costume.
Another pro: clean bathrooms
But a con: no water fountains. Yep, that made me a little angry, and sad for my fellow attendees who bought the "dollah-watah-cheaper-OUTside!"-water and probably had it confiscated by security. If you could put up water fountains, Citizen's Bank Park, you might just earn yourself that fifth star.
Love this place. I'll keep it short and sweet:
Scalped tickets for $20 a piece when face value was $35.
Drank Prima Pils, Sierra Nevada pale ale and Flying Fish all at a reasonable price compared to most major league stadiums.
Enjoyed beers and baseball on a cool summer night with my pops.
I live in Florida so this will probably be my only trip to the park this season....boo.
Seriously, this is one of the best parks in baseball. There is not a bad seat in the ballpark. You can still get to a Phils game for not too much money which is nice. The selection and quality of food (Tony Luke's, Bull's BBQ, etc) is amazing but like most other stadiums these days it can get expensive if you have a big appetite. Also the lines are long for food so you may have to miss an inning to get that cheesesteak. Easy access from SEPTA on Pattison, and the city is usually good about running extra trains around game time.
Probably the most important reason why this is a great stadium is that it is home to the "WORLD CHAMPIONS OF BASEBALL" in the immortal words of Harry Kalas.
This was my first time to this ballpark and it was nice to see such easy access to the stadium. Getting to the stadium was quick and easy, and the food options there are simply amazing. It seemed like you could get anything you wanted if you looked hard enough.
The only reason why my experience wasn't the best is simply because of the so called fans who heckle and yell at anyone or anything that pisses them off. Now the Phillies were getting dismantled by the visiting Red Sox and there was an hour and a half weather delay so what do people do? Crowd into places where ever they can find shelter and to buy more and more beer just to get to the point of no return. I don't know about everyone else but I believe that games should be enjoyed, not ruined by those who are selfish enough to make a scene.
It was cool to see the other sports arena's right next door to the field as well. It was a little weird though pretty much not seeing many minorities there. I'm not trying to be mean or bring up such a hot topic, it's just what I noticed. Still it was a great place to go and I do not mind coming here again.
For my 100th review, I wanted something special so I chose the home of the 2008 World effin' Champion Philadelphia Phillies.*
The stadium design is a vast improvement over the loved/hated concrete monstrosity it replaced, Veterans Stadium. Sure, Citizen's Bank has some problems (the concourses could be MUCH wider a la AT&T Park in San Francisco, the nightly parking lot debacles) but I've never had a seat with a bad view of the game. God, the times I've sat directly behind a concrete pillar at the Vet. From left field foul pole, to third base 300 level, to behind home plate, to Hall of Fame Club, to first base 100 level and everywhere else I have never had a problem seeing the action on the diamond.
The concessions are pretty good, too. The usual ballpark fare is offered, plus the hoagies and cheesesteaks or other meat/Italian roll combos that are mandatory in Philly. I had an amazing meatball sub in the HoF club during yesterday's 5-4 victory over the Padres. You can also get an okay selection of beers.
Overall, one of the better places to watch a Major League ballgame.
* I also gave 3 stars to Citi Field in my 99th review and wanted to rub it in the Mets faces. But mostly, let's focus on the positive reasons I'm doing this.
To the other reviewers
You are reviewing the god damn stadium, not that your a Philly fan, and OMG your team won the world series in 08.
-The food sucks, they do not have enough vendors, So if your enjoying the game, you pretty much have to get up to buy yourself a pretzel or soda.
-Point out the worst food, the "Hoagies" or whatever are Terrible. Aren't they suppose to be like really good (Believe I'm in Philly). The french fries are mad greasy and no crunch or anything. They were soggy, greasy fries!!!!
- They have cheap small TVs, that are blurry as hell, so there goes the idea of watching the game while your on line waiting for your food.
- I would love to understand how the game has just started (3rd inning), and I find empty beer containers everywhere..
This is not part of my judgement, but for other people to be aware and be careful
Philly fans are the RUDEST and NASTIEST people. They are very drunk people, they get in your face, they will spill things on you. Even if your a girl, they have no respect.
This stadium SUCKS, visit it, knock it off your list, see cheap home runs, since the stadium is built for hitters...
but we advised...Bring your own food and beware of Philly fans.
PS: There still are nasty even if you aren't a mets fan...they are just rude people.
My home away from home.
Take the Broad Street line down. There is no reason to park unless you are coming from far away. Even then I might suggest parking near a subway stop to avoid the $10+ parking fee and frustrating parking lot debacle. (Though it does annoy me when people park near my place at the South/Lombard stop because then there is no where for residents to park in their own neighborhood....)
As long as you are not a snob, there really isn't a bad seat in the house. The tip top seats in the 400 section are kind of nosebleed, but really it is nothing compared to the olden days at the Vet.
The food is great, though maybe I have been blinded by Phillies love ... I like the cheesesteaks (RIP Rick's Steaks) and the crab fries when the line is manageable. Dollar Dog Night is terrif -- though when it's crunch time you may find your dog is less than fully cooked. Just slather the thing with mustard and onions and you won't notice the difference.
I've been to many stadiums and I love this park. Again I might be partial but it's laid out nicely and the many entrances make getting in smooth as silk. I've never had to wait to use the bathroom and pretty much everyone who works here is nice.
Wonderful wonderful place!
I am the "Yes Man" on this one. A friend asked me if I wanted to go to a Phillies game and thought, I should just say Yes. Glad I did. We sat in the Verizon corporate suite and enjoyed one of the best experiences and views ever at a game. The Aramark food/bar staff was great and made sure you got what you wanted. They even made special runs for coffee and more beer. Frank the host from Verizon was friendly and informative.
Only negatives the Phils lost and the sausage was too salty. Otherwise I'd highly recommend taking people up on an offer on Phillies tickets, you never know where you're going to sit.
How can I not give a 5 star review to the home of my favorite sports franchise ever? I was there when they won the World Series and I cried. I'm man enough to admit that. Citizen's Bank Park is way better than that dump the Vet, even though I do miss it for nostalgic purposes.
What other ballparks in this country do you think you can get a good cheesesteak for $7? Or a great beer for $6.50. Everywhere else you would be drinking $6-$7 Coors Lights, but CBP has Yards, Sierra Nevada, Flying Fish, and the like. $6.50 isn't all that bad of a price when you think about it either. When you go to a bar you pay $4-$5 for a beer of this caliber anyway, and then you have to tip $1 and that makes it $5-$6. That's not too far off, and considering you're at a baseball game you already know you have to spend an arm and a leg for a beer anyway.
I can't wait till this summer to go to CBP as much as possible(like I do every summer) and watch the World Phucking Champions defend their title!
I went to Philly for vacation last month and one of the reasons why I visited Philly was to see a game at Citizens Bank Park even though I can't stand the Phillies but I had a lot of fun at the game, I went to the game vs the Padres on July 23rd wearing my Dodgers gear and Philly fans really aren't as bad like people make them out to be, sure you will get some comments thrown at you but it's nothing dangerous going to a Phillies game rooting for another team, fan behavior at Citizens isn't much different from most other MLB stadiums. It's a really nice ballpark just like all the other ballparks that have been built in this decade, the subway is close by and I took it to the game, the fans I sat next to we're really nice.
This is a great baseball stadium, however be aware it is hard to get a ticket anymore because the WORLD CHAMPS play there. Frequently, people just stand around and clog the concourse area. This is because the ownership wanted the stadium to be unlike the exclusive Boston Sox and Chicago Sox models, but totally accessible (except for an isolated hall of fame club). Prepare to miss an inning or more if you want to buy a cheesesteak. There should probably be one more crab fries and cheesesteak line to alleviate the situation.
my only big complaint is that the acoustics are so bad. It's hard - make that darn impossible- to hear Harry's tribute on Phillie home runs. the cover bands down at McFadden's are subpar at best.
I like being able to watch the bullpen sessions in the alley. short porches mean a lot of opponent home runs, and activity in those bullpens.
Ultimately, it's great food and great sights, but Baltimore's stadium area is still superior to Philly's.
Awesome venue to watch an equally awesome team. Ticket prices are not nearly as outrageous as the cost of food inside the park, but no different from most stadiums. Go Phils.
Generic new-era ballpark. Citizen's Bank Park loses points for being in the middle of a ridiculous sports arena complex. Fans are often characterized as "knowledgeable," which is an ESPN euphemism for "loutish and drunken."
I saw the Mets play the Phillies. In a close game, several highly intoxicated Phils fans stood up to leave in the top of the 7th. One of them had the bright idea to toss a full beer at a man 10 rows down wearing a Gary Carter jersey. After a lot of ineffectual yelling, during which a pregnant woman voiced concern for her unborn but avowed the uncontrollable urge to "see a fight," we got a little action. Phils fan ended up punching a cop. In the bottom of the ninth, in a scene I still can't quite believe, a cop on the field level decked a man.
So, yeah, the sightlines are good, though a good deal of the seats aren't close to the action. The concessions are pretty drab. And the team's fans have a superiority complex. I'd rank this 11th of the 17 ballparks I've visited.
I was really impressed, I am a fan of baseball and venues and this one was fantastic. Note - I am not a Phillies fan, never was, never will be. Matter of fact I hated the team the entire time I lived there.
*Sight lines - I haven't been to every stadium by any means, but this stadium has some of the best sight lines of a stadium I have been to. We walked around to see all of the views before going to our nose bleed seats, and wow, I am impressed, great design.
*Concessions - slightly high in price, but really really good selection of food. There could have been more roaming vendors, but otherwise, the selection of food and beverage were spectacular.
*Value for a ticket - one of the few teams to raise ticket prices, but a team that wins a world series can do that... Cubs raise ticket prices every year even though they aren't winning anything!
*Bathrooms - can't judge, didn't have to go.
*Parking -- plenty of parking and $12 is not expensive at all, paid way more to be parked in Lakeview. No tailgating though, like at Wrigley North (Miller Park)... booo! *note, was informed there are tailgating lots. I didn't see it though, but if there is, even better.
When a Dodger's/baseball fan is forced to travel for work, the next best thing is to find another team to watch.
So, a short walk from my hotel and $2.90 round trip on the subway... (YES... LA friends...the SUBWAY!!! I should review this too. But, we are so missing out with the lack of Public Transportation in LA)... I found myself at Citizen's Bank Park... but it's so cool because it was located right near where the Eagles play too.
This is a beautiful new baseball park. Every seat has a good view. Red brick adorns the way, geometric shapes and levels make it interesting, beautiful grass and diamond, lots of food options, comfortable seats, gorgeous multi-media screens and sound system, and fun fans dressed to the T in Philly gear. I had a dog (which was fine/ok, but left me longing for my hometown foot-long Dodger Dog).
Best part about the stadium? If you wanted to eat standing up while watching the game, they had these great metal bar tops near the last row of the seats. People stood their, cheered, and enjoyed. Dodger stadium has to get these!!!
But, alas, I am neither a braves fan nor a Philies fan, so I just enjoyed my love for baseball and watched a 3 to 2 Braves victory before heading back to the hotel... well... at least heading back toward my area of town to experience more night life. No need to worry about drinking and driving when taking public transportation.
All I have to say is thank god for the Baltimore Orioles. Because of them, teams actually care about their stadiums now. I mean, if it weren't for them, the Phillies might've built a stadium so bad, it'd make you long for the Vet.
Thankfully, that did not happen. This ballpark is really great. No, I did not get to see Robert Person hit two home runs against the Montreal Expos, as I did several years ago before the Vet's demise, but I did get to see Victorino get a game-winning hit against the Mets, with two of my Met-fan friends around. Of course, I'm a Yankees fan, so I enjoyed that as much as the Phillies fans did.
Anyway, this stadium rocks. Great food, awesome atmosphere, and excellent sight lines. If you live anywhere from Maine to Florida, this is one park you have to visit!
Was able to take a tour before a game of the entire field and other parts of the stadium. Probably the best part (aside from listening to the history) was getting a chance to ring the "bell" for a home run or win, and running the bases once.
They have a very nice home locker room, carpeted nicely with a lot of lockers and TVs in the space.
Seating is pretty unremarkable, but during the game there are spaces for fans to just walk around and stand watching the game - one of the better deals in my opinion is the ability to buy a standing-room only ticket and wandering around the stadium during the game (or sitting at one of the eateries with a view).
Food in the stadium is unremarkable, I wasn't impressed with the service or size of the food or drinks.
This stadium is amazing and there is really excellent food at this ball park. You need to try a Schmidter. Though the ingredients may sound gross, don't really worry about what's in it and and just try it.
I recommend tailgating before games too in the parking lot.
GO PHILLIES!!!!!!!!!!! WORLD PH*CKING CHAMPIONS BABY!!!
Citizens Bank Park,
I love you for being a baseball stadium.
I love you for selling me overpriced beer.
I love you for not allowing me to use profanity.
I love you for capturing my "finer" moments with the crowd camera.
I love you for creating some of my fondest Summer '07 memories.
But most of all, I love you because I'm never sober in your presence.
I've been to a few professional sporting events, not as many as I'd like, but I've been to a handfull of Phils games this season with my buddy who holds season tickets.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
Completed in 2004, this new park has all the look and feel of a clean, modern venue without sacrificing that old-time energy you felt as a kid. It lacks the crowded frenzied feel of a football stadium, as the Linc is just next-door, and yet the hustle and bustle of Phans, amidst the smells of food and echoing of the crowd and announcer are enough to make you forget about any stress or woe the moment you pass through the turnstyles.
THE LAYOUT:
Most ballparks, stadiums and concert halls are large and generally difficult to navigate. While Citizen's Bank Park is no walk in the Park if you will, it is pretty easy to get around. There is a discounted-ticket standing only section, which, is filling up quicker than ever, toward the back of the park (great to catch the inning if you're coming in a little late, or to perch at the bottom of the 9th inning if you want to be the first out of the parking lot).
THE SEATING/GAME:
Seating is standard stadium- molded plastic seats, as ergonomic as economically feasible...translation: not bad but a little cramped for the long-legged such as myself. Of course, you will have to stand up for people to get by, but an air of friendliness and civility permeates, so it's usually no inconvenience. I had a great view of the game from my seat, I would kick my feet up on the cup holders and assume an almost fetal position (my idea of comfort, even in public...scary, I know).
THE FOOD/DRINKS:
Aramark runs the show here, but they do a decent job. Obviously it's all grossly overpriced, but at least its not shitty too. They have a limited offering of beers for super-high prices ($7 aluminum bottles of Bud Light? Is this a ballpark or a club in LA?), but it doesn't really bother me...I'll pay the premium prices to have a cold brew, a cool breeze, and a good game. Food isn't anythign special, but it's pretty good, they have a few specialty offerings mixed in with the regular stands for cheesesteaks and nachos, like Chickie's & Pete's, etc.
THE VERDICT:
In this stressful world, it's easy to get lost in the petty struggles of life...coming to this park helps take you away from all that, it is one of the best forms of therapy and relaxation I've seen in a while. You can sit there and lose yourself in the game and the timeless spirit of baseball. It's amazing. I recommend going to a game real soon, there's something to please just about anyone.
UPDATE 1: Apparently there is a bigger beer variety than I thought, I guess you just have to find it. I had only bought from a small stand selling bottles and of course, the vendors.
A far cry from my hometown of Boston, Citizens Bank Park is big, new - and of course full of beer and food. I'm pretty sure that equals happiness.
Since moving to the Philly area in '03, I cannot deny my newfound love for this team of underdogs. And every game I have attended, which must be a half dozen or so, I've always had a good time. From tailgating in the parking lot with creepy old dudes and high school students to harassing any Mets fan in sight, one can be entertained by the crowd alone. With lots of cheap tickets and game specials, what's not to love?
I'm a product of passionate sports cities - Chicago and Boston. I'm happy my latest home of Philadelphia proves to be the same and MORE.
One of my work contacts called the other day and offered me two (suite!!!) tickets to the Phils game on Sunday. Free Phils, food and beer? Yes, please. The park was gorgeous as usual and the suite was pimpin. Our experience was enhanced when a two and a half hour rain delay and three extra innings provided my bf and I with a solid 8 hours of free beer and shelter from the rain while the masses ran for cover.
During the aforementioned rain delay, small lakes formed throughout the field. It seemed (to a baseball novice like me, anyway) that resuming the game would be impossible. Low and behold, the rain stopped and the water disappeared almost immediately. Apparently, new fields are built with drainage systems underneath to keep water from collecting. Awesome.
After all that, the boys didn't end up delivering a win but it was a great day nonetheless. This weekend I'll be back for another game with my family--and while we'll all be sitting in the 200 level and paying for our beers and dogs, I'm really looking forward to another great experience at Citizen's Bank Park!
CBP has never lost a World Series Game for the Phils. Great ball park. The food is good, the BBQ being the place I end up at most.
Standing Room tickets are the best way to go. They are cheap and the views are great. There are places to camp out with SRO tickets, but no need to, you can see the field from basically anywhere on any concourse. Seats are good too, but this is the kind of ballpark that you can, and will want to, walk around.
The only real knock against the Park is the location. The whole "Sports Complex" concept were cities put all their arenas in one location and surround it with a hot, treeless expanses for The Mighty Automobile, is just down right stupid. Thank God so many drunk people have a place to and drive away from.
Public transportation to the park is close and pretty quick.
Also in case you don't know, The Phillies are the 2008 World Champions of Baseball.
Citizen's Bank Park to me is enemy territory. Myself, being a die-hard Mets fan have to be pretty ballsy to come to your arch-rival's stadium in the thick of a pennant race. Since I want to visit all MLB Ballparks, the trip has to be done.
First off, driving to the ballpark was classic, my friend was wearing his Mets jersey and this kid in the car next to us, flips him off. As soon as that happened I knew it was going to be a fun night.
We arrive at the ballpark which is on the very South of Philadelphia located in their sport complex. Finding parking wasn't bad, we just followed a Mets fan so we can feel "safer" - yeah that parking lot is hostile, but some of the insults that those fans threw our way were just classically lame, it was comical!
This being a huge game, we unfortunately didn't get a seat in the ballpark, but we did get $15 standing room only tickets. Not bad, at least we could roam around the concourse and see the game. We hung out at Section 109, and we had an excellent view of the game. Phillies fans would say things our way, but at that time Mets were winning by a decent margin. There are a lot of rude fans there, but I met my share of really cool people who just love baseball all together. Phillies Girls would walk up to us wearing their Chase Utley 26 shirts and say: "We hate the Mets, but we love David Wright" -- typical. Frat Kids would walk around, try to insult you, and end up doing the opposite - it was a fun environment if you are thick skinned. If you aren't, or you are with kids - please be careful, the language can be salty.
The ballpark is beautiful despite being the home to a rival. Open concourses, plentiful food options, Ashburn Alley is a unique part of the stadium, you have food options and a team shop out there. To me, it was fairly similar to Chase Field, but with a cozier and less-mall like atmosphere. This felt like a baseball stadium and not an airplane hanger/mall food court built around a baseball diamond.
I can't wait to see more games here deeper into the season, plus I can't wait until my Mets get their new stadium in 2009. Citizen's Bank Park is a gem of a ballpark despite the Phillies.
As Of August 08: Citizen's Bank Park ranks #2 out of 5 ballparks I've been to.
The Phillies did an unbelievable job with the new park. A great place to see a game and I've never had a bad seat. I currently have the Sunday plan which is a great way to spend a summer afternoon. (My seats are on the left field side and I've witnessed Philly's change of heart over Pat Burrell - loathing and booing early last year to cheers last last and this season!)
Food choices are great, atmosphere is terrific. I would rate this the 2nd best ballpark in the U.S. Sorry, gotta give the nod to AT&T Park in San Francisco...all the atmosphere of Citizens Bank Park but with the water and the Bay Bridge in the background instead of Packer Ave!
Oh, Harry the K's. The vegetarian food options. The variety of beers on tap. Game on!
Listen, I loved to hate the Vet, and I cried that Sunday morning when they knocked it down. And I was totally bummed when I heard that the new park was going to be called "Citizens Bank Park," in lame corporate fashion. But the place is great. I get butterflies everytime I walk in and see the field. A field of GRASS. After spending many 4th of Julys on the astroturf of the Vet watching the fireworks, actual grass is like, a freaking puzzle. Is this Philly?
It is. And the jerkoffs in the nosebleeds won't let you forget it.
