Citizens Bank Park is a 43,500-seat baseball-only stadium in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that opened on April 3, 2004 and hosted its
first regular season baseball game on April 12. It was built to replace
the now-demolished Veterans
Stadium (a football/baseball facility) and is the home of the
Philadelphia Phillies baseball team.
Comcast-Spectacor
Global
Spectrum Division;
Philadelphia Phillies
Surface
Kentucky
Blue Grass
Construction
cost
$346M
($174M taxpayers,
$176M Phillies)
Architects
HOK
Sport;
Ewing Cole Cherry Brott
Tenants
Philadelphia
Phillies (2004-present)
Seating
capacity
43,500
(2004)
43,826 (2005)
43,647 (2006)
Dimensions
Left
Field - 329 ft (10'6" fence)
Left-Power Alley - 374 ft (10'6"
fence)
Left of CF to LCF - 409'-381'-387' (19'-12'8")
Center Field - 401 ft (6' fence)
Right-Center (deep) - 398 ft
Right-Power Alley - 369 ft (13'3"
fence)
Right Field - 330 ft (13'3" fence)
The ballpark features natural grass and a dirt playing field. There are
many Philly style food stands there including some that feature
cheesesteaks, hoagies and other regional specialties. Behind center field
is Ashburn Alley, named after Phillies great and Hall of Famer Richie
Ashburn, a walkway featuring restaurants and memorabilia from Phillies
history, along with a restaurant bar and grille called "Harry The K's"
named after Hall of Fame broadcaster Harry Kalas. This area opens one hour
earlier than the other gates like Eutaw Street at Oriole
Park at Camden Yards via the Left Field Gate.
History
In 1998, the Phillies and the Philadelphia Eagles of the National
Football League joined their western Pennsylvania counterparts, the
Pittsburgh Pirates and the Pittsburgh Steelers in making requests to
replace both "The Vet" and Three
Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh with separate stadiums. The state
legislature approved funding for all four stadiums. While Allegheny County
and the City of Pittsburgh approved the pacts rather swiftly, typical
bickering in Philadelphia's political arena and debate carried on as
Pittsburgh opened their stadiums PNC Park
for the Pirates and Heinz Field for the Steelers in 2001.
Fly
to Citizen's Bank Park!
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The Eagles agreed to a site slightly southeast of Veterans Stadium, which
would become Lincoln Financial Field, built on an old food warehouse
opening in August 2003. The Phillies originally wanted a downtown ballpark
much like those in Baltimore, Cleveland or San Francisco. (Unlike San
Francisco, they wanted the taxpayers to pay for it.) They settled on a
site east of the stadium on another food warehouse and the stadium parking
lot. The unveiling of the park and ground breaking ceremonies were on June
28, 2001. Following the game that evening, the location of the left-field
foul pole was unveiled at the outset of the team's annual 4th of July
fireworks display.
The next milestone was on June 17, 2003 when the Citizens Bank division
of the Royal Bank of Scotland agreed with the team to a 25-year, $95
million (US) deal for naming rights and advertising on telecasts, radio
broadcasts, publications and inside the facility. The ballpark was
officially topped off on August 12 that same year, and it was cleared to
open the following April.
Another Launching Pad?
Controversial comments has swirled around the fence distances since
it's opening. Pitchers and media members especially those in
Philadelphia's newspapers have indicated that the ballpark, which
promised to be fair to both hitters and pitchers, was a bandbox. The team
made an honest mistake originally placing a 369-foot distance marker in
left center field twenty-five feet closer than it should have. A study
originally showed that a survey of wind patterns would have had an
advantage in night games for pitchers and hitters in day games. But in
2004, the park yielded a total of 228 homers, the most in the National
League, and only U.S. Cellular Field
in Chicago served up more dingers with 272 that year. After a 2005 season
where 17 less homers were hit in the park, but still among the top five in
homers allowed, it was announced on October 28, 2005 that the fences in
left and left-center would be moved back.
Centered by a statue of Don 'Richie' Ashburn, the legendary ballplayer
and broadcaster for the club, this area features:
All-Star Walk Granite markers pay tribute to Phillies
players that have played in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game
since its' inception in 1933 and runs the length of the Alley.
Bull's BBQ Located at the eastern end of the Alley, it is
named in honor of and owned in part by former Phillies outfielder Greg
"The Bull" Luzinski. This southern-style barbecue features
ribs, turkey legs and pork and chicken sandwiches.
Games of Baseball Sponsored by Citizens Bank, this
interactive area features a giant baseball-themed pinball machine, a
run-the-bases game with the Phillie Phanatic, and a "Pitch 'Em
and Tip 'Em" game where you can throw at moving targets of
catcher Mike Lieberthal. Players earn coupons and exchange them for
prizes as a kiosk such as hats, shirts and other ballpark-imprinted
memorabilia.
Harry The K's Bar and Grille Named for Phillies legendary
broadcaster Harry Kalas, the bi-level bar and grill is built into the
base of the scoreboard, and serves finger foods and sandwiches.
Memory Lane and Wall of Fame A history of baseball
in Philadelphia is located behind the brick batting eye in center
field, while the opposite wall commemorates members of the franchise
who contributed to the franchise's history.
Rooftop Bleachers Inspired by the 1920's and 1930's
stands on North 20th Street outside Shibe
Park, this area, open to groups, replicates the seating similar to
that outside Wrigley Field
in Chicago.
Starting Lineup The Phillies starting lineup that day is
illustrated by giant baseball cards as fans enter the Left Field Gate.
Primary
research by Jim Herdman & David Vincent
Courtesy of Retrosheet.
Other Attractions:
"Build-A-Bear Workshop" Make-Your-Own-Phanatic
The first store of its' kind in sports, fans are invited to buy and
stuff a Phillie Phanatic doll and dress it up. Similar shops are now
in Cleveland's Jacobs
Field and Cincinnati's Great
American Ball Park. Another is scheduled to open at the New
Busch Stadium in 2006.
Cooperstown Gallery Located in the Hall of Fame club
level, this display honors players from the Phillies, Philadelphia
Athletics, and local members of the Baseball Hall of Fame with
portraits by artist Dick
Perez and memorabilia from the franchises.
High and Inside Pub Located on the Terrace Level behind
home plate, the area is open to groups before the ballgame, and the
public once the games start.
Liberty Bell Home Run Celebration Standing 102 feet (31
meters) above street level, this 52-foot (15.8 meters) by 35-foot
(10.7 meters) wide mechanical, lighted replica of the Liberty Bell
"rings" and lights up after every Phillies home run and
victory.
Majestic Clubhouse Store and Alley Store The
clubhouse store is open year-round, and serves as the starting point
for tours of the ballpark. A bi-level store features regular
merchandise on the first level and Phanatic-themed items on the second
level. The Alley Store is open during all home games and features
customizing of Phillies jerseys.
McFadden's Bar and GrilleOpen year-round, this restaurant
combines the McFadden's and Zanzibar Blue menus at the Third Base
Gate.
Phanatic Phun Zone Located at the First Base Gate plaza,
this playground offers fun for guests eight years old and younger with
slides, climb, explore and play games. A separate area for toddlers
three years old and younger is found inside.
Phanatic Rock Climb and Giant Shoe Slide Located
on the Terrace Level near home plate, kids can climb an inflatable
rock climb and slide in and out of a replica of one of the Phanatic's
sneakers.
Statues Besides the Richie Ashburn statue in Ashburn
Alley, statues of three famous Phillies Robin Roberts (at the
First Base Gate), Mike Schmidt (at the Third Base Gate) and Steve
Carlton (at the Left Field Gate) ring the outside of the facility.
Other art found throughout the park includes tile mosaics, murals and
terrazzo floors with outlined images of famous players in Phillies
history.
Citizens Bank Park is located in South Philadelphia and is bordered by
Pattison Avenue on the south, Citizens Bank Way (also known as 11th
Street) to the west, Darien Street to the east and Phillies Way (also
known as Hartranft Street) to the north.
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