Citizens Bank Park Sports Fan Tips
Citizens Bank Park is the home of the Philadelphia Phillies. An outdoor ballpark, primarily used for baseball games with a seating capacity of approximately 42,000. Located in the heart of Philadelphia, about 6 kilometres from the city centre. Behind center field at Citizens Bank Park is Ashburn Alley, an open concourse showcasing Phillies history, restaurants, stores and interactive displays on gameday.
Citizens Bank Park parking?
FDR Park is a good and cheap place to park and is only a couple of blocks away from the ballpark and offers tons of free or low-cost parking depending on the time of the year. When the Sixers or Flyers are in town, there will usually be a $5-$10 parking charge.
Best bars near Citizens Bank Park?
McFaddens ballpark is by far the best bar to go to pre and post game. However, it becomes crowded fast so make sure to leave early enough to get a stool or seat. They also have great food and specials for when the Phillies win.
Best giveaways at Citizens Bank Park?
The Phillies give out great quality t-shirts, hats, bobble heads of Lenny Dykstra and Mike Schmidt, posters, baseballs, and other Phillies memorabilia.
Citizens Bank Park seating?
I love sitting in the theater-style seats which are above Harry the K's restaurant. The seats are awesome and allow for a great baseball watching experience. The second best option is the Diamond Club but they are usually sold out way beforehand. The best bang for the buck is to sit down the first-base line and as a result you are very close to the action. The Field seats in the outfield are relatively cheap and you can usually find a good deal for them on the Phillies' website.
Safety at Citizens Bank Park?
Philadelphia is a dirty city but for the most part it is a safe place. There are lots of tourists there during the summer and there are always plenty of people walking around especially after games.
Best restaurants near Citizens Bank Park?
I suggest going to Spectrum's grill or Stadium Grill. They are both great and serve Philly Cheese steaks that are very authentic and some of the best near the ballpark. However, I truly recommend that you save your appetite and eat inside the stadium at places by Ashburn Alley which is the concourse that runs from the left field gate to the right field gate. It is the area to find great places to eat and is home to Tony Lukes where you can get a crab pizza or crab fries which are to die for. They also have a lot of televisions to watch other sporting events while you wait to get inside the stadium.
Dealing with scalpers at Citizens Bank Park?
I would suggest not dealing with scalpers because they are everywhere. They are all trying to make a quick buck and half of them sell fraudulent tickets. The police are also always looking out for them.
Artifacts to look for at Citizens Bank Park?
Outside the Citizens Bank Park there are 10-foot-tall bronze statues of Richie Ashburn, Robin Roberts, Steve Carlton, and Mike Schmidt, all members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Mike Schmidt was one of my favorite third baseman of all time and I still remember his dancing around the bases when he hit his famous home run. There is also another statue nearby of Connie Mack, the great Philadelphia A's manager. This was one of the few artifacts taken from the run down Veterans Stadium to bring over to the new park.
Things to check out around Citizens Bank Park?
When the Phillies homer, a neon Liberty Bell like that of the real Liberty Bell "rings” There are also statutes of famous Phillies around the stadium. If you are really adventurous then go see the Rocky statue or Liberty Bell downtown which is only a few minutes from downtown. You can also check out the other stadiums nearby since they have a "stadium park" which includes Lincoln Financial, Talen Energy Stadium, and the Wells Fargo Center.
Stores to hit up at Citizens Bank Park?
You can find Phillies' souvenirs everywhere in the ballpark. Some concession stands sell hats and T-shirts, while the Majestic Clubhouse Store is devoted to Phanatic merchandise and baseball jerseys from the beloved Phillies. Also, if you have kids or want to impress that lucky girl, you can stop by the Build-A-Bear workshop store and build your own Phillie Phanatic. It is expensive but the kids really do like it and there is often a line out the door. You can find this shop at the main entrance of the park.
Directions to Citizens Bank Park?
Citizens Bank Park is located in the same southeast Philadelphia sports complex with Lincoln Financial Field and the Wells Fargo Center. The SEPTA Broad Street Subway can get you to the park and is pretty easy to do. The sports complex is only two miles from downtown Philly, so taking the train from there is also a breeze after a day of sightseeing or after work. The sports complex is located between I-75 and I-95, so as long as you know how to get to either freeway you can make it to the ballpark. When on I-95 exits 17 and 19 will take you directly to the ballpark. There are a bunch of signs so you will definitely not miss it.
Best food and drink at Citizens Bank Park?
Ashburn Alley is the place to go to get your delicious Philly cheese steaks. You have a bunch of different options there but my favorites are the Steak and Swiss from Campo's Deli or Tony Luke's crab fries with their great cheese dipping sauce and their lobster and crab pizza or their signature Philly Cheese steak. Sometimes Tony' Luke's gets crowded so just arrive early or find one of the other great places in the outfield.
Best insider tip for Citizens Bank Park?
My grandpa was killed by a drunk driver so I love that the Phillies and Budweiser offer a designated driver program where people who agree to serve as their friends' DD are rewarded with a voucher for a free soda. When you sign up for the program during a ballgame, you show your ID and get a paper wristband identifying you as a designated driver. I have been the designated driver for my friends on more than one occasion so I enjoyed getting something in return. The staff also like to advertise this as well. Good job Philadelphia!
Traffic around Citizens Bank Park?
Depending on the traffic and the lights, you can be back on 95 just minutes after getting in your car after the game. The traffic will depend if its a weekday game and if its some team that will get alot of people. Otherwise weekend events are fine.
What to expect from the Citizens Bank Park crowd?
Philadelphia fans love their Phillies and extremely are passionate about their sports, especially the Eagles. While that passion sometimes can manifest itself in alarming ways like throwing snow balls at Santa Claus or yelling at refs and umpires, they truly are pretty fun fans who are fun to sit by. Yes they boo, swear, give dirty looks, and get angry but overall they are friendly to visitors - at least when they are winning.