Citizens Bank Park
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
fast facts
opened
2004
capacity
43,647
tenant
Philadelphia Phillies (2004-Present)
links
games attended
April 30, 2004
Philadelphia Phillies 4
Arizona Diamondbacks 0
July 16, 2005
Philadelphia Phillies 10
Florida Marlins 5
May 17, 2010
Philadelphia Phillies 12
Pittsburgh Pirates 2
Seats: 327, 5, 23-24
May 17, 2016
Philadelphia Phillies 3
Miami Marlins 1
Seats: 130, 14, 17-18
musings
Our first trip to Citizens Bank Park came in 2004 when the stadium was brand new. It was clean with good sight lines, wide concourses, plentiful concession options, and tons of parking. Fast forward to 2010 when we returned for our third trip to watch the Phillies play at home (a trip in 2005 was very similar to the 2004 trip). After their success and subsequent championship, this place has become claustrophobic and crowded. The once large concourses are now choked with standing room only fans five to ten deep in some spots it seemed, and has apparently become the place to 'be seen' in Philly since many of the fans were paying more attention to socializing than they were to actually watching the baseball game. Once a 'given' trip for us has quickly become a 'no'. May have a bit to do with the fact we are diehard Mets fans and are clearly biased, but it has just as much to do with the changed atmosphere at Citizens Bank Park.
Fast forward to 2016 - our faith is restored in this park. Although we don't like the team that plays there, it is certainly one of the nicer parks in the Major Leagues and the fans we encountered were (finally) just there to watch the game. It no longer appeared to be a place to 'be seen', rather back to a place to actually watch baseball.