Opening Day of baseball is the best day of the year. It springs hope of new beginnings, every team is a contender and fans come out in droves to support their favorite team. I was lucky enough to score Philadelphia Phillies tickets to the game against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday April 5th at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia (thank you Razorgator!!!).
Citizen’s Bank Park in Philadelphia
It was the first game of the season and the place was a madhouse. Prior to the game there was plenty of fun and festivities in the Linc’s parking lot where tailgating was taking place. Beer, food, and games were abounding.
Parking may have been a ridiculous at $12, but to see all the merriment for hours leading up to first pitch was worth it. Many fans also congregated at McFadden’s, which is an excellent pub connected to Citizens Bank Park.
Google Maps - Citizens Bank Park
Gates opened at 5:05pm (3 hours prior to game time) and I was one of the first in the Citizens Bank Park. I quickly made my way to directly behind the 1st base dugout, where I camped for about an hour snapping pictures of current Phillies like Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Jimmy Rollins, as well as legend Joe Morgan, Phil’s GM Ruben Amaro Jr., and Fox Sports guru Ken Rosenthal.
Citizens Bank Park Food and Drinks!
All that photo snapping worked up a hunger so I visited Chickie & Pete’s for some delicious signature crab fries. Philly is known for cheese steaks, and there’s some quality ones in the park to be eaten, but I love me some fries.
To drink there’s the typical beer man brews of Miller Lite and what not, but hit up one of the Brewery Towns throughout the concourse and get yourself a frothy draught of something a bit more specialized (and tasty in my opinion).
Play Ball!
The Philadelphia Phillies were the 2008 World Series Champions, and before the game they had a parade with marching band welcome the defending champs into the stadium and raise the 2008 banner (smaller versions were given out as souvenirs to all fans).
It was a beautiful sight watching Phil’s manager Charlie Manuel hoist the banner for all to see. Other parts of the pregame ceremonies include the parachutes gliding into the stadium and the National Anthem sung by Miss America.
My seats for the game were awesome (to the right of the 1st base dugout). The fans were supercharged energy, emotion, and excitement, but alas Phillies starting pitcher Brett Myers gave up a 1st inning 2-run shot to Brian McCann and that ended up being all the runs the Braves needed and Derek Lowe dominated them for 8 innings.
Philadelphia Phillies may have lost 4-1, but just being there to take in all the grandeur of the moment outweighed the outcome of the game! Thank you EventChaser!
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