What is now known as Philadelphia is the ancestral homelands of the Lenape people.
For my money, Pennsylvania is home to the two best stadiums in all of Major League Baseball. Pittsburgh’s PNC Park is highlighted by the riverwalk and skyline, a picturesque downtown setting and a great place to take in a game.
But right now, I’m not sure there is any better atmosphere than a Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park.
In late September 2025, with the Phillies already having clinched a spot in the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, I took advantage of a $30 seat offer to take my seven-year-old son to his first game – at the least the first that he will be old enough to remember.
We arrived about an hour before the 6:45 start time and headed first to The Yard, the ballpark’s kids play area, stopping briefly to check out the Galapagos Gang, a team of inflatable mascots that complement the legendary Phillie Phanatic. The Gang bounced around, stopping for quick moments so fans could snap pictures before continuing their bouncing.
After arriving at The Yard, my son went right in line for the fast-pitch game. Kids take turns on a pair of pitching mounds. “Catching” their pitches is a cut-out of the Phanatic with a piece of padding made to look like an oversized catcher’s mitt. My son topped out at 35 miles-per-hour, though he watched some of the older kids touching 60.
While you’re hanging out at the Yard, it’s hard to miss the climbing wall, which features a giant rendering of the Phillie Phanatic doing a King Kong impression on the top of Independence Hall.
Unfortunately there wasn’t time for climbing as we needed to grab dinner before the start of the game. For the best eats at the ballpark, head to Ashburn Alley.
Named for Hall of Famer and former Phillies player and broadcaster, Richie Ashburn, Ashburn Alley is the concourse overlooking centerfield. It’s also home to the local brand name restaurants like Tony Luke’s and Campos for cheesesteaks, Chickie’s & Pete’s and their famous Crabfries, and our choice, Manco & Manco pizza.
Manco & Manco is an import from Ocean City, New Jersey, a Boardwalk favorite that now is a ballpark favorite. The line went quick as the pizzas were hot and ready for the taking. With the National Anthem playing as we waited to check out, we hustled to the seats to eat our pizza – with its thin, crispy crust and sauce swirl – and catch the first pitch.
We were sitting in section 424, in the highest level of the stadium between home plate and third base. Though we were high above the field, we still felt on top of everything. We could see the entire field except for a small sliver along the left field line where the grandstands jutted out.
After two innings, my son was getting restless to return to the Yard so we made our way back down the stairs, past the Galapagos Gang (who were still going strong), and out to the wiffle ball field. The line to take swings was long, but it moved quickly as each child (no one over 12 can hit) took five swings. Most, like my son, then went out into the crowded field to try to make a play on the hitters that came after them.
Parents can stand along the fence watching the kids while the Phillies game plays on a giant video screen. With one eye on my son and one on game, I let him play until the end of the fourth inning when we went to get in line for snacks.
He had Dippin’ Dots, which for $10 includes a keepsake Phanatic cup, while I had a box of popcorn for $5. That brought our total for food and drinks to about $60 for the evening, not the cheapest night out, but not unexpected for stadium prices.
Unfortunately we missed an Edmundo Sosa home run while we walked back to the seats, but we still had plenty of entertainment for the rest of the game.
A highlight of any Phillies game is the best mascot in sports, the Phillie Phanatic. In addition to placing curses on the opposing pitcher from atop the dugout, he rode out on his four-wheeler to shoot Hatfield hot dogs into the crowd and, later, pulled a young woman out of the crowd to dance with him.
One of the coolest things about the park now is that the LED lights allow for some cool visuals that weren’t possible with the old lighting fixtures. After every strikeout by a Phillies pitcher – Aaron Nola had nine of them – the lights flash to create a “K” pattern to celebrate.
But in 2025, the must-see light show is the one that signals the arrival of closer Jhoan Duran.
The lights go out as a deep bell tolls to signal his entrance from the bullpen. If you close your eyes, you might expect the gong is signalling the arrival of the Undertaker arriving at Wrestlemania. The LED screens around the ballpark light up with digital fire as a tarantula crawls across the screen. When Duran arrives on the mound, the lights pop back on for his warm-up pitches, but not before the 40,000 people in the stadium have been worked into a frenzy.
(During our visit, a fireworks show over the Delaware River was visible beyond the right field wall, adding to the already electric display).
Duran got the save that night, shutting down the Minnesota Twins for a 3-1 Phillies victory. The Liberty Bell in right field rang to celebrate as the screens flashed, eventually transitioning to a video of the late Harry Kalas, the Phillies longtime broadcaster, singing High Hopes as the throngs of people poured out of the stadium and into the parking lot.
The 30 minutes from the time we got to our car until we got off the parking lot was well worth it for a Phillies win, and more importantly, a great night out with my son at one of the best ballparks in the country.
When You Go
- Citizens Bank Park is part of the stadium complex in South Philly. It’s easily accessible by I-76 and I-95, but expect traffic on both roads before and after the game.
- Parking was $25 per car, which isn’t cheap, but when you consider that parking in downtown Philadelphia usually starts at $20 per hour, it’s tolerable.
- SEPTA, Philadelphia’s regional transportation authority, is an option for getting to the game. The nearby NRG Station is on the Broad Street subway line which connects to Regional Rail near City Hall. Be mindful of train schedules if using this option.
- Arrive early, if possible. Gates open two hours before game time which leaves time to wander the concourse, get food, and check out the team store.
- There are lots of food options at the park, including two sit-down restaurants and bars: Harry the K’s and Pass and Stow. Quick service takeout options include standard fare like burgers and hot dogs, plus specialty items like cheesesteaks, hoagies, BBQ, and more.
- The third-base line is oriented to the west so fans on the opposite side of the stadium will face the late afternoon sun.
- Tickets can be expensive, but the Phillies have text offers (which is how I got the $30 seat deal – $25+ fees) for less popular games. An end-of-season game like we attended will usually be more expensive than a mid-year game.
- The Yard is a great spot for the kids. All four activities are included with the cost of admission. Lines can be long so expect to wait. We found the lines to be longer before the game than during. If you’re willing to watch a couple innings on the big screen, your child can get through more activities in a shorter amount of time.
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