Phillies bringing Veterans Stadium bell to Citizens Bank Park by 2019
By John Town
Crossing Broad is reporting that the Phillies will refurbish and bring the Veterans Stadium bell to Citizens Bank Park by next year.
One of the most distinct pieces of Veterans Stadium was the replica Liberty Bell that stood on 400 level facade, visible to Phillies and Eagles fans as they went to see games at the Vet.
After the aging stadium was demolished in 2004, the bell fell into the hands of C.W. Dunnet and Co., a food distributor located right by the stadium. They originally planned to refurbish the bell and place it on their roof. Ralph Marta, the company’s president, said it would be set to toll and flash lights whenever the Phils hit a home run at home games.
Now, the bell has been returned to the team per Coggin Toboggan of Crossing Broad. Sean Scollon, chief business intelligence officer of Dunnet, said the company’s plans to refurbish the bell proved to be more than they could handle:
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"“I wanted to let you know that we are no longer in possession of the Liberty Bell. A while back we were contacted by the Phillies organization about reacquiring the bell. After discussing it internally, we decided that the plans we had to display the bell were too ambitious for now, and returning the bell to the Phillies provided the best chance for it to be ‘resurrected’ and given a chance to be displayed and appreciated by Phillies fans again”"
James Trout, the team’s director of marketing services and events, confirmed Toboggan’s report. The club will handle refurbishing the bell and put it on display at Citizens Bank Park, potentially by the 2019 season.
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Scollon said that Marta wanted Phils fans to be able to see and enjoy the bell, turning down offers to buy the bell.
The bell should add to the fan experience at Citizens Bank Park, reminding fans who watched games at Veterans Stadium of years past.
The refurbished bell joins a long line of other additions made by the team this offseason to enhance fan experience at the stadium. Lights and PA systems have been upgraded. The right field gate area was redesigned to include the Wall of Fame, which was relocated from its cramped space in center field.
Permits were also filed for a new kids area with a potential wiffle ball field.
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Despite being the oldest ballpark in the NL East, Citizens Bank Park is still an amazing place to watch games, and it should only get better with these new additions.