Veterans Stadium was a rotting husk, and the people of Philadelphia were clamoring for a new ballpark. After a lengthy process, during which a multitude of unsuitable locations were discussed for what would become Citizens Bank Park, from Second Street and Girard Avenue to University City to 12th and Vine Streets in Chinatown, Mayor John Street made his announcement on this date, 26 years ago, November 13, 2000.
The future Citizens Bank Park and Lincoln Financial Field would be built adjacent to each other in South Philadelphia, just across from the lots that housed the former Spectrum and Veterans Stadium.
At the time, the Philadelphia Inquirer wrote that the decision served as Street’s acknowledgment that a Center City ballpark was “simply too expensive and too complicated to work.”
South Philadelphia would not have its stadium monopoly broken, and America’s favorite sports complex would remain on Broad and Pattison.
Instead of putting their throwback ballpark downtown like so many others, PNC Park, Camden Yards, Coors Field, and Oracle Park, the Phillies and the city decided to place it in a parking lot.
Sure a downtown ballpark would have been fun, but Citizens Bank Park is perfect where it is
Yet, there’s something uniquely Philadelphian about that decision all the same. Going to a ballgame at Citizens Bank Park wouldn’t feel right without taking the subway or passing by thousands of drunk tailgaters. Citizens Bank Park wouldn't be Citizens Bank Park without a fourth-deck view of the sunset sky as a backdrop to Center City. The identity of the team and the city has been molded to fit their ballpark.
Yes, that’s a self-perpetuating cycle. But as a Phillies fan, would you rather have it any other way?
At the time, in 2000, it would have been easy to argue that the decision was a mistake. Only a small portion of the city’s population, those tucked away in deepest South Philly, can easily walk to the ballpark.
Were the site built at 30th and Walnut or Chinatown, the tenor around the team and the fans would be markedly different, and who’s to say if it would be better or worse.
Though 23 complete seasons at The Bank, the Phillies have had only seven losing campaigns. It’s been a remarkable run of success for the losingest franchise in professional sports at Citizens Bank Park.
Seven division titles, three pennants, one World Series.
For as long as Citizens Bank Park lasts, it will forever be associated with the greatest run of success the franchise has ever had. Perhaps it can stay that way for another 23 seasons.
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