The Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball play at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, which was constructed for an incredible $528 million. Every time the Phillies play at home, especially in October when the postseason gets underway, the stadium explodes with pure lunacy.
The uniqueness of Citizens Bank Park is evident on the playing field thanks to “Angle.” The outfield wall tapers from 19 feet to 12 feet 8 inches as it dips into the playing field.” It is located between the left-center field power alley and dead-center field. A batted ball hit to the “Angle” will surely wreck havoc on outfielders and lead to some interesting extra-base hits.
The exterior architecture blends a clearly 21st-century aesthetic with the spirit of Philadelphia’s rich history of sports building. It is mostly made up of precast concrete, granite, and red brick in a variety of colors. Green roofs with a copper patina finish are added as an accent.
There are baseball diamond-patterned inlaid black accent bricks atop the three major facades. Moreover, along Pattison Avenue, the word “Philadelphia” is written in twelve-foot-tall letters made of black bricks. Ballpark architecture is a welcome addition to this historic city.
The playing field is hollowed out to a depth of 23 feet below street level, providing bowl-style seating with the Philadelphia cityscape acting as the backdrop. The seating bowl configuration was inspired by the classic layouts of Connie Mack Stadium and Baker Bowl, the former home of the Phillies. At the stadium, singer Tim McGraw also dispersed his father’s ashes.
The upper and lower deck layouts are quite different, much as at Connie Mack Stadium. The cantilevered steel construction allows for more open seating areas.