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We braved this facility not once, but twice, for baseball and football experiences. After
these two trips we came to this conclusion - the wrecking ball can not come to this place
fast enough.
Getting to the venue
This facility opened in 1971, in an era when round multi-purpose stadiums were the thing to
do. Seating over 60,000 for football and slightly less for baseball, the stadium is located at
the south end of the city, part of a sports complex which includes the First Union Center
and the Spectrum. Easy subway access is available with a station a few steps away and
parking is ample.
Outside the venue
Our first visit was for an Eagles game. We had pulled in and parked and had been there for
but a few minutes when we were horrified to see the folks in the next car being arrested
and ticketed. Their crime? - lighting a grill in defiance of a "no tailgate" ordinance. These
poor slobs were visiting from Harrisburg, were dressed in Eagles green and white from
head to toe, and were seeing their beloved Eagles for the first time in person. They had
planned to make a day of it - a cookout, tossing the football around and seeing a great
football game on a sundrenched late summer day. Instead their picnic gear was confiscated
and they were given a summons, all the while some officer pointing out lawns in the
distance where such egregious criminal behavior was allowable. Just incredible!
After quickly hiding our cans of coke in the trunk so as not to meet the same horrible fate,
we proceeded into the stadium, and walked into the dank, dreary and depressing (albeit
wide) concourse, tiled in hideous red and white colors. The only redeeming thing about the
corridors in this stadium was the array of cool memorabilia showcasing hall of fame players
on their teams. For the larger football crowds, the Eagles add portable johns and place
them smack dab in the middle of the concourse to assist with the bathroom capacity
problem. Ugghh!
Our seats for the game were horrible - they sell the field level box seats which are great for
baseball, but because of the low pitch, you are obstructed by all the people on the sideline
at the football game. We missed about half of the game because of this.
The bowl
All the seats are blue, and when the Phillies play, it is an ocean of empty blue. A single
jumbotron and companion dot matrix board hangs high above the 500 (or is it 700?) level
above centerfield. That's it. No color. No ambience. Just lotsa blue. The players play on
some really bad astroturf, and for whatever reason this particular field garners more
complaints than others.
Banners/retired numbers
The Phillies hang the number of their great Mike Schmidt and herald their one world title in
1980. Outside the stadium's home plate entrance is a statue of Connie Mack, and also being
Veterans Stadium, the flags of all the divisions of the Armed Forces are displayed outside.
Concessions
Surprisingly the concessions here weren't too bad, and of course the philly steak and
cheese is an absolute must. Beers are still a reasonable $3.00.
Summary
This might have been an "ooh-ahhh!" state of the art facility 30 years ago. No longer. It is
just a bad baseball experience and a mediocre football experience, and our
recommendation is to avoid this stadium until these two teams get some new digs. Yes,
construction is underway for new venues for both the Phillies and the Eagles, both in close
proximity to the Vet.
Special thanks - Scott and Michele Sampson, for putting us up for the night and
accompanying us to the game. Michele had no problem talking smack and defending her
beloved Phillies against some obnoxious Braves fans. They hung with us during a 3 1/2
hour rain delay, and we tipped some brews in a centerfield restaurant that would have
been a cool place to be at if it had a view of the field. AND the game went extra innings, so
for a 7 pm start we finally left about 1 am!
RATING: (1-5 stars): PHILLIES - 1 STAR //// EAGLES - 1 STAR
these two trips we came to this conclusion - the wrecking ball can not come to this place
fast enough.
Getting to the venue
This facility opened in 1971, in an era when round multi-purpose stadiums were the thing to
do. Seating over 60,000 for football and slightly less for baseball, the stadium is located at
the south end of the city, part of a sports complex which includes the First Union Center
and the Spectrum. Easy subway access is available with a station a few steps away and
parking is ample.
Outside the venue
Our first visit was for an Eagles game. We had pulled in and parked and had been there for
but a few minutes when we were horrified to see the folks in the next car being arrested
and ticketed. Their crime? - lighting a grill in defiance of a "no tailgate" ordinance. These
poor slobs were visiting from Harrisburg, were dressed in Eagles green and white from
head to toe, and were seeing their beloved Eagles for the first time in person. They had
planned to make a day of it - a cookout, tossing the football around and seeing a great
football game on a sundrenched late summer day. Instead their picnic gear was confiscated
and they were given a summons, all the while some officer pointing out lawns in the
distance where such egregious criminal behavior was allowable. Just incredible!
After quickly hiding our cans of coke in the trunk so as not to meet the same horrible fate,
we proceeded into the stadium, and walked into the dank, dreary and depressing (albeit
wide) concourse, tiled in hideous red and white colors. The only redeeming thing about the
corridors in this stadium was the array of cool memorabilia showcasing hall of fame players
on their teams. For the larger football crowds, the Eagles add portable johns and place
them smack dab in the middle of the concourse to assist with the bathroom capacity
problem. Ugghh!
Our seats for the game were horrible - they sell the field level box seats which are great for
baseball, but because of the low pitch, you are obstructed by all the people on the sideline
at the football game. We missed about half of the game because of this.
The bowl
All the seats are blue, and when the Phillies play, it is an ocean of empty blue. A single
jumbotron and companion dot matrix board hangs high above the 500 (or is it 700?) level
above centerfield. That's it. No color. No ambience. Just lotsa blue. The players play on
some really bad astroturf, and for whatever reason this particular field garners more
complaints than others.
Banners/retired numbers
The Phillies hang the number of their great Mike Schmidt and herald their one world title in
1980. Outside the stadium's home plate entrance is a statue of Connie Mack, and also being
Veterans Stadium, the flags of all the divisions of the Armed Forces are displayed outside.
Concessions
Surprisingly the concessions here weren't too bad, and of course the philly steak and
cheese is an absolute must. Beers are still a reasonable $3.00.
Summary
This might have been an "ooh-ahhh!" state of the art facility 30 years ago. No longer. It is
just a bad baseball experience and a mediocre football experience, and our
recommendation is to avoid this stadium until these two teams get some new digs. Yes,
construction is underway for new venues for both the Phillies and the Eagles, both in close
proximity to the Vet.
Special thanks - Scott and Michele Sampson, for putting us up for the night and
accompanying us to the game. Michele had no problem talking smack and defending her
beloved Phillies against some obnoxious Braves fans. They hung with us during a 3 1/2
hour rain delay, and we tipped some brews in a centerfield restaurant that would have
been a cool place to be at if it had a view of the field. AND the game went extra innings, so
for a 7 pm start we finally left about 1 am!
RATING: (1-5 stars): PHILLIES - 1 STAR //// EAGLES - 1 STAR
| Veterans Stadium |
#12
Veterans
Stadium
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
September 5,
1999
Arizona
Cardinals
at
Philadelphia
Eagles
#40
Veterans
Stadium
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
May 13,
2000
Atlanta
Braves at
Philadelphia
Phillies
Veterans
Stadium
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
September 5,
1999
Arizona
Cardinals
at
Philadelphia
Eagles
#40
Veterans
Stadium
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
May 13,
2000
Atlanta
Braves at
Philadelphia
Phillies
