Eye-opening day

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The rain didn't delay the game or fans' enthusiastic reactions to Citizens Bank Park and its many amenities.

Add Comment | Comments: 0 | Posted Apr. 15, 2004

If it were any other day, the Phils would have been lucky to draw 10,000.

But this chilly, drizzly, generally miserable Monday was opening day at a brand-new ballpark, and the ticket-holders would not be deterred.

Ashburn Alley, the festive entertainment, retail and concession area of Citizens Bank Park, resembled the Schuylkill Expressway at rush hour.

Instead of rubbernecking, fans waited in long, winding lines at Geno's Steaks and Bull's BBQ, or posed for pictures next to the 10-foot statue of Richie Ashburn.

Many of the 41,626 in the sold-out house had a personal connection to the park.

Tony Greco, president of the South Philadelphia Communities Civic Association, is among the neighborhood leaders who spent the last few years working out details of the site with the Phillies and the city.

But Greco, of 12th and Shunk streets, was also there as a fan, just as he had been at countless opening days at Connie Mack and Veterans stadiums.

"It kind of takes me back to the Connie Mack Stadium days when I used to go with my dad, although this is much nicer than Connie Mack Stadium," he said of Citizens Bank Park. "You really feel like you are in a real ballpark again and not a multipurpose stadium like the Vet was."

Neighbors Chris Pisani and Jim Liqori offered conflicting opinions of the Phillies' new playpen from their seats in section 116.

Liqori, of 16th and Jackson streets, couldn't get enough of the new ballpark and its variety of concession stands.

"There's just so much to see and eat," gushed Liqori, squinting through the rain at the Philly-flavored food stands in Ashburn Alley.

But the eateries weren't enough to win over Pisani, whose heart still belonged to the Vet's crumbled remains.

"I don't think South Philadelphians really took the time to appreciate what we had at the Vet," Pisani said.

"I mean, we had a lot of fun there, a lot of memories ... " Pisani trailed off, trying to pick out a particularly fond experience. "Well, hey, they won their only championship there," he finally concluded.

While the two friends agreed to disagree over their preferred ballpark, they both expressed regret over the dismal weather.

"What a way to open the new place, huh?" Pisani shrugged.

Jim Byrd was marking not just the historical opening day, but his birthday. The resident of Ninth and Annin streets used to be a regular at Phillies' opening days, attending every one from 1974-93, but lost interest after the players' strike.

When the Phils brought in Larry Bowa as their manager and started hiring marquee talent, Byrd was lured back.

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