Citizens Bank Park Recognized as #1 Ballpark in the U.S.

Written By, Erica Brooke Fajge

PHILADELPHIA, PA [OnlyInPhiladelphia.com] – Another win for Philadelphia: Citizens Bank Park, home of the Phillies, has been ranked the #1 major league ballpark in the country, according to the Philadelphia Daily News.

According to the report, approximately 1,200 baseball fans traveled around the country and visited a number of different venues, rating each one in 19 different categories; selected categories included “atmosphere” and “park access.” Categories were rated as being “excellent” (being the best) and “poor” (being the worst).

Citizens Bank Park received 12 ratings of “excellent” and 7 of “very good.”

Pittsburgh’s PNC Park came close at #2, while Oriole Park at Camden Yards was #3. The new Yankee Stadium finished at #4 followed by San Francisco’s AT&T Park.

Coming in at #29 and 30 were the Marlins’ Sun Life Stadium and the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

Back in 2000, the old Veterans Stadium did not even come close to reaching the popularity level that Citizens Bank Park has obtained.

According to Red McGarry, who works with Sports Travel and Tours and who started organizing ballpark tours out of Clearwater, Florida a decade ago by gathering groups of people to rate various parks each season, “One thing in its favor when they have a lean period,” he said, “is Philly has become an attractive destination. You have the history there, the Atlantic City casinos a short drive away, the Jersey Shore. Citizens Bank Park appears to have taken its place as one of Philly’s major attractions.”

Go Philly!