Phils fans wait hours to score tix at ballpark
A mad dash for Phillies tickets began at 8:30 this morning, as five kids from Ridley stepped up to the ticket window at Citizens Bank Park, while hundreds of others tried their luck online or by phone.
A mad dash for Phillies tickets began at 8:30 this morning, as five kids from Ridley stepped up to the ticket window at Citizens Bank Park, while hundreds of others tried their luck online or by phone.
Dave Dadura, hoping to score some single-game seats, arrived at Citizens Bank Park at 8:30 last night - 12 hours early - and found the Ridley crew already there.
"I wanted to kill them," joked the 30-year-old heating and air-conditioning worker.
Robert Melrath, 19, first in line last year, came even earlier this time - 7 p.m. - with friends Nick Hober, 18, Shawn McDonigle, 16, and twins Tom and Ryan Drummond, 15.
They didn't sleep a wink, getting by on 5-Hour Energy drinks and a pizza delivered by Ralph & Ricky's.
Behind them, at 7 a.m., were another 75 people, including forklift driver Eric Van Pelt, 41, who drove all the way down from Reading - to arrive at 5 a.m.
"I'm surprised it's not more crowded," he said, just before a club official strolled by, handing out yellow wristbands to mark each person's place in line.
These fans - and thousands more who planned to order online (www.phillies.com) or by phone (215-463-1000) - were eagerly awaiting the chance to get tickets to 77 home games. Four others - Opening Day and three Red Sox games in late June - are available now only through an online lottery. (Look for "ticket opportunity" at phillies.com.)
Fans were worried about being shut out, even though each buyer was limited to 8 tickets per game.
Last season every game sold out, and ticket sales this season are on a brisker pace - about a month ahead of last year, said John Weber, vice president for sales and ticket operations.
By Friday, dozens of dates - perhaps half of the schedule - could be sold out, Weber said.
Some games had only a couple of hundred seats left after sales of full and partial season ticket plans, as well as the Six Game Plans and Three Game Plans, which were no longer being offered, as of last evening.
Among the games most likely to go quickly were Opening Night (second game of the season, April 2), Mother's Day (May 8), Father's Day (June 12), other summer weekend games, the two bobblehead giveaway games (Roy Oswalt May 24, Placido Polanco Aug. 16), the two fireworks nights (July 28 and 29), and Fan Appreciation Night (Sept. 22). (For more about special promotion dates, see "Giveaways" link at right.)
Once a game is officially sold out, fans have one more shot of getting tickets from the club: 500 standing-room tickets go on sale at the ballpark before each game, a few hours before the first pitch.
Rose Dupla, 44, of Clifton Heights, brought a wishlist of games, including a fireworks night, and said she has plans to tailgate - but not cook.
"I don't make anything," she said. "I drink. I do the drinking."
Melrath and three of his friends got tickets to a Mets game on April 5, the two bobblehead games and Fan Appreciation Night. The other pal picked his own games, to attend with a girlfriend.
Sleep was unlikely to come soon, Melrath said, because of all the excitement.
"We're all pretty awake right now," he said after buying tickets.
Next year, Melrath said he might arrive by 4 p.m. the day before.
"I gotta keep upping the game every time," he said.