Phillies Nation

This is because DC fans are quite nicer than NY fans. Some of the filth on their blogs put baseball to shame. Nothing wrong with the Nats; even if they become good and all, I suspect the issues would not be as bad. I think my wife and I will come up there one game, it is close than Philly for us!

Tim I agree with you in that Philadelphia sports fans have long gotten a bad rap due to the actions of a select few. But one of the principle differences between what you pointed out in your post about there being no violence at Nationals park and Citizens Bank is more about the venue and less about the people. Phillies/Eagles/Flyers fans are particularly tough on fans of opposing teams, especially the Mets/Cowboys/Giants/Redskins/Devils/Rangers/Penguins. I have seen the Phillies plan in a couple different parks and at none of them have I seen Phillies fans be treated the way some Phillies fans treat the fans of opposing teams. Now I have never been to a Phillies and Mets game in New York so I can not speak to what goes on there. But I have been to a Yankees and Red Sox game a few years ago wearing a Red Sox jersey(it was on my way back from a trip to Boston) and even there, I didn’t get the overwhelming feeling that something bad was going to happen to me.

Now in the same vein I will say that recently I was at a Flyers and Pens game in Philly and a Phillies and Mets game in Philly and in both times the fans of the opposing teams seemed to egg on the Philly faithful and for that I am all for them getting what they deserve. As long as it does not involve violence or things being thrown. I have no problem with, in fact I encourage fans of opposing teams to come down to Philly and see their team play. They have every right to and they should be treated with respect and admiration for doing so. But at the same time, when your team does something good, don’t stand up and make a scene and start giving fingers and basically asking for a beating because it’s what you will get. Even though Violence should never ever be the solution to anything. Especially when kids are around as they always are, especially at Phillies games.

Does Philly get a bad rap? Absolutely. Is it somewhat deserved? Unfortunately. Yes its only a select few who do the things that Philly gets slammed for, but that’s all it takes.

And the way the Phillies play the Nats is always interesting… I appreciate the article and I hope to see you all there

My favorite part was when Zimmerman’s HR got thrown back onto the field, as if it were CBP! Way to go, Phils and fans!

my uncle works for Aramark.. and he said that the numbers coming in for concessions are WAY DOWN.. and the ticket sales and gate numbers are WAY UP.. meaning that people are going to the games, but not spending that much money once they get inside

I think 99% of the people drunk at the games are doing their damage Pre-Game.. where you can get a case for $20-30…. instead of the $7 beers inside

that is possible, If the concessions are down it’s there fault, hot beer for 7, soda, 5, it gets to a point you just can afford it for a lot of people. but concession are a big part of there income. Dollar dog night 70,000 dog sold, I go to a lot of sixers games, free tickets because of my daughter, but me and my kid still spend a good amount parking soda sandwiches, ff are 7.50 that is a disgrace

Also… I HATE watching games on TV in their stadium.. the high camera angle behind home plate… Is that from a Freakin BLIMP or something??

it was a great time… even with the weather. the only down part was how non-fan friendly the park’s staff really was.

I think maybe it’s just that Nats fans are (with good reason) very unwilling to get in a war of the words with fans of an actual professional baseball team

“the only down part was how non-fan friendly the park’s staff really was”

I had the total opposite experience. First of all, I barely saw any staff in the stadium. And I was able to walk into pretty much any section of the stadium. I was sitting about 4 rows behind the Phillies dug-out for a few innings. The vendors were pretty funny. The one got an attitide going with me and would not sell me a beer, and I asked why. He smiled, and said because the keg just kicked. And then he recommeded another brand. I had another usher tell me which food stands had the best food and which had the best beers. The half-smoked all the way from Ben’s was great, but you need a fork to eat it.

And I was one of the people who overindulged on beers on the bus and in the parking lot. And i had a great time walking around the stadium talking to people. The Nats fans were great. I respect anybody who supports a team that bad.

I don’t blame alcohol for the problem. Some people are just jerks- some drink, some don’t. I have worked in bars for years- I know how people get when they are drunk. There does seem to be a different mentality amoung the younger (20-25 years old) Phillies fans with how they drink. When I was in college, my friends and I used to go to the Vet because it was a place to get drunk, scream and have nobody bother you. You could sit in the 700 level and not have anybody around you for 500 feet. We cheered for the Phanatic and sometimes the Phillies. (This was the late 90′s/ early 2000′s. Rico Brogna was the best player. And there was nothing better than booing Travis Lee.) It was all in good fun. There were never any fights or arguments. But there is this very drunken macho aspect in the younger fans, and they have to drink as much as possible. And they are not happy unless they get thrown out of the game or at least yell at somebody. I have never seen people drink so much and have so little fun. It is a lot of built up rage. It seems to have crossed over from the Eagles fans attitude. That is the reason I stopped going to Eagles games years ago. It’s baseball, it is the most mellow team sport around. Just sit back and relax and enjoy the game. And the Phillies just won the World Series- why so angry?

Tim…YOU were a great leader on the bus…even if most of us didn’t get the trivia!
It was a great trip and one I would do again, although not to the Nats park, some of their staff were pretty rude, especially with the rain. I mean we were all wet..
But over all it was a FANTASTIC time and one that will definately be repeated!
Thanks for a memorable weekend!