Luxury.
That was what the Philadelphia Phillies had in mind with their new vision of the Hall of Fame club.
One of the best places to watch a ballgame, the Phillies have made minimal changes to this section of their stadium since it opened in 2004. With the Major League Baseball All-Star Game set to take place in July, they felt it was time for a modern look.
That new feeling did not just stop at the club level.
All fans will have a chance to take in the new and improved team store, located on the third base side of the stadium.
Rebranded last season as the Cadillac Hall of Fame Club, the Phillies spared no expense.
“Everything we do starts with our fans,” said Phillies Chief Revenue Officer Jackie Cuddeback. “As we celebrate the return of the reigning NL East champions, we’re excited to debut these newly designed spaces, which not only honor the storied history of our franchise, but also raise the standard for what our guests can experience at Citizens Bank Park.”
The club removed the old carpeted floors, instead installing a tan hardwood flooring option. This transition from dark to light helped make the space feel larger.
Several bars and food options were redesigned in the transition as well.
One of the changes is that the Phillies are bringing in local chefs to rotate between home stands at the club's bistro.
Contributions can be tasted from acclaimed local chefs including Marc Vetri (Vetri Cucina Family); Matthew Cahn (Middle Child); Nish Patel (Del Rossi’s); Evan Snyder (Emmett); Juan Carlos Aparicio Torres (El Chingon); and Amanda Shulman (Her Place Supper Club, My Loup and Pine Street Grill); and Pidor Yang (Sahbyy Food).
This all ties back into the luxury feel.
Lastly, the team will have three player-themed food options. Offerings such as Sánchez Sliders (Cristopher Sánchez) in the Cadillac Hall of Fame Club, as well as the Schwarbomb Sundae (Kyle Schwarber) and The Sweeper (Jesús Luzardo) can be found throughout the ballpark, with a portion of proceeds benefiting charitable organizations selected by each player.
While the song might go "Buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks," the Phillies are hoping parents bring the family into the renovated team store.
The upgrades in store include a new entrance, which was previously a roped-off section on the main concourse of the park. The new entrance gives fans a far less invasive experience when standing in line.
To help enhance the fan experience, five 25-foot-tall LED towers have been added.
New collaborations will cycle in throughout the season from Lululemon, Aviator Nation and Ralph Lauren as well.
To celebrate the new spaces within the ballpark, the Phillies reached out to the sports community.
The club invited former and current players, as well as local influencers, media and celebrities, to attend the event.
2008 World Series champions Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard and Cole Hamels were in the house. Cristopher Sanchez and Jesus Luzardo stopped by to help promote their new food offerings in the stadium.
It wasn't just baseball players who made the trip over to the stadium on Tuesday. Super Bowl champion Brandon Graham attended the event, flanked by Big Dom DiSandro. Gille da Kid stopped in for the festivities, with several others sharing the evening.
What is more luxurious than your favorite athletes hanging out in the Hall of Fame club?
You can see all the new renovations when you head to Citizens Bank Park this season.
