Phillies Fans Show Support For Home Games With Huge Bus Turnouts
by Alex Lloyd Gross
The Phillies are currently tied at one game each, vs the Atlanta Braves in post season playoff action. They will play the next game here, at home at 5:07 PM. Fan support is crucial to getting into the opposing teams head and Philadelphia has some of the loudest fans in the league. Just watching the ball game in Atlanta sounded like a polo match, compared to the thunder that happens at Citizens Bank Park.
The Phillies have a Red October Bus that made it’s way to the infamous Frankford and Cottman Avenues yesterday at 10:00 AM. There were about 500 people that showed up early in the morning to see this bus. Police blocked Leon Street, hoping the bus would park there. It did not. After a brief hold to get things ready at Frankford near Princeton, the bus made a left and pulled to the curb on Cottman Ave. That required the west bound lanes to be closed until the bus departed.
Huge crowds were also at Chickie and Pete’s and in Bristol Borough, at the waterfront. Thousands lined Mill Street , hoping to get a towel and sign the bus. It was a sea of red.
The home game line up at the ball park is as follows:
10:00 a.m. New Era Phillies Team Store opens until 1:30 p.m. (entrance on Citizens Bank Way) with official postseason merchandise available for purchase including a special National League Division Series scorecard (also available at program vendors for $5), Phillies-Braves NLDS match-up items such as a pin, pennant, magnet, can cooler and baseball, and new Red October tees, hoodies, caps and novelties including lanyards, pins, a flag and more.
Ryan Ottinger Photo- Special to Delaware valley News.com In Bristol Borough, the Red October bus is almost not seen in the crowd of fans.
1:30 p.m. Check out all the new postseason gear at the 40-foot merchandise trailer on Citizens Bank Way, which will also be open during the Phillies Postseason Block Party.
2:00 p.m. Phillies Postseason Block Party on Citizens Bank Way (no game ticket required). This two-and-a-half-hour pregame fan event features a Phillies Pep Rally at 4:00 p.m. with surprise guests on the big postseason stage, along with music by Split Decision and DJ HBK.
Plus, ride on a giant Ferris wheel, bungee jump and take some swings in the mobile hitting station.
10:00 a.m. New Era Phillies Team Store opens until 1:30 p.m. (entrance on Citizens Bank Way) with official postseason merchandise available for purchase including a special National League Division Series scorecard (also available at program vendors for $5), Phillies-Braves NLDS match-up items such as a pin, pennant, magnet, can cooler and baseball, and new Red October tees, hoodies, caps and novelties including lanyards, pins, a flag and more.
1:30 p.m. Check out all the new postseason gear at the 40-foot merchandise trailer on Citizens Bank Way, which will also be open during the Phillies Postseason Block Party.
Alex Lloyd Gross Photo-Delaware Valley News.com Fans swarm around the bus as it pulls into Cottman Avenue.
2:00 p.m. Phillies Postseason Block Party on Citizens Bank Way (no game ticket required). This two-and-a-half-hour pregame fan event features a Phillies Pep Rally at 4:00 p.m. with surprise guests on the big postseason stage, along with music by Split Decision and DJ HBK.
Plus, ride on a giant Ferris wheel, bungee jump and take some swings in the mobile hitting station.
2:37 p.m. All gates open. Postseason rally towels for all fans, compliments of SEPTA and Visit Delco. Also, the New Era Phillies Team Store and Phillies Authentics Shop, featuring game-used items from the Wild Card Series and NLDS Game 3, are both open to ticketed guests.
4:30 p.m. Be in your seats for the on-field festivities surrounding the introduction of the Phillies and Braves, which includes the unfurling of a large American flag held by members of the U.S. military and Philadelphia Police and Fire Departments.
Ceremonial first pitches by Josh Shapiro, Governor of Pennsylvania, and 2009 National League champion outfielder Raúl Ibañez, who is also senior vice president of on-field operations for Major League Baseball.
Navy Honor Guard, in celebration of Navy Week in Philadelphia.
National Anthem: Sung by Ryan Colbert.
5:07 p.m. Phillies vs. Braves game begins.
7th Inning “God Bless America”: Sung by Lila Thome, daughter of Phillies Hall of Famer Jim Thome.
Broadcast: TV: TBS with Brian Anderson, Jeff Francoeur and reporter Matt Winer. Radio: 94 WIP and WTTM 1680 (Spanish).