18. Citizens Bank Park — Philadelphia Phillies
“Citizens Bank Park at 18? Are you freakin’ kidding me?!”
This is what I imagine hearing from Philadelphia Phillies fans who will read this list and see their beloved Citizens Bank Park ranked here, and to respond to the upcoming criticism, being ranked in the middle of the pack isn’t bad, but there are 17 other ballparks that are simply better.
Now that’s out of the way, let’s talk about Citizens Bank Park, the Taj Mahal for Phillies fans.
It’s certainly much better than the infamous dump known as “The Vet,” and Phillies fans were greatly deserving of a ballpark that they could call their own. Enter Citizens Bank Park, opened in 2004 and is still, to this day, a great place to catch a ballgame. The park is a lot more intimate than is predecessor, and when the Phillies are good, it can be a tremendously tough ballpark for opposing teams to play.
Which brings me to why the park is ranked 18th.
Not only is “The Bank” a tough place for opposing teams, but also for opposing fans as well. Philadelphia has a storied history of not being the best host to those who aren’t fans of Philly teams. While the Eagles are more famous for this (never forget Santa Claus), Phillies fans have been known for their tomfoolery, which keeps “The Bank” from cracking the upper-echelon of lists like these. Not that Phillies fans will care what we think, but just wanted to make that clear.
At least they haven’t beaten up Santa.