CITIZENS BANK BALLPARK
PHILADELPHIA
BALLPARK CHASER RANK-16TH

GETTING THERE
Well obviously it this is double edged sword---it is fantastic that the ballpark is so close to the airport in PHILLY, but it is not so convenient for lodging.
Citizens Bank Park is in the same 'SPORTS COMPLEX AREA' that features 'LINCOLN FINANCIAL FIELD' AND THE 'WACHOVIA CENTER.' This can prove very bad for traffic if another one of these sporting events coincides with a baseball game. If you are coming from the ‘SOUTH’ The WALT WHITMAN BRIDGE ON I-76 will carry a toll of $4.00 with it. If you are coming from the JERSEY TURNPIKE—you can avoid the tolls by driving into the city of PHILADELPHIA.
The Philadelphia Airport is really a clustered airport with not enough room for the amount of passengers it sees on a daily basis. The airport is a HUB for US AIRWAYS and has strong flights with Southwest as well. The flights are not cheap very often—and it may be easier to fly out OF BWI-or EWR instead if you can save a few hours to save a few $. Also car rentasl per day are one of the most expensive deals at about $80 for a weekday and not much less on the weekend. If you are flying to Philadelphia for a one-off trip then I would bid at www.priceline to get that fare reduced by 40%. There is one other option—this would mean you would be in the city for more than a week and within PHILADELPHIA CITY LIMITS at all times. www.rentawreck.com gives you a weekly rental rate for about $175 for the week(out of CHERRY HILL MALL IN JERSEY)—but has miles restrictions of penalties over 200 miles for the week. There is also a shuttle you have to pay $25 to and from to get this deal but $225 overall for the week is about half of what you would pay at the airport. With sights like the Philadelphia ZOO, ‘THE LIBERTY BELL’ and the ROCKY BALBOA steps maybe you can squeeze out a week in the city of Philly.
BALLPARK CHASER TIP******You better make sure you get to the airport early for the security lineups in this airport----and please check out your flight itinerary if you fly with US AIRWAYS—and if you are flying out of THE ‘F TERMINAL’ be aware that this gate is entirely separate from the airport and you will need to take a secondary shuttle—with big lineups-for the shuttle ride to the F TERMINAL. There are lots of restaurant and shopping options once you arrive over there.
The car rental facilities are a quick shuttle ride-and are actually not that bad considering the rest of the airport is so sideways. Parking long term at ‘PHL’ is also a nightmare with a long shuttle bus to the economy lots.

AMTRAK OPTION
If you are coming from Baltimore, Washington, New York City, you would be well advised to use the AMTRAK TRAIN. They are fast-traffic efficient and a convenient way to travel between cities. New York to Philadelphia is start from $45.00 fees for a one-way ticket. The AMTRAK/GREYHOUND station and 30th station is about a fifteen minute cab-ride into the ball yard. You can even park at the station when travelling abroad and back. Again with AMTRAK it helps the hardcore chaser attempt many of doubleheaders with the EASTERN cities close by.

PARKING AT CBP
Is not bad at $12-15 and they have lots of space—and with the SPORTS COMPLEX-in the vicinity it is hard to lose where you park because the area is so open.

TICKETS
These are tough tickets to acquire, The Phils actually average more than 100% capacity last year, however for that singular traveler you have STUBHUB www.stubhub.com that you can see for decent prices on E-TICKETS. There are many guys outside the game selling SRO’S for $25-30. These are not bad tickets because you can watch the game near ‘TONY LUKE’S inside with so many other ballpark fans. The sightlines for these tickets are really good.

FOOD
Are you kidding me? If you go to a Phillies game you must east a PHILLY CHEESESTEAK (or 2)at TONY LUKE’S! It is the best single food item in the MAJORS and it is a must. I can’t say I have had too much other food when being there. I even at 3 of the cheesesteak’s during a marathon 11 hour game which included a 4 hour rain delay.

INTANGIBLES
The concourse is awesome for that roaming chaser who paid just to get in and has all the frills to see. This park is also one of the best for people with disabilities and/or if they are handicapped. The only problem is if there is a rain delay then there is not much undercover area so bring your raingear!

PHILS DOUBLE HEADER PARTNERS
As discussed in the YANKEES and METS sections--Philadelphia is ideal for a doubleheader 2nd leg of a day night dip with their eastern city companions. AMTRAK HAS service from 'NY PENN' with trains every 20 minutes between 3pm and 5:15pm that get you to 30th station in time to hail a cab at the stand outside that will take you to CBP in 20 minutes. You have a number of trains that leave in the 4:30--5:30 range that also get you to BALTIMORE AND WASHINGTON's STATIONS (that are both a short cab ridew to the yards)--- with a shot a game time when PHL is the 1st leg of the trip. You are better off trying BAL/WSH to PHL only on the weekend
All of BAL/WSH/NYM/NYY are capable of day/night doubleheaders by car if you can luck out by car in traffic—I would not suggest this though unless it is the weekend---the NEW YORK traffic at rush hour is crazy---even tougher is that 'BELTWAY TRAFFIC on 95 hwy." Again f it is the weekend you have a decent shot in driving to any of these---and don’t forget if any of these teams have the special 8pm eastern start for 'SUNDAY NIGHT BASEBALL.'


PNC PARK
PITTSBURGH
BALLPARK CHASER RANK-5TH

GETTING THERE
PIT AIRPORT

In all of my travels, I was never as pleased as my trip to Pittsburgh through their airport—while it is a far distance from the actual city—it is one of the top airports to fly in and out of. First off-they have the most convenient car rental facilities in AMERICA—they are right from the arrivals level. If you are a preferred member at any of the rental companies it will take you 5 minutes to get out of the airport once you arrive. Not only that-but as cities go, Pittsburgh's car rental are extremely cheap whether it is the weekend or not. You are looking at about $35 per day and in the mid $250’s for the week.
PIT AIRPORT is a hub for the airlines—DELTA, US AIRWAYS and SOUTHWEST but also have strong flight considerations from Midwest and Airtran Airways. In fact-these little airlines often have the cheaper fares and include non-stops to other cities in the midwest like KC/CHI/CWS/CIN/STL/COL.
Now if you have one hour to give you can get downtown via the 28x Airport/Pittsburgh Downtown will take you all the way to and from the airport for a few dollars. You can actually exit at LIBERTY ST/6th Ave downtown and walk over the ROBERTO CLEMENTE BRIDGE to the game, this takes about 10 minutes.
If you are driving in from the 376 or 279 hwy make sure you give yourself ample time—the town is very beautiful because of the bridges but it is traffic gridlock. Keep in mind the 'FORT PITT TUNNEL' is the only main choice for the travelers to go north it is quite busy at all times in pm hours.

PARKING
RANGES FROM $10-15-you can save your self a few dollars by parking downtown and walking over any of the bridges. Just Know that the closer you park to PNC the more traffic you will have after the game.

HOTELS
I like the Best Western just north of the FORT PITT TUNNEL-'BEST WESTERN PARKWAY CENTER INN.' For about $100 a night you can stay 5 miles away from downtown. They also have a free shuttle to and from games at PNC PARK if you leave early enough. It is also close to other attractions such as: 'THE ANDY WARHOL MUSEUM'-'CARNEGIE MUSUEM' AND 'HEINZ FIELD.' There is also a Motel 6 30 miles from out of town in WEIRTON WV on highway 22-that is an unbelievable $30 a night. This is good if you plan on travelling to DETROIT—CINCINATTI or St. LOUIS for games after Pittsburgh. hwy 22 west merges up with I-70 eventually.

FOOD
They have the most amazing pizza joint in the majors. It changes every year in name—but “GREENTREE PIZZA’ as it was last time—is the closest restaurant to the 'CLEMENTE BRIDGE'-and past the left field bleachers It is costly for a loaded pizza but if you just like PEPPERONI PIZZA or Cheese you can get a LARGE for $15. You can also get slices individually. Pittsburgh is also famous for loaded-ticket Tuesday nights where you get bleacher seats for $14---that already have $5 automatically loaded onto your ticket and the pizzeria accepts this too.. Note here*** You can order pizza from this restaurant even if you are not at the game—it is the best pizza in the ALLEGHENY and it is cheaper from your hotel room than at the game.

TICKETS
I recommend buying any ticket at the ticket office unless it is one of the loaded tickets.

INTANGIBLES
There are many vendors outside the game that sell you hot dogs/peanuts and pops for a few bucks and you are allowed to take the items with you into the game---much like 'COORS AND SAFECO FIELD.' There is nothing like watching a game from the bleachers at PNC. They pay great homage to their heroes all throughout the park with statues/wall murials and trophies.
Note*****is that the outfield concourse does not go all around the park and ends in different ends of the game. So while it has a great view of '3 RIVERS' it might not get you to your seat.
There is a restaurant outside that hires bands to sing after the game. This restaurant is adjacent to the pizzeria, it is a good way to wait the traffic out for 30 minutes.

DOUBLEHEADER PARTNERS

CLEVELAND—Easily attainable when Cleveland has those noon matinee’s to then jump down the 76 to PNC

TORONTO—if you have massive money there is a 4:55 flight that arrives at phl at 6:17 from Air Canada---remember the jays play those 12:37 pm games—so if you left the game a bit early.

BALTIMORE---when Baltimore plays those 12:35pm matinee’s you would have to take the light rail to the BWI AIRPORT by 3:00 to catch a southwest flight to PIT-leaves Baltimore at 4:50 and arrives in PIT at 5:45pm

DETROIT---There is an attempt here I tried during the WORLD RECORD streak in 2009—YOU CAN make this if you leave PNC BY 3pm. You book Delta flight PIT-INDIANOPOLIS WITH layover in DTW-at 6:34—then you never get on the 2nd leg. Tkt will cost you $140-175 which is half of the flight normally if you booked PIT TO DTW STRAIGHT UP. Face it—the Pirates are horrible and unless you need to stay there it can be combined with DETROIT on a day by leaving PNC a bit early.



SKYDOME
TORONTO CANADA
BALLPARK CHASER RANK 26TH

GETTING THERE
Well from LESTER B.PEARSON INTL AIRPORT is about a 30 minute drive through the rigors of downtown traffic. I suggest going to a day game in Toronto for easier road trips. There are a few things I can offer here. There is a downtown shuttle that you can purchase at the airport for $28 roundtrip. The shuttle takes you right to Union Station which is a mere mile from the ballpark. Also if you are coming from Cleveland/Pittsburgh or Detroit and have more games to attend back in the states—a round-trip GREYHOUND bus trip is always around a hundred dollars and puts you so close into downtown Toronto that you can save on parking and gas.
Car rentals in the city go for about $50 a day—if you are lucky enough to be there on the weekend you can steal a $20-25 rental sometimes at www.bcaa.com under the car section. The car rental facility is right outside the airport so it is very accessible. Again 'BUDGET' AND 'THRIFTY' are your best options with the preferred programs to eliminate waiting in line at the airport.
One last option is to take SEDAN SERVICE to and from the game. It is very cheap at $50 per trip. I used this service to the airport after a day game last year and was at the airport 25 minutes after being picked up. While you will spend more money in Canada usually for things this is one instance you will not. This is a good alternative for AMERICANS so they don’t get a $300 speeding ticket on the streets in ONTARIO either.
As for driving on the 401 hwy—give yourself ample time—Toronto is one of the biggest cities in North America.

HOTELS
There are not many deals at all for Toronto Hotels downtown. I have stayed before at the 'ALEXANDRA HOTEL' which is a decent price of about $100 per night at www.priceline.com or www.alexandrahotel.calls.net . This is a perfect hotel conveniently located near the 'ROGERS CENTER', 'NHL HOCKEY HALL OF FAME,' THE EATON CENTER-which is a huge shopping mall and of course 'WAYNE GRETZKY’S' restaurant. If you are travelling on a road trip you are better off to stay in another city en route to the next city.
NOTE*** IF YOU are travelling from the United States make sure you gas up before you enter Canada---prices of gas are $1.50 a gallon more expensive up north.

PARKING
Be prepared to pay $15-25 dollars—HOCKEY/BALLPARK CHASER TIP—is to combine seeing either the NHL HOCKEY HALL and/or WAYNE GRETZKY’S RESTAURANT and park outside #99’s restaurant for the day for $20. You are in walking distance from everywhere.

FOOD
While it does not get enough credit---outside of the ROGERS CENTER are some of the best street vendor hotdogs you will find. These guys make a living from selling their food down the street at 'UNION STATION' all day before coming out to the park near game time. You can buy dogs and drinks for a dollar. If that doesn’t suit you there is the 'HARD ROCK CAFÉ' bar at WINDOWS RESTAURANT-just inside the entrance. There you can eat awesome pub food while you watch batting practice. I highly recommend the rib sandwich with 'AUJUS' sauce. This is a great way to kill the the time before a ball game.
Back in 1989, when the park was the 1st of its kind, they had much more selection of food—now with dwindling crowds you are much better off eating at the aforementioned places before or after the games.

TICKETS
*Extreme BALL PARK CHASER TIP HERE: If you know anyone that lives in Canada ask them to cash some of them in for redeemable ticket voucher’s(from Gate 9 at ROGERS only in person) https://www.airmiles.ca/arrow/ProductTicketingDetails?productId=pro... that are great deals for great tickets. www.airmiles.ca is the website you can get your Canadian friends to lend you their Canadian address(Your US Safeway club card number will work) and then sign up at http://suppliers.safeway.com/EmailDirect/signup.asp with their address again for a hundred free bonus miles---in which you can redeem for 2 ticket vouchers in the 500 section--$25 value. It is a first come first serve basis so you can redeem these vouchers for the prime games like YANKEES AND REDSOX. If you are Canadian you are probably already familiar with air miles so just collect enough. This year it is 125 air miles for $50 outfield tickets and 180 air miles for $70 field level baselines tickets.
Earn Air miles for free with normal internet searches with the Air miles Toolbar at https://www.airmiles.ca/arrow/Toolbar -You can earn 360 air miles for the year by doing 300 searches a month that qualify you for 30 air miles a month. So between that and the Safeway deal you can earn $150 worth of Toronto Blue Vouchers for not really doing anything at all. More of a Canadian Ballpark Chaser tip—but if you are going to do Toronto anyway save the dollars.
Tickets are always up for sale at ww.ebay.ca as well for major discounts. It is always a buyers market for Blue Jays tickets. You can always find guys outside the park selling tickets for half price as well. This is an ideal solution for YANKS AND REDSOX fans who are sick of paying hundreds of dollars in their hometown to save a boatload of money to see their team

INTANGIBLES
Being the only Canadian team makes it hard for the hardcore ballpark chaser. It penalizes both the U.S and Canada. I would not suggest flying in and out of Toronto if you can avoid it. Canada has so many taxes on their flights that it is almost double the cost for a flight. You are better off driving from Detroit or Cleveland to fly out of those cities. The only practical flights are to New York with the American Carriers.

DOUBLEHEADER PARTNERS
CHICAGO CUBS/CHICAGO WHITE SOX/MILWAUKEE BREWERS—are all doable with the hour gained even though it is a short flight anyway---you just need those 12:37 matinees AT "Rogers Center" (and there are plenty of flights leaving TOR between 5-6)---that arrive at nearly the same time in MKE/ORD/MDW because of the hour gain.

PITTBURGH—there is a UNITED FLIGHT that leaves TORONTO AT 5:05 and arrives in Pittsburgh at 6:22 pm


SUNDAY NIGHT SPECIAL*******

Just like a lot of the EASTERN CITIES should there be a SUNDAY NIGHT ESPN GAME (However because of Toronto’s mass population there are a lot more flight opportunities to combine the TOR day game with flights to NY/NYM/BOS/DET/CLE/PIT/PHL/BAL/WSH/CIN for night games. You could actually drive to Detroit in this scenario almost for 1st pitch since the games starts at about 8:10 pm est.