Veterans Stadium
Home of the Philadelphia Phillies (1971-2003)

ALL STAR GAMES: 1976, 1996

Widely disparaged as one of the worst of the cloned "doughnut" stadiums of the 1960s-1970s era, Veterans Stadium had few interesting features. It was the second "octorad" stadium built; the first was San Diego (Jack Murphy) Stadium. Veterans Stadium only had two main decks, plus a small mezzanine level for skyboxes and press boxes. The upper deck was quite huge, however, and "the Vet" thus actually had the biggest seating capacity of any of the "doughnut" stadiums. Construction was not yet finished when the first game was played here in April 1971. Originally there were 56,000 seats for baseball games, but the capacity rose to over 66,000 in the early 1980s, and then declined in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Helped by the acquisition of Pete Rose, in 1980 the Phillies won their first and only World Series title. They won the National League pennant in 1983 and 1993, and since then have often challenged the Braves' dominance of the NL East.

CINEMA: Veterans Stadium was featured in a scene of the 1988 movie Stealing Home starring Mark Harmon and Jodie Foster.

The field dimensions remained fixed throughout the Vet's lifetime, and the only change was that the fence was raised from 8 to 12 feet in 1972. The concrete-like original artificial surface was replaced in 1977 and again in 1999 or so. For the last five years, the Vet's playing surface had a more natural color and texture, like the fake turf in Tampa Bay's Tropicana Field. The physical condition of the Vet deteriorated steadily over the years, nevertheless, and in 1998 or so several fans were injured after a metal railing broke during a college football game. The reconfiguration for football games was accomplished by moving some sections from behind third base to left field, just as in San Diego; about 3,000 retractable seats were added for football games. The Philadelphia Eagles played their last game in the Vet on January 19, 2003, when they were upset by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who went on to win the Super Bowl.

Six months after the Phillies played their last game there, Veterans Stadium was demolished early in the morning of March 21, 2004. There were a few fond remembrances by those in attendance, but nearly all agree that the Phillies' new home, Citizens Bank Park, is far superior.

SOURCES: Lowry (1992), USA Today / Fodor's (1996)

FAN TIP: James Craven

Vox populi: Fans' impressions

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