Most-Anticipated Opening Weekend Ever Announced
(Reading, PA) The Reading Phillies, the Double-A affiliate of the Philadelphia
Phillies since 1967, are pleased to announce that single-game tickets for Opening Weekend
of the 2011 season, will go on-sale by phone, walk-up, and online, on Friday, February 4
to the general public. The 2011 season, which is presented by Pepsi, will be the first in
the newly-renovated FirstEnergy Stadium.
This season will be one for the ages, said R-Phils GM Scott Hunsicker.
We cant wait to show-off the $10 Million Renovations to Americas Classic
Ballpark. We have many great things planned for Opening Weekend, and look forward to
sharing all the new amenities with our fans. So many people have asked about tickets for
Opening Night, and Opening Weekend, that we decided to put tickets on sale for those four
games beginning this Friday.
Fans can order Opening Weekend tickets in-person at the R-Phils temporary front offices on
N. Front St., by calling 610-370 BALL, or by simply logging on to the R-Phils official
website at www.readingphillies.com. Single-game tickets for all other games will not be
available for purchase until February 18, when they go on-sale online.
On Thursday, April 14, the R-Phils will take the field for perhaps the most-anticipated
opening night ever, as the club will face the Akron Aeros at 7:05 p.m. at the newly
renovated FirstEnergy Stadium. After a long offseason, which included $10 Million
Renovations to Americas Classic Ballpark, the R-Phils will open the brand new Vist
Financial Plaza gates at 4:00 p.m. -- giving fans their first glimpse into the new
ballpark area. All fans 21 and over can enjoy Happy Hour with $1 off select beers from
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Kids can also enjoy a special Happy Half Hour with free Phunland
from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. for Opening Night.
Fans will want to come out for a thrilling pre-game musical performance by the National
Penn Bank Reading Phillies Mascot Band, which will take place on the brand-new Weston
Center Winning Smiles Stage which will be the home of great musical acts all season
long. The National Penn Bank Reading Phillies Mascot Band will be celebrating their 10th
anniversary in 2011, and each concert will better than ever. Opening Night is also a $16
Family Night at the Pool, thanks to Reading Eagle.
All fans who flocked to FirstEnergy Stadium on August 3, 2010, will remember that the Ryan
Howard Garden Gnome, which the R-Phils gave away that day, was one of the most popular
giveaways in team history. Ryan Howard will again be celebrated as a gnome, and on Opening
Night, the R-Phils will hand out The Return of the Ryan Howard Garden Gnome
Version # 2, to the first 3,500 adults, courtesy of Essig Plumbing and Heating. Fans
of Ryan Howard, the Philadelphia Phillies, and the Reading Phillies, will love this new
version of last years best giveaway in Minor League Baseball.
Ryan Howard Garden Gnome Version # 2 features Ryan in his black R-Phils uniform. And,
thats not all, as Ryan Howard Garden Gnome night is bigger & better than ever
literally. On Opening Night, one lucky R-Phils fan will win a Life-Size Ryan Howard
Garden Gnome, courtesy of Fromm Electric Supply Corp. All fans that enter on Opening Night
will receive a free entry form, and one lucky fan will take home this one-of-a kind
Life-Size Ryan Howard Garden Gnome estimated to be 550 pounds!
The fun continues on Friday, April 15, when the R-Phils host the Akron Aeros in game two
of the four-game set. Vist Financial Plaza gates open at 5:00 p.m., and Frog Holler takes
the stage for an exceptional pre-game musical performance. All fans 21 and over can enjoy
Happy Hour with $1.00 off select beers from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and the first 2,000
adults will receive an Americas Classic Ballpark Baseball, thanks to Relay for Life.
Friday is the first Dog Day at the Park, courtesy of the 830 AM WEEU, and 69 News Berks
Edition, and all dogs in attendance will have the run of the park. While the R-Phils have
had Dog Days in the past, this year's Dog Days at the Park will be like no other. 2011
will mark the first time ever that all dogs will be welcome in all areas of FirstEnergy
Stadium (dogs will need a special dog night ticket, but dogs are not limited to any one
area of the ballpark).
The night will also serve as the first of two Crazy About Reading Nights
at the Ballpark, thanks to Renaissance Academy Charter School, with a free ticket for participants and an R-Phils player reading session
from 6:00-6:30 p.m. For more information on how to enroll your childs school or
classroom in the Crazy About Reading program, please contact R-Phils
Educational Programs Coordinator Todd Hunsicker by phone at 610-375-8469 ext. 206, or by
email at [email protected].
Friday April 15th is also the first 4 for $49 Family Night of the 2011 season presented by
Capital BlueCross. R-Phils fans can get four box seats, four hot dogs, and four sodas, for
only $49. Also, Family Night features pre-game play catch on the field, free player
autographs, and balloon art.
One night later, Saturday April 16th, the R-Phils will host the Akron Aeros in game three
of their four-game series with a 6:05 p.m. first pitch. Vist Financial Plaza gates open at
4:00 p.m., and all adults 21 and over can enjoy Happy Hour, with $1.00 off select drinks
from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Bunch-A-Funk featuring Reggie Brown will take the Weston
Center Winning Smiles stage at 4:00 p.m. for an exciting pre-game musical performance.
Adults looking for a great giveaway are in luck, as the first 2,500 adults 21 and over
will receive an Old School R-Phils Knit Ski Hat, presented by All Star Dist./Miller Lite.
Also on Saturday, White Star Travel Center and Rock Hits Y102 will give fans the chance to
win free vacations. All fans 18 and over that enter the ballpark, will be entered in the
free drawing for three tremendous grand prize vacations to be given away.
And Saturday April 16th is also the first Celebration of Music Pre-Game Performance and
Free Ticket game, thanks to Zeswitz Music, Reading Musical Foundation & 69 News Berks
Edition. As part of the celebration, all musicians are invited to bring their instrument
and perform Take Me Out to the Ballgame on the field during the pre-game. Any
fan who brings their instrument to participate in the festivities, will receive a free
game ticket.
On Sunday April 17th, in the series finale, the R-Phils will hold their first Redner's
R-Phils Kids Club game of the season, and all Redners R-Phils Kids Club members
receive a free ticket to the game. Vist Financial Plaza gates open at 11:00 a.m. for all
Redners R-Phils Kids Club members, and there will be a special pre-game autograph
session from 11:00 to 11:45 a.m., thanks to Redner's Warehouse Markets, Reading Eagle, 69
News Berks Edition. The first 2,500 kids will also receive a collectible R-Phils Team
Baseball Card Poster, courtesy of Repperts Candies. Also, thanks to Reppert's
Candies, the first 1,500 kids will receive a tasty chocolate baseball glove.
Sunday games also feature some great promotions. Every Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium, all
fans can chow down on delicious hot dogs for just $1, courtesy of Berks Packing and
Stroehmann's. Also, new in 2011, all fans who come out to America's Classic Ballpark for a
Sunday game, will have the chance to win some great prizes. Each Sunday game will feature
Flat Screens and Bicycles, thanks to Red Robin and Maidencreek TV & Appliance. Fans
will have the chance to leave the ballpark every Sunday with a flat screen television, or
a bicycle. After every Sunday game, all kids in attendance can Run the Bases,
thanks to 69 News Berks Edition.
Fans interested in renewing their season tickets and mini-plans, can do so now by visiting
readingphillies.com, or by calling 610-370-BALL. Individual game tickets for all other
R-Phils 2011 games will go on-sale online on Friday, February 18 and via phone and walk-up
orders on Monday, February 28. R-Phils Tickets -- Same Great Price. America's Classic
Ballpark...Just Got Even Better.
OPENING WEEKEND PROMOTIONS:
Thursday April 14, 7:05 p.m.
The Return of the Ryan Howard Garden Gnome Version # 2 (First 3,500 adults)
One-of-a-Kind, Life-Size Ryan Howard Garden Gnome Grand Prize Give-Away
R-Phils Mascot Band Pre-Game Concert
Happy Hour 4:00-6:00
Kids Happy Half Hour w/ Free Phunland (Extended 4:00-5:30)
Friday April 15, 7:05 p.m.
Americas Classic Ballpark Baseball (First 2,000 adults)
Bring Your Dog to the Ballpark
Frog Holler in Concert 5:00-6:30
Happy Hour 5:00-6:00
Happy Half Hour w/ Free Phunland 5:00-5:30
4 for $49 Family Night w/ Pre-Game Play Catch on the Field
Crazy About Reading Night
Saturday April 16, 6:05 p.m.
Old School R-Phils Knit Ski Hat (First 2,500 adults, 21+)
Three Grand Prize Vacation Giveaways
Celebration of Music w/ Free Ticket and On-Field Performance
Bunch-A-Funk in Concert 4:00-5:30
Happy Hour 4:00-5:00
Happy Half Hour w/ Free Phunland 4:00-4:30
Sunday April 17, 1:05 p.m.
R-Phils Team Baseball Card Poster (First 2,500 kids)
Chocolate Baseball Glove (First 1,500 kids)
Kids Club Free Ticket Game
Kids Club Team Autograph Session 11AM
Flat Screens & Bicycle Giveaways
$1 Hot Dogs
All Fans Run the Bases After the Game