Seating at Citizens Bank Park
Built in 2004 towards the beginning of the modern baseball stadium movement, there are not many bad seats in Citizens Bank Park. In this section, we will break down the seating chart so you will understand all of the various seat options, and also explain the premium seating options and whether we think they’re worth spending your money on.
First, the layout. There are four levels in Citizens Bank Park. The 100 level is the lower level that surrounds the field almost entirely (barring center field). This includes the CP Rankin Club (formerly “Diamond Club”) behind home plate—the most premium, non-suite ticket option in the stadium that includes its own bar/lounge area, among other amenities.
The 200 level surrounds most of the stadium and includes the Hall of Fame Club (Sections 212-232), which has cool memorabilia and its own concourse and concession options.
The 300 level is the uppermost level in the right field/right corner, and then wraps around the infield/left field, while the 400 level is the top level from deep left to shallow right.
The Phillies do a good job of not making their seating chart too confusing. Rather than having four million different colors denoting different price categories, they’ve instead bucketed various sections together into zones. But we will go one step further to show you where there are real differences between seats, and where the differences are just trivial.
Premium Seating
Reserved Seating
Bars and SRO Areas
Our favorite seats at Citizens Bank Park
100 Level
Sections 112-118
Unless you need shade, or for night games where shade isn’t an issue, these are the best infield seats with a full view of the jumbotron in left field.
200 Level
Sections 201-205
These are a great budget choice, as they’re elevated over the field but not too high, and enjoy a smaller and less crowded concourse.
HoF Club
Sections 212-232
An air-conditioned lounge, amazing views, unique concession items, and an entire concourse full of Phillies memorabilia and history.
Our least favorite seats at Citizens Bank Park
Sec. 138-148, 241-245
The viewing angle makes it too hard to see the jumbotron. Go for right field instead.
400 Level Outfield
The 400 level is just too high, and you’re not saving much money over seats in the 300 level.
The Rooftop Bleachers
Just too far away from the action and you don’t have an actual seat. They sound fun, but aren’t.
A note about sun and shade
If you are going to a day game in the summer and would prefer to be in the shade, I strongly suggest sitting along the third-base line (126-138, 225-237, 323-333, 423-434), where the sun will be setting behind the ballpark. Otherwise, you’ll be in direct sun to go along with the humidity that we’re well known for during the summer, which for some just isn’t a lot of fun.
100 Level
The 100 level is the lowest level of the stadium closest to the field, and provides you with great views and vantage points all over the field. While most seats in the 100 level are great, there are definitely some spots to avoid, and others to be aware of during day games when the sun is beating down on the south Philly pavement.
100 Level Premium Seating – The CP Rankin Club
Let’s start with the best seats in the house, right behind home plate. Those are the CP Rankin Club seats in sections A-G, rows 1-19, and they are the most premium single ticket option in the stadium. The seats are cushioned and wider than normal seats around the stadium and also come with wait service so you almost never need to leave your seat. Behind these seats is the club area, located underneath the 100 level, which includes a private restaurant and lounge area (with air-conditioning), as well as some concession options that are not available in the general stadium. In addition to having its own private entrance into the stadium, CP Rankin Club tickets also grant you entry to the 200 level Hall of Fame Club, which is loaded with a concourse full of memorabilia and other things to check out (see our notes below).
But it’s important to note: the CP Rankin Club does not include any food or beverage with your ticket. All concessions inside the club are available a la carte for an additional charge, so be sure to not overpay for these seats expecting something more than just the cushy seat and access to the lounge area.
Are these seats worth it? Well, it’s the best view in the stadium, but you could sit just outside of the club in the infield and still have a spectacular seat. And while the additional food options are nice, they aren’t so compelling that you can’t live without them—and we’re fans of the food options available in the general bowl, including Ashburn Alley. So really, all you’re getting from these seats is access to the Club area, access to the 200 level club, and in-seat wait service.
So, for us, it really comes down to price. For the right price, sure… why not. But overpaying for these seats seems silly given the lack of included food or beverage. Our advice is to compare these seats to the price of other comparable seats in the infield and make your decision from there. If there’s an $80 price difference between CP Rankin seats and seats one section beyond the club, we’d take the non-club seats and spend the difference on food and beverage… or maybe even a new jersey!
The 100 Level Baselines – Sections 108-139
This is the entire 100 level from the left field corner to the right field corner. Here’s why we are grouping them all together into one bucket: there’s no real difference between these seats, other than how far away they are from home plate. You don’t need us to tell you that sitting in section 124 behind home is better than sitting in section 108 in right field. But we just want to let you know that the colors on the Phillies map don’t mean anything – these seats are all standard general bowl seats.
Having said that, sure – there are some things of note that will help you make a better ticket decision.
- If you’d prefer to have a clear straight-ahead view of the scoreboard, opt for seats along the first base line in sections 108-121. Some seats along the third base line (sections 134-138, rows 37-39) can’t see the scoreboard because they are blocked by the protruding second deck. Meanwhile, seats in sections 134-139 are unobstructed, but you’ll have to turn your head to see it, which isn’t preferable. So if you’re picking an outfield seat and want to prioritize seeing the jumbotron, pick the right field side.
- But, if you’d prefer to sit in the shade, then you should pick the third base line—it will be the first to get shade during a day game. If you really want shade, opt for the highest seat rows in the section, since they are covered by the awning from the 200 level. To be absolutely sure, pick the last three rows in the section (37-39 in most sections).
- If you’ve got kids with you, then the first base side will be closer to The Yard, which is the really impressive kids area. The shorter distance might be helpful if you need to walk or carry them over there for a distraction.
The 100 Level outfield – Sections 101-107 and 140-148
The 100 level outfield is a perfectly decent place to sit, especially if you’re looking for a more affordable ticket. But here are some seating notes to help you pick the right spot:
- Avoid sections 106-107 and 140-141 — they will have obstructions to the field due to the foul pole. The further away from the field you get, the less of an obstruction there will be, but still… why risk getting a bad seat when there are plenty of other better choices?
- Seats in the outfield (sections 142-148) are right in front of the Miller Lite Liberty Landing, which is a good place to get a wider selection of beers, and will also have easy access to the more unique food stands in Ashburn Alley.
- You can also get shade in the last few rows of the outfield (rows 15-16 in sections 102-106, rows 18-20 in 142-145) since they are also covered by the awning from the 200 level.
- Note that the seats in sections 140-148 will not have a clear view of the jumbotron. So if that’s important to you, opt for the seats in sections 101-105.
200 Level – Hall of Fame Club – Sections 212-232
The Hall of Fame Club runs from shallow left to shallow right field (sections 212-232) and features its own air-conditioned lounge/concourse with upscale concession and bar options, and has larger, padded seats. But the real draw of the club is the concourse full of memorabilia, which is essentially a museum for the Phillies. If you’re a baseball history fan, then the museum of one of the oldest teams in baseball is bound to pique your interest.
However, like the CP Rankin Club, you should note that the Hall of Fame Club does not include any food or beverages with your ticket—they are all available a la carte for an additional charge. So, like the CP Rankin Club, we would be careful to not overpay for these seats thinking that they include something that they don’t just because they’re “club seats.” But if you’d enjoy having access to some air conditioning, and would appreciate seeing the memorabilia in the concourse, then this is a good area to spend a little extra money for. All of the seats in the Hall of Fame Club share the same indoor concourse, so if you’re looking to save money, look for the seats further down the baselines.
Between the two premium seating options, we think the Hall of Fame Club is the way to go for out-of-town visitors looking to get a feel for the ballpark. While the CP Rankin Club may have the actual best seats in the stadium, it has more of a corporate feel and doesn’t come with many perks, with maybe the best perk being access to the Hall of Fame Club. With a private concourse and exclusive food items in the Hall of Fame Club, you still get the premium feel with excellent seats, but without the unnecessarily higher price.
200 Level Baselines – Sections 206-211 and 233-237
The 200 level has general bowl sections in both right and left field—sections 201-211, 233-237, and 241-245. These seats will all have an elevated view of the game over the 100 level.
If you want shade, you’ll prefer the seats down the third base line (233-237), but you’ll have a harder time seeing the jumbotron. The sections in left field (241-245) are directly under the massive new scoreboard, so you won’t be able to see it at all unless you turn completely around. We love the jumbotron, so we’d suggest skipping these seats.
200 Level Outfield – Sections 201-205 and 241-245
Believe it or not, sections 201-204 are some of my personal favorite budget places to sit in the entire stadium (but not 205, which has obstructed seats behind the foul pole). You have a great view of the game, they’re moderately priced, you can still see the scoreboard, and it’s not over-crowded since it’s a less-trafficked part of the stadium. Note, part of this is because I like an elevated view of most sporting events. However, if this is where you end up sitting on your trip to CBP, I don’t think you’ll regret it. You’re also close to The Yard if you’ve got kids, and Ashburn Alley if you want to grab some of the unique food items over there.
As for sections 241-245, the view of the field is fine from here, and behind these seats is the Harry the K’s sports bar (named after Harry Kalas, the Phillies Hall of Fame broadcaster), which is an easy place to grab some drinks and basic foods. And for busier games, it can be a lively area to hang out in. But note that the jumbotron will be right behind you in all of these sections, so you’ll have to do a 180 every time you want to check out a replay. And during day games, you will be in the sun for the entire game. But if that doesn’t bother you, this is a perfectly fine place to watch the game from, and a front row seat here will make it an even better spot.
300-400 Level
The 300 and 400 levels are the top two levels in the stadium but still offer great value. These two sections share a concourse, and there are plenty of food options available.
The 300 level is another pick for the best value tickets in the stadium, particularly if you opt for seats in sections 315-320, which will have a great view of the city skyline. But really, any 300 level seats from section 312-329 will be decent. There are no more than eight rows in most of these sections, which means getting up to the concourse is easy, and it doesn’t feel like these are nosebleed seats – you’re more engaged with the game from these sections than you might otherwise assume.
On the other hand, sections 301-310 in the outfield have a much more nosebleed feeling to them. There are 21 rows in these sections, and the further back you go, the more detached you’ll feel (obviously). If you’re looking for a budget seat, we’d be targeting the lower level outfield seats before you opt for these seats.
And the same especially holds true for the 400 level. Unless you’re in town for a series that is a sellout, there’s really not much of a savings to be had by choosing the 400 level over the 300 level, and we think it’s worth the upgrade. The 400 level can definitely feel detached from the game, so make this a choice of last resort. Unless you’re considering…
Rooftop Bleachers
Above Ashburn Alley in center field are the Rooftop Bleacher seats. On the positive side, they’re pretty cheap tickets. But on the negative side, you are really far from the field (farther back than all of the right field seats), you may have a partially blocked view of the field, and you’re sitting … on bleachers.
While the small concourse area next to the bleachers has a great view of the stadium as a whole and the skyline behind you, this isn’t a seating area that we would particularly recommend. If you’re a local who goes to the ballpark a lot, sure, it’s a different place to hang out on the cheap. But if you’re visiting and have limited opportunities to experience the ballpark, there are too many better seating options for us to suggest this to anyone. You should skip this.
Standing room & other non-ticketed areas to watch the game
For those of you who enjoy mulling around the ballpark and watching the game on your feet, there are a number of places at Citizens Bank Park where you can do that.
For some games (based on attendance), you can purchase an actual standing room only ticket directly from the Phillies website for $20-$30. But for those games where they aren’t available, you can always just buy the cheapest ticket available on a resale site and use that as an SRO ticket as well, which is often a better deal anyway.
At the top of most of the 100-level sections, there are non-ticketed railings you can stand at and watch the game. These will be in the shade and give great views of the field.
Miller Lite Liberty Landing
In the outfield behind sections 141-145, The Miller Lite Liberty Landing is one spot that we particularly like. All of the seats/tables in the patio are general admission that don’t require a special ticket. If you get a high top table along the railing, you’ll have a decent outfield view of the game, and the entire patio is shaded, so you’ll be nice and cool as well. The best part is that you can access these areas by just purchasing the cheapest ticket available. But you’ll want to get to the ballpark early and make your way directly there if you’re going to have a shot at grabbing one of these.
Harry the K’s
In the 200 level directly above this in left field is Harry the K’s, a big bar area with a ton of standing room. This is directly under the massive jumbotron, so you won’t have a view of that. This is more of a locals social area, so if you’re visiting from out of town, unless you’re looking to mix it up with the locals, we think there are better places to sit/stand.
Ashburn Alley / The Bullpens
However, the best standing room areas are in center field along Ashburn Alley, an area which contains some of the most popular food options, the Phillies Wall of Fame, the Yard (replica CBP wiffle ball field) and the main merchandise store. It also has some of the best views of the game next to the batter’s eye camera you see on TV. You can stand about 15 feet above the opposing team’s bullpen* and also on the rooftop overlooking Ashburn Alley where there are high-top tables and railings (note: this area is different than the rooftop bleachers, which are described above and require a ticket).
(*Originally, the Phillies’ bullpen was on top and closer to the concourse while the opposing team’s was on the bottom, shielded from the fans. We’ve discussed the fans, so you can probably figure out why they made the switch!)
Standing room tickets obviously come with some downside: you’re standing and/or walking for the game and you don’t have a spot locked down when you use the restroom or get something to eat. However, if you’re planning on spending multiple games at Citizens Bank Park, standing room tickets are a cheap option that will allow you to thoroughly explore the ballpark while still watching the game.
Bottom Line
There are some really great seating options around Citizens Bank Park and, as is the case with most of the modern stadiums, there aren’t many bad places to sit. If you can find a lower level infield seat within your budget, of course you should take it.
Don’t overpay for the CP Rankin Club—it’s not worth a premium price. The Hall of Fame Club in the 200 level is worth paying a bit of a premium for, but if you’re shooting for value, the 200 level in right field and the 300 baselines level are our suggestions. We suggest you avoid sitting in the 400 level if you can, and if you want a place to hang out with a great view of the field, hustle over to the Miller Lite Liberty Landing for a table with a view.
