I have been to Citizens Bank Park multiple times and I have lived to tell the tale.

That statement was just me being dramatic. All kidding aside, I really enjoyed the ballpark and I highly encourage you to take a trip down there if you have not already. Why? Well, it’s close. You can cheer on the Mets, in enemy territory, and you do not even have to rent a hotel room from the night. If you live in close proximity to Citi Field, you can likely make it to Philadelphia in an hour and a half, without traffic. It is extremely easy to do a day trip there.

Why else should you visit? Here are some reasons why.

Cheer on the Mets
This is an obvious reason, now isn’t it? Now I know some folks may be a bit scared, but there is no need to be. You may get heckled a little bit, but from my experience, I have not dealt with that at all. In fact, it was more of a friendly rivalry amongst myself and the Phillies fans sitting around me. Now, I did not go into any of the bars surrounding the park, so I cannot attest to that. However, in the stadium, I was fine. It also did help that the last game I was at was the doubleheader where the Mets won the first game 24-4.

Get near the Mets during BP
A perk of getting to visit Citizens Bank Park is that fans were allowed to go right behind the dugout before the game — at least the few times I went to games there. Mets fans, in particular, were so close to the Mets dugout that players like Chris Flexen were playing catch and signing balls for kids (this moment, in particular, was back in August 2017). I do not believe that this has changed since I have last been there, so it is worth trying to get down there, especially if you are traveling with children.

Try their ballpark food
The food is something of note as well. There is a beautiful outfield concourse for food that you should definitely check out. Of course, you have the option of getting a Philly Cheesesteak from a few places, including the well known Tony Luke’s. However, if you are like me, and love Old Bay Seasoning, I highly recommend you get the crab fries. You won’t regret it. You can find these delicious fries at Chickie’s and Pete’s. The outfield food concourse can get crowded during the game (think Citi Field centerfield concourse) so keep that in mind when you are going for food. Here is a great list of the food places at Citizens Bank Park if for some reason you are not a fan of cheesesteaks or Old Bay.

See history
This includes both the history of the United States and the history of the Phillies. I know, I know, as Mets fans we do not want to see the Phillies best moments, I get that and I won’t get into that. But there is signage of the team’s best moments above the sections — so beware of that as Mets fans (or be appreciative of it, whatever you would like, I just want to give you a heads up that it’s there). In terms of history of the U.S., Citizens Bank Park is approximately a 15-minute drive away from historic Philadelphia. This means that if you do choose to make a day trip or a weekend trip out of going to the ballpark, there is loads to do, including running up the Rocky steps and seeing the Liberty Bell.

Enjoy their kids’ area
If you are bringing your children to the ballpark with you, there is a kids activity area for them to enjoy. This area is called The Phanatic Phun Zone and is located near the First Base Gate. This playground has tunnels, games, and slides. It even has a toddler-only section. It is open from when gates open and stays open the entire game.

One last thing I need to note…
Of course as Mets fans, we do not want the Phillies hitting any home runs against the Mets. However, I do need to note that whenever a Phillies player does hit a home run, a “liberty bell” lights up and “swings” back and forth. It is not nearly as big as the Mets’ home run apple — it is just a light. But each side lights up one after the other so it looks as though the bell is swinging. And yes, it does have a crack. And yes, you do hear the gong of the bell.

There is plenty of parking if you are driving to the stadium. In fact, three sports complexes (Citizens Bank Park, Lincoln Financial Field, and the Wells Fargo Center) all lie within the South Philadelphia Sports Complex. That’s pretty cool, right? All in one place? I think so at least.

Plus, the complex is also home to the Xfinity Live! Philadelphia which is a bar and restaurant that has also served as a media hub for various live broadcasts. I, unfortunately, have not gone there and cannot attest to how good it is or not, but if you have, please let me know!

All in all, the Phillies may be one of the Mets biggest rivals, but Citizens Bank Park is one of the closest ballparks to get to if you want to see the Mets on the road. As it can easily be done as a day trip, if you are looking to cross some ballparks off of your list, this is a good place to start.