It just isn't there anymore, much to the disappointment of many Philadelphia sports fans.Veterans Stadium was home to the Phillies and Eagles for more than 30 years. Since it opened in 1971, millions of baseball and football fans had some of the best times of their lives with this now-demolished park. However, time and the need for better facilities worked against the old park.
Built by the City of Philadelphia at a cast of $50 million, the stadium was replaced by Citizens Bank Park in 2003 and was torn down in 2004. One of the larger sports venues, Veterans Stadium held more than 62,000 for baseball and more than 65,000 for football.
Located between Packer Street, Interstate 76, Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, Veterans Stadium occupied a 74-acre site in the south part of the City of Brotherly Love. It featured a deep centered field (408 feet) and what seemed like acres of foul territory. For many years, Veterans Stadium still had wood fences. It was part of a sports complex that included the Spectrum, an indoor venue that was home to the hockey team, the Flyers, and the 76ers, an NBA franchise. JFK Stadium, once part of the same complex, was torn down and replaced by First Union Center.
The Phillies brought a World Series trophy to Veterans Stadium and Philadelphia in 1980, behind the hitting of Mike Schmidt and other veteran players. Veterans Stadium was unofficially known as the home of Connie Mack Stadium's original home plate, home of retired numbers of some of the most famous players in baseball history, and the site where fans could get the smallest hot dogs in baseball while experiencing the loudest boos anywhere.
