New menu items and merch debut at Citizens Bank Park for Phillies opening day

The Phillies start off their home campaign against the Colorado Rockies this afternoon at Citizens Bank Park, hoping to bounce straight back from Sunday’s loss to the Washington Nationals. 

The park has plenty of new food, gear and game day experiences on offer for fans this season.

Billy Penn joined a group of season ticket holders at the ballpark Friday to see and taste most of the new offerings. There’s a lot rolling out, but here is what stood out for us.

New food

The s’mores quesadilla has piqued many people’s interest, and this Billy Penn reporter actually enjoyed it. The crispiness of the flour tortilla pairs so well with the Nutella and mini marshmallows, along with the chocolate drizzle over it, that we almost didn’t notice the graham cracker crumbles. We did not try it with the chocolate dipping sauce, so not sure if that might take the sweetness overboard.

Vonnie Negron, executive chef at Citizens Bank Park with Aramark, said that the quesadilla took about three iterations before they got the proportions right.

“It’s not a complex item, right? But you have to have the right texture on the flour tortilla, the right amount of Nutella. You don’t want it to get too messy,” he said.

The s’mores quesadilla will be available at the park’s Coca Cola corner.

The Four Walls Irish Coffee Tiramisu, available at the CP Rankin Club, was also a delicious sweet treat. The Red Velvet Affogato was not available to try when we went, but will be available as a limited time item this season, Negron said.

Many will probably be more interested in the cotton candy this season, to get the foam Phanatic mask that looks like it would easily fit faces of all ages.

On the savory end, Kyle’s Cutlets at Coca Cola Corner — a chicken cutlet on a Liscio’s rolled with fried pepperoni, arugula, creamy burrata, and sweet and spicy hot honey sauce — had a respectful level of spice to it. A portion of the sandwich’s sales go towards Kyle Schwarber’s Neighborhood Heroes charity.

Pass and Stow’s crispy chicken sandwich is also a noteworthy addition and felt heftier than its fast food counterparts, while the black bean burger, available at Greens & Grains in section 125, would have this omnivore considering whether to join that queue if the lines were shorter.

The Phillies clubhouse isn’t the only one anxious to give the home crowd a win on opening day, noted Negron, who said there’s a similar level of anxiety to make a great impression with the new food offering.

“I’ve been at the ballpark for 10 years and I still get super nervous, super anxious about opening day,” he admitted. “Phillies fans are very vocal, so they’ll let you know whether they like it or not.”

Drinks

For fans of beers with Philly celebrity ties, Jason Kelce’s (and sure, Travis too) Garage Beer will be available in the park’s beerstands.

Wrexham Lager, co-owned by “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” star Rob McElhenney as part of his British soccer venture with Ryan Reynolds, will also be available, making Citizens Bank Park the first stadium beside Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground in Wales to offer the beer.

“As many of you know, I grew up in the shadow of Philadelphia sports stadiums. So this is a true dream come true,” McElhenney said in a recorded video announcement.

Fun fact: Mac’s Tavern, McElhenney’s bar in Old City, held claim to the first place in Philly where you could previously get a bottle of the Welsh beer.

Gear 

Custom Victus baseball bats with artwork designed by Bruce “the Bat King” Tatem will be available exclusively at the park. Tatem created many of Bryce Harper’s Phillie Phanatic bats, Bryson Stott’s No. 2 pencil bat and others for the players with the King of Prussia-based batmaker.

Francis Winkey, Aramark’s Senior Merchandise Manager at the ballpark, said the new Phanatic items at the team store were what he was most excited to roll out. The lineup includes a full adult onesie, a suit jacket and a piggy bank.  

Winkey pointed to the Phanatic dangle hat and the Phanatic headband as some of the most popular items in recent years, which set the bar that he and his team aim for each new season.

“Things like that become iconic, that’s my goal,” Winkey said. “ Everything can’t be an icon, but I’m really proud when something gets to the level where people associate it with the Phillies or with Bryce. And obviously when the players take that on too, that’s a win for me. That’s special, because of how much work I put into this.”

The Phanatic also features on several of this season’s giveaways, including a widget hat for its birthday and a Fourth of July, water ice themed beach towel (both just for children 14 ). The full list of promotions is available on the Phillies’ website.

Monday’s game starts at 3:05 p.m. and can be watched on MLB.TV.