Fan Guide: Philadelphia Phillies

01/30/2006
The Phillies have been training in Clearwater, Fla., since 1948, but are beginning just their third season at Bright House Networks Field. Players can also be found working out across the street at the Carpenter Complex, located on the west side of U.S. Highway 19.
Philadelphia begins this campaign with expectations of advancing to the postseason for the first time since 1993. It fell one game short of a Wild Card berth last season, fighting with Houston until the final day of the season.
New general manager Pat Gillick has made some major changes already, starting with the deal that sent Jim Thome to the White Sox for Aaron Rowand and two pitching prospects. Other new additions are Tom Gordon, Ryan Franklin, Abraham Nunez, Sal Fasano and Ricardo Rodriguez. They will be asked to replace guys like Billy Wagner and Vicente Padilla, and mesh with returning mainstays Jimmy Rollins, Pat Burrell, Bobby Abreu, Jon Lieber and Brett Myers.
Manager Charlie Manuel returns for his second season at the helm, after guiding the Phillies to 88 wins, their highest total since the 97-win tally of 1993.
As Phillies fans prepare for their journey to the Florida beaches, here are some questions and answers that should help:
When do the Phillies arrive at camp?Pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training on Feb. 16, with the full squad scheduled to arrive on Feb. 21.
When do games start?The Phillies travel to Tampa for their first Spring Training game, March 2 against the Yankees at Legends Field. The first home game at Bright House Networks Field is March 3, also against the Yankees. The home opener begins at 1:05 p.m. ET.
As a bonus to the Grapefruit League schedule, the Phillies will host Abreu and the Venezuelan national team in an exhibition on March 4, also at 1:05 p.m. It should be an interesting experience for Abreu, who has been a Phillie since 1998.
The Phillies remain in Florida through March 30, then head north for an On-Deck Series hosting the Red Sox at Citizens Bank Park on April 1 and 2.
How do I get tickets?Tickets for all spring games, including the exhibition with Venezuela, are now on sale and can be purchased online at phillies.com and in person. The Phillies' ticket office at Citizens Bank Park is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. The Clearwater ticket office at Bright House Networks Field is open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets for the On-Deck Series are available online and in Philadelphia only.
Tickets for Spring Training games in Clearwater range from $9 for berm seats to $25 for club-level seats. Tickets for the On-Deck Series will be sold at discounted regular-season prices.
Bright House Networks Field features Frenchy's Tiki Bar. The park has a maximum seating capacity of about 9,200, with 7,200 fixed seats and the remainder spilling out on the sloping lawn beyond the outfield fences.
Ticket prices and other information can be found at Phillies' Spring Training Tickets page.
Where is Clearwater, and how do I get there?Located on the Gulf of Mexico, Clearwater is about 25 minutes west of Tampa International Airport. Take Highway 60 across the Courtney Campbell Causeway.
The park is located on the west side of U.S. Highway 19, adjacent to Carpenter Field at 601 Old Coachman Road and near the intersection of U.S. 19 and Drew Street (Old Coachman runs parallel to U.S. 19. The field is one block north of Drew).
How can I watch the team work out?Before Grapefruit League games begin, Phillies workouts are held at the Paul Owens Training Facility at Carpenter Complex, across the way from Bright House Networks Field. Workouts are free and open to the public. The best time to see players working out is between 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
Where can I get some autographs?The best spot for Phillies is down the left-field line as they enter and exit the clubhouse. For visiting players, you'll want to line up on the first-base side.
Phillies fans should also take note of the parking area just beyond the half-field that is adjacent to the main entrance, which is along the third-base side.
What else is there to do in Clearwater?Besides the 35 miles of beaches, Clearwater is within minutes of many popular Florida attractions. It's 30 minutes to Busch Gardens in Tampa and 90 minutes to Walt Disney World, Sea World and Universal Studios in Orlando. The city of Tampa is a short drive for museums and shopping, including International Plaza and Bay Street. Channelside, at the port of Tampa, has every kind of entertainment: cruises, IMAX movies, dance clubs and the Florida Aquarium.
For more information on Clearwater, you can visit www.floridasbeach.com.
When do the Phillies open the regular season?The Phils open the regular season against the Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, April 3, at 3:05 p.m.

Source: http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/