Phillies end long-standing $1 hot dog nights after fans threw them on field last season
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One of the best promotions in all of Major League Baseball is coming to an end, and Philadelphia Phillies fans are not happy about it.
Dollar hot dog night at Citizens Bank Park in South Philadelphia has been a staple for 27 years as one of the best promotions in the majors.
But the Phillies announced Thursday they are ending the promotion.
The team is replacing it with a two-for-one deal at two April home games this season.
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Former Philadelphia Phillies great Raul Ibanez shoots hot dogs into the stands with the help of the Phillie Phanatic during a game against the Chicago White Sox at Citizens Bank Park Aug. 4, 2019, in Philadelphia. (Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
The official word is the decision was "based on the organization’s ongoing commitment to provide a positive experience for all fans in attendance." But the unofficial reason could be due to what happened last year on dollar dog nights.
A food fight erupted in the stands at the Bank during an April 11 game against the Miami Marlins. Fans were launching the dollar dogs at one another and some landed on the field. Multiple fans were ejected in several sections throughout the park.
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"It wasn’t just the throwing," John Weber, senior vice president, Phillies ticket operations and projects, told The Associated Press. "It’s the concourse, the crowds of everybody being at the same X amount of stands. But, obviously, you know, the throwing was a little bit of a tipping point."
Weber added that the promotion was always designed to be a "more family-orientated" deal, which started when the Phillies played at Veterans Stadium. The promotion, offered weekdays early in the season during April and May, was intended to draw more fans.
The Phillies also didn’t have as much success then as they do now, making it to the World Series two seasons ago and reaching the National League Championship Series in 2023.
Teoscar Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners, left, hands a Philadelphia Phillies ballgirl a hot dog that was on the field in the bottom of the ninth inning at Citizens Bank Park April 25, 2023, in Philadelphia. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Phillies fans will have to settle for the two-for-one deals April 2 against the Cincinnati Reds and April 16 against the Colorado Rockies.
Fans are already ripping the decision on social media.
As for other teams across the league, the Texas Rangers host dollar dog nights at every Wednesday home game at Globe Life Field. The Minnesota Twins do the same for every Tuesday home game.
A ballpark employee prepares hot dogs ahead of Game 5 of the 2022 World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Houston Astros at Citizens Bank Park Nov. 3, 2022, in Philadelphia. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
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The Pittsburgh Pirates will have at least six dollar dog nights this season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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