PHILADELPHIA (WFMZ-TV) — Hours before the MLB All Star game, the parking lots at Citizens Bank Park started filling up with tailgaters, getting ready to see something that hasn’t come to Philly for 30 years.
“We weren’t even born yet, so a once in a lifetime opportunity over here,” said John Zanczuk.
Zanczuk and his friend Mike Bennet are lifelong Phillies fans, and they were excited to see the team’s all stars.
“Kyle Schwarber, our pitchers, especially our closer. We get in a position to close out the night, all the lights will go off, the song will come on, it’s going to be electric in here,” said Zanczuk.
But for once, Citizens Bank wasn’t just filled with red and powder blue jerseys.
“We’re here to root on the Braves,” said Adam Bilkis.
Bilkis is one of those fans who came to Philadelphia from out of state, but he said he was ready for some Philly hospitality.
“What are you looking forward to most in the game?” asked 69 News Reporter Rob Manch.
“To see how much my team gets booed by the Philadelphia crowd,” said Bilkis. “You Philly fans are ruthless.”
Christopher Rodriguez was rocking a Dodgers jersey.
“I saw Ohtani for the first time and I just liked him,” said Rodriguez. “They said that he wasn’t going to play tonight, but there’s other Dodgers players coming, so that’s what I’m going to look into and hopefully they score.”
We even found one family with some split loyalties: Pirates and Padres.
“That’s the best part about the All Star game. You get everybody from all different teams sharing their love for baseball. It’s great,” said John Leitzell.
Yeah it’s great, but at the end of the day, let’s be honest.
“Go Phils. That’s it Go Phils,” said Zanczuk and Bennet.
Now that the All Star break is almost over, the Phillies have a home game at Citizens Bank against the Mets coming up on Thursday night.