The NL East continues to be the best division in baseball…for ballpark food.
When the Mets opened Citi Field in 2009, they unveiled loads of high-quality dining options such as Shake Shack and Blue Smoke, which are both popular eateries in New York. Now the Phillies are taking a swing at premium meals and are one-upping the Mets by letting fans order from their iPhone or iPod Touch.
At Citizens Bank Park, anyone who owns MLB At-Bat (an application priced at $6.99) can order delivery simply by accessing the "At the Ballpark" section of the app and choose from finer fare such as Philly cheesesteaks, Tony Luke's roasted pork, Bull's BBQ turkey sandwiches, Planet Hoagie's Italian hoagie and the Eastern Shore crab cake sandwich. Plus, every sandwich comes with chips and a brownie.
The $12-$19 price tag is a bit steep, but if you fired down your Christmas bonus to score good seats, it makes sense to catch as much action on the field as possible.
Food service giant Aramark will run the program through the end of the regular season and will later decide whether to continue and possibly expand the program. For now, the Phillies, Aramark and MLB Advanced Media are all excited for the prospects of the program.
"It's a natural extension of customer service and fan experience," Brian Hastings, regional director of operations for Aramark, told MLB.com. "We're always looking for that next new way to enhance our customers' experience. We think this is a great way, with the new technology that everybody is using these days."
For those who still prefer traditional ballpark fare, there's no need to fret.
"This isn't meant for everybody," Hastings added. "There will always be a place for the hot dog and peanut vendors."
The Surgeon General has yet to comment on whether adding these delicacies while never getting out of a seat is good for one's health.
