PHILADELPHIA — For more than a quarter century, Phillies fans considered Dollar Hot Dog Night among the best ballpark promotions — but the team has now decided it was the wurst.Those dog days of April — when the Philly weather is cold andthe wieners are a steal — are going, going, gone.The Phillies officially ended the popular promotion Thursday and replaced dollar dogs on select dates with a 2-for-1 deal at two April games at Citizens Bank Park.A statement from the team said the change was made “based on the organization’songoing
commitment to provide a positive experience for all fans in attendance.”What wasn’t positive about Dollar Dog Nights?Armed with projectile frankfurters, some unruly Phillies fans began chucking their favorite Hatfield meatduring a game last season, and the dogs soared like cans of corn throughout the stands andontothe field. The demand forthe discount dogs also led to clogged lanes on the concourse, leading to security and safety concerns.An April 11 game last season turned into a Philly food fight when fans — largely good-naturedly — tossed their ballpark franks in several sections,leading to multiple ejections.
It wasn’t just the throwing,” said John Weber, senior vice president, Phillies ticket operations and projects. “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.”
To be frank, the Phillies don’t necessarily need the deal these days to pack in crowds. The Phillies started the promotion 27 years ago when they still played at cavernous Veterans Stadium to try to boost ticket sales on an otherwise dreary game night.
But the Phillies stuck with the food-frenzy deal through the decades, even as they rose again to become one of the best teams in the National League. The Phillies topped 3 million fans last season — and scheduled three Dollar Dog Nights for two April and one May weeknight game when attendance is generally down compared to weekend games.
“The idea originally was much more family-orientated, four, five, six people and having a discounted concession item,” Weber said. “As it’s morphed over time, it’s gone more to a younger demographic, which is great as well, especially in the April, May time frame.”The Phillies BOGO nights this season are April 2 against the Reds and April 16 against the Rockies.
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