It's alright if you are taken aback when you see Citizens Bank Park, the new home of the Phillies, for the first time.
Yes, that really is grass you are looking at.
Not astroturf-covered concrete, or unevenly laid NexTurf --the surfaces of choice at Veterans Stadium, which you either loved or hated depending on whether you rooted for the Eagles or any other team in the NFL.
Grass. Upon which professional baseball will be played in Philadelphia for the first time in 33 years tomorrow, when the Phillies play the first of two preseason exhibition games against the Cleveland Indians at their new home.
Of course, the playing surface is not Citizens Bank Park's only noteworthy feature. There are plenty of bells and whistles to keep any baseball fan happy -- and, importantly, well fed.
The 43,500-seat stadium is built primarily of red brick and concrete, a nod both to the "retro" baseball stadium movement and Philadelphia's architectural history. It is open-ended behind center field, offering a clear view of the Center City skyline. And when Jim Thome or Pat Burrell hits a home run, a neon silhouette of the Liberty Bell, 100 feet above street level in right-center field, will swing back and forth.
The stadium's dimensions are relatively even from left to right field -- although the outfield wall is cut at angles instead of being continuous, as was the case at Veterans Stadium.
The dimensions are: 330 feet to the right field foul pole, 369 feet to the right and left field power alleys, 401 feet to straight away center field and 329 feet to the left field foul pole.
But outfielders will be wary of an angled portion of left-center field, where the fence juts in from 385 feet to 381 feet and then out to 409 feet from left to right.
If you are sitting in the upper deck and can't quite figure out where the ball went, fear not. The largest LED video board in the National League towers above left field, measuring 39 feet, 5 inches by 69 feet, 7 inches. That is bigger than a four-bedroom quad in the high rises, which measures 45 feet, 8 inches by 21 feet, 9 inches.
Another important feature of Citizens Bank Park is the food, which should satisfy any baseball fan's afternoon or evening hunger.
Bull's BBQ is located at the east end of Ashburn Alley, an open-air walkway in center field similar to Eutaw Street at Baltimore's Oriole Park at Camden Yards. It will feature a full range of barbecued meats and is hosted by former Phillies slugger Greg "The Bull" Luzinski.
There are three restaurants in the stadium -- the High & Inside Pub, an indoor space on the stadium's terrace level, Harry the K's, a two-level restaurant built into the scoreboard and named for legendary Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas and McFadden's Restaurant and Saloon, featuring signature dishes from Center City eateries McFadden's and Zanzibar Blue.
McFadden's is located at the third base entry gate and will be open year-round.
On the concourses, concession stands will offer standard ballpark fare, with help from celebrated cheesesteak purveyors Tony Luke's and Geno's, as well as Turkey Hill ice cream.
And if a game has turned so thoroughly in the Phillies' favor that you choose to leave your seat and take a walk, the chance is high that you will come across either a piece of art or a historical exhibit. Penn alumnus Jonathan Mandell's mosaics dot the main concourse, and there are 10-foot bronze statues of Hall of Fame members Richie Ashburn, Robin Roberts, Steve Carlton, and Mike Schmidt.
Baseball history buffs will appreciate the medallions honoring every Phillies All-Star since 1933 and the team Wall of Fame. The club level contains the Cooperstown Gallery, which has oil paintings and artifacts from players on the Phillies, Philadelphia Athletics and natives of the area who have played professionally.
So if you're a baseball fan, or even if you're not, Citizens Bank Park should go straight to the top of your list of places to visit in the city, and soon.
