Eljer hits home run with Phillies

            The new 43,500-seat, state-of-the-art Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies, is the ultimate baseball and entertainment experience. It features natural grass and a dirt playing field ... a scenic view of the Philadelphia skyline ... an open-air atmosphere, and it has almost 1,000 toilets, sinks and urinals.

            According to Chris Miller, marketing manager of Eljer Plumbingware, Inc., whose products were specified, there are a total of 62 public restroom facilities at the ballpark - 24 women, 24 men and 14 family. All restrooms have a baby-changing table. Upscale bath products were installed in all of the stadium's sky boxes, and in the locker rooms. 

            For the public restrooms, white fixtures were specified for their ease in cleaning, said Miller.  But for the sky boxes, the specifications called for natural colors that the designers could work with. The deluxe skybox suites are located directly above the field level and afford spectacular views of all the baseball action. A total of 71 suites are accessible by a balcony that overlooks the main concourse.  Inside the suites, visitors are treated to state-of-the-art amenities including upscale catering, comfortable seating and suite furnishings that carry a distinct baseball flavor.

            Each suite also features a private 10’x8’ executive washroom complete with Eljer Aqua-Saver pressure assist toilets and half pedestal lavatories in the company’s Natural color that complements the room's red diamond-patterned wallpaper.

            "The Philadelphia Phillies stadium was the highest profile job over the past several years within our territory," said Bob Wexler, President of Vernon Bitzer Associates, a local manufacturer’s rep firm.  He stated that Herman Goldner Co., Inc., was the mechanical contractor on the job and to assure that delivery was staged on schedule, Vernon Bitzer was allowed to work directly with Eljer's Ford City, Pa., plant.  

            EwingCole, a nationally recognized, fully integrated architecture firm, was the lead architect, engineer, interior designer and planner of Citizens Bank Park. 

            "The facility in which a sport is played has become as important as the professional athletes that perform there," said Rachelle Damminger, a spokesperson for EwingCole.  "High-tech broadcast and press areas, glamorous suites, and enhanced site lines are commonplace in today's ballparks,” she said.  “By infusing modern ballparks with the nostalgia of baseball's golden years, new facilities can accommodate the amenities that have become mandatory in today's competitive environment."

            According to Christopher Tole, Herman Goldner's plumbing superintendent on the project, the mechanical contracting firm faced an uphill battle against time throughout the entire project.  Due to a bad winder and building delays, Goldner encountered many difficulties.  One such problem occurred when the plumbing fixtures arrived at the jobsite.  None of the elevators were up and running  and no loading docks were available, so the plumbers were forced to unload the fixtures with a fork truck and drive them up the ramps to the higher level restrooms for installation.

            The goal when designing Citizens Bank Park, according to EwingCole’s Rachelle Damminger, was to build a world-class ballpark that would offer fans an intimate and exciting experience.  One of the ways this was accomplished was by creating Ashburn Alley, a festive outfield entertainment area named in honor of Phillies legend Richie Ashburn. Ashburn Alley features an All-Star Walk, bi-level bullpens, interactive games for guests, a memory lane, a retail store and a variety of food and beverage options. It opens 2 1/2 hours prior to weekday games and 3 hours before weekend games so fans can watch batting practice.  

            Other areas of note in the stadium include:

·     The Cooperstown Gallery.  This area contains oil paintings and artifact cases of Hall of Fame players from the Phillies, Philadelphia Athletics (played in Philadelphia from 1901 to 1954, when the team was moved to Kansas City) and native sons who are enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.   

·     The Diamond Club. Features over 1,120 extra-wide, padded seats.  This special ticket area offers fans unparalleled sightlines along with an amenities package that includes in-seat wait service.

·     Liberty Bell. Towering 100 feet above street level, this 35’ by 50’ neon version of the Liberty Bell rings after every Phillies home run. The bell and clapper sway from side to side independently, its neon edges light and pulsate and its ring can be heard throughout the park.

            Since opening the park against the Cincinnati Reds on April 12, 2004, the Phillies' ticket sales have been brisk, with many games selling out.  The design of the ballpark and its amenities received rave reviews from the hometown paper – the Philadelphia Inquirer – as well as from the Washington Times. 

            The Phillies' stadium is the second most high-profile building in the Philadelphia area after the National Football League Philadelphia Eagle's stadium, which seats more than 68,000 people and has almost 1,200 men's restroom facilities.  Citizens Bank Park, which seats 43,500 people, has 310 general public men's facilities and 268 women's facilities.

            According to Chris Miller, sporting complexes are becoming a specialty for Eljer.  He noted that the company’s products can also be found in Coors Field in Denver where the baseball Rockies play; an NBA arena - the United Center in Chicago where the Bulls and the Black Hawks play; two AA Baseball Stadiums - Myrtle Beach Pelicans Stadium in Myrtle Beach, SC, and the Charleston Rainbows Stadium in Charleston, SC;  the NFL Carolina Panthers training facility at Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC; the Lowes Motor Speedway in Concord, NC; the University of South Carolina Gamecock Stadium in Columbia, SC; and the Greenville Growl AAA Hockey Team in Greenville, SC.

            Eljer Plumbingware, Inc., has been a leading manufacturer of plumbing products for the residential and commercial construction, remodeling and repair markets since 1904.  Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Eljer is celebrating its centennial anniversary this year.  For more information about Eljer products, call 800-423-5537 or visit www.eljer.com.

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CONTACT:        Chris Miller                                      Joel Williams
                        Marketing Manager                          Marketing Support Inc.
                        Eljer Plumbingware, Inc.                   (312) 565-0044
                        (972) 560-2036                                jwilliams@msinet.com
                        chris.miller@eljer.com

EDITOR’S NOTE: Digital photography is available by calling or emailing Joel Williams, Marketing Support Inc., (312) 565-0044, jwilliams@msinet.com.