It's outta here! Owner John Middleton defends Phillies scrapping name of Harry Kalas on outfield bar
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — John Middleton noshed on finger foods and even raised a Sánchez Slider — a chicken sandwich named in honor of the Phillies' star pitcher — as sort of a toast in appreciation for the millions spent on a makeover that modernized Citizens Bank Park just in time for the start of an All-Star Game season. The Phillies owner had every reason to puff his chest over the upgrades: There's a video screen in the rebuilt team store — All-Star Game merch now on sale! — so fans never have to miss a pitch while they shop and a premium Hall of Fame club level that serves as sort of a team history lesson on everything from jerseys to electronic slideshows of great moments to a chance to stop for a photo opp with their two World Series championship trophies.
Cristopher Sánchez and Jesús Luzardo mingled among influencers and retired team greats as passed hors d’oeuvres — naturally, starters — highlighted new gluttonous menu items like a Schwarbomb Sundae. You know, just like the song says, buy me some peanuts and a funnel-cake-fried strawberry Uncrustable. Yet, everything comes with a price, be it for the refreshed concession stand delights at the home of the reigning two-time NL East champions or the combined $249 million in new contracts the Phillies gave to Sánchez and Luzardo this month to anchor the rotation for years ahead.
The bill always comes due, for fans and even the front office. With finances in mind, the Phillies made the widely panned decision to strip the name of the team's late, beloved Hall of Fame broadcaster Harry Kalas from essentially an outdoor bar out in the left field stands and peddled the naming rights to an energy drink company. Like his famed home run call, Harry the K's is outta here!
The mawkish outrage among Phillies fans was immediate as they directed their anger toward a franchise they believed turned their back on the voice of a franchise — he touched 'em all on the mic, from Mike Schmidt to “ The Man ” Chase Utley — in exchange for, what, a few extra dollars? Well, yeah. “If you want a $300 million payroll, you need about $600-plus million dollars of revenue, you're looking for money everywhere,” Middleton said Tuesday night.
“By the way, if you go to Yankee Stadium, Dodger Stadium, (advertising) is all over the place. That's the cost of doing business. ” (Forbes valued the Phillies this month at $3.
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