Reviews are in: Stadium Holiday Inn rooftop bleachers huge hit

South Philadelphia--Since the opening of Citizens Bank Park in 2004, the nearest part of the city's skyline, the Holiday Inn, has longed to cash in on it's proximity to the stadium complex by offering guests an unmatched "sporting experience." To do this, they climbed the hotel steps ... all of them. And, when the staircase ended, an idea was born.

The Yuengling Top O' the Bleachers at the Holiday Inning, the official name of the hotel's new rooftop game seating area, opened late last month to packed crowds. According to permits, the rooftop bleachers can seat up to 400 people, but some have estimated crowds over 600 gathered on every inch of available space.

Most of these fans have had nothing but positive reviews.

"It was really a great experience," said Ian Offerman, 56, of Point Breeze, who watched Roy Halladay's no-hitter through a telescope on the hotel roof. "The sight lines are awesome. The food is classic. And the back of the animatronic Liberty Bell is poetic. Plus, with military-strength binoculars, I can just make out Bull's Barbecue. Is that the Bull himself?"

"It's like Chicago, but really, really far from the field. And, really, really high up off the ground," said Sean McBride, a dentist from Marlton, NJ, comparing the seats to Wrigley Field's Waveland and Sheffield Ave rooftop stands. "All that was missing was the bratwurst ... and Ditka."

Venturing to the top of the 12-story hotel, however, especially as the seasons change and the shadows grow longer and the days shorter, is not for the faint of heart.

"The games are sold-out, so now the Holiday Inn is the diehard fan's only option," said Carol Francis, 38, dressing in layers for the 20-mph sustained winds that are part of the rooftop experience. "Oh, it's windy up there. During the last game, my eyes got so watery, I missed the final eight innings."

"The wind howls and you really can't hear the person next to you talk," said John Denpher, a Phillies fan from Trappe, PA. "But when it's blowing in the right direction, you can hear the roar of Citizens Bank [Park]."

The Phillies appear to welcome the new seats and plan to count the fans as part of the overall attendance for the respective game, despite being almost a quarter-mile away.

Holiday Inn's management said the bleachers will be open for Eagles' games beginning in November. Also, the hotel plans to add restrooms to the roof area. Currently, fans must climb the steps down to the lobby restrooms. Next season, a kids playland will be added to the very back edge of the roof.