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John Middleton a Little Dismissive When Asked About the Removal of the Analog Clock at Citizens Bank Park
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The Phillies had media at the ballpark on Tuesday night to check out the new Hall of Fame club and whatnot, and John Middleton was made available to the scribes.
TK at On Pattison asked him about the removal of the analog clock in center field:
First off, it’s a masterful job to not spill the drink. That thing was sloshing around like the wave pool at the Great Wolf Lodge. The fact that Middleton kept every single drop inside of the cup is truly impressive.
Second, a little bit of background –
This clock had been at CBP since it opened and recently made way for an All-Star Game logo. It was a nod to the clock that used to sit above the scoreboard at Connie Mack Stadium, so there’s a throwback and nostalgia element to this. Middleton seems to ignore it outright, and says that the world changes and people move on, and while that’s generally true, Philly sports fans like history and are very slow to embrace change, if at all. Case in point – the GHOST Energy Deck replacing Harry the K’s this season. Fans aren’t naive to the financial reality of requiring strong corporate partners, and related signage, but there’s this general sense that the ballpark is losing the charm it once had, bit by bit and piece by piece.
Middleton also mentions fans getting the time on their phone, basically suggesting that an analog clock is pointless in 2026. That’s probably true, but we’re always dicking around on our devices anyway, so anything to keep our eyes off a screen can be seen as a good thing.
I guess Phillies fans are just looking for some understanding and sensitivity when it comes to recent changes at Citizens Bank Park. Dunno if that sounds soft or not. They’ll eventually accept all of this and move on, but Middleton seems a little dismissive of the whole thing. He calls the fans “customers,” which never goes over well. He’s been a really good owner for a long time and generally has the right words, like Jeffrey Lurie, but this comes off a little different. Maybe he was three Pinot Grigios in. Who knows?
“Tik Tok on the clock but the party don’t stop, no, whoah – whoah-ah-oh, oh whoah wa-whoah” –
Kevin has been writing about Philadelphia sports since 2009. He spent seven years in the CBS 3 sports department and started with the Union during the team's 2010 inaugural season. He went to the academic powerhouses of Boyertown High School and West Virginia University. email - k.kinkead@sportradar.com