Phillies & Stadium Associates Make Authentic Game-Used Phillies Sod(TM) From Citizens Bank Park

PHILADELPHIA, March 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Authentic game-used sod from the actual playing field of Citizens Bank Park, home of the 2009 National League Champion and 2008 World Champion Phillies, is being made available to fans as a collectible for the first time.

This unique piece of Phillies memorabilia has been developed through a partnership between the Phillies and Stadium Associates, LLC, a Cranbury, NJ-based company licensed by Major League Baseball.

The sod at Citizens Bank Park was removed in November after six seasons of use (making it the original sod from Opening Day of the ballpark in 2004), including the 2008 World Championship season and 2009 National League Championship season.  It has been sectioned into 3" x 3" pieces, freeze dried, preserved, and displayed in a beautiful UV-glass case, where it comes with a photo of the field and highlights about the ballpark.  Each collectible includes a tamper-proof, hologram sticker from MLB's Authentication Program that can be verified by its unique number at www.phillies.com.  

The retail price for each 3" x 3" section is $79.99 for outfield or infield sections, or $119.99 for a Limited Edition piece of the painted Phillies logo section from behind home plate during the 2009 Post Season at Citizens Bank Park.  Each logo piece is numbered 1 through 2009.  

"Some of the greatest moments in Phillies history have been made on the playing field at Citizens Bank Park," said David Buck, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Advertising Sales. "We are extremely excited to give fans the chance to own a piece of this history with this unique collectible."

"For Phillies fans this is the first time they can own a piece of the field – the same grass from Opening Day in 2004 at Citizens Bank Park, and the same grass where the Phillies won the World Series in 2008," said David Andres, President of Stadium Associates. "So many memories and accomplishments by players and the team, and now, for the first time ever, fans can connect with the Phillies like never before."

Andres added, "Game-used collectibles will never be the same in Philadelphia. Beginning with only 2009 pieces of the Phillies logo from the 2009 postseason being available, each individually numbered, we expect them to move fast."    

Full ordering information is available at www.phillies.com or www.stadiumassociates.com and Citizens Bank Park™ at the Authenticated Game-Used Collectibles Kiosk behind Section 126 or the Majestic Clubhouse Store.

ABOUT STADIUM ASSOCIATES

Stadium Associates launched the concept of Authentic Collection Team Licensed Sod with Major League Baseball and Yankees Sod™ in early 2009. The company first began marketing authentic game-used team sod and authentic sod a year ago, and since January has also sold Game-Used BCS National Championship Game Sod™ from The Rose Bowl Stadium. In recent weeks Game-Used Super Bowl XLIV Sod has been available from Sun Life Stadium in Miami, where the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl were played. The company is licensed to sell both game-used sod from the playing field, and Authentic Collection Team Sod grown by the same sod farm the team chose for their playing surface. Stadium Associates is also now the licensee for Authentic Team Sod and Game-Used Team Sod for the National Football League and hold a Collegiate Licensing Company license for Game-Used BCS National Championship Game Sod™.  

SOURCE Philadelphia Phillies