Place Your Bids! Phillie Phanatic Statues Up for Online Auction Starting August 27

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Get ready for an online auction featuring twenty life-size Phillie Phanatic statues – all to benefit local charities.

The Phillies and Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) announced today that the popular lineup of "Phanatic Around Town" statues – including the one autographed by the entire 2010 Phillies team – will soon be available via an online auction at www.phillies.com/phanaticaroundtown.

Set to debut on Friday, August 27, the online auction will give fans the chance to bid on a variety of Phanatic statues each week. The auction will conclude on Thursday, September 30 – just prior to the end of the Phillies regular season.

Net proceeds from the sale of each Phanatic statue will be directed to Phillies Charities, Inc., which awards grants to charitable organizations.

All the statues were created by local artists and part of a unique public art project held in partnership with the Phillies and GPTMC. The fan and tourism initiative features the Phillie Phanatic, one of Philadelphia's favorite icons, and ties into GPTMC's With Love, Philadelphia XOXO™ tourism marketing campaign.  

The Phillie Phanatic is the only Major League Baseball mascot molded into a public art project. Since the program launched in April, thousands have taken photos with the statues while on display at local attractions. The statues will remain throughout the Philadelphia area until Sunday, August 29, before returning to Citizens Bank Park, where all 20 will be on public display at a "Phanatic Walk" for the remainder of the Phillies season.

"GPTMC's partnership with the Philadelphia Phillies has been a home-run, just as expected," said Angela Val, Vice President of Special Projects, GPTMC. "The Phanatic Around Town public art project continues to draw fans and visitors to the statues as they try to complete the quest of visiting all 20 statues. The feedback and photos we have received through facebook.com/visitphilly and twitter.com/visitphilly has been wonderful."

"We couldn't be more pleased with the excitement surrounding Phanatic Around Town," said David Buck, Senior Vice President, Marketing & Advertising Sales. "GPTMC, along with the talented artists and participating locations, have been tremendous partners in this program. We look forward to giving fans another chance to view the statues at Citizens Bank Park, as well as hosting the online auction to benefit Phillies Charities."

"PHANATIC WALK" DEBUTS AT CITIZENS BANK PARK

Beginning Friday, September 3, all the Phanatic Around Town statues will be on display at a "Phanatic Walk," located inside the Third Base Gate at Citizens Bank Park. The twenty statues will remain there throughout the end of the 2010 season for fans to enjoy while attending Phillies games.

Fans are also invited to come to Citizens Bank Park to view the statues on September 11 from noon-4 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, please visit www.phillies.com/phanaticaroundtown or www.visitphilly.com.

SOURCE Philadelphia Phillies