A Great Life Hack For Dollar Dog Night At Citizens Bank Park
Dollar Dog Night. A coveted Philadelphia tradition at Citizens Bank Park. A most sacred event for those who like to consume the cheapest of cheap libations. On Tuesday, April 11, 2023, the celebration turned to chaos.
“What happened?” you may be asking. Long lines, rule breaking, and an all out food fight made the night a disaster. Some were waiting in lines to get a $1 hot dog for over an hour, missing multiple innings. Only 4 hot dogs per person, they said. Some were walking away with over 10 dogs in-hand. In section 112, a hot dog eating contest turned to mayhem as franks started flying.
Well, folks, I was there. I was witness to it all. And I managed to avoid it all. To be fair, I wasn’t in section 112, so I was removed from the food fight by default. In terms of the egregious lines, I managed to get away without struggle. How? Veggie dogs. You heard me. Vegetarian. Hot. Dogs.
Greens and Grains, a vegetarian restaurant, opened up a stand in the ballpark this year. In section 125, behind home plate, there is a tiny stand serving up vegan gyros and paninis. The new stand had little to no line when I rolled up in the 4th inning. “Oh well,” I thought, “I don’t need a hot dog anyways.” I was fully prepared to pay full price for one of their menu options, because I was NOT about to wait an hour or more anywhere else.
After a less-than-ten-minute wait, I was greeted by a glorious sign.
Photo by Gina Cosenza
Most will turn their nose up at a veggie dog, but I was not phased. A dollar dog, that tasted essentially the same, for a FRACTION of the wait? SOLD. There was no way around it for me. dress it up with some ketchup and mustard, it literally tasted no different. And again, it was a DOLLAR. Just like the other dogs. It was my crowning achievement of the night. I missed maybe half an inning.
So my life hack officially is, if you attend a Phillies game on Dollar Dog Night, stop by Greens and Grains. The next two Dollar Dog Nights are on April 25 and May 9.
Now Citizens Bank Park, can I have a word with you? Just quickly before I go. You scheduled Dollar Dogs on the same night as Red goes Greek Night, and a night of your #CollegeSeries. Now lets think about this. You invited a bunch of broke college students to the game on a night when food is cheapest. Sounds fine in theory, right? You’re doing them a favor. No. That is why there was chaos, guys.
The lines were that long BECAUSE of the college students. To no fault of their own, again, they’re broke. But if you don’t want another catastrophe, maybe don’t double book those two again.
Sincerely, a former college student and fan of Dollar Dog Night.
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