Opening of the Veterans Stadium, April 10, 1971

I'm 67 yers old, probably went to over 100 games there. Some clown in the comments called it "Majestic." It was a dump from the get-go and it was downhill from there. Worst playing surface in sports history.

I remember going to my first game there in 1972 at age 7. It was so spectacular. Much better than on TV (pre-HDTV days). The colors of the seats, turf, uniforms and scoreboard were something to behold. And the outside walking up to it was the biggest thing I had ever seen. It was like a giant flying saucer. Unreal. My parents took me to see my idol Roberto Clemente play. I think it was his last game in Philly before getting his 3,000th hit, which would sadly be his last. Such a great memory. I also took my daughter there to see her first game a generation later. I miss The Vet.

The Vet was very similar to Three Rivers Stadium. I'm a Buccos fan but we had a great rivalry with the Phillies and I liked the Phils players. Schmidt, Carlton, Maddox, McBride, Luzinski. Willie Stargell hit that historic Homer in the Vet in '71 which was marked with a yellow Stargell 🌟. I've been right by the Vet though since we'd go thru Philly to go to Wildwood NJ. I have been to Three Rivers many times. I miss seeing the Vet even on TV 📺. Same for Three Rivers. Just so many great memories. Thank you for sharing. It's beautiful footage. The Stadium looked so beautiful on opening day

My dad took me to my first game there in 1977 against the Mets. Larry Christenson was the starting pitcher for the Phillies. He won 19 games that year. So fun.

The view from the top reminds me of our seats to watch the great Karl Wallenda tight rope across the stadium

Thank you so much for the video! Brings back so many great memories of me and my dad sharing time down at the vet. With all due respect to those who criticize the vet, I grew up in the '70s that was state of the art at the time remember we also listened to disco music in the 70s. Connie Mack Stadium was falling apart at the time and you took your life in your own hands going to see a ball game. The opening of the vet was a start of major change for the Phillies they became relevant again not at first, but in just 5 years we were division champions. Say what you want about the vet but it's on that horrible brutal turf that Championship champagne was spilled on it. To any true Phillies fan October 21st 1980 the vet was a palace! Thanks again.

Watch several games from this brand new beautiful MLB stadium during the 1971 season on Braves ⚾️television 📺 remember Willie Montana’s hitting homerun for the Phillies, we only had our color set a year then, and can still remember how beautiful that park was! Thanks Billy

This is awesome!!!

I was born on April 10, 1971. Curiosity made made me check if there were videos of what was happening that very day when I came into existence.

Majestic times, never to return

Is there anyone reading these comments on this account? Because the first time I’ve been to the veterans Stadium with somewhere back in 1978 during the time when the Philadelphia Eagles played there and then the last time I’ve been to veterans Stadium was somewhere back in 1992 when the Phillies played there, and now this place is always going to be remembered in this YouTube video.

I wasn’t at the game, but I remember watching it on TV. I was going to say that my biggest memory was watching Mike Ryan catch a ball dropped from a helicopter before the game. And then you showed it! My dad said there was no way he was actually going to catch it, that it was too high and would be coming down too fast.

Whenever I see clips of the old Vet, I always think of Kiteman.

Is that the notorious 700 Level I see there? Why yes it is. Saw plenty of of Phillies games in the Vet and few Eagles games as well. A ton of memories. Thanks for the upload.

The greatest home field advantage ever! Opposing players feared the vet, and the roaches in the basement!

0:53 If you look at the left you see the gold outline of the Liberty Bell that used to adorn center field. This was the Liberty Bell and not the one that used to sit at the top of the stadium that Greg Luzinski hit with a laser blast. Also, you can see Phil and Phillis as well. They are now at Storybook Land in Egg Harbor Twp, NJ.

My family had season tix from 76 until 94 .. Great memories as a kid

When asked to compare Connie Mack Stadium to Veterans Stadium, Richie Ashburn said it’s like comparing chicken shit to chicken salad. That’s appropriate when comparing the Vet to CBP.

Great memories, and to see how new and clean the stadium was. I walked into the stadium the next day after going to a Flyers Playoff game, and watched the last three innings

Very cool!!!