The countdown clock began to tick when the Philadelphia City Council approved funding for a new Phillies ballpark and an Eagles stadium in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex. The vote came in a special session of City Council this morning in the Council Chambers on the fourth floor at City Hall.

The approval of Legislative Bills 721A and 722A, the first of 13 total Bills, came at 11:19 a.m. The vote was 15-2.

"This is a great day," exclaimed Phillies President David Montgomery. "It represents a great day for not only the organization, but primarily for our fans.

"It is a major step that will allow our fans to see baseball played in a very special ballpark.

"Since 1990, 17 new ballparks have been built in the country," Montgomery said. "Our fans now will have the same experience as other fans in other cities.

"Our players won't be stepping inside PNC Park in Pittsburgh next season and wondering if this will ever happen in Philadelphia."

The Phillies' new state-of-the-art ballpark will be a classic-style, grass-field, open-air venue with intimate seating for approximately 45,000 fans. It will be designed with an eye for detail and fan comfort.

Home plate will be located near the intersection of 10th Street and Pattison Avenue, on a plot of land currently part occupied by the Jetro warehouse. The ballpark will be oriented toward center city, giving fans a breathtaking view of the Philadelphia center-city skyline.

The Phillies are committed to a 30-year lease, continuing their tradition as the longest-standing professional team in the City.

Work on the design has resumed since the Sports Complex site was designated by Philadelphia Mayor John Street five weeks ago. "We held up on the final design because of the uncertainty of the final site," Montgomery said. "We'll accelerate this process early next year and definitely plan on opening in April of 2004."

The Phillies' architectural team includes Ewing Cole Cherry Brott of Philadelphia and HOK Sports Facilities Group, Kansas City, MO. ECCB planned, designed and renovated numerous well-known sports and entertainment complexes on the east coast, including the Meadowlands Sports Complex, Philadelphia Park, Atlantic City Convention Center, Kvaerner Philadelphia Shipyard and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. HOK's ballpark projects include Jacobs Field, Camden Yards, Coors Field, Comerica Park, Pacific Bell Park, Enron Field and PNC Park. Leading the construction will be L. F. Driscoll Co., Bala Cynwyd, PA, and the Hunt Construction Group, Indianapolis, IN. Driscoll's projects include One Liberty Place, the First Union Center, and the Liacouras Center at Temple University. HCG has built Jacobs Field, Pac Bell Park, Comerica Park, Tropicana Field, Bank One Ballpark, Safeco Field and Miller Park.

The City Council Chambers was filled with various building and construction union personnel. Someone dressed like Santa Claus stood in the back of the room. A sign was draped over Santa's shoulders: "Build them now."

"Now" has arrived.

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