Big spending, bigger expectations for the Phillies

The big picture: The Phillies have made the playoffs the last four straight years, including a 2022 World Series loss to the Astros.

• Last season, they clinched their second straight National League title — a feat they hadn't accomplished since stringing together five winning seasons between 2007 and 2011.
• They're running it back this year with their core nucleus, having re-signed slugger Kyle Schwarber and pitcher Christopher Sanchez to long-term contracts.
• Heading into Thursday's Opening Day tilt with the Rangers, they have one of baseball's deepest pitching staffs, led by Zack Wheeler and closer Jhoan Duran. 

Catch up quick: In an unsettling trend for fans and their owner's championship aspirations, the Phillies' bats fell silent in the playoffs, and they've had some bad late-season luck (see: Wheeler's blood clot) that has contributed to the team going bust in Red October.

• Many still-buoyant fans believe the team was one enormous playoff blunder (see: Orion's gaffe) away from putting themselves in position to make another World Series appearance.
• Orion Kerkering's panicked throw to home plate (instead of first base) in extra innings against the Dodgers in last season's NLDS capped another gut-wrenching demise that has embodied the Phillies' so-far unkickable postseason struggles.
• Frustrations trickled out in the offseason, with Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski suggesting All-Star slugger Bryce Harper was no longer an elite player after having an off year in 2025. Harper was stung by the dig — and many fans are wondering how he'll respond this season.

State of play: The Phillies' expensive core is another year older — and the bet is they'll age like fine wine. They'll need to, as fans say they're already feeling the pinch.

• Middleton, the Phillies' not-for-want owner known for spending aggressively, this week unveiled plans for $600 million in renovations to Citizens Bank Park, already one of baseball's best stadiums.
• The team has also rolled out new offerings, including a rebrand of the beloved Harry Kalas deck, which has irked some fans who see a growing corporate sheen overtaking tradition.

By the numbers: Fans are paying between 35%-75% more, depending on their season ticket package ($2,854-$16,975 this year) than they shelled out in 2023 ($1,630-$12,555) — the season after the Phils' World Series trip, per an Axios analysis. And that's before you factor in the extra money they're ponying up at games for food, beer and merch.

• The steep bump is also reflected in average single-game ticket prices on the secondary market, which have climbed from $41 in 2016 up to $98 this season, per data provided to Axios by TickPick.

• Fans can still find deals, but they should expect to pay up for high-profile games, like the home opener or Yankees matchups, a StubHub spokesperson tells Axios.

What they're saying: "I kind of feel robbed," 302Birds podcaster Dalton Holland tells Axios. "I don't just want elite players. I want an elite result. I want to see them put it all together now and actually go out and win something. That's what we're paying for."

• Phillies fan Frank Atwood remembers when the team was so bad they couldn't give away tickets. One year, he attended 45 games for free through a hook-up he had through his wife's former employer.

Flash forward: Now the Bank is boppin' deep into the postseason: The Phillies have been among the top 10 teams in attendance since 2023, averaging more than 41,000 fans at home games in 2025 — close to the stadium's sellout capacity, per ESPN.

Yes, but: Lifelong season ticket holder Mickey McKenzie says FOMO is keeping him paying the premium, hoping this is the year the Phils break through.

The bottom line: "There's not enough people who are going to say, 'I'm out,'" he says, "because there's a line of people waiting for better tickets" to replace them.

If you go: First pitch is at 4:15pm. Tickets: $130+