PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — With rain in the forecast for Thursday, the Phillies have postponed their scheduled season opener until Friday at 3:05 p.m. Fans heading to Citizens Bank Park for that first pitch — or anytime after that — should take note of a change to the bag policy.
If you can't see through it, you may want to leave that bag at home instead of trying to carry it into the ballpark.
"The first question they should ask is, 'Is it clear or unclear?’” says Kevin Hackenbrack, the Phils' director of security operations.
Under this season's security policy, fans will not be allowed to bring non-clear bags like backpacks and drawstrings into the stadium. The clear bags have a size limit of 12″ x 6″ x 12.”
The Phillies say the changes are to speed up fans' entry into the stadium. They say all bags will be subject to inspection upon entry per MLB security regulations and clear bags allow for faster searches.
"We want to be able to have a clear bag where we can visually see the contents inside that bag."
Medical bags and diaper bags are allowed, and they do not need to be clear — but binocular cases, tote bags, mesh bags and patterned plastic bags are not allowed.
Purses are allowed if they are clutches or fanny packs, 5″ x 7″ or smaller.
Hackenbrack says the previous bag policy confounded some fans. He pointed to the rule barring prohibiting large purses.
"We'd have guests that say, 'Well, this is a medium purse.' So it was very — it came up to too much interpretation of the individual," Hackenbrack said.
"That's been one of the gripes that we've heard through social media. So I think we're really trying to install this policy where it can be the same policy for years to come."
Hackenbreck says the Phillies' new policy is more consistent with those at Lincoln Financial Field and the Wells Fargo Center.
Fans with prohibited items will have to return them to their cars or rent a locker right outside the ballpark.