Citizens Bank Park was a long time coming for the Philadelphia Phillies Major League Baseball franchise. A really long time. In spite of a really short life span -- 33 years, just like Jesus Christ -- and holding a dear place in the heart of many a Phillies and Eagles fan, The Vet grew obsolete very quickly. It was hard, cold and ugly. Just about every other team in baseball had built a new ballpark in the past decade, and the ones that didn't played on diamonds called Fenway Park, Wrigley Field and Yankee Stadium. (It could be worse, the Mets still have Shea Stadium, but only for two more seasons.)

Seeing the success other teams (Indians, Rockies and of course Orioles) had with downtown parks, the Phillies wanted a downtown park and had the funding to do it, thanks largely in part to lobbying efforts by cross state teams the Pittsburgh Pirates and Penguins, and the signature of then governor Tom Ridge. Except, well . . . it was not to be.

While the Pirates and Steelers opened their stadiums in 2001 and the Eagles were building The Linc next to the FU Center, the Phillies still didn't know what they were going to do. Locations at Broad & Callowhill, Delaware & Spring Garden, and 30th & Walnut -- which directly above an exit to 76 and two blocks from 30th Street Station, where Amtrak, New Jersey Transit, and every single Septa regional rail, trolley and el line, was the perfect location, with an amazing northeast-facing skyline view to boot -- were all weighed, but none of these won.

Instead, thanks to the leadership of the Phillies organization and Mayor John Street, a new ballpark was awarded to a site at 13th & Vine . . . which was subsequently killed, thanks to sensible residents of Chinatown who had just a decade earlier seen their neigborhood split by the Vine Street Expressway. After what seemed like very little discussion and consideration for the other locations, it was announced in summer 2001 that the new Phillies ballpark would be . . . right next to The Vet.

Philadelphia's Ewing Cole Cherry Brott and Kansas City's HOK, who've made a name for themselves with their sports venues, collaborated on a somewhat throwback, neighborhood style ballpark which sits in the middle of a parking lot in South Philly. When you're inside the ballpark, it's a beautiful place: excellent sightlines, proximity to the field (and bullpen), the best concession stands in all baseball. The Schmitter and Bull's BBQ have fast lines, Tony Luke's and Rick's serve up the real deal cheesesteak, Planet Hoagie is called Planet Hoagie(!), and the bountiful beer stands serve Yards, Flying Fish, Tröegs, and other local brews. There isn't a bad seat in the house.

But. (This is the Phillies, of course there is a But.) You have to wonder what, if any, benefit the dead area of Pattison Avenue will gain from a baseball park that's open at minimum 81 days a year, much more exciting when it's open more than that. Now in its fourth season, the answer is next to none. McFaddens Pub is the only thing consistently open in the area, and it's in the ballpark. If they sacrificed only a quarter of what used to be The Vet, one could picture a row of shops, bars, stores, something. Better, it would mean that those of us riding the Subway wouldn't have to stop twice to let cars pulling into 'The Vet parking lot' cross our sidewalk.

At least it's got a killer view of the skyline, right? Well yeah, not bad for three miles away (as opposed to directly across the river) and being impeded by a giant Phillies sign the organization likes to call Theme Tower.

And the neighborhood? It's not a neighborhood. It's a giant parking lot and a Holiday Inn. Yeah yeah, like 70 people walk to every Phillies game from their homes in Packer Park. The brick paneled exterior is essentially meaningless but for the trite "traditional Philly red brick" aspect to it. If they had to build the ballpark here, they could have built something boldy and extraordinary, like Chicago's Soldier Field.

But well, we got Citizens Bank Park. It's a fine ballpark. It's just . . . in the wrong location and . . . it could be so much better.

Click below to see the ballpark under construction.