Phillies To Extend Protective Netting At Citizens Bank Park

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- In line with new Major League Baseball recommendations, the Phillies are extending the protective netting behind home plate at Citizens Bank Park.

The move to extend the protective netting by ten feet toward each dugout, follows a season in which several fans throughout the league were injured by foul balls and broken bats. Phils executive vice president and chief operating officer Mike Stiles says this will put 400 to 500 additional seats behind the netting.

"Some fans very much appreciate the protection and will want to take advantage of additional protection," Stiles told CBSPhilly.com. "Other fans don't want to have a net between them and the ballplayers. And we can accomodate both."

Stiles says ticketholders who don't want to sit behind the expanded net will be given the option to move and that the Phillies are talking with manufacturers about thinner, "knotless" netting that would be easier to see through.

Stiles also says the netting will also be extended at Bright House Field in Clearwater for spring training games.

Major League Baseball has recommended that teams have protective netting for field-level seats within a 70-foot radius of home plate.