Phillies fans pack Citizens Bank Park for 2026 Home Run Derby

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The summer of fun in South Philadelphia continues this week with events surrounding the MLB All-Star Game.

Phillies fans were out in full force as Citizens Bank Park played host to the 2026 Home Run Derby on Monday night.

The last time Philadelphia hosted the All-Star Game was in 1996 at Veterans Stadium. Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber were just three years old. On Monday, both All-Stars had the opportunity to participate in the Home Run Derby.

Samantha Donnelly, of Churchville, was one of the many Phillies fans who got to the ballpark early.

"This is my first Home Run Derby game, so I'm excited to see Kyle, Bryce Harper, hopefully hit some home runs. I wanna see Philadelphia get the W."

Hours before the Derby started, the Bank was packed with people heading to the pro shop and hanging out in Ashburn Alley.

Action News spoke with Juan Namnun as he made his way through the crowd.

"I mean this is like Route 76 at 5:30 on a Wednesday night," Namnun said.

But Namnun said he was thrilled to be in the bumper-to-bumper traffic.

"This is heaven. This is baseball heaven tonight."

Just above him, Sue Tamny and her family sat in the bleachers gearing up for the night ahead of them. Tamny called this a bucket list experience.

"I don't know why, but I've always loved the All-Star Game," she explained. "So when it was coming to Philadelphia, I said I wanna go! I don't know how, but I gotta go."