When Brett Romberg and Mallory Stephens saw the schedule of events for yesterday’s twin billing in South Philadelphia, they made a point to mark it on their calendar.
What twin billing, you ask? Well, the Sixers held their annual “Fan Appreciation Night” about an hour after the final out at Citizens Bank Park. To encourage a spike in attendance, the Sixers offered $5 admission for fans trading in their Phillies’ ticket stubs.
So, after taking in the electric atmosphere for the Phillies’ home opener, Romberg, Stephens and a few hundred other diehards made the short walk across the street and entered a half-filled Wachovia Center.
“The difference is that everyone knows they’re not going to the playoffs,” Romberg said about the Sixers. “I would like the Sixers more, even if they were bad … if they had a player I cared about. I mean, I don’t care about Andre Iguodala or Sam Dalembert.”
The promotion seemed to work. The Sixers drew 17,401 last night against Miami.
