As the trip south progressed the Noise Nation road team was anticipating the annual showcase and a chance to watch the new team in action. Sort of a Spring training of our own if you will.
I haven’t been to Reading for many years and FirstEnergy Stadium looked great. The various renovations and
FirstEnergy Stadium (click to enlarge)
improvements performed over the last 2 years have resulted in an aged park that was now able to combine both past and new to provide a great venue.
The food was good, reasonably priced and the service top-notch. While not quite the variety of Coca-Cola Park, the menu selection was great. Philly fans are fortunate to have Coca-Cola Park and FirstEnergy stadium in their system just a short drive apart.
Ritchie T at the Bat (click to enlarge)
As the game progressed we found ourselves cheering on both the IronPigs and the R-Phils when a voice bellowed.
“Hey you!” “Stop ringing that bell!” “Are you a Lehigh Valley fan?” (we were all wearing IronPigs gear) “You may get away with that up there but we don’t do that here!”
The bells were promptly stowed without question.
Schwim looked strong (click to enlarge)
If the Nation offended anyone in Reading we apologize – it was not our intention. If any R-Phils fan finds us in the Bud Light Trough this summer – stop on by – we’ll give you a bell – To Bring THE NOISE!
Wait. There was a game wasn’t there? Well, the Pigs lost to the R-Phils 7-6. The Pigs were short 8 players and had four Reading Players wearing Pigs uniforms. (Thanks to Michael Lore of the Express Times for that tidbit)
Regardless of all that the IronPigs looked ready to go. Once Coach Sandberg gets his remaining players we shall all enjoy the show.
See ya at the movies!
Oink
DiPro’s Dish
noisenation.mlblogs.com 
I’d have gone to a Reading team employee (are they as abundant there as we have in Allentown?) and said something. Better to know the team’s stance than just take the word of one snotty customer.
Pity Reading doesn’t have much in the way of local sports talk (like two stations here) — this could have been dragged onto the radio and beaten like an old rag doll…
Anyhow the bells were just barely audible on Service Electric’s telecast…