PLAINS, LUZERNE CO. (WOLF) — Thursday marked Opening Day for the 2026 MLB season, with teams across the country taking the field, including a matchup between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Texas Rangers at Citizens Bank Park, where the Phillies won 5-3.
In the Wilkes-Barre area, Phillies fans gathered at 279 Bar & Grill for a watch party held by the local fan group, Phillies Phan Pham.
The watch party featured raffles, a 50/50 and giveaways, along with Phillies-themed food specials and specialty drinks, including the Phanatic Hawaiian and the Philli-tini.
Phillies Phan Pham is a newer group that started in July 2025, with organizers saying they wanted to build a Phillies version of NEPA Bird Gang, a Northeast Pennsylvania fan group focused on the Philadelphia Eagles.
Amber Goodeliunas, co-founder of Phillies Phan Pham, said NEPA is full of passionate Philadelphia sports fans and that the energy in the bar was upbeat as the group settled in for the opener.
“We’ve been looking forward to this since the end of last season. Red October didn’t end the way we wanted, and we knew we had to get together for Opening Day. We have a lot of fun together. We get excited when big plays happen. We feel like a family. We’re all very excited for the start of baseball season,” said Goodeliunas.
The group says it meets regularly to watch games together at different local establishments, typically choosing family-friendly spots, and is always looking to bring in new members.
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For more information on upcoming watch parties and group meetups, visit the Phillies Phan Pham Facebook page.