Metal detectors now in the Citizens Bank Park lineup

Hard liquor and nine-patty burgers won’t be the only innovations at Citizens Bank Park this baseball season.

Starting Friday, Phillies fans will have to walk through “airport-style” metal detectors before entering the ballpark. They’ll be set up at the first- and third-base gates and the left- and right-field gates.

Other entrances, including McFadden’s Restaurant and Saloon, will have security wands.

“You can leave on your belt and shoes. You can leave the coins in your pocket. You can leave your glasses on. The only thing we ask that you take out is your cell phone, camera and keys,” said Salvatore DeAngelis, director of operations and security.

That’s expected to make the additional security less of an inconvenience.

“Metal detection technology is faster than a pat down, which is what we were doing prior to this season,” said DeAngelis. “Provided that you don’t have any metal on you, and you follow our directives, it should be a relatively quick process.”

The Phillies had a pilot metal detector at the Right Field Gate last season. It now has friends thanks to a Major League Baseball mandate put in place in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings.

The Phillies’ home and season opener is Monday afternoon against the Boston Red Sox.

They’ll play a pair of exhibition games against the Pirates Friday and Saturday.