Philadelphia prides itself on a rich tradition in a city that expects the best from its sports teams. The Philadelphia Phillies haven’t had an abundance of winning seasons in its history, but they are in the middle of a winning stretch now.
The Phillies have made three straight postseason appearances after missing the playoffs altogether for the decade prior. Something that fans missed a lot during the dread of the 2010s was the ringing sound of the 52-foot bell hanging in center field at Citizens Bank Park.
The theatrics of the bell’s animatronics light up the summer nights after a home run or win by the hometown Phillies. A unique signature to majestic home runs and dramatic walk-off wins that only Philadelphia could pull off. It is so woven into the fabric of Philadelphia that the team itself has taken measures to make sure no one else can champion the phrase, “Ring The Bell.”
Seemingly under wraps, the Philadelphia Phillies filed two trademark applications for the phrase “Ring The Bell” with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on Oct. 24. These two applications filed by the Phillies would grant exclusive ownership of the phrase going forward.
The Phillies have filed two trademark applications for:
"RING THE BELL"
The phrase represents a celebratory tradition at Citizens Bank Park.
When the Phillies hit a homerun or win a game, a large Liberty Bell in the outfield rings and lights up.#Phillies pic.twitter.com/XOX0u4WkH3
— Josh Gerben (@JoshGerben) October 28, 2024
The first application filed will grant the Phillies exclusive rights for using the phrase on clothing including headwear and shirts, per OnPattison’s John Foley. The second application grants media rights in the way of newsletters and podcasting.
It came as a bit of a surprise that the Phillies hadn’t looked to trademark it earlier with them leaning into the phrase as a massive part of their team marketing. Intellectual property expert Josh Gerben clarified the reason for the team’s move.
“In all likelihood, the Phillies noticed an increase in unlicensed merchandise using the ‘Ring the Bell’ moniker,” Gerben said, per Foley. “Obtaining a trademark license is one of the best tools available for policing various marketplaces online. Therefore, having the registration would enable a team to better protect a phrase so closely related to the experience at Citizens Bank Park.”
If approved, the Phillies will add to their collection of trademarks like “Bedlam at the Bank” and “Phils.”
It might have needed to be done a long time ago, but hopefully the trademark finalizes in the coming weeks. Ringing the Bell at Citizens Bank Park is what gives that ballpark an extra jolt from a big moment. It feels like home and now, it looks to be forever a part of this historic club.
