While we wait for Sandy to acquire a new starting pitcher and since there is no game today, I figured I would throw up a post to kill some time.
There is a nice little discussion in another thread about different stadiums and some of their good features and I figured it would be nice for people to elaborate on this.
Your mission is to list the MLB stadiums you have visited (even the ones that have been knocked down). Let us know your favorites and least favorites and the reasons why. List places you wish to visit. Also, how about listing some of the your favorite food items. Here is mine to kick it off:
If you haven’t been to a park , please list that as well. Maybe we can motivate some people around here to put together a RDM meet up at Citi this year.
Where I have been:
Shea Stadium, Old Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, Petco Park, Turner Field, Veterans (old Philies), Citizens Bank Ballpark, Metrodome (Twins).
Where I want to go:
ATT/PacBell (I don’t even know whats it’s name is), and Camden.
My favorite (while a am ducking and running away) is Citizens. It just has this open feel to it, especially when you are walking around. Food options are really nice, the only downside is it’s in a crappy location of the city. Petco has that new stadium feel but on the 1st base side where I was I had to walk across small bridges just to get food or beer. It was a really long walk.
My least favorite was the Metrodome.It was cool to experience the place, but it was a complete cement bunker with crappy food options and facilities. The only reason why it beat out the other bunker in Veterans, is at least Veterans didn’t have a roof and you can get some fresh air.
Food: The garlic fries at Petco. There is probably 3 bulbs or roasted garlic on those things, they were incredible. Petco also won for beer selection but the downside was the food and alcohol were extremely expensive. A Newcastle brown ale was $9 a bottle.
38 comments
Stick
5/3/2012-12:47pm at 12:47 pm (UTC -4)
been to : shea, citi, wrigley, fenway, baltimore, DC (nats), philly (vet and CBP), 2 versions of Yankee (before and after the remodel in the 70s). I think that is all of them.
actually, CBP is a very nice park, if you could take away all the Philly fans. and decorations. I even like where it is located, only because super easy to get in/out via car (I have made it home from there in about 20 minutes).
they even just built a new sports/entertainment/restaurant complex right next to it (where the old spectrum used to be). Looks pretty neat, but I have not been in person.
where would I like to go? Dodger statium (just because).
SaltyGary
5/3/2012-12:52pm at 12:52 pm (UTC -4)
I should check that out, the last time I was there the Spectrum was still up and running. It’s really one of the largest parking lots anywhere but your are right the convenience is great. I was in and out of that place real quick.
Stick
5/3/2012-2:42pm at 2:42 pm (UTC -4)
not planning to go to any Phils games (though if tickets pop up, maybe) but I am going to the park, to see Bruce on Labor Day.
NJstuckinTX
5/3/2012-1:14pm at 1:14 pm (UTC -4)
Lets see… Shea, Minutemaid, Yankee (old), Wrigley, ATT/Pac Bell park (the best of all those) and have Seattle on tap for later this year. Thought about going to Arlington this year too, but we’ve already passed the point where it is no longer comfortable to watch a game out of doors in Texas…
Prismo
5/3/2012-1:30pm at 1:30 pm (UTC -4)
Where I’ve been: CitiField, Shea Stadium, Old Yankee Stadium, new Busch Stadium, PNC Park, Citizens Bank Park, Nationals Park, RFK Stadium (old Nats park), Olympic Stadium (where the Expos played), Great American Ballpark (Reds), Petco (Padres), Camden yards, and…one other in California that I can’t remember because I was very young.
Where I want to go: New Yankee Stadium, Wrigley, Fenway
Favorite: CitiField (homer answer!). Honestly though, the food at Citi is the best I’ve had at a ballpark.
Least favorite: Probably RFK, that place was a duuuuuuump.
Stick
5/3/2012-2:33pm at 2:33 pm (UTC -4)
I forgot RFK. The Mets played an ST game there the weekend before the season started some many years ago, and I went to that.
Bryan
5/3/2012-1:55pm at 1:55 pm (UTC -4)
I’ve been to Shea, old Yankee Stadium, and Sky Dome (Rogers Centre). As much as I love ole Shea, I think Sky Dome might be my favorite. If you’ve seen it on TV it doesn’t look like anything special but in person it’s gorgeous. It’s a great place to be and if the roof is open you’re likely to see at least part of the CN Tower from your seat. Toronto is also just a great city to visit, like a mini-Manhattan that’s much cleaner.
Among minor league parks the one in Louisville is nice with a great view of the skyline. Also, historic Grayson Stadium in Savannah is a nice looking ball park, especially considering how low in the farm system Savannah is. Also a great city to visit.
Bryan
5/3/2012-1:57pm at 1:57 pm (UTC -4)
Also, there was nothing like the old Dodger Town in Vero Beach where the Dodgers had spring training and their FSL team before they moved to Arizona. I went there a lot when I was very young and it’s a real special place. It was such a shame when the Dodgers moved out of there and went to Arizona.
SaltyGary
5/3/2012-2:19pm at 2:19 pm (UTC -4)
You had to go minors…
Lets see, New Briton CT for both the AA Redsox and AA Twins. Very cool old school stadium.
Sioux Falls SD Canaries (Now Pheasants). What a great little park with nice open views and the people there can’t be any nicer.
Pawtucket RI Pawsox Red Sox AAA. Nice newer park but such a pain to drive in and out.
I feel like there has to be a couple others but cant think of them.
Stick
5/3/2012-2:39pm at 2:39 pm (UTC -4)
Minors? Sticking (hey, get it?) with the mets. 2 parks in Norfolk (the current one, and the one they had before that), and little falls NY (some A ball team back in the 80s?).
little falls was great. super cheap beer (something local, probably Matts) and as entertainment, there was a milking contest between a local milk maid, and one of the players! Not something you are going to see at Citi.
Plan to go to Bingo this summer, and meet my son who will be spending it in Ithaca.
I have been to an assortment of other MiL and 1 ST (astros in Kissinme) parks too, just can’t remember all of them. I do remember going to an Iowa (Des Moines) Cubs game. Nice park there.
SpencerRealDirtyMets
5/3/2012-3:41pm at 3:41 pm (UTC -4)
Durham Bulls Athletic Park is a great minor league ballpark, so is the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
Also hit Greensboro, Carolina Mudcats (can’t wait for Lindor!), and will be seeing Round Rock this summer.
Paul Festa
5/3/2012-6:50pm at 6:50 pm (UTC -4)
I was at a game at Rogers in 2010 when the opened the roof after the game started, slowly revealing the lit-up CN tower. Very unique place to watch a ballgame.
srt
5/3/2012-1:59pm at 1:59 pm (UTC -4)
My list is very small.
Been to the old Astrodome and Shea.
That’s it. I haven’t even made it to Citi field yet.
Prismo
5/3/2012-2:17pm at 2:17 pm (UTC -4)
You have plenty of time! How far are you from DC?
Stick
5/3/2012-2:39pm at 2:39 pm (UTC -4)
A hell of a lot closer to Philadelphia.
SaltyGary
5/3/2012-2:20pm at 2:20 pm (UTC -4)
Well seeing the Astrodome is pretty badass in my book.
Looks like there is a bunch of us that haven’t been to Citi, I think we need to make a field trip.
Stick
5/3/2012-2:40pm at 2:40 pm (UTC -4)
A real dirty road trip! I’ll trek up for that.
I also hope to get down to DC for another Nats game this year, but not looking promising to make it when the mets are in town.
SpencerRealDirtyMets
5/3/2012-3:38pm at 3:38 pm (UTC -4)
I love Citi, they took everything from the new parks and combined it, just great.
trs86
5/3/2012-9:19pm at 9:19 pm (UTC -4)
Start making more comments so I can fit the flight bill. We only need about 10 billion more views… and about 100 clicks on those annoying ads I at least one of us will get to go
SpencerRealDirtyMets
5/3/2012-3:37pm at 3:37 pm (UTC -4)
Yankee Stadium (old)- just classic, classic
Shea- it was a dump, but it was our dump
Citi- one of my favorite ballparks
PNC- beautiful park, went in 05 when I was still a young child, almost caught a Jason Bay homer but a college kid ripped it from my hands
Citizen’s Bank- shithole, fans were assholes, made fun of the Asian friends I was there with.
Camden- been there multiple times, beautiful park, cheap seats
Ballpark in Arlington- it is HUGE, but a great park, great atmosphere and fans
Minute Maid- been there twice, great park, great atmosphere
Fenway- been there twice, number one park I’ve been to
Busch (new)- great stadium, awesome, classy fans
Us Cellular- shithole
Miller Field- great park, nice fans, GREAT FOOD
Will be going to this summer:
AT&T
Dodger Stadium
Petco
Maybe Anaheim
Maybe Arizona
Probably Fenway/Camden/Nationals Park
Really wanna hit Wrigley/New Yankee/AT&T/Miami/Nationals park (the Harper mancrush continues)
darknova306
5/3/2012-4:02pm at 4:02 pm (UTC -4)
Shea – Felt like home, but a filthy dump
Citi – Gorgeous park with increasingly good beer and food selections
Jacob’s Field – Beautiful park in a dump of a city. Super easy to get around in, and there’s a great landing to stand on next to the LF foul pole.
Old Yankee Stadium – It had a great historical feel to it, but the surrounding area was sketchy as hell.
New Yankee Stadium – Feels very corporate and sterile, with disgusting beer prices and selection. Thankfully, we hit a strip club afterward.
Frontier Field – Saw the Bisons play the Red Wings just after Ike got called up after the Mike Jacobs debacle.
[Some park in Oneonta] – Got to see some low A Mets and Yankees play in Oneonta when I was a kid. The park was alright, but I don’t remember much about it.
Joe Bruno Stadium – I loved going there for Valley Cats games when I lived in Troy. Every seat has a great view and is dirt cheap. Unfortunately, some games wind up with more errors than hits, so it makes for more comedy than anything.
At one point when I was a little kid, I think some kind of independent pro team played up near Ithaca College (Ithaca Bombers or Ithaca Lakers, I forget), which was a nice way to spend a summer day. Tiny little park, but it was fun as a kid.
Ceetar
5/3/2012-4:18pm at 4:18 pm (UTC -4)
Lol, i’m sure the beer prices and selection were better in the strip club.
SaltyGary
5/3/2012-4:25pm at 4:25 pm (UTC -4)
hahaha
darknova306
5/3/2012-6:58pm at 6:58 pm (UTC -4)
:p
Paul Festa
5/3/2012-6:53pm at 6:53 pm (UTC -4)
I’ve been to the Oneonta ballpark. The Yankee prospect threw a no-hitter that day. I don’t remember who it was – he may not have even made the bigs. I think it was sometime in the mid-nineties.
Ceetar
5/3/2012-4:17pm at 4:17 pm (UTC -4)
Shea/Citi
Yankee 2/3
Fenway
Wrigley
RFK
Camden Yards
“Dolphin Stadium”
*Busch 2/3
Coors Field
Angel Stadium
Dodger Stadium
Oakland Coliseum
SBC/ATT/whatever in SF
Petco
PNC Park in Pittsburgh
Citizen’s Bank Park
Favorite is PNC. It’s a cool place. Runner up would probably be AT&T in SF. I didn’t see an actual game in Petco despite being there three times (bad timing). Didn’t see one in Coors either, and I was in St. Louis when they knocked down the second one and saw the third Busch but didn’t enter.
I loved the Garlic Fries at San Francisco. PNC had some good stuff but I don’t remember. Philly may have the best beer selection in the majors even if I don’t particularly like the park much. (Coor’s field supposedly has experimental beers from the Blue Point Brewery inside the park..could be awesome) Fenway’s better than Wrigley, but it’s not a nice place to watch a game.
Least favorite..probably the Florida Marlins park. RFK wasn’t real nice but I didn’t really hate it either. Oakland Colliseum was pretty iffy as well. You wanna talk about honoring other teams? It was hard to forget you were in a football stadium when you were in Miami, even if you were there for the WBC.
SaltyGary
5/3/2012-5:11pm at 5:11 pm (UTC -4)
Pretty Amazing. Of the replies so far, 23 out of 30 Current stadiums have been attended by one of us.
Citi
Turner
Citizens
Nationals Park
PNC
Busch
Wrigley
Minute Maid
Great American
Miller
Petco
ATT
Coors
Dodger
Yankee
Sky Dome
Camden
Fenway
US Cellular
Jacobs
Arlington
Angels
Oakland
Paul Festa
5/3/2012-6:47pm at 6:47 pm (UTC -4)
Here’s my list:
Shea
Citi
Yankee (Old)
Rogers Centre (Toronto)
Jacobs (Cleveland)
Rangers
Atlanta
Veterans Stadium
Dolphins Stadium
Astrodome
Minute Maid
Wrigley
Dodger Stadium
Coors Field
AT & T Park
Three Rivers
Safeco Field
The Tokyo Dome
Oklahoma Met
5/3/2012-7:04pm at 7:04 pm (UTC -4)
I’m jealous of all that went to Shea. I would love to make it out to Citi Field one of these days. Have only been to 2 MLB ball parks:
Coors Field
Chase Field (Arizona)
2 minor league parks in OKC if they count. Saw St. Louis play….someone I can’t remember in a Spring Training game right after the Red Hawks, then a Ranger farm club, opened a new stadium downtown called Bricktown Ball Park.
Will be in Anaheim in a couple of weeks and the wife and I may drive over and catch a game at Dodger Stadium. Always wanted to see that place.
Hazmet
5/3/2012-7:13pm at 7:13 pm (UTC -4)
How ’bout some bad ump fluff?
http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/msn/umpire_tim_welke_misses_call_in_dodgers_rockies_game_by_a_mile_video/10706282
SaltyGary
5/3/2012-7:40pm at 7:40 pm (UTC -4)
Yea that is a disgrace. The home plate umpire should of stepped in.
ConnorUAF
5/3/2012-8:54pm at 8:54 pm (UTC -4)
They should have conferenced. I’m sure the other umps would have overruled him if they had seen it, right?
SpencerRealDirtyMets
5/3/2012-8:55pm at 8:55 pm (UTC -4)
REPLAY PLZ!!!!!
Hazmet
5/3/2012-9:15pm at 9:15 pm (UTC -4)
lol, i’ve been opposed to the expansion of replay but i gotta say seeing some of the calls this year i’ve been starting to change my tune.
SpencerRealDirtyMets
5/3/2012-9:23pm at 9:23 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t see why not, they don’t take that much time.
Stickguy
5/3/2012-7:57pm at 7:57 pm (UTC -4)
gives new meaning to the term neighborhood play.
problem is, it wasn’t cheating to stay away from the runner. he had to come off to save the throw from going away.
ConnorUAF
5/3/2012-8:51pm at 8:51 pm (UTC -4)
Haven’t been many places…
Shea
Citi
Fenway- by far my favorite. Really a classic ballpark feel to it.
kingman 26
5/3/2012-10:09pm at 10:09 pm (UTC -4)
Nice post.
Shea–Have to go with Spencer–a dump but our dump. First game in 1970 as a 4-year-old, went to close to 100 games there, grew up there with my dad and bro and will treasure Shea memories forever.
Citi–Great park, and the Acela Club is an absolutely wonderfully conceived stadium restaurant–absolutely worth it, surprisingly excellent food, and the tables in the terraced section overlooking the huge wall of windows over left field are maybe the best sports restaurant seats in the USA.
Old Yankee–Pretty foul, but you could feel the history in the air. And smell some stuff too.
Fenway–Classic yes, but old, crowded, and kind of lame. Probably seemed outdated by about 1926.
Olympic Stadium–Wow, what a yawner. Saw the Mets there when Straw hit the roof with a blast while in college. Great city, terrible, boring stadium with “fans” who seemed to wonder why the hell they were there.
Veterans Stadium–A bland and foul pit which was perfect for the bland and foul pit which is Philly.
RFK–Kind of like what the bastard child of Shea and The Vet would have looked like. Saw the Dead there with Dylan and Tom Petty in the summer of 1987 I think–a naked woman was dancing on home plate and got carried away by four cops who tried hard not to touch anything but her hands. Even her hands were fat and hairy.
Coors Field–I hate the Coors family and their beer is garbage, but damn what a great stadium, scenery, etc. Walked to a few games from downtown Denver–a great city–and the setting, the area, and the park are just amazing. Lives up to the hype.
Safeco Field–Yeah, I am biased and miss Seattle every second I am awake, but still, it is also a beautiful setting, on the southern edge of the great downtown area, to the west are visible mountains and water, and it is frigin on Edgar Martinez Drive. And they serve sushi including Ichirolls. Highly recommended.
Candlestick–I remember it being pretty crappy and freezing cold in August.
Oakland Coliseum–Well, not good, but Dave Kingman was on the A’s and homered when I went. So I liked it.
Dodger Stadium–Cool, and palm trees, but overall not too special.
Anaheim Stadium–Pretty generic as I remember it, but did see what I think was Luis Tiant’s last game there.
Wrigley–Did not see a game, but walked with my bro around the entire stadium and snuck inside the open right field gates in January when at a music conference. Very cool setting.
New Busch–Also did not see a game, but it is very open, and also walked around the park with my bro when at a music conference in surprisingly cool St. Louis. The Gateway Arch park was surprisingly impressive and nice.