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Best baseball parks?

runkpanole

runkpanole

Seminole Insider
Nov 17, 2002
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What are some of the better ballparks? I’ve done Fenway, Wrigley, PNC, Great American, Jacobs (Progressive), Comerica, National, Camden Yards, Petco, SunTrust, Tropicana of currently operating parks.

I have San Francisco and Colorado as ones I’d like to do soon. What about Safeco?

I did old parks in Atlanta, Cincinnati, The Bronx, Miami.

My favorite was probably PNC. SunTrust is nice and of course I liked Fenway and Wrigley for mainly a historical standpoint.
 
Fenway is my favorite, of course being biased by going to games there from 1979 onwards. Done Camden, Yankee, Wrigley, the vet, Cincy, Tampa, etc., but I like places that are in neighborhoods with a real street city feel.

So Fenway and Wrigley are the faves because I'd hang out around here even when there's not a game.
 
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I'm not a big baseball fan, but I really liked going out for a day with friends at Nationals Park back when I was in the DC area. Now, I occasionally go to a few Rays games, but cannot make any argument that Tropicana is a good ball park.
 
SF Giants stadium is probably my favorite. I also really like the Pirates stadium, Dodgers stadium, and the Mariners stadium.

I like the history of Wrigley and Fenway, but the actual stadiums aren't very good. Fenway's seats were made for people half the size of current Americans.

I liked the Royals stadium a lot, and the new Yankees stadium is really nice.

I think the only ones I didn't really like were Tropicana (just the worst) and the New Comiskey park (I just didn't get it at all, it was too generic to me, with the lone exception of these big lollipops out past the outfield).

FWIW, I've been to 21/30 stadiums and for some I've been to the old and new versions of the parks.
 
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FYI, Dodgers Stadium is the answer to the question "What is the 3rd oldest stadium in MLB baseball?"
 
NoleGrad83 said:
FYI, Dodgers Stadium is the answer to the question "What is the 3rd oldest stadium in MLB baseball?"
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It's easy on the eyes, for sure...

dodger-stadium-sunset.jpg
 
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Let’s see, I’ve been to Citizen’s Bank Park, the Vet, Camden Yards, the old Yankee Stadium (the last night game there actually), wherever it is that the Nationals play, Fenway, the Braves newer, but now old, stadium, and of course PNC.

Camden Yards is nice, lots of stuff around the stadium, and the stadium itself is gorgeous. Saw a game at Fenway last spring and while it’s great because of the history, it’s a tough venue to actually enjoy a game in, IMO. Wasn’t terribly impressed with the Nationals’ stadium. I’m glad that I got to see a game in Yankee Stadium. Looking forward to seeing a game in the new place. The stadium in Philly is pretty basic, IMO. The skyline background at night is nice. The Braves’ stadium was fine, but nothing the really stood out, at least as far as I can remember. The Vet was, well, forgettable.

I’m spoiled living in Pittsburgh because I do think that PNC probably is the nicest venue in the MLB (if not #1, very near the top anyway).
 
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In addition to Dodger Stadium, I've been to PNC park, Tropicana Field and the Old Fulton County Stadium.
 
Which one is PNC?

Purely from a stadium perspective between Wrigley and Fenway, I liked the Fenway better; but for surrounding area Wrigley was better. Would pick Wrigley over Fenway for overall game day experience.

PetCo in San Diego was solid. I really liked the old building poking into left field. Good food in the stadium and right on the Gas Lamp district.

Done a lot of games at Coors field. It's good, but PetCo is better.

The Trop is the absolutely the worst.
 
totallynot321Nole said:
Which one is PNC?

Purely from a stadium perspective between Wrigley and Fenway, I liked the Fenway better; but for surrounding area Wrigley was better. Would pick Wrigley over Fenway for overall game day experience.

PetCo in San Diego was solid. I really liked the old building poking into left field. Good food in the stadium and right on the Gas Lamp district.

Done a lot of games at Coors field. It's good, but PetCo is better.

The Trop is the absolutely the worst.
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PNC is Pittsburgh
 
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I haven't been to very many, but PNC park is my favorite.

As far as Minor Leagues, really enjoy the Tigers spring training park in Lakeland.
 
Target Field is a surprisingly good park. Was there for opening day in April. Wrigley is my favorite old park. Safeco probably my favorite overall. Tons of amenities. Great sight lines.
 
RancheroNole said:
Blue Wahoos, you'll never see one more beautiful. That alone makes it major.
Ask Bubba.
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It doesn't stand up to most Major League parks, but as minor league ballparks go, it is amazing. There's great sight lines from the whole stadium, beautiful views of the bay, good concessions, and a pretty good product on the field as well. There's a reason they're consistently mentioned as one of the best minor league ballparks in America. The new stadium in downtown Charlotte is now considered "The Best" minor league ballpark as it has all of the amenities of many major league ballparks and a great skyline as well. But I do love a day at the park here in Pensacola.
 
The thing about Dodger Stadium is ....Dodger fans. It can't be emphasized enough that west coast fans and LA fans in particular are weak. They show up late and leave early. And while they're there they're not very engaged. Sure, they'll make noise during the playoffs, but that's about it.
I'll defend the west coast about most things, but not this. It really takes away from the feel of some of the parks/events IMHO.
 
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No matter how much I try to enjoy going to the ballpark, the sights, smells, ambience and nostalgia are all totally ruined on the first trip to the concession stand.
 
BelemNole said:
The thing about Dodger Stadium is ....Dodger fans. It can't be emphasized enough that west coast fans and LA fans in particular are weak. They show up late and leave early. And while they're there they're not very engaged. Sure, they'll make noise during the playoffs, but that's about it.
I'll defend the west coast about most things, but not this. It really takes away from the feel of some of the parks/events IMHO.
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This wasn't my experience at all. Granted it was a Sat night, but the place was rocking. I was shocked at how into the game everyone was considering it was April. There must have been 45k there and it was rowdy. PetCo (San Diego) was definitely a "west coast crowd". We went on a Wed evening vs Dodgers and there were at least 50% Dodger fans and probably only 15k total. It's a beautiful park in the perfect location but people in that town just don't care.
 
ChiefWB said:
Target Field is a surprisingly good park. Was there for opening day in April. Wrigley is my favorite old park. Safeco probably my favorite overall. Tons of amenities. Great sight lines.
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I am a big fan of Target Field. I am partial to Coors Field being the home stadium but Target is up there for me.
 
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BelemNole said:
The thing about Dodger Stadium is ....Dodger fans. It can't be emphasized enough that west coast fans and LA fans in particular are weak. They show up late and leave early. And while they're there they're not very engaged. Sure, they'll make noise during the playoffs, but that's about it.
I'll defend the west coast about most things, but not this. It really takes away from the feel of some of the parks/events IMHO.
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I think part of what I liked about being at a Dodgers game was that (at the time) the team wasn't the best, so the atmosphere was very relaxed. It was the middle of summer, but it was around 70 degrees out at night for the game, the stadium is wide open with great outdoor views. It was almost like sitting out in a park, hanging out enjoying the company of the people I was with. Yes, the concessions were still expensive, but it was really relaxing and comfortable. I enjoyed it a lot.

Maybe it's different now that the team's better. I guess to show how long ago I was there, they were playing against the Expos...
 
QuaZ2002 said:
This wasn't my experience at all. Granted it was a Sat night, but the place was rocking. I was shocked at how into the game everyone was considering it was April. There must have been 45k there and it was rowdy. PetCo (San Diego) was definitely a "west coast crowd". We went on a Wed evening vs Dodgers and there were at least 50% Dodger fans and probably only 15k total. It's a beautiful park in the perfect location but people in that town just don't care.
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Team must have been having a good year, the years I went to games they sucked.
 
I went to Dodger Stadium in 1991, before the renovation, and saw two wins. The 2nd game was against the Expos and both pitchers had a no-hitter, Hershiser till about the sixth, the Expo pitcher until the 9th, when the Dodgers walked it off with a Scioscia HR. At least I think it was him. Too bad I didn't stick around for the Sunday game, Dennis Martinez threw a perfect game for the Expos. Even if it was against the Dodgers that would have been a sight to see.
 
I'll add that PNC is a great park. Was their earlier this month for the Vanslyke bobblehead game. Not a bad view from anywhere. Happened to be there during the boat regatta and it's firework show during the game.


deHmDCl.jpg
 
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I remember seeing this guy against the Dodgers in the mid-to-late 80's. I like Dodger Stadium and its atmosphere a lot. I think I still prefer a game at Wrigley, however. I remember going to a Yankees/Mariners game in old Yankee Stadium during the trip to see us play A&M in the Kickoff Classic.
 
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Old Yankee Stadium was unreal during playoffs, new stadium is a mall.

Citifield is nice and love how you can walk around yet still see the game. Shea was best dump ever!
 
I used to spend a few weeks every summer with my Grandmother and Aunt who lived in Hawthorn. This was around 1986- 1991. My Aunt would drop me off at Manhattan Beach during her lunch break and then pick me after work to go see the Dodgers and Fernando Valenzuela pitch. It wasn't the mania of his rookie season, but it was a blast sitting up in the cheap seats with all the Hispanics passing around food and going insane for Fernando.

Obviously, I am bias. But Dodger Stadium has that cathedral feeling. It's surrounded by a park and if i recall correctly, you have to drive up a little hill to get to the stadium and then it opens out of no where -- at least it seemed like that to a kid. Totally different vibe compared to neighborhood ballparks where you eat and drink at a restaurant and then walk across the street to the ballpark.

AT&T is crap because the Giants play there--build their little douche stadium on Embarcadero on a pier--douches. The Giants belonged and deserved to play forever in the craphole that was Candlestick.
 
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