just missed the cut: Great American Ballpark (Cincinnatti)--I haven't seen enough of it to make a judgement, but it looks pretty cool though. 10- Busch Stadium (St.Louis)--the only park from the cookie-cutter generation to make my list. Since the Rams have moved, it has been modified here and there to be more fan friendly. StL baseball fans are great and always pack the house, wearing red, of course. Good tradition in this city. 9-PNC Park (Pittsburgh)--while the Pirates suck, their park has got to have one of the best panoramic views beyond outfield, with the cool yellow suspension bridge and city skyline in the background. Of all the downtown parks, I don't think any of the newer parks have downtown so explicitly in view like this park has. 8-resevered for Petco Park (San Diego)--this place works an the corner of an old warehouse building (where people could watch from balconies) into the left field foul pole. It will have a mini-park beyond center field, and have cool bell towers (with suites towering over the upper deck), you'll have to wait to see it... 7-Wrigley Field (Chicago)--of course this park is any baseball fans list. I like this one because it is situated neatly into the neighborhood, it's a place to be for Chicagoans, however that trendiness also detracts some of my preferance too, because I have heard accounts of the type of crowd that hangs out in the bleachers. There is plenty of nostalgia to go along too. Deserves plenty of consideration for being a top park. 6-Safeco Field (Seattle)--the only retractable roof to make the list. Unlike Milwaukee or Arizona, this park has the feel of an outdoor park while still being a retractable dome. Baseball is an outdoor sport, the reminders of being indoors are downers. This stadium is smooth, and it is packed full for every game. It's location is good too, lots of activity around the ballpark. 5-Yankee Stadium (New York)--I don't like the Yankees, but this place has a history like no other. Home of the greatest ballplayers. It is not a great stadium in the sense of amenities, but it's quirky pizza-slice shape is intriguing, the high porch/upperdeck in right field is cool when players blast homeruns up there, the hall-of-fame reminds of the past, the subway station in the background. The fans are loud and boisterous, gotta be a great place. 4-Coors Field (Denver)--Perhaps I am overating this place a little, but I like the high scoring games. I like the huge field, good for wide open games. Not many can resist lots of home runs either. I am sure the long games annoying for Rockies regular fans, but I am always excited when the Padres come to Denver. The architecture is nice too, the shape of the stadium is cool. 3-Camden Yards (Baltimore)--The stadium that helped spur this whole trend. Any ballparks that have quirks or identifiable characteristics are pretty cool, for Camden it is the brick warehouse beyond right field. It is the only park of the newer ones, that truly looks/feels like the older ones. 2-Fenway Park (Boston)--like the Yankees, this place is steeped in history and tradition. Red Sox fans are very enthusiastic, watching every pitch like hawks. The green monster is always a plus, and the quirky shape of the field, and the different wall sizes make things interesting. 1-Pac Bell Park (San Francisco)--this place looks fantastic, this has got to be one of the coolest stadiums in the world. Having the water beyond right field is cool, watching Barry hit one out into the bay has got to be a thrill. This place is pimped out. Granted, I haven't been to any of them, i'm going with my opinions based on books, tv, internet, but these would be my top 10 places I would like to watch a baseball game. I would like to see others' favorites. Other sports are welcome too.
Oh boy. Anyway, I'll go with my top seven of the parks I've been to: 7) Old Tiger Stadium 6) Jacobs Field 5) Great American Ballpark 4) Turner Field. 3) Camden Yards. Very well done. I loved this park as my favorite before seeing the ones in Pittsburgh and Detroit. It was one of the first retro parks and now everyone else strives to out do them. 2) PNC Park. Simply the most practical park out there. Knowing the fan base, they designed a gorgeous, fan-friendly environment that should be the template for which all ball parks in the future are designed. 1) New Tiger Stadium. Best place in the world to ignore the team playing or to watch in the rare event that they are actually in the game. Please note, I have never been to 3Com park, The Ballpark at Arlington, or the BOB. I have been to Wrigley, Fenway, and Old Comisky. I would rank the bottom five parks I've been to in the following order- bad to worst: New Comisky Riverfront Stadium Wrigley Fenway Old Comisky
i had meant to say that I hadn't been to any games there, I have been to some such as Safeco, Camden, BOB, Coors, Petco, but I haven't seen any games there, that's what I meant to say. I've only seen games at Qualcomm, Milwaukee County stadium, and the Metrodome. Not very good places at all, except the Q is okay, not great. I know Wrigley and Fenway aren't nice amenity wise, but I still think they have got to be a neat experience to go to those parks.
The ones Ive been to: 10. Veterans Stadium 9. Oakland 8. Shea 7. Riverside(Newark Bears) 6. Skydome 5. Fenway 4. Camden Yards 3. Pac Bell 2. Safeco 1. Yankee
3. Old Tiger Stadium 2. Fenway 1. Wrigley (neighborhood, roof decks, ivy, Old Style) Least favorite 2. Riverfront/Cynergy (saw a lot of great games there - but it was a Soviet-esque concrete pit) 1. Camden Yards (lawyer soaked hell hole) And catering "amenities" at a baseball game should begin and end with a hot dog cart.
Only been to four, so here goes. 1A-B: Camden Yards and Coors Field: Camden started it all, so mad props there. Great sightlines, and most tickets are about 1/3-1/2 of what they are at Fenway. Slight edge over Coors since the fans were more into the game at Camden, even on Labor Day weekend when the O's were 50 games out and Seattle was 35 games up in first. 3. Fenway: Nostalgia only goes so far. Yeah it's intimate, yeah the fans are as into the game as you're gonna get, hell even the concessions were better last time I was there (I don't go beyond hot dogs and popcorn but others want the fancier stuff so I guess they get them). However, still doesn't change the fact that it's antiquated and needs to go. I sat in the RF roof boxes once and thought it would collapse if a 50 mph gust hit it. It's got to go. 4. Montreal: While I got to see the start of Orel Hershiser's 60+ scoreless innings streak, you could still see a bar from the running track in left field. Enough said.
I haven't been to too many ballparks either but this place is great. Not a bad seat in the house and even though it's right by the bay, you don't freeze your nuts off because the wind doesn't blow in the way. The crowd is a little too yuppie for my taste though. Worst? Again, from my limited experience, I'd have to say Shea Stadium. Some really bad, overpriced seats including entire sections of obstructed view seating, and rather than use the world's most famous skyline as backdrop, they give us a wonderful view of warehouses, freeways and Long Island. Pac Bell: Shea:
I've only been to several...Pac Bell, Bank One, Safeco, and Camden. I like Pac Bell the best followed by Camden.
Re: Re: favorite ballparks Dont like Shea either but I think the main reason is because of the sun. You dont want the batters getting blinded everytime they bat up. Since they play at midday>. And if they build a reasonable wall to cover the sun, there goes your skyline.
Speaking of ballparks...when is San Diego suppose to get their new baseball stadium? I saw some renderings of what it is suppose to look like (the same firm that designed Camden I think designed this one) and it looked great.
PacBell is an amazingly beautiful place and so much fun to go to. I went on Friday evening against the Dodgers and going again tomorrow against the Astros.
Petco Park (oh, the silly little nicknames that this will inspire) - it's scheduled to open next season. http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/future/PetcoPark.htm
I hate baseball, for varying reasons, but I do enjoy a game or two at PNC Park every year. It's the closest you'll ever get to the Old Tyme Feeling of the sport, with all the modern conveniences. To really enjoy the PNC Park experience, park on the South Side, and take the Gateway Clipper to the game!
If you want to see some cool renderings of Petco Park, try: http://206.180.237.199/san_diego_padres/ Those other ones don't do justice.
Limiting it to the ones I've been to... Best Parks 1. Wrigley Worst Parks 1. Old Tiger Stadium 1. Old Comiskey Park 1. New Comiskey Park 1. County Stadium, Milwaukee 1. Old Mile High Stadium
The best park that I've been to is Wrigley simply because it doesn't matter where you sit,you always have a good view.However,most people don't go to see the Cubs(I don't blame them)but instead they stick around for the atmosphere.
Let's see, I've been to a decent amount of stadiums, including old Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Dodger Stadium, Edison Field before it was called that, Busch Stadium, County Stadium, Cinergy Field, Miller Park, Wrigley Field, and a whole bunch of minor league parks. Despite being a Brewers fan, County Stadium was pretty much a concrete pit, and needed to go. Miller Park, on the other hand, is a wonderful place to watch a ballgame. Even the obstructed seats (of which there are few) are charming, being called the "Uecker Seats" and selling for $1 apiece. All the glass in the outfield makes for a really nice view, too. My opinion of Wrigley was kind of eh. It was really nice on the outside, and a good place to watch a game, but inside, it was a pit.
Amen, brotha man. I hated Wrigley. The seats were all tilted forward and hadn't been fixed in years, they were built for midgets as my knees were embedded in the back of the guy in front of me, the place was just filthy from years and years of 3rd world conditions, the concourses were too narrow and crowded, and the concessions all sucked. Atmosphere only take you so far these days.
I been to too many parks so i'll just put them Upper teir, mid teir, and low teir. Upper Fenway _ Not great sightlines, but some of the best fans out there, and I hate the red sox, so that is saying alot Yankee Camden Yards The Vet - It was my home park, if you don't like it tough. Busch Stadium - St louis fans are the best. And I hate the cards too. Wrigley Middle Old Candlestick Dodger Stadium that stadium where the a's play (i think all these above might be lower tier if the weather wasn't so damn nice) Riverfront Commiskey Lower Skydome Olympic Stadium Three Rivers
For the 5 whole parks I've been to: Coors Field (Rockies): One of the best parks in the league. The seats are great, the location of the park is perfect, the fountain in the background is nice, and the selection of beer is astounding 9.5 out of 10 Network Associates Stadium (A's): I love this park as an A's fan and as a part of my childhood, but it's really nothing special. 6 out of 10 Edison Field (Angels): Meh, like the A's park nothing special. I do like the nice big scoreboard in in the right field though. 5 out of 10 Candlestick Park (formerly the Giants home): Terrible, terrible place. Whoever built that stadium should be shot. Windy as hell and getting and leaving the place is a nightmare. 2 out of 10 Royals Stadium (Royals): I like this park. It has such cool look, and looks imposing when you drive by it on I-70. The original park with a fountain that i know of. 7.5 out of 10.
An ariel view of Kauffman (Royals) stadium. Arrowhead stadium (where the Chiefs play, and another cool sadium) is in the background.
I hear there are some pretty nice minor league ballparks. I can vouch for the Dell Diamond, where the Round Rock Express (a AAA team part of Astros organization, right outside of Austin) play, is a pretty nice ballpark no matter where you sit. Including the outfield lawn seating, despite the constant after game itching and scratching.