At the Ballpark - Angel Stadium, Anaheim, CA

A business trip took me to the Anaheim area recently, and I managed to be lucky enough to catch the Angels in town, as they were playing the Rangers.

Bartolo Colon continued his renaissance on this evening, as he threw 7 innings of one-hit baseball, striking out 8. Francisco Rodriguez pitched a scoreless 8th, and Troy Percival came on for his 299th career save in a 2-0 Angels win.

I went with a friend to check out the action, and dared to purchase tickets at walkup instead of beforehand. Let's see how that turned out.

Angel Stadium, 7/27/04:

Concessions: A
I had a large order of nachos (which were a LOT larger than I expected) and a 32 oz. soda. The chips were surprisingly non-stale, and the beverage was not in the least flat. They had the typical ballpark fare (dogs, chips, beer, et al), and some non-standard stuff, like Carl's Jr. and other atypical dining (and drinking) establishments. Things were a bit on the high side price-wise (my total was $9.25), but that is to be expected at a ballpark.

Between-innings entertainment: B+
Lame Del Taco commercials and the like were well offset by highlights of other big-league games, Angels team montages, and a Web Gems-like feature. It was very much like watching a game on television, as there was literally almost zero downtime between innings. Well done... just lose the Del Taco thunder sticks commercial.

Sight lines: B+
Amazingly enough, I managed to get seats in section 132 (near the right field pole) that were five rows off the field. I got these seats 15 minutes before first pitch. I was able to see everything pretty much without incident (as evidenced by the photos), but my friend's view was slightly obscured by another fan later in the game. It is pretty easy to see the action everywhere on the field, unless you are in an "obstructed view" seat, and even those are only slightly blocked. There is a sports bar/restaurant area behind home plate that is glass-enclosed and provides some excellent views of the field, as well.

Promotions: N/A
There was no promotion the night I attended the game, but they were having a Rally Towel giveaway the night following, which was sold out. The Angels do offer some rather nice promotions, like t-shirt nights, mugs, mousepads, and the like.

Parking: B+
There is ample parking for lots of vehicles on-site, as there were 42,000 people in attendance, and finding parking was pretty easy to do, even with only 20 minutes or so to spare before game time. On-site parking is $8, which is a downright bargain, compared to most big-league ballparks (Turner Field is $20, for instance).

Player accessiblity: B
There was not much pregame activity, as a brawl erupted during BP that involved both teams. The Angel players were very cordial after the game, and that is to be commended.

Quality of baseball: A
One of the better baseball games I have ever seen, either on television or in person. Colon was dealing, as evidenced by his six strikeouts in the first two innings, and the game was literally in doubt until the final pitch. These two squads were battling for first place in the AL West, and it showed on the field. There were a number of so-called "web gems", and there was lots of hustle and gritty play.

Overall grade: A
A beautiful ballpark for both the sports fan (great sight lines, huge Jumbotron) and the non-sports fan (fountains in center field, post-game fireworks), and a very fun time is there to be had by all. The only thing that might trip you up even slightly is the ticket prices, but my seats were a very good deal at $27. This ballpark is every bit as nice as Turner Field, if not more so. If you're ever in southern California, you owe it to yourself to head to an Angels game.

At the Ballpark - Bright House Networks Field, Clearwater, FL

May 3 - At The Ballpark: Bright House Networks Field, Clearwater, FL

My travels recently led me to Clearwater, FL and, while there, I decided to take in a game. Clearwater isthe spring training home of the Philadelphia Phillies, and the regular-season home of the Clearwater Threshers, their single-A Florida State League affiliate.

On the night for which I was in attendance, the Threshers took on the Sarasota Reds, who are in their first year of existence.

Bright House Networks Field opened in 2004, replacing Jack Russell Stadium. It is a very nice ballpark, aesthetically speaking, as it is surrounded by palm trees, has a Phillies clubhouse store in the left field corner, and has a dining establishment past the left field wall. Can all these things save the ballpark’s grade? Let’s find out.

Concessions: B
I had an order of nachos and a soda (standard ballpark fare), and the nachos come in a bag that you empty into your own tray. The chips were plentiful – too plentiful, in fact, for the small bit of cheese they provided. The soda came in a paper cup (the only souvenir cups were available with a beer purchase, which is a bad play), and was passable. Prices were relatively standard, with the total bill being around $6.

Between-innings entertainment: C-
The club has a large video screen on their scoreboard, but they almost never used it. They showed two different movie clips, and the board sat mostly dormant the remainder of the time. The only ancillary entertainment that was provided was a tricycle race (that took place out past the right field wall, making it virtually impossible to see from my location), and the usual birthday list. They also played a dry playlist of oldies music between innings, and very few players had actual music played when they came to the plate. This was one of the worst parts of my night.

Sight lines: A
I walked all the way around the park via the concourse, and there is really not a bad seat in this park. I procured a front-row seat at walkup, sitting in section 108 (next to the visitors’ dugout) for $8. Even with the slight angle, everything at field-level was visible without any real effort. The park also offers several unique seating opportunities, including Bermuda grass seating beyond the outfield fences, and Frenchy's restaurant offers stadium-style seating beyond the left field wall.

Promotions: C
They were giving away duffel bags on this night, and they were only given to those 14 and under. A “promotion” they feature after every game is the Launch-a-Ball contest, where fans buy tennis balls to throw at a tire that is rolled out from the plate. While this is truly a sight to see, they had four winners on the night, and they wound up splitting the winnings.

Parking: B+
Parking is plentiful and relatively easily accessible; however, there is a $2 charge. This is a bit much, considering parking for the South gate is basically in a strip mall lot where a Wal-Mart once resided. The lot is well lit, and the post-game flow of traffic is pretty good, as the lot dumps onto US Highway 19 on one side, and Drew Street (a relatively large thoroughfare) on another. There are numerous ways to leave the park and get wherever you need to go in the Bay area.

Player accessibility: A-
Both teams were reasonably available for autographs, and Sarasota first baseman Joey Votto signed his home run ball for a child and his father that recovered the ball in the left field stands.

Quality of baseball: C
I didn’t expect Gold Glove performances at every position in an A-ball game, but some of the defense in this game was rather shoddy. There were some great plays made, as well. The Sarasota starter (Tyler Pelland) gave up two earned runs in three innings pitched before being pulled, and his relievers (Daniel Rincon and Carlos Guevara) performed admirably in his stead, effectively locking down Clearwater’s bats. There were not many well-hit balls in this game, except for first baseman Joey Votto’s home run.

The wildness of the pitchers was magnified by a game-ending wild pitch that hit off the plate area and bounced into the air, landing 12 rows or so into the stands.

Overall grade: B
The ballpark itself is a beautiful place, with numerous fan-friendly trappings; however, attendance was listed at 3200 (capacity is 8500) for a Saturday night game. The stadium looked nearly empty at times, and that greatly affected the atmosphere. There was also very little music or video interaction with the fans to help liven up the atmosphere. The experience was very businesslike.

Comments:

• There was a guy sitting directly behind the plate (I refer to him as Likes to Heckle Guy) that was badgering the Sarasota players for virtually the entire game. I must admit, I’ve heard better heckling at bingo tournaments. I suppose A-level baseball brings out A-level hecklers. This guy was so annoying that he even drove those without a dog in the proverbial hunt (yours truly, among others) to root for Sarasota.
  
• Getting front-row seats was quite the surprise. I had attempted to book tickets on the internet two weeks prior, and the best seats they had listed as being available were three rows down the line and about ten rows further up.
  
• This ballpark is a real jewel, especially for an A-ball park. If they ever get to the point where they fully utilize everything the park has to offer (the Bermuda seating, the restaurant, the video screens, etc.), this will become one of the destination parks in the Florida State League. For now, it plays much akin to a nicer version of a high school park.
  

At the Ballpark - Coastal Federal Field, Myrtle Beach, SC

May 17, 2005 - At The Ballpark: Coastal Federal Field, Myrtle Beach, SC

Every man has his paradise.

For many, that paradise rests on the Grand Strand in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

From the aptly-named Paradise Circle surrounding the visiting team's hotel at the Broadway at the Beach complex to the palm-tree lined Coastal Federal Field just around the corner, Myrtle Beach fits that bill as well as any minor league city.

Amazingly enough, Myrtle Beach recently spent seven years without professional baseball. The Toronto Blue Jays organization displaced their class-A Hurricanes (who played their home games at Coastal Carolina University just up the road in Conway) after the 1992 season, leaving this tourist destination without baseball until the Braves relocated their high-A affiliate from Durham, North Carolina to Myrtle Beach to become the Pelicans in 1999.

It takes only a quick glance around Coastal Federal Field to see why Lynchburg Hillcats Director of Broadcasting Jon Schaeffer calls this park the “crown jewel” of the Carolina League. From the chair back box seating to the pavilion in the right-field corner, this facility is impressive in every facet. The gates are even set up to allow visitors a nice glance into the ballpark if the team is on the road, as they always seem to be when I visit.

The park has wide concourses that allow a large number of fans the opportunity to congregate without the feeling of being cramped. The seating layout allows fans in literally any area of the ballpark to have a great view of the action, with the highlight being the aforementioned pavilion in the right field corner. Parts of the pavilion are mere feet from the action, and fans can partake in reasonably-priced
concessions while almost feeling as though they are in uniform.

The look of the stadium is complemented by such features as brick-lined exterior walls and a large, easily-visible scoreboard in left center. The bullpen areas, while behind the outfield walls, are also reachable to fans who wish to walk over and watch their favorite reliever take his tosses.

If it's Pelicans gear you're looking for, you'll find that, as well. The Pelicans Pro Shop is located along the first-base line, and features Pelicans and Carolina League logo items.

Coastal Federal Field also affords fans a reasonable ticket price, with the most expensive seats (in the field box level) at a mere $7.50. For those who prefer a more open seating area, there is also lawn seating available. Along with these seating options, the park also features luxury suites, a lounge, and several group seating/party areas.

Another interesting fact publicized by the team is that the seats in the park are from the old Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta.

At 4,324 fixed seats, Coastal Federal Field is not the biggest park in the Carolina League, but it is classified by many as the most desirable in which to see a game. Should your travels lead you to Myrtle Beach this summer, be sure to take in a game, and see for yourself.

At the Ballpark - Joe Davis Stadium, Huntsville, AL

May 23, 2005 - At The Ballpark: Joe Davis Stadium, Huntsville, AL

It recently dawned on me that I have lived in central (okay, the people here call it “middle”) Tennessee for 10 years, and I have seen very few of the numerous minor league parks within driving distance. Being 100 miles from Huntsville and having a “spare” weekend on my hands, I headed to check out the AA affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The contest I saw featured the home-standing Stars playing the Chattanooga Lookouts, the Reds' AA affiliate.

Joe Davis Stadium celebrates the 20th year of baseball in this multipurpose facility in 2005. The ballpark is located on a frontage road just off US 231/431 in south Huntsville, and features a convenient location to most of the Rocket City. What will all this mean for the ballpark? Let's find out.

Concessions: D
I had my standard nachos and soda (in a souvenir cup – nice touch), and while the prices were decent, and the nachos quite good, that was where the superlatives ended. I waited in line for 14 minutes, and when I finally got to the front, they almost double-charged me for my soda. I got the soda back to my seat, and upon taking a sip, realized it was completely flat. $3.50 for a flat soda is not so great. I also took a brief look at the souvenir stand, and found it lacking. There were a few hat selections and some other items, but not anywhere near what I have seen even in single-A parks.

Between-innings entertainment: B
As previously mentioned, the Stars are a Brewers affiliate, and Bernie Brewer was on hand with the infamous Racing Sausages from Milwaukee. Bernie and the sausages helped with the usual contests, including the Fly Ball Catch, the mascot race, and the “Strike Three” contest, where a fan got three chances to toss a baseball through a hole in a board for prizes. They also had the sausage race, which was won by the hot dog. Conversely, they also played the Chicken Dance song, which got about the only real rise out of the crowd on the night, and had the “Kiss Cam” video feature on the video scoreboard, which served very little purpose other than to annoy several couples.

Sight lines: B
After a 13 minute wait in line, I finally managed to get some decent seats on the first base line. There are really no bad seats in the park, but the way everything is angled makes some parts of the park hard to see from some seats (for instance, if you are high up on the first base side, seeing the visitors' bullpen is difficult, and the dugouts slightly obstruct the views of the seats directly behind them). I walked all the way around the park and watched the game from nearly every seating area, and was suitably pleased with almost all of what I saw.

Promotions: C
The only promotion on the night was the aforementioned group of visitors from Milwaukee. Seeing them was enough to earn a solid grade. The only other real promotion they had on the evening was the same tennis ball throwing contest that was featured in Clearwater, only it involved throwing tennis balls into a hula hoop instead of a tire, and the prize was a pass to the kids area behind the left field fence.

Parking: B
There are only two lanes into the park, which backs up the lines entering the lot at times. Once you reach the front of the line, you are greeted with a rather high $4 charge to park your vehicle. With that said, there are plenty of available spaces, and traffic control did a rather solid job in funneling the cars out of the lot after the game, greatly minimizing the wait to leave the park.

Player accessibility: B
I saw some players signing after the game, and they seemed to be genuinely nice to autograph seekers; however, the configuration of the dugouts makes it rather difficult to get autographs.

Quality of baseball: A
Chattanooga's Phil Dumatrait and Huntsville's Manny Parra locked up in an impressive pitching duel, with Dumatrait getting the best of the Stars, 3-0. The pitching and defense was incredible on both sides, with several double plays and a group of pitchers (Dumatrait, David Shafer and former Braves farmhand Bubba Nelson on the Chattanooga side, and Parra and Mitch Stetter on the Huntsville side) all throwing consistently in the low-90s. I had never seen a game at the double-A level, but was impressed with the effort on both sides, unlike Huntsville manager Don Money, who blasted his team in the paper for their inability to hit in key situations.

Overall grade: C
I had an enjoyable enough time at “The Joe”, as it is called, but the ballpark felt much less like a minor league park, and more like the multi-sport concrete bowl it is. There is a considerable amount of dead grass on the field, and the discolored patches make the field look more like Chico's Bail Bonds is about to take on Ricky's Quik Lube. The large foul territories take the fans away from the action more than in most ballparks, and the fixed chairback seats are narrow. The park seats 10,200, and there was an announced paid attendance of over 7,500. Despite this number, there was very little atmosphere in the park, and the crowd seemed mostly apathetic through the game. I will likely attend another game or two in Huntsville, but this city could truly benefit from a new facility.

At the Ballpark - Joe Davis Stadium, Huntsville, AL

May 23, 2005 - At The Ballpark: Joe Davis Stadium, Huntsville, AL

It recently dawned on me that I have lived in central (okay, the people here call it “middle”) Tennessee for 10 years, and I have seen very few of the numerous minor league parks within driving distance. Being 100 miles from Huntsville and having a “spare” weekend on my hands, I headed to check out the AA affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The contest I saw featured the home-standing Stars playing the Chattanooga Lookouts, the Reds' AA affiliate.

Joe Davis Stadium celebrates the 20th year of baseball in this multipurpose facility in 2005. The ballpark is located on a frontage road just off US 231/431 in south Huntsville, and features a convenient location to most of the Rocket City. What will all this mean for the ballpark? Let's find out.

Concessions: D
I had my standard nachos and soda (in a souvenir cup – nice touch), and while the prices were decent, and the nachos quite good, that was where the superlatives ended. I waited in line for 14 minutes, and when I finally got to the front, they almost double-charged me for my soda. I got the soda back to my seat, and upon taking a sip, realized it was completely flat. $3.50 for a flat soda is not so great. I also
took a brief look at the souvenir stand, and found it lacking. There were a few hat selections and some other items, but not anywhere near what I have seen even in single-A parks.

Between-innings entertainment: B
As previously mentioned, the Stars are a Brewers affiliate, and Bernie Brewer was on hand with the infamous Racing Sausages from Milwaukee. Bernie and the sausages helped with the usual contests, including the Fly Ball Catch, the mascot race, and the “Strike Three” contest, where a fan got three chances to toss a baseball through a hole in a board for prizes. They also had the sausage race, which was won by the hot dog. Conversely, they also played the Chicken Dance song, which got about the only real rise out of the crowd on the night, and had the “Kiss Cam” video feature on the video scoreboard, which served very little purpose other than to annoy several
couples.

Sight lines: B
After a 13 minute wait in line, I finally managed to get some decent seats on the
first base line. There are really no bad seats in the park, but the way everything
is angled makes some parts of the park hard to see from some seats (for instance, if you are high up on the first base side, seeing the visitors' bullpen is difficult, and the dugouts slightly obstruct the views of the seats directly behind them). I walked all the way around the park and watched the game from nearly every seating area, and was suitably pleased with almost all of what I saw.

Promotions: C
The only promotion on the night was the aforementioned group of visitors from Milwaukee. Seeing them was enough to earn a solid grade. The only other real promotion they had on the evening was the same tennis ball throwing contest that was featured in Clearwater, only it involved throwing tennis balls into a hula hoop instead of a tire, and the prize was a pass to the kids area behind the left field fence.

Parking: B
There are only two lanes into the park, which backs up the lines entering the lot at times. Once you reach the front of the line, you are greeted with a rather high $4 charge to park your vehicle. With that said, there are plenty of available spaces, and traffic control did a rather solid job in funneling the cars out of the lot after the game, greatly minimizing the wait to leave the park.

Player accessibility: B
I saw some players signing after the game, and they seemed to be genuinely nice to autograph seekers; however, the configuration of the dugouts makes it rather difficult to get autographs.

Quality of baseball: A
Chattanooga's Phil Dumatrait and Huntsville's Manny Parra locked up in an impressive pitching duel, with Dumatrait getting the best of the Stars, 3-0. The pitching and defense was incredible on both sides, with several double plays and a group of pitchers (Dumatrait, David Shafer and former Braves farmhand Bubba Nelson on the Chattanooga side, and Parra and Mitch Stetter on the Huntsville side) all throwing consistently in the low-90s. I had never seen a game at the double-A level, but was impressed with the effort on both sides, unlike Huntsville manager Don Money, who blasted his team in the paper for their inability to hit in key situations.

Overall grade: C
I had an enjoyable enough time at “The Joe”, as it is called, but the ballpark felt much less like a minor league park, and more like the multi-sport concrete bowl it is. There is a considerable amount of dead grass on the field, and the discolored patches make the field look more like Chico's Bail Bonds is about to take on Ricky's Quik Lube. The large foul territories take the fans away from the action more than in most ballparks, and the fixed chairback seats are narrow. The park seats 10,200, and there was an announced paid attendance of over 7,500. Despite this number, there was very little atmosphere in the park, and the crowd seemed mostly apathetic through the game. I will likely attend another game or two in Huntsville, but this city could truly benefit from a new facility.

At the Ballpark - Greer Stadium, Nashville, TN

May 30, 2005 - At The Ballpark: Greer Stadium, Nashville, TN

Don Mattingly. Willie McGee. Magglio Ordonez. Mike Cameron.

These (and many other) famous names have patrolled the Greer Stadium turf since its opening in 1978. This park has housed affiliates of the Yankees, Reds, White Sox, Pirates, and now Brewers, and has even hosted two teams at the same time (the AA Nashville Xpress played here for a while).

Greer is widely panned throughout the Pacific Coast League for its facilities, and this has led team personnel to attempt to build a privately-financed stadium/residential complex on the banks of the Cumberland River, near the Titans' stadium. That idea, however, is all but dead in the eyes of city
officials. (Editor's note: The new ballpark has since been approved - see here for details.)

In the absence of a new stadium, how is this one holding up? Let's find out.

Concessions: B
The actual concession choices in this park are wonderful, as there is literally everything from barbecue to Chinese to—yes, this is true—fried cheesecake. I wasn't brave enough to try the latter (Editor’s note: I did eventually try it, and it’s not that bad), but the nachos and cheese are extremely plentiful. They also feature selections from Chick-Fil-A at the ballpark. Along with the food choices, the amount of souvenirs available at the ballpark is pretty amazing, with everything
from Prince Fielder and Rickie Weeks-autographed programs to hats for every taste. The one downfall of the concessions is the price – cheeseburgers are $4, Chick-Fil-A Sandwiches $4.50, and, in perhaps the most egregious offense, 20-ounce bottles of Coke products are $2.50, and they are served warm in most places, so you have to buy the $.50 souvenir cup of ice.

Between-innings entertainment: C
Standard fare here, with the mascot race, a lame yelling contest between sides of
the field regarding Goo Goo Clusters, and a Nashville twist on the dizzy bat race,
as it was the dizzy guitar race. The one thing that they did that will automatically
earn a letter grade reduction for any ballpark I visit in the future that does it was
the playing of the chicken dance song. That song is quickly becoming as tired as
the call for people in the stands to get ready to rumble.

Sight lines: A
One of the real advantages of Greer is the fact that every seat is a good seat in this stadium. There are a number of picnic areas in the stadium, and they offer great views. I sat in section D (next to the visitors' bullpen), and my view was virtually unobstructed. There are also a number of sky boxes and a sports bar, and they offer great views of the field. Also, if you are coming to the ballpark on 8th Ave. South (US 31) from the south side of town, you get a really beautiful view of the Nashville skyline before turning onto the residential street on which the park is located.

Promotions: A
The promotions on this evening were a 2005 Nashville Sounds baseball card set for the first 2000 fans in attendance, and fireworks after the game. The fireworks show was long (over 10 minutes), and was very impressive. This was easily the best night of promotions I have seen in a minor league park in a long while.

Parking: B
There are two lots in which to park, with one on the same side of Chestnut St. as the ballpark, and one directly across the street. Parking is free, which is a really nice treat, and traffic control in and out of the park is nice, but they have started marking a lot of the ballpark-side lot as reserved parking (which was not done in previous years), and that detracted from the otherwise good parking experience.

Player accessibility: A
There were a number of players on both sides signing autographs, and the seats
literally go to the field, so the ability to get close to the players is in play at Greer.
Another nice touch was the entire New Orleans group saying hello to me as they came to the bullpen before the game. They didn't know who I was – and I didn't make a big public scene out of myself, obviously – but they all went out of their way to say hello, and were extremely nice. Getting to listen to their conversations throughout the game was almost as entertaining as the game itself.

Quality of baseball: A/F
The answer to this question depends on which team you're reviewing. The homestanding Sounds defeated the New Orleans Zephyrs 13-3, and hit four homers in the process. There are a number of solid prospects on the Sounds team, including Prince Fielder and Rickie Weeks. New Orleans, conversely, could not seem to string together any hits, and of the pitchers used in the game, the one with the lowest ERA is a reserve second baseman. There are a few prospects for New Orleans, but for the most part, the Nationals do not have a whole lot to pull from with this team.

Overall grade: B+
As nice as it would be to have a new ballpark in Nashville, this one still has great atmosphere, and it is still a comfortable and easily-reached location to watch baseball. They have let the park go somewhat, with faded and cracked chair backs in a lot of areas, a patch or two of dead grass in the right field corner, and the guitar-shaped scoreboard for which this stadium is so famous barely worked during my time there. The out-of-town scoreboard in the left field corner has even been covered up. With all of the griping about a new ballpark downtown apparently leading to the death of the proposal, the money that was to be invested in that location should go here. This ballpark could really be something if they just took the time and money to make it so.

At the Ballpark - BellSouth Park, Chattanooga, TN

July 7, 2005 - At The Ballpark: BellSouth Park, Chattanooga, TN

Chattanooga, Tennessee.

It is a beautiful city, a city that is home to 155,000 residents, along with such landmarks as Lookout Mountain, Rock City, and the Tennessee River, among others. Chattanooga is also home to a proud 75-plus year tradition of professional baseball.

The Lookouts spent 70 years in Engel Stadium in downtown Chattanooga, a ballpark that has since been designated as a landmark. They have been the Southern League (AA) affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds since 1988, and moved into BellSouth Park in 2000. BellSouth Park is framed by the riverfront a couple of blocks away, US Highway 27 behind the outfield fences, and downtown Chattanooga just outside the entry gates.

Can BellSouth Park capitalize on all this surrounding scenery? Let's find out.

Concessions: A
Concessions are dirt cheap in Chattanooga, and, for the most part, are an incredible value. A large soda is $2.50, and comes with a souvenir cup. Nachos are also rather inexpensive, but could stand to come with a little more cheese. I also tried a slice of pizza, which was very good. Another perk is that the game program is 25 cents, which is unheard of in any other ballpark I have attended.

Between-innings entertainment: D
There is a video board in Chattanooga's park, which, while a great idea, shows a lot of commercials. I go to the ballpark to avoid commercials, not watch them. There was also a pathetic Blues Brothers “novelty act” -- more on them in the Promotions section.

Sight lines: B-
This ballpark is in a truly beautiful location, as views of downtown Chattanooga, the hills in the distance, and the highway behind the left field fence are all accessible from your seat. The only things that are not accessible are the left and right field corners, which knocks this grade down a touch. The bullpens are also behind the outfield fence, which prevents one from watching the pitchers warm up. Finally, I sat in a seat behind home plate, and it was angled such that I would be looking directly at the shortstop were I to face forward. I sat diagonally for the game, and was able to see most of the action.

Promotions: F
Wow. The promotions on this night were nothing short of terrible. There was the typical (the base race, the dizzy bat race, et al), the ponderous (a new character that rode onto the field in a tank and was named “General Admission” -- groan), and the downright pathetic (a Blues Brothers novelty act that rode onto the field in a replica of the Bluesmobile and “sang” -- I use that term loosely – along to taped accompaniment of way too many Blues Brothers songs). This act would have been well-served to “sing” a song or two and get out, leaving the fans wanting more, but they just kept coming back over and over, until not a soul appeared to be paying any attention to them during their last performance. The fact that this act continues to show up at ballparks and steal checks for their performance is astounding.

Parking: C
There is no real parking at the ballpark itself, as it sits on a downtown hill. The closest parking is found through an assortment of garages and surface lots, and all of those parking options cost at least $3. Traffic backs up pretty badly in the garages after the games, as well. There is a free lot at the Unum Provident building downtown, but one has to ride a shuttle to the park and back, which is almost worth paying the $3 to avoid.

Player accessibility: A
The Lookouts (and Smokies, for that matter) seemed to be very accommodating to fans seeking autographs, and the ability to get down near the field to meet players and have them sign is just as good here as in most other parks.

Quality of baseball: B
The Lookouts hammered the Diamondbacks' AA affiliate, the Tennessee Smokies, 9-1 on this night behind a stellar pitching performance by Josh Hall (in the interest of full disclosure, Hall and I share the same hometown, and I saw him pitch several times before he became a pro) and home runs from right fielder Junior Ruiz and second baseman Kevin Howard. The Smokies have a player to watch in infielder Dan Uggla, who was named to the Southern League All-Star team. Offense was plentiful in this game, as the Smokies even managed to mount a small rally in the 9th off former Detroit Tigers pitcher Eric Eckenstahler.

Overall grade: C
This is a park loaded with “buts”. The scenery is beautiful, but parking is a problem. The concessions cost next to nothing, but the promotions are bad. You get the picture.

The ballpark itself is really attractive – if not somewhat small – and, to be fair, most of the annoyances are minor. However, the Lookouts have miles to go before recreating the charm of Engel Stadium. Here's to hoping they figure it out, because they really do have a great facility.

At the Ballpark - Louisville Slugger Field, Louisville, KY

August 21, 2005 - At The Ballpark: Louisville Slugger Field, Louisville, KY

Louisville Slugger Field opened in downtown Louisville in 2000, replacing Cardinal Stadium, the team's former home at the Kentucky State Fairgrounds a few miles south. The site features the scenery typical to most cities' downtown areas, as well as a few additional trappings.

Can the Reds' AAA home turn their really nice surroundings into an excellent ballpark experience? Let's find out.

Concessions: B
The concessions at Slugger Field are not really designed by “out of the box” thinkers, as the typical ballpark fare (hot dogs, cotton candy, funnel cakes, etc.) is sold here. The prices are about average, and the nachos were stale and fries starchy, but the food was still passable enough. The one good thing is that there are plenty of places to get food and drink around the ballpark, so you'll never go hungry or thirsty here.

Between-innings entertainment: C
I give this grade because the Bats had Jake the Diamond Dog in the ballpark on this night, and he is a treat to see. He takes water to the umpires between innings, fetches frisbees in the outfield, and chases foul balls. He even took flowers to a woman in her seat. Everything else was pedestrian, with the usual mascot race and other typical minor league promotions. One interesting thing was a woman rolling dice out of a bucket, and if all five of them landed on the local jeweler's logo, she won $50,000. They did not – but she did win a $250 watch. The final thing that knocked down this grade was the constant commercials between innings. They showed ads for Humana Hospital, the Louisville Slugger Museum, and Jim Beam, of all things. As I said about Chattanooga, we can watch commercials at home.

Sight lines: A+
I moved all over the ballpark during this game, as all areas of the ballpark are accessible from the main concourse. I sat in the right field corner, the Home Run Terrace in center field, behind the left field fence, and several other areas around the park, and never once had a bad seat. All of the action is easily seen, even from the bleacher seats that rise above the concourse behind the right field wall. This is a well-designed ballpark for the spectator.

Promotions: C
The aforementioned Jake the Diamond Dog was in attendance, and he was good for quite a few laughs. He was the good part...the post-game fireworks, not so much. The park has a really clear view of downtown and a neon-lit bridge behind the left field wall, but they chose to set off the fireworks behind the center field wall, which is mostly obstructed by the scoreboard. I had to maneuver around behind the general admission seats to see the fireworks show, and even then, it was not even close to being as impressive as the others I've seen, such as Nashville. Make the show better and change the location, guys.

Parking: F
Season-ticket holders rule the day at Slugger Field, as they have free parking in their own special lot (more on season-ticket holders later), and most of the rest of the spectators are shuffled off into other downtown garages or a surface lot across the street from the outfield entry gates, where the price to park is $5.00, and the spaces are barely wide enough to maneuver your vehicle into. Traffic seemed to funnel out of the area pretty quickly, but this situation was far from optimal.

Player accessibility: A
The players seemed to be ready and willing to sign for fans, and there was the same level of access here that I have seen in most other minor-league parks.

Quality of baseball: C
The homestanding Bats defeated the Yankees' AAA affiliate, the Columbus Clippers, 7-2. Let not the score fool you, however, as the game finished in only 2 hours and 12 minutes. Former Padre lefthander Darrell May started for Columbus, and got clobbered. Most of the scoring came off May, and the bats (pardon the pun) of both sides were relatively quiet otherwise. One particularly good performance was turned in by second baseman William Bergolla, who hit the ball hard several times, as he did in his earlier stint with the Reds this year.

Overall grade: C-
I've never seen a ballpark experience that was so two-sided. The scenery is great, but the parking is terrible. The atmosphere is great (including an interior entry to the ballpark that shows some of Louisville's rich baseball history), but the prices in the gift shop are outrageous ($30 for a team hat).

The other problem with this park is the way season-ticket holders are treated. They get their own free parking (as I mentioned before), and all of the seats between the first and third-base dugouts are reserved for season-ticket holders. I
know that clubs want to reward those that buy season tickets, but this is ridiculous. The single-game ticket buyer never gets to sit in the best seats in the park, and never gets to park for free. Add to this the fact that the season-ticket seats were easily 40% empty, and this became even more maddening. There are ushers at the top of these sections to keep fans from venturing into these seats, even though there were whole rows of seats that were empty in these sections.

Loosen your reins, Louisville, and quit trying to nickel-and-dime your fans. You really could have a great little baseball experience in your city.

At the Ballpark - Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH

August 28, 2005 - At The Ballpark: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH

Cincinnati.

This one simple word epitomizes baseball tradition, beginning with the Red Legs franchise, and continuing through the days of Johnny Bench, Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, and the entire Big Red Machine.

Many of Cincinnati’s baseball memories were made at Riverfront Stadium (later Cinergy Field), known for being the home of many Reds greats and 140-degree temperatures on the rug at field level.

Great American Ball Park opened along the Ohio River in 2003 as Cinergy’s replacement, and while it is a beautiful facility, can it make some memories of its own? Let’s find out.

Concessions: A
If you can’t find something acceptable to eat and drink at Great American, you really aren’t looking hard enough. There is literally something for everyone here, from ice cream to cheese coneys from Skyline Chili (a local favorite). All of the stands are innovatively named, as well, with references to past executives, managers, and players. The food selection is plentiful on all levels of the park. The only complaint I might have is the prices (a big slice of pizza and a soda was about $8.50), but you would expect that in a major league facility.

Between-innings entertainment: B
The Reds offered the usual (Kiss Cam), the unusual (a computer-generated race of various Reds mascots on the scoreboard), and the hilarious (a series of baseball bloopers on the scoreboard). The musical selection between innings was also a nice mixture of 80s and 90s stuff (in particular, hearing Pixies tracks in a baseball stadium was a nice touch), but the song of the game fan vote went to William Hung’s “She Bangs”, and the inclusion of that in the ballot alone knocks this grade down a bit.

Sight lines: A+
Much like Louisville, there is really not a bad seat in the house here, and I had a perfect view of the field from the mezzanine (400) level. The seats on the third base line have a direct view not only of the field, but the Ohio River in the background, and the first base seats have a great field view and a good line to the gigantic scoreboard high atop the left field bleachers. I never had my view even remotely close to obstructed.

Promotions: A
The only promotion the Reds had on this night was the Pyromusical fireworks show, with fireworks launching over the Ohio River while scenes and music from The Natural, E.T., Pride of the Yankees and several other films played in the background. The show lasted well over 20 minutes, and was dazzling, both because of the fireworks themselves and because of the scenery.

Parking: A
For a downtown ballpark, Cincinnati really does get it right. Parking is a bit costly ($20 in the surface lots near the ballpark campus), but I was able to park in a large garage literally right across US 50 from the ballpark for $10. (Editor’s note: I returned to GABP in 2006 and parked in a garage a few blocks away for $2. Do some searching – you’ll be glad you did.) I was able to see the garage from the concourse. Traffic out of the ballpark after the game was extremely efficient, as well, as there was no real gridlock to be found.

Player accessibility: N/A
A large storm blew through the area about an hour and a half before game time, and they had a special pre-game ceremony on the field, so I was unable to see how accessible the players were, if at all.

Quality of baseball: B
The game itself was great, and seeing Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn in person was quite a sight. Both teams were tied at one going into the 8th inning, behind excellent pitching performances from Arizona’s Javier Vazquez and Cincinnati’s Aaron Harang. Arizona scored three in the 8th on a Tony Clark home run, and added two in the 9th. The Reds mounted a brief rally, but fell short as the Diamondbacks won 6-2.

Overall grade: A
To be honest, anything I didn’t really like about this ballpark is minor. Everything was a breeze, from the parking to the brief walk to the park, the quick escalator ride to the 400 level, the wide concourses, and the short concession lines. The ballpark atmosphere was wonderful, which was surprising for a non-sellout involving a home team that was 20 games out in the NL Central. I was completely impressed with every facet of my experience at Great American Ball Park, and I will certainly be making plans to return in the near future.

At the Ballpark - Turner Field, Atlanta, GA

September 7, 2005 - At The Ballpark: Turner Field, Atlanta, GA

When the average fan thinks of Atlanta baseball, there are likely only three things that come to mind.

First, there are the 13 consecutive division championships. Second, Hall of Famer Hank Aaron called Atlanta home for many years, and hit his record-breaking 715th home run in the old Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium (more on that in a bit).

Last, and certainly not least, Atlanta was terrible for many years. The Braves were Dale Murphy – and virtually nothing else – for the better part of a decade.

Turner Field opened in 1996, the year after the Braves won their lone world championship in Atlanta. Is this a ballpark befitting of a 13-time champion? Let’s find out.

Concessions: A
Much like Cincinnati, concessions are rather expensive in Atlanta, but the portions are gigantic. There is a concesssion stand about every three sections, it seems, and there is seat service in the more expensive seats. There is a little something for everyone at this park, whether you like regular ballpark fare, steaks (the Chop House is located in the outfield pavilion), or barbecue (Skip and Pete's All-Star Barbecue is close to the entry gates). The order of nachos I got was so large, I was barely able to finish eating it.

Between-innings entertainment: B-
There were a number of trivia contests, with the usual guy roaming the crowd with a microphone. He also had two Braves girls (women in Braves jerseys and little else) with him to mug for the camera. To continue the overuse of the camera, they had the usual Kiss Cam, the Fan Cam, and several other fan reaction segments. The Braves have a beautiful high-definition video board, but they seem to be a little too in love with it. There was also a karaoke segment where fans voted on which “singer” was better, and this was among the worst between-innings entertainment I've seen in any park.

Sight lines: A+
The beauty of Turner is that the field is accessible from every seat in the park. I took advantage of the circular concourse to take in the game from all over the park, and you'll still see things well whether you pay $5 or $50 for your seats. They also offer a $1 “skyline” seating section in the top of the upper deck, and these seats are as good as those for which you would pay much more in another park.

Promotions: A
The Braves were offering a free copy of Chop Talk, their “insider” magazine, to all attendees at the game. The magazine is a good read, and for anyone who follows the Braves, it is quite informative. The promotional copy even had my father, who attended the game with me, contemplating purchasing a subscription, and that indicates that the promotion did its job.

Parking: A
The Braves have a number of surface lots near the ballpark from which the fans can choose, including one right across the street from Turner on the grounds of what was Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. However, one thing to consider when parking at Turner is that egress is not exactly optimal, as there are a number of traffic lights near the park, and traffic leaving the area can be rather slow. The real jewel of the parking situation in Atlanta is the MARTA system, which allows fans from all over the city to park for free at a MARTA station, pay $3.50 round trip, and ride a train to the Five Points station downtown, then catch a shuttle bus to the game. The traffic situation to and from the game on MARTA is a dream, as there are special lanes devoted to the MARTA buses. This is the only way to go if you are attending a game in Atlanta.

Player accessibility: N/A
I arrived at the ballpark literally moments before the first pitch, so I cannot comment on accessibility. I will say, however, that the comments I have heard from others who attended games at Turner indicate that the players
are very accommodating.

Quality of baseball: A
The final score of the game was 9-3, but the game was very well-played overall. The Braves only had two big innings (where they scored five and four, respectively), and there were a number of solid clutch hits and great defensive plays. The Reds have been considerably better since the All-Star break, and they will continue to improve with time.

Overall grade: A
Again, like Cincinnati, any gripes regarding this ballpark are minor. The only thing I would suggest that the Braves work on is the between-innings entertainment (lose the Home Depot tool race, the bad karaoke artists, and the Kiss Cam), but the remainder of the experience at Turner is top-shelf, particularly if you can park at a MARTA station and leave the navigation of traffic to someone else. I loved this ballpark, and I'll definitely be back.

At the Ballpark - Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL

May 1, 2006 - At The Ballpark - Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL

Tampa, Florida is a city that has nurtured many major league ballplayers. You know the names. Gary Sheffield, Dwight Gooden and Wade Boggs are just three of the many names that got their start in western Florida. However, most of Tampa’s baseball history has been off the field instead of on it.

Major League Baseball granted Tampa Bay an expansion franchise a few years ago, and there has been little to no success on the field ever since. Their home park, Tropicana Field, has been universally panned around the league for its weird ground rules (there are catwalks hanging over the field) and drab nature.

The Devil Rays have made sweeping changes this offseason, from the front office all the way down to new coats of paint around the stadium. Has any of this changed anything on the Gulf coast? Let’s find out.

Concessions: B
There are a number of food choices in “The Trop”, as you can get your usual ballpark fare of hot dogs and popcorn, and there are a number of unusual things to go along with those choices. There is also a cigar bar in the ballpark, which is, to my knowledge, unique to this location. The portions are good for the price (an order of nachos and “souvenir” soda were $5.50 a piece), but there is nothing really outstanding in terms of value.

Between-innings entertainment: D
There were a couple of things between innings (the Pepsi/Aquafina/Sierra Mist wobbly bobblehead race on the video board being the most notable), but this was about as straight-ahead baseball as you will see at the major league level. If you are going to the ballpark with someone who likes fun things in between innings, they will be sadly disappointed at the lack of anything going on.

Sight lines: C
The likelihood of your having a pretty decent view from your seat at a Devil Rays game is pretty good. I sat in section 133 (above the Red Sox bullpen), and saw everything pretty well from where I was. However, there is not a wraparound concourse in this park without exiting the seating area, and -- and this is the biggest gripe I have regarding a ballpark -- the playing surface cannot be seen from the concourse. There is a set of steps that have to be navigated before you can see the field, at least from the entrance I took. This should never be the case in a ballpark, as the playing surface is the showcase item.

Promotions: N/A
The club was not conducting a promotion on this day. They seem to not conduct too many promotions in Tampa, because of the next point.

Parking: F
The Rays’ new ownership decided that one of the changes they wanted to make was the provision of free parking for the 2006 season. This is a great idea in theory, because free is obviously a good thing, and there is lots of parking on the Tropicana Field premises. The good theory turns into a horrible practice, because traffic backs up for miles while the Tropicana Field staff tries to wave cars into the lots like Vinny Castilla struggling to field a grounder further than a step away from him. The parking lot lines barely move while police officers keep people out of areas where the club doesn’t want people to park, but do nothing to help keep traffic moving to areas where they do want people to park.

The free parking concept is therefore a total failure, unless you like spending an hour or so waiting in your car to get to that free parking space. That said, there are a number of surface lots across 1st Avenue South and other surrounding streets in the $5-10 range.

Also, because of the traffic control ineptitude, ingress and egress are abysmal, and unless you knowthe area or have good instincts, you will be sitting there watching taillights for a good while.

Player accessibility: N/A
I got to my seat 15 minutes before game time thanks to the narrow, clogged concourses (yet another problem with this park), and saw no players interacting with fans.

Red Sox fans: F
Never before have I devoted a segment of a review to a team’s fans, but I feel compelled to do so here. I realize this does not speak for all Red Sox fans across the country, but the Red Sox fans I encountered at Tropicana were rude, foul-mouthed and abrasive. They also came late and left early (the Sox were down 5-2 after 8, and Red Sox “fans” were streaming for the exits, almost much to their chagrin -- more on that later. They were also starting “let’s go Red Sox” chants -- in a visiting ballpark, no less -- which the Tampa fans thankfully booed. If all Red Sox fans are this way, I can see why the Yankee fans can’t stand them -- and let’s be honest, the Yankee fans are not exactly the pinnacle of personality.

Quality of baseball: C
The Rays defeated the Red Sox 5-4, but the game was not as well-played as the score may indicate. The home club got homers from Toby Hall and Carl Crawford, while the Red Sox got a homer from David Ortiz and back-to-back homers in the 9th that made the game close.

The Rays’ bullpen is downright awful. Chad Orvella threw a solid 8th, and first-year manager Joe Maddon left him in to try for a two-inning save, and that idea eroded after the aforementioned back-to-back shots from Mike Lowell and Wily Mo Pena. Tyler Walker came in and promptly threw four strikes in 11 pitches. Shawn Camp had to close out the game for the save with runners on second and third.

Along with that, Curt Schilling threw several bad pitches, and, in the most egregious of all offenses, Maddon had third baseman Sean Burroughs playing left field during every at-bat for David Ortiz, and third base was left wide open. I still cannot be sure which is worse -- the Rays’ lame-brained strategy, or Ortiz not hitting a ball to the left side and getting a sure base hit.

Overall grade: D
I wanted so badly to like this park. I have seen a number of negative comments from people about Tropicana Field, and I figured that the new ownership must have surely done something right. The only improvements, however, are on the field -- both in upgrades to the field itself and the on-field product. The seats are uncomfortable and left me with back pain, the concourses are strikingly narrow, and the souvenirs are beyond ridiculous ($35 for a hat? They don’t even give out cigarettes with your purchase).

I know the new ownership team is trying, but the fruits of their labor are not even close to being seen. Tampa fans should have hope for this team in the future, as it looks as though the club will be much better than the facility in which they play in relatively short order.

How to get there:
Take I-275 to exits 23B (5th Avenue North) or 22 (I-175). Signs clearly mark the way to Tropicana Field, and the dome is easily-spotted from most surface streets in the area. The physical address is:

1 Tropicana Drive
St. Petersburg, FL 33705

You may also want to see:

• Gulf beaches: Madeira, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Dunedin Beaches are just a short drive from the park, and feature soft, white sand and the clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Clearwater Beach is a more high-traffic location and features Pier 60, where Madeira and Dunedin are smaller and more laid-back.
  
• Tampa: The city of Tampa is located 15-20 minutes away via interstate, and features such attractions as Busch Gardens, the Lowry Park Zoo and the Florida Aquarium. Tampa also has the Channelside and Ybor City districts for nightlife, as well as the NFL’s Buccaneers, NHL’s Lightning and an Arena League franchise.
  
• Orlando: The home of Disney and Universal Studios is a one-and-a-half hour jaunt via interstate 4, and features theme parks and numerous other tourist-based attractions.

At the Ballpark - Space Coast Stadium, Viera, FL

May 7, 2006 - At The Ballpark: Space Coast Stadium, Viera, FL

Anyone who has seen Florida State League baseball knows that the quality of ballparks in that league is just a bit higher than most any other A-ball league in the country. Major League spring training parks are mostly used for regular season play in the FSL, and that makes every road city a better trip. Does this facility originally built for the Florida Marlins and now being used by the Washington Nationals during spring and the Milwaukee Brewers’ A-ball affiliate during the season stack up to other FSL parks like Clearwater? Let’s find out.

Concessions: C
I must admit that I was very impressed with the moderately cheap prices I saw on the board ($2.50 funnel cakes, etc.), but there were a few cons with the available selections. I had a 1/3 lb. cheeseburger (about the only thing somewhat pricy, at $5), and it was lukewarm and average. Also, there were no nachos available at the ballpark -- what self-respecting ballpark, particularly a spring training park, does not carry nachos? Choose carefully when picking your concessions.

Between-innings entertainment: B
Many of the minor-league standards (the dizzy bat race, etc.) were in play here, with slightly different twists. The dizzy bat race, for instance, required combatants to spin around the bat, run down and pick up a keg and push it back to the bats. A trivia contest, a rubber horse race (I really don’t remember what those ball-like things that you sit on and bounce are called, but those) and kids getting to run from the outfield to the stands were some of the other things featured. Also, the between-innings musical selection was varied and decent, and much better than the stupid movie clips and sound effects played after outs and foul balls.

Sight lines: A+
The “there is not a bad seat in the house” cliché is so overplayed, but it really is the truth at Space Coast Stadium. Your $6 admission (with free parking, even, which makes it a doubly good value) lets you sit anywhere in the park, and from the front row behind the plate to the top corner of the bleacher seats, your view of the action on the field is a great one. There is a pavilion behind the left field wall as there is in Clearwater, and there are tables out there so you can sit there and enjoy a meal or a beverage. You will be hard-pressed to find a better view in a ballpark at this level.

Promotions: A+
If I saw correctly (I got to the ballpark after this had taken place), they gave out uncut baseball card sheets as a promotional item, which is a pretty nice giveaway. One promotion that takes place at this park (but not on this night) is that anyone who buys tickets to a fireworks game for $8 gets a free game ticket for later use, so you get two game tickets for $8 versus the normal ticket for $6. Also, as previously mentioned, you can sit anywhere you want in the park for just one low admission fee, which makes this one of the best ongoing promotions anywhere in baseball.

Parking: A
The only thing that keeps the parking from being an A+ at Space Coast is the fact that the parking is in the grass instead of on a paved lot.

Ingress and egress are amazingly easy, and there is a guide to help you into the parking area without any pain or concern. The parking is close enough to the park to prevent a long walk, but far enough to keep your car from being pelted with foul balls.

Player accessibility: C
Kids are allowed on the field between one of the innings, as I mentioned, but the section of seats next to the dugouts is roped off, preventing easy access to the dugout area. I did not see players signing a number of autographs, so I am unsure as to what kind of impedance this may be.

Quality of baseball: D
The first inning of this game showed some real promise, as Jupiter left fielder Dante Brinkley homered in the top of the inning, and Brevard County second baseman Hernan Iribarren countered with a homer in the bottom half. The Manatees led 3-1 after an inning, and really did nothing after that. They had only three base hits the remainder of the game, and never really mounted another challenge. Three players on the Brevard County team are on the Brewers' 40-man roster (Iribarren, reliever Mike Jones and starter Manny Parra), and none of them really stood out.

Iribarren had the homer, but looked lost at times, including an easy throw he dropped at second on an attempted steal. Parra and Jones did none better, as Parra gave up three earned runs and four hits in 2 1/3 innings, while both walking and striking out four. Jones gave up five earned, three hits and walked four (with one strikeout) in 1 2/3. The Jupiter club drew almost the same amount of walks (10) as they had hits (11) in an 11-3 victory over homestanding Brevard County.

Finally, the Minor League Baseball umpires have not settled their strike, and the replacement umpires were awful, completely missing several calls and featuring one of the more inconsistent strike zones in recorded history. The home plate scab also ejected Jupiter's Brad McCann for arguing a ball and strike call, and did a horrible job of explaining the situation to the Jupiter manager.

Overall grade: B+
I expected a pretty nice experience at this ballpark, and I was not let down. The seats are comfortable and have lots of leg room, and everything aesthetic at the stadium combines with the great option to choose your own seat to provide a pretty fun baseball evening. They just need more concession choices and to stop serving lukewarm burgers, among other minor gripes as stated above.


How to get there:
The stadium is located on the east coast of Florida in Brevard County. Take Interstate 95 to exit 195 (Fiske Avenue). Take Fiske Avenue toward Viera (if you see a 7-11 and a Ruby Tuesday, you are going the wrong way). The stadium is approximately three miles ahead on the right after leaving the interstate. There are signs clearly marking the way to the stadium at the interstate exit. The physical address is:

5800 Stadium Parkway
Viera, FL 32940


You may also want to see:

• Cocoa Beach: The home of Ron Jon Surf Shop is located about 15 minutes east on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. The beach is accessible via a number of roadways, most notably FL 528 and A1A.
  
• Kennedy Space Center: This attraction is also about 15 minutes from the ballpark, and can be reached via I-95 and any combination of Florida state routes. Learn more about the space exploration program and some of the great missions of NASA's past, and what can be expected in the future. A Space Shuttle simulator is under construction and is expected to be completed in 2007. Get the Maximum Access Pass -- it gives you access to all areas of the Space Center, plus IMAX films and the Astronaut Hall of Fame.
  

At the Ballpark - Pringles Park, Jackson, TN

May 29, 2006 - At The Ballpark: Pringles Park, Jackson, TN

Jackson, Tennessee is a modest town of 60,000 people located 80 miles east of Memphis and 120 miles west of Nashville. It is one of the smaller Southern League markets when placed up against the Raleigh area, Jacksonville, Birmingham and other larger cities. In fact, Jackson had to fight to keep its team, almost losing the occupant of a stadium that is a mere six years old. Were the efforts Jackson made to keep minor league baseball worth the trouble? Let’s find out.

Concessions: A+
Concessions are a huge part of the ballpark experience, and Pringles Park gets it right. The portions are huge, the selection is plentiful, and most importantly, everything is cheap. A gigantic slice of pizza (cheese or pepperoni) is $2.25, a jumbo hot dog is $3.25, and sodas are $2.25 and $2.75, depending on size. The only drawback I can find at all is that this is a Pepsi park, and the Pepsi products served are quite limited. Try a cheeseburger – they’re the best I’ve ever had in a minor league park.

Between-innings entertainment: C-
I will quote my review on Nashville, TN’s Greer Stadium from 2005: The one thing that they did that will automatically earn a letter grade reduction for any ballpark I visit in the future that does it was the playing of the
chicken dance song. This was one of the things at Pringles Park that lowered the grade.

How on earth can a Cubs’ affiliate not play "Take Me Out To The Ball Game” during the 7th inning stretch? They are, after all, one of the organizations that made the song famous. My expecting the obvious again failed me, as the strains of “Thank God I’m A Country Boy” blared over the speakers while I frantically scrambled to cover my ears. Come on, people…Harry Caray. I’m sure you’ve heard of him.

(Editor’s note: I’ve since spoken with the GM of the Jaxx, and the conclusion at which we arrived is that since my visit was on Memorial Day, God Bless America was played in the stead of the missing song. Despite my wishes that they lose John Denver’s records and never find them, the Jaxx’ GM was super-nice, and I appreciate his taking the time to contact me. I’ll definitely be returning to this park for the reasons mentioned in this review, and for the kindness of the Jaxx’ front office.)

Those things aside, between-innings fare was fairly pedestrian here, as I got to see two (likely drunk) fans compete against each other on bouncing balls, a game of musical chairs for the “best seats in the house”, a blindfolded fan trying to find a bag of cash, and the usual mascot race.

Speaking of the mascot, he was the one highlight. Despite the lame name (Ribbee), the mascot was highly entertaining, and interacted very well with the fans. The Diamond Jaxx would do well to feature more of him and less of the other items.

Finally – and this is more of an in-game gripe than between innings – the musical selections (playing Shaggy’s “Angel” for Mudcats outfielder Angel Molina and Elvis’ “Teddy Bear” for Carolina first baseman Adam Bear) were pretty terrible, and the “junior” PA announcer that was selected from the crowd to call a half-inning (hardly junior, he seemed to be in his twenties) was awful.

Sight lines: B
The view when entering the ballpark is truly breathtaking, as the entrance to the park is on the upper concourse. 95% of the seats in the park (and the playing surface) are accessible by taking the steps down from this concourse. The tremendous view upon entry leads to some rather impressive sight lines from your seats (I was three rows up and right over the Diamond Jaxx’ dugout on the third base side); however, the visitors’ bullpen is not very easily seen from the seating bowls, and the Diamond Jaxx bullpen is completely invisible, either hidden behind the seats in left field or behind the left field fence (I could not tell from where I was sitting). Having the home team’s fans be able to see the pitchers warming up for their team might be a good idea.

Promotions: B
The promotion on the night was a golf ball with the Diamond Jaxx logo. This was not the most original promotion ever, especially for those of us that do not get to swing the sticks all that much. The promotions were redeemed, however, by a free magazine that included the rosters of all visiting teams in May and profiles of the Diamond Jaxx players and staff. Also, if you are expecting to go to the ballpark and buy souvenirs, you may want to rethink that plan, as the souvenir shop is very small and has little more than a couple of shirts, some other Cubs and Diamond Jaxx odds and ends, and three racks of hats.

In a slightly unrelated note, there were a number of giveaways (BC powders paraphernalia, t-shirts and ice cream bars among other items) in which the fans on the visiting side were well-taken care of, but the fans on the home side got little or nothing, as they had run out of items by the time they got to that side of the stadium.

Parking: A+
Parking is free, plentiful and on a paved lot. The walk from the lot to the park is very short, and the trip into and out of the ballpark by car is a quick one. There were only 1288 fans in attendance on this night, which may make the parking situation a bit more tricky if the park were at its capacity of 6000.

Player accessibility: A
The Mudcats and Diamond Jaxx players were very nice and accommodating to fans, and access to players is rather easy. Fans are able to get next to the dugout to get the autographs they wish. The only problem I had was that the Diamond Jaxx players do not seem too willing to flip third outs or foul balls into the stands to the numerous kids screaming and waving.

Quality of baseball: B
Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry was in the booth during the Cubs-Braves telecast on FOX earlier in the day, and said that he still felt good about his farm system and how well-stocked it was. After seeing this game, I cannot say that I agree with his sentiments.

The Jaxx starting pitcher, Bobby Brownlie, is one of the stories typical of the Cubs’ recent past, as he went from one of the top prospects in the minors to being a starter in Double-A in his mid-20s. Brownlie pitched for this same club in 2004 before going to Iowa in 2005, and is now repeating this level. Brownlie was hit pretty hard and took the loss.

This aside, there were quite a few players on both teams’ 40-man rosters, and some quality on-field action. Adam Bostick pitched seven solid innings for the Mudcats, overpowering hitters at times, and Jaxx third baseman Scott Moore and catcher Jose Reyes turned in solid defensive efforts. Carolina third baseman Lee Mitchell is also a good defender and has a strong bat.

The Mudcats won the game 5-1, behind a solid offensive attack and quality pitching from Bostick, Scott Tyler and University of Alabama product Taylor Tankersley.

Overall grade: B
Pringles Park has a number of nice features, but also a number of drawbacks. I would love for Nashville’s new park to be this nice in terms of comfort (another tip – try to get on the third base side and stay in the shade), but would be rather annoyed by the “manufactured” atmosphere as mentioned above. If you want a nice small-town ballpark and are not easily troubled by the so-called trappings of minor league baseball, this is your place. I would definitely rate it worth the trip, and considerably better than many other Southern League facilities.

Another thing to see at the ballpark that does not really fit in any of the above categories is the Rally Pig, sponsored by Honeybaked Ham. Yes, you read that right…a rally pig. There is even a blurb on the video board in right-center that says “FEAR THE PIG”. The pig did not provide much help to the homestanding Jaxx on this night, but it is an amusing sight to see the pig walking around on the concourse after the game. Fans can even pet the pig on their way out of the park. This was a nice touch, and unique is not a descriptive enough word for the experience of seeing a
baby pig at a baseball game.

How to get there:
The stadium is located directly off interstate 40 in west Tennessee, and is visible from the highway.

From Memphis, take exit 85 and turn right, then turn left at the first light. The ballpark will be ahead on the left. From Nashville, take the same exit (85) and turn left, then turn left at the first light. The ballpark will be ahead on the left. Ample signage is placed to guide you to the ballpark.

You may also want to see:

• Memphis: The largest city in Tennessee (counting urban population, not metropolitan) is just over an hour west of Jackson, and is the home of the Cardinals’ AAA affiliate, the Memphis Redbirds, world-renowned barbecue and the Peabody Hotel, among many attractions. If you are a gambler, Tunica is just across the Mississippi border from Memphis, and offers world-class gaming.
  
• Casey Jones Village: This complex features the Casey Jones home and railroad museum, as well as a country store, among other shops and attractions. The food is great, and the landmarks give tourists an insight into the life of Casey Jones, an engineer who lost his life while saving those of his passengers in a train accident in 1900. This village is located off exit 80 on interstate 40 in Jackson, and there is signage to direct you to the complex.

At the Ballpark - Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, Hoover (Birmingham), AL

July 25 - At The Ballpark: Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, Hoover, AL

Birmingham, Alabama is one of the larger metropolitan areas in the south, with over a million people in the greater Birmingham area. It is also an area steeped in baseball tradition, as the Birmingham Barons have called the city home for over 100 years, and the Negro League’s Birmingham Black Barons (led by Willie Mays and Satchel Paige) took the field at Rickwood Field, the facility at which the Barons played before Hoover Met opened. The SEC also hosts their yearly baseball tournament at the current facility. Was the move to the Birmingham suburbs worth it? Let’s find out.

Concessions: C
The selection at Hoover Met is pretty much standard – hot dogs, nachos, beverages, etc. – and is reasonably-priced. The one plus for the selection is that they make Powerade available, which is good for ridiculously hot southern days, as this visit was. The nachos are a bit of cheese for dipping and a bag of Tostitos, which was rather uninspired.
The major drawback, however, for the concessions is that the lines are astronomical, and with already narrow concourses (more on this in a bit), the wait for concessions is almost as bad as the squeeze between people to get back to the seating bowl.

Between-innings entertainment: C
I should start by pointing out the good in the entertainment category, and it makes itself pretty visible early and often. PA announcer Justin Firesheets, who is also the co-host of the quite good (and fellow MVN affiliate) Cheap Seats Radio (cheapseatsradio.com), is easily the best I’ve heard in a minor league park. So many of the “voice guys” blend in from park to park, and it is obvious that Justin is quite different from the norm. I must say that I laughed out loud when he told fans to “scream for random promotions” during a promotion in which foam baseballs were being tossed to
the crowd, and when he described the Hillbilly Horseshoes game (think horseshoes, but with toilet seats) as “universally ridiculed”. He also spoke of a promotion the Birmingham Zoo would be doing at the next Tuesday home game featuring a python and a skunk, and told fans if they hung around long enough, they might be able to see the python eat the skunk. That touch of personality and humor was very much appreciated – and no, for the record, I’m not being a shill for Justin, as he probably couldn’t pick me out of a lineup, and hasn’t read my stuff or heard my show.

Other than Justin, the entertainment was fairly standard, with the aforementioned horseshoes contest, a fly ball catching contest that involved a fishing net, and the standard “best seats in the house” promotion where a fan gets to sit in a recliner, even though the recliner is behind the left field wall. The worst part of any of the entertainment was the on-field “emcee” Jeremy, who almost sounded to be swallowing the microphone, as his screaming left my ears ringing throughout the night. We get it, Jeremy, you’re a loud guy and you’re trying to pump up the crowd…just remember
that you’re broadcasting. Tone it down a bit.

Sight lines: C
There is no “money shot” when walking into the seating bowls at Hoover, and you cannot see the playing surface when walking in from the parking lot. The stadium looks like a big spaceship from the outside, and, once inside, you cannot see the game from anywhere except the seating bowl. There is not a concourse going around the ballpark, so the angles pretty much end at the bullpen areas down each line. The views are fairly average, and the general admission seats almost seem to have a better view than the seats behind the plate, where I was originally seated. They are certainly more comfortable.

Promotions: B
The Barons gave away kids jerseys on this night, which is fairly standard; however, the jewel of the night was the post-game fireworks presentation. The fireworks were better than just about any presentation I have seen, save for the extravagant setup in Cincinnati last year, and they seemed to be a big hit with the fans.

Parking: D
The park is in a business park-type area, and ingress is just average, with the lines into the park backing up while the attendants collect a rather high $3 parking fee. Once you park your vehicle, just about any place you park will result in a long walk to the stadium. The long trek back to the car after the game is made worse by the egress out of the park. As previously mentioned, the park is in a business park-type area, and traffic backs up from the intersection of Alabama Highway 150 several miles away from the park all the way to the parking lot. Angel Stadium in Anaheim had 40,000 fans at the game I attended, and they managed to get cars out of their lot quicker than the traffic control in
Birmingham could manage. If you go to the game and need to turn left on Alabama 150 to get back to Interstate 459, do yourself a favor and stay to the right, turn right on 150, and go into the Publix parking lot on the left to flip around.

Quality of baseball: D
The Mobile Bay Bears (Padres AA) defeated the Barons (White Sox AA) 4-1 behind homers from recent acquisition Vince Sinisi and career minor leaguer Stephen Smitherman. There was exactly one player from either team on their respective parent club’s 40-man roster (Mobile lefthander Sean Thompson), and neither team had a lot of hitters. The teams combined for eight hits. There was also a horrible error by Barons right fielder Thomas Collaro, in which he overran a ball, reached back to try to catch it, and had the ball pop out of his glove – and he then proceeded to fire the ball wide of second base and almost up the third base line. I am used to quality baseball in the Southern League, and this was not it.

Overall grade: D
Birmingham clearly appreciates its baseball history, as there are nods to Robin Ventura, Willie Mays, Frank Thomas, Terry Francona and even Michael Jordan around the stadium. What they apparently do notappreciate, however, is fan comfort, as my drink was constantly swarmed by bees, the concourses are enclosed and extremely narrow, and exiting
the ballpark is far too much of an ordeal, as there are limited points of exit from the aforementioned narrow concourses, causing massive backups and crowds of people.

There is also no real atmosphere to be spoken of in the park, as there is just a line of trees behind the outfield wall, and nothing in terms of ambiance to get you into the game. Along with the lack of atmosphere, there is dead grass around the infield – and, strangely, the only two parks in which I have ever seen this are in Alabama (this one and Huntsville.) Ticket prices are basically average, and they almost have to be to make the Hoover Met experience even partially redeeming. This park is the baseball equivalent of a shrug of the shoulders.

How to get there:
The stadium is located in a business park off Alabama 150. Take interstate 459 to exit 10, and follow the signs to the ballpark.

You may also want to see:

• Birmingham Civil Rights Institute – The southern United States endured a decades-long struggle for civil rights, and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is a museum that chronicles the struggle. If you are at all interested in the goings-on of this era, this is a must-see.
  
• Visionland – This amusement park is no Six Flags or Disney attraction, but is still a fun day’s diversion. The park is reasonably-priced, and features standard amusement park fare, such as rides, a water park area and concerts. If you really don’t feel like making the drive over to Atlanta for Six Flags or something equivalent, this is worth checking out.

At the Ballpark - Osceola County Stadium, Kissimmee, FL

September 3 - At The Ballpark: Osceola County Stadium, Kissimmee, FL

The Orlando market is one that has been without minor league baseball since 2004, and is the largest major city in the state of Florida without a ballclub. Their current object of attention is Jackson, TN’s fledgling West Tenn Diamond Jaxx franchise, whose stadium I reviewed earlier in the year. Despite the fact that there are two fairly large facilities (this one and the Braves’ facility at Disney’s
Wide World of Sports) that go largely unused past the end of spring training, Orlando is attempting to woo the Diamond Jaxx, and get a third ballpark to go with the franchise. Would the Astros’ spring training base suffice for a double-A club? Let’s find out.

Concessions: F
The selection at Osceola County Stadium is uninspired and highly expensive, as I paid $6 for a bucket of stale popcorn and a small bottle of Powerade. The only food choices in the ballpark are ballpark standards like hot dogs, nachos and popcorn – there is nothing out of the ordinary on which to dine. I would strongly recommend eating something before going to the park, and if you absolutely must eat something there, be prepared to pay higher-than-standard ballpark prices.

Between-innings entertainment: F
There was not really anything going on between innings at Osceola County Stadium, save for a few PA announcements and a little bit of music between innings. There were no promotions at all of which to speak, which may have been related to the weather and may have been because this was an “amateur” game.

Sight lines: D
There aren’t really any bad seats in Osceola County Stadium, and the top few rows of seats on both baselines are covered to protect spectators from sun, rain or whatever other weather phenomenon may be going on in central Florida at the time. While the sight lines are great, the lines give you big views of nothing. There is no advertising on the walls whatsoever, the scoreboard has no special features at all, save for one line of text above the linescore and the only real view the fans get behind the outfield fences is of a practice field behind the left field wall. The seating bowls have no real pizzazz or features about them, and as a result, the ballpark has a very bland look.

Promotions: N/A
See my above comments on between-innings entertainment. There were no promotions being offered on this evening.

Parking: C
Parking is free at Osceola County Stadium, and is on a paved lot – assuming you’re quick. There is a long lot a couple of rows deep of paved spots, and the overflow parking spills into the grass. I have never been a fan of grass parking, and any place that offers grass parking in Florida where rains are heavy and unexpected needs to invest a few dollars in some blacktop. That said, the walk to the park is short, and – for the most part – keeps your car safe from having a baseball become a permanent fixture.

Quality of baseball: A
The USA Olympic qualifying team played Puerto Rico on this night, and defeated them 16-5. Both clubs are comprised of minor league prospects and journeymen, along with a few amateurs, in Puerto Rico’s case. The defense on the USA side was impeccable, as each infielder (Bryan Lahair (1B – Mariners), Bobby Hill (2B – Padres), Brandon Wood (SS – Angels) and Mike Kinkade (3B – Marlins) made at least one spectacular play. Puerto Rico lefthander Jose Santiago got shelled by the big bats of the USA team, and received a warning after hitting three batters in the same inning, an
inning in which he gave up nine runs. LaHair homered twice, joining Braves prospect Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Royals prospect Billy Butler and others in pacing the USA offense.

Overall grade: D
Despite being in a beautiful part of Florida and the country, this is about as bland a baseball experience as you would ever want to be a part of. The stadium is separated from the tourist areas of Orlando and Kissimmee by a considerable distance, and the neighborhoods through which you have to pass to get there are not the best. Once you arrive at the park, you’re greeted with an experience that has none of the trappings of the other spring training parks in Florida, and offers very little in terms of niceties to the fan. Concessions are overpriced, tickets are expensive, and the appearance of the park does not justify the cost to get in and enjoy it. Many major league clubs train in Florida, and a trip to any of those parks would be money better-spent than coming to Osceola County Stadium.

How to get there:
The stadium is located off US 192 east of the Orlando/Kissimmee resort areas. Take I-4 to exit 65 (the normal exit for 192 east is under construction) and follow the detour signs to 192 east, then stay on 192 east for approximately 13-15 miles. The stadium will be on the left. The stadium is also approachable via Florida’s Turnpike, Osceola Parkway, or any major thoroughfare that accesses US 192.

You may also want to see:

• Orlando. The home of the Happiest Celebration on Earth is a short drive away from the ballpark, and features Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Wide World of Sports, and many other theme and water attractions. Orlando is also home to the NBA’s Magic and Arena Football’s Predators. Lodging in Orlando is prevalent and able to fit any budget.
  
• Cocoa Beach/Cape Canaveral: Just a short drive down FL 528 (Beachline Expressway) is the Space Coast, which is home to the Brevard County Manatees (whose stadium I also reviewed earlier this year), the Kennedy Space Center, and what is billed as Orlando’s closest beach. The drive to Cocoa is about 35 minutes, and there is much to see and do on Florida’s east coast. Be advised, however, that Beachline – along with many other roads in central Florida – is a toll road, and you should arm yourself with plenty of dollars and quarters for the drive.

At the Ballpark - Jackie Robinson Stadium, Daytona Beach, FL

September 12 - At The Ballpark: Jackie Robinson Ballpark, Daytona Beach, FL

Minor league baseball's landscape has changed quite a bit in the last few years. New ballparks are springing up all over in many different markets, and a lot of them look just like someone else's park.
Even Myrtle Beach's old facility at Coastal Carolina University has been replaced with a newer park five minutes from the Atlantic Ocean. This is not the case in Daytona, as Jackie Robinson Ballpark is over 90 years old, having opened in 1914. The ballpark got its name from Jackie Robinson having made his professional debut there. The stadium has obviously been remodeled since its opening, but how is the grand lady holding up? Let’s find out.

Concessions: A+
This may not be totally fair, since the concessions were part of a promotion (more on that in the Promotions section), but the concessions I did get were quality and reasonably-priced. Daytona has a wonderful selection of concessions – including some things you won't always find at a ballpark – and these items are served on the cheap with a smile.

Between-innings entertainment: C
The between-innings musical selection at Jackie Robinson Ballpark was actually pretty solid – about on-par with Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. I wish they hadn't played music in between pitches (complete with the requisite sound effects of glass breaking when a ball was fouled off, etc.), but I had no complaints otherwise. The other contests were fairly forgettable, including the “let's make a deal” contest where a fan had to choose between a foul ball from a game or something in a box, the “who needs a haircut?” contest where fans had to decide which of two fans was more in need of a haircut, a “dance with your duster” contest in which two fans had a dance-off involving vacuums (don't ask), and a downright disgusting burrito eating contest. The contests are different, but different isn't always better.

Sight lines: A+
The ballpark is on an island of sorts in Daytona Beach, surrounded by the Halifax River. Fans in every fixed seat get views of the river and the large bridge that crosses it, and the top of the general admission bleachers (more on these in a moment) get nice views of a marina and the riverwalk behind the seats. When the sun sets in the ballpark, you can also see the beachfront hotels that surround the Atlantic Ocean just minutes away. The lights over the river make for amazing views, and those views make this probably the most scenic ballpark I have seen in my travels. A word to the wise, though – if you go to the top of the bleachers to take pictures, be aware of foul balls coming at you, as well as keeping care on the walk to the top. There are no hand rails on the steps going up, and all it takes is one misstep to go sliding down the steps coming back down. If you can keep your balance about you, the rewards are amazing.

Promotions: A+
This was a rewarding ballpark trip, as the ticket price not only got you into a seat, but also provided an all-you-can-eat buffet. This night was also Taste of Daytona night, where several local eating establishments were on hand to provide free food. The food wasn't perfect, but it was free, which automatically made it that much better. Along with the free food came free game programs – another plus – and several freebies from local businesses for various accomplishments by the Cubs in the game.

Parking: A+
Parking is free in a number of lots surrounding the park, and the longest walk is about three minutes. There is a courthouse behind the right field wall that provides a nice area to park for night games.
Egress after the game was quite easy with no traffic backups whatsoever. There are a number of routes to get back to the beachfront or to US 92, Dunlawton Avenue or any other major thoroughfares out of the Daytona area.

Player accessibility: A
I didn't see too much of the pregame festivities, but I will say that what I did see was a bunch of guys signing for fans, and the players are easy to get to in this park. I saw the Cubs' AA affiliate earlier this year, and their players were very accommodating to the fans, as were the Daytona Cubs, so that may be an organizational philosophy. The kids seemed happy, so I can say that the job was done in this regard.

Quality of baseball: A
I never thought I could give an A grade to a game involving a team that didn't have a player batting higher than .246, but that is the predicament in which the visiting Jupiter Hammerheads (the Marlins' advanced A ball affiliate) found themselves. The homestanding Cubs flashed a lot of leather on this night, and got a wonderful pitching performance from lefty prospect Donnie Veal to record the 7-2 victory. Of particular interest was catcher Chris Robinson, a former all-Big 10 performer at Illinois who had just come over in a trade for Neifi Perez. He recorded three hits on the evening, and showed some defensive prowess behind the plate.

Overall grade: A
Jackie Robinson Ballpark is one of the nicest A-ball facilities you will ever see. Don't let its age fool you – the ballpark is a comfortable place, there's not a bad seat in the house, and the breeze from the water makes your visit top-notch. Everyone you will encounter in the park is friendly and seems to really love what they do. There's even a hand-operated scoreboard, which is a true rarity in minor league baseball (the only other one I have seen is also in the Florida State League, 75 miles down the road in Brevard County). You'll eat well, catch an eyeful from anywhere in the park, and see some good baseball. Give this place a visit.

How to get there:
The stadium is located on Orange Avenue in downtown Daytona Beach, and is accessible by taking Silver Beach off Atlantic Avenue, taking A1A to Orange Avenue, or taking International Speedway Blvd. (US 92) to Beach Avenue to Orange Avenue. Alternately, you may enter 105 E. Orange Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32114 into your favorite mapping program.

You may also want to see:

• Daytona, USA: The official interactive side of NASCAR is located a few miles away on International Speedway Blvd. (US 92) and features rides, pit tours, and an insider look at Daytona International Speedway. Daytona International Speedway is one of NASCAR's “mother churches”, and the track that took Dale Earnhardt's life. The history of this facility alone makes it worth the visit, even if you're not a NASCAR fan.
  
• Daytona Beach/Ormond Beach: The beautiful Atlantic shore is minutes away, and you can even drive on parts of the beach. There are hotels available for all budget levels, and the shoreline is a nice, relaxing getaway for families, couples and individuals who just need a break.

At the Ballpark - Smokies Park, Sevierville, TN

September 21, 2006 - At The Ballpark: Smokies Park, Sevierville, TN

The metropolitan Knoxville area has been the home of baseball for 110 years, with a majority of those years being played in venerable Bill Meyer Stadium in Knoxville.  Inevitably, as ballparks age, they are phased out.  Bill Meyer went the way of Tim McCarver Stadium in Memphis, Engel Stadium in Chattanooga, and their soon-to-be brethren Greer Stadium in Nashville.  The Smokies now play 20 miles northeast of Knoxville in Sevier County, Tennessee in a ballpark that opened in 2000.  Was the trip to the suburbs worth it?  Let’s find out.

Concessions: A+
Do you like cheeseburgers and fries?  Ice cream from a helmet?  All the standard ballpark fare?  It’s all here, and the prices and portion sizes are amazingly reasonable.  A sizeable tray of nachos and a large drink (in a souvenir cup – nice touch) ran me about $6, and was well worth it.  There is a restaurant down the left field line, and many separate stands throughout the ballpark.  Show up hungry – you’ll be pleased.  

Between-innings entertainment: C
Most of the between-innings stuff was fairly par for the course at Smokies Park, as they featured the requisite mascot race (has a mascot ever won one of those things?), a dance-off between two fans, the contest where
you pitch a ball through a hole in a board, and several other standard items.  I was less than impressed with the lack of music between innings, as there was a great musical selection being played on the concourse before the game that inexplicably disappeared between innings of the game.  Note to the Smokies’ PA guy:  Bring back the music.

Sight lines:  A+
Smokies Park has a concourse that circles the ballpark, and the view of the action is great no matter where you may be taking in the game.  The seats are comfortable and have a large amount of leg room, and the sidewalks and concourses provide lots of room for those who prefer their baseball experience to be more upright.  The scenery surrounding the ballpark isn’t totally great shakes – there is an interstate behind home plate, and a large wooded hill behind the outfield fence, along with a KOA Kampground, but you do get the feeling that you are in a mountain setting when watching the game.

Promotions: A+
The day I attended featured free 2007 Smokies calendar posters, and the ballpark staff was nice enough to either give you a rubber band to put around your poster, or let you take it back to your car.  The real winner of the day, however, was the Berkline Ball Toss, which allows fans to purchase tennis balls to throw onto the field for a number of prizes, separated by the area in which your ball lands.  If you got a ball into the Berkline recliner near the pitcher’s mound, you won the recliner, and despite my ball barely bouncing to the side of the chair, it landed in the circle surrounding the chair.  This got me a Smokies prize package that was easily worth 10 times what I paid for the tennis balls ($1 for one ball, $5 for six), and was a nice touch.  The promotions department did a great job of setting up the prizes for this promotion.

Parking: B
Parking is plentiful at Smokies Park, as they share a parking lot with the Smoky Mountain Visitor Center.  The entire lot is paved, and a short painless walk to the park.  The only thing dragging this grade down a bit is that there is a charge to park, which, though minimal, is still a pain.  Make sure to have a couple of dollar bills (or, to be sure, a five dollar bill) handy when you pull into the lot.  There are two points of entry into and two points of exit from the lot, but only one of the exits leads to a traffic light.  

Quality of baseball: A
Mobile lefthander (and Padres pitching prospect) Sean Thompson shut
down the homestanding Smokies early on, but left the game after
five-plus innings, surrendering seven earned runs on seven hits
(including homers by Diamondback prospects Jamie D’Antona, Jerry Gil
and Carlos Gonzalez) in a 10-4 Mobile loss.  Both teams hit the ball well,
and a number of prospects were on display in this contest.  If you like
homers, this was the game for you, as both teams put on a display.

Overall grade: A
A note on a board in Smokies Park describes Smokies baseball as a “nine inning vacation”, and I wholeheartedly agree.  All of the ballpark staff was indescribably friendly – a big plus – and it’s easy for fans to feel like home at this park.  The view is perfect, tickets are reasonably-priced, and you can feed your family without going broke.  There is also a large gift shop near the plate area, and you can buy pretty much anything Smokies-related you want, along with several other items.  This ballpark is right on the edge of an A+, if they would only work on the between-innings experience.  

How to get there:
The stadium is located directly off interstate 40 in east Tennessee.  From the Knoxville area, take 40 east to exit 407, and turn left at the light.  The stadium will be ahead on your right.  From points east, take 40 west to exit 407, then take a right.  The stadium will be ahead on the right.

You may also want to see:

• Knoxville.  The home of the University of Tennessee features Neyland Stadium, the Knoxville Zoo and numerous other attractions.  Most of the action is located in the university district, and Knoxville turns into one of the bigger cities in the south on Tennessee football gamedays.
• The Smoky Mountain area.  Sevierville is (obviously) surrounded by the Smokies, and the Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg tourist areas are minutes to the south.  Gatlinburg affords tourists the opportunity to ride ski lifts to the top of mountainous areas for scenic views, visit museums, take nature walks, or even get married by an Elvis impersonator (you can also do it the conventional way, too), while Pigeon Forge is more neon-filled and features the Dollywood theme park.  The Indian reservation of Cherokee, North Carolina is just over the mountain (trip time from Sevierville is about 45 minutes to an hour, in normal traffic) and features some breathtaking views along the way, as well as a Harrah’s casino in Cherokee proper.