Totally agree with PNC #1, SF #2 is fair too but CitiField at 25 is ridiculous unless you are really heavily weighing neighborhood/location (totally agree the neighborhood/location is horrible) Link - ( New Window )
in the late-90's, maybe early 00's when Disney owned them. I was in Ontario, CA on business and a colleague and I said - hey let's go to a game.
random tuesday night we drove up without tickets, and a guy on the way in sold us two tickets with parking for maybe 50$ total. My feet were on the dugout (this was pre-World Series win).
The stadium was as clean as a disney park and before the game was ready to start we noticed it was us and 15,000 asians in the stadium, after the top of the 1st we found out why - Hideo Nomo was pitching for the Tigers.
Nondescript game I didn't care about at all, but I didn't hate the park.
I've been to worse parks - three rivers among them.
When you are in certain cities, you make it a point to check out the stadium. That's the sign of a truly great ballpark. That, and when you find out the home team is out of town when you will be there - and are disappointed. Those are true ballparks.
are insulting and moronic. I was just at Coors Field. Beautiful baseball stadium. In no way is it better than Citi. Unless you want to find reasons that you pull out of your ass.
When you are in certain cities, you make it a point to check out the stadium. That's the sign of a truly great ballpark. That, and when you find out the home team is out of town when you will be there - and are disappointed. Those are true ballparks.
Well I do that every where I go. If I'm in a city for a few nights, the first thing I do is check out the baseball or hockey teams schedules. Regardless of the stadium
Sitting in the old Yankee stadium and getting stuck behind one of those metal support beams which blocked much of your view? Stadiums have cone a long way.
when I went with my father and uncles, etc, I'd get stuck behind the obstruction.
at Fenway too.
I was sat at the old Yankees Stadium I was looking down at the foul pole. there were birds flying below us, maybe it was my youth, but that place seemed steep.
I know this will come off as corny, but I disagree about YS2. I think it was special, primarily because it was still the shell of the original park. It was modernized in the 70s, but it was Yankee Stadium. I know up until it closed, I still got goosebumps every single time I went and stepped out of the runway and saw the field and facade for the first time.
With YS3 I wanted so badly to love it. From the renderings, I loved the return to the limestone facing, the old facade, keeping the dimensions, etc. But, the place just feels cold and sterile to me. It is not exciting to be there outside of the team that plays there. As this team is becoming less special with the lack of stars, it really is a dreary place to watch a game. It is not loud partly because of acoustics, but also because there are always thousands of empty seats in the lower bowl every night.
On top of that, there is nothing in the new amenities that really makes it special to the average fan. The food selection really sucks. It is really just decent fast food, maybe a slight step up from the options that were at the old Stadium but at a much higher price. the whole stadium is catered to luxury boxes and seats and that is made very clear in the way the staff treats fans.
I don't see the neighborhood as a big enough detraction to place them in the bottom third of the league. Likewise, I don't think the big dimensions were a reason to rank them this low. The reality is, the stadium wasn't too big. It was just too big for the team they assembled. Visiting teams actually homer at a decent pace at CitiField, at least through last year. It's the power lacking offense the Mets have continued to trot out that made it too big.
But, the design is beautiful. The food is good stadium food with nice options. And, the team was receptive to fan comments about some of the aesthetics and they made changes accordingly.
I haven't been there but I agree that there was something special about knowing all the history that had been played on that very field. You never get that feeling once you bulldoze it even if the new one looks the same.
and 7 that are no longer around. This is a pretty good list but I'd make a few changes. Citifield and Marlins Park are way too low, and Great American Ballpark is too high. Tropicana Field was a depressing venue, my least favorite. Cellular One was pretty uninspiring as well. No complaints wit the top 6, although I might put Safeco a spot or 2 higher.
of the stadium has a huge part to do with these rankings. That's why Yankee Stadium and Citi Field are so low, both ballparks that I do like but are not as nice as stadiums like Petco Park. I havent been to PNC or Giants stadium, but I have been to Camden Yards and thats my favorite ballpark that i've been to.
Dodger Stadium is way too high. Just a really lousy stadium imo. Outside of Shea Stadium and the Vet I like it the least of all the stadiums I've been to.
I didn't see a game at Miller Park, but did get to walk around the stadium the friday before the packers playoff game in 2012 we stopped in Milwaukee on our way up from Chicago. Awesome stadium
I don't see the neighborhood as a big enough detraction to place them in the bottom third of the league. Likewise, I don't think the big dimensions were a reason to rank them this low. The reality is, the stadium wasn't too big. It was just too big for the team they assembled. Visiting teams actually homer at a decent pace at CitiField, at least through last year. It's the power lacking offense the Mets have continued to trot out that made it too big.
But, the design is beautiful. The food is good stadium food with nice options. And, the team was receptive to fan comments about some of the aesthetics and they made changes accordingly.
I think the initial dimensions were a little too extreme but they're fine now. It's just a pitchers park. It's not impossible to hit it out, though.
is a dump but its pretty cool at the same time. Much cooler than Dodgers Stadium imo. Some really fucking awful seats at Fenway though with all of the beams and shit
The Mets are waaaay too low. It's a nice park. Great food options, terrific sitelines, superb amenities, nice ambience. My only issues with it are the absurd ticket prices. He actually says you cant walk around the main concourse... on what planet? I question this guys IQ that he couldnt walk around the park without getting on escalators.
I agree with his top 3, that's about it.
How is Dodger stadium #8? Only way you are giving that stadium such a high mark is for the product on the field and the weather.. neither of which have anything to do with what is an old stadium in need of renovation.
How can you complain about neighborhood but put Comerica at #12? That's inconsistent, illogical.
Angels stadium at #13? LOL, its in a wide open parking lot in the middle of a hot valley surrounded by a few spread out corporate buildings and the arena the Ducks play in. Sure they did some renovations but it still feels like an old football stadium. I'd have it bottom 5.
Nationals Park at #16? I get that its new... but talk about fucking a park up, with all the opportunities that come with showcasing DC, they built what is essentially an enclosed stadium in a crappy neighborhood and mediocre food options.
On bottom 5 his bottom 4 are obvious, no one would argue that. But i wouldnt have Texas bottom 5... there are enough redeeming features about that stadium... I'd probably put Angel Stadium or Turner Field there.
One i do agree with is the Marlins at #23. What besides the Clevelander is there to like about that stadium? The food options are horrendous. If you sit close to the field, you have to walk up about 40 rows to go get beer or food, makes no sense. The field is enormous, and the building is enclosed for 70 of 81 home games per year so there are no views. Just a collosal failure.
The focus (at least when I lived out there and went to games) was on the field, not a bunch of dumbass distractions. Plus they played the organ throughout the game back then, although I don't think they do anymore.
Safeco is for the pure baseball experience. it's a cool park with great amenities, etc.
Camden, is older now, but the combination of the stadium and the night life right around the stadium (without venturing too far to the low rise) is a lot of fun. First time I saw outdoor cornhole and beer pong tournaments in a bar was at sliders.
Fenway is #3, because as much as I hate the Sox, the crowd, and everything they stand for, it's so much fun going to the game and hitting the bars before, after, etc. being in that location removes most of the animosity I have.
Some of my best times have involved fenway and none of it had anything to do with baseball (other than Derek Lowe's no-hitter and Mike Mussina's almost PG - those were cool).
and by the way, LOL with that 'focus on the field' stuff Greg
What I mean is that Dodger Stadium (at least when I used to go, haven't been there since 2000) was entirely purpose-driven. No shitty recorded music, no stupid between-innings races, no carnival sideshow shit all over the stadium. Just baseball.
If it wasn't for my kids, I don't even think I would be making even a single visit each year. The ticket pricing was already pricing me out from any seats I enjoyed at the old Stadium. now it is beyond ridiculous. The last few years I have been getting 2 free seats to a single game through Hess and I took my oldest son. This year, my younger one wanted to come, so I chose a game from Hess' list on a weeknight against Toronto because there were cheap seats on Stub Hub in the same section that I could get seats for through Hess.
I am actually in the middle of writing to the Yankees to complain. It was the single worst game day experience I have had. While nothing was egregious (i.e. no food poisoning, nobody tripped and fell, etc.), my wife and I both left feeling crappy. First, it was a giveaway and was the first time I ever did not receive the giveaway. We did not arrive any later than I ever have. Next, we are walking with 3 kids and food and get turned away from an escalator as it is for suites only and there is not a single other one anywhere in the vicinity. Next, I am with my son and we passed a bank of elevators to which 2 young couples walked up to. the operator VERY rudely told them they couldn't enter as it was just for suite ticketholders and they clearly did not have a suite. I had to explain that interaction to a 4 year old.
Then the food is shit. All these ballparks have such unique and upscale options now. YS has a slight upgrade (maybe) over standard ballbark fare. For example, instead of a generic burger, you can get Johnny Rockets. There are not unique options unless you want to spend a fortune to watch the game inside a restaurant. All this at ridiculous prices ($6 for water, $12.50 for beer, $6 and $7 hot dogs, etc.) and some stands take credit cards while others do not. Then there are bar like areas at the railing that are only reserved for certain fans to use to eat.
The last thing is how rude they are, which I touched on before. It used to be a time honored tradition of moving down in the late innings. I understand not allowing it anymore. But, they have guys stationed at every entry to every section other than the very upper tier and they are very rude and even get physical. We went to a game a few years ago when my wife was pregnant. We walked down to watch the final 3 outs from the main concourse to make it easier to avoid the crowd. We were standing behind the railing of the box seats and an usher physically tried to move my wife (again pregnant) because we didn't have tickets to the section. Now, she was just standing there behind the railing, not even trying to sit. And, the section was almost entirely empty.
The only time I have felt a remotely special atmosphere there was when we were lucky enough to have been at Jeter's 3000th hit. Even at that, it wasn't nearly as loud, special, or exciting as it would have been at the old ballpark.
The thing I still can't believe is that they don't let anyone down by the dugouts during BP. Hell, when I was a kid that was almost more fun than the game - trying to get an autograph or talk to the players. They've really sucked the fun out of a trip to the ballpark, apparently, unless you're made of money.
Since I'm bored, I'll do my own personal rankings.
1. AT&T Park
2. Camden Yards
3. Fenway Park
4. Petco Park
5. Yankee Stadium
6. Wrigley Field - could be ranked higher but it's been 13 years and I don't remember it that well
7. Citi Field
8. Comerica Park
9. Dodger Stadium - I enjoy the experience of being there but the stadium itself is very meh
10. Citizens Bank Park
11. Chase Field
12. Nationals Park
13. O.Co Coliseum
14. Angel Stadium
15. Tropicana Field
I agree with the issues of many on here. It's very nice. It's very convenient to get to (at least for me). I think the food is good. But it is just so sterile and made only for those with suite tickets. It's absurd how much the average fan is not considered in that stadium. Like Greg said, not being able to get near the field during batting practice is pathetic. Pricing is not good, absolutely. But, in reality, if you play the secondary ticket market game, you can get in for a very reasonable price. Of course, your seats might suck. But that's neither here nor there. In the old stadium, I had a Saturday ticket package, Upper Box, 4th row, just to the right of home plate. They were fantastic. In the new stadium, those tickets became full season and got access to the Jim Beam Bar. So we were shifted down the right field line instead. Little things like that irk me. Eventually, we moved down to the loge, and the seats got much better (for a price). This year we gave up the tickets. It just isn't as fun to go to games anymore.
1)Camden Yards
2)Citizens Bank Park
3)Dodger Stadium
4)The Jake (whatever they're calling it now)
5)Nationals Park
6)Chase Field
7)Turner Field
8)Anaheim Stadium
9)Fenway
All the former stadiums I'd been to sucked except for Yankee Stadium - Shea, the Vet, RFK, Joe Robbie, Jack Murphy, Fulton County, and especially the goddamned Kingdome.
Yes; its a dump, but don't blame Al Davis, blame Lew Wolff ( A's owner ). Davis actually improved the place by adding clubs that the A's get to use for free. What Wolff did was to close the entire upper level during the baseball season in order to reduce the number seats available from about 55,000 to maybe 34,000. The problem is, he took away a lot of good seats and added bad ones. The upper level seats, especially above home plate were a good place to watch the game. The seats he added for sale in lower Mount Davis are terrible.
The shame is that I remember when they used to sell the place out. Back when they had Ricky Henderson and the Yankees or the Red Sox were in, the upper deck was packed.
But I went to Wrigley for the first time 3 weeks ago. I have to say, it kinda sucked. I was incredibly underwhelmed. It was cold, windy, and the stadium is an absolute shit hole. I don't get all the hype. Seriously, the only good vibes I got were simply from the nastalgia. There was no in between innings entertainment or anything. Just a dull, boring game. I know just about everyone else loves it, I just don't get it.
I went to Coors Field the week before that and I thought the experience was MUCH better. That stadium is nice, they have a kinds of entertainment for the kids and in between inning contests, etc. Weather was perfect, scenery was, umm, awesome, etc. Personal preference I guess
Great atmospherics. Minute Maid Park is also very good. Camden Yards and Citizen's Bank Park are very fan friendly. I was just at Toronto's stadium over the weekend and I had a great time there.
But I went to Wrigley for the first time 3 weeks ago. I have to say, it kinda sucked. I was incredibly underwhelmed. It was cold, windy, and the stadium is an absolute shit hole. I don't get all the hype. Seriously, the only good vibes I got were simply from the nastalgia. There was no in between innings entertainment or anything. Just a dull, boring game. I know just about everyone else loves it, I just don't get it.
I went to Coors Field the week before that and I thought the experience was MUCH better. That stadium is nice, they have a kinds of entertainment for the kids and in between inning contests, etc. Weather was perfect, scenery was, umm, awesome, etc. Personal preference I guess
People rank Wrigley and Fenway high on the list because of the history, the uniqueness, and the ambience, including a cool bar scene outside.
It sounds like what you prefer is the modern day amenities. So yeah, Wrigley & Fenway arent for you. Nothing wrong with that - but its not that hard to understand why certain people do like the throwback experience.
I used to have similar seats on a Friday plan. They were upper boxes, 8th row of the Upper Deck just to the right of the plate. When we started they were $12, then $15, then $18, and we stopped after they went to $21. They were over $40 before the old Stadium closed. The equivalent in the new Stadium is the 3rd tier and over $75 because they are attached to a lounge, as you mentioned. That is just ridiculous.
I couldn't believe the first time I went to the new ballpark with my oldest son, who was 4 at the time. We got there really early. I was shocked when we weren't allowed down to watch batting practice.
The worst part about that is when the Stadium first opened the Yankees tried to play dumb that they didn't know the bleachers had obstructed views. Huh? You paid how much for the design and about $1.5B to build it and you had no clue that the stupid Hard Rock Cafe would prevent a good portion of the bleachers from seeing half of the OF?
I lived about 5 or 6 blocks away while going to grad school. We could come home from the lab and walk over on the spur of the moment like we had just decided to go to a movie. Cheap bleacher seats and beer. So simple and fun.
I love Fenway and try to go every year. The environment is like nowhere else I've been to except maybe Michie Stadium for football. But going once or twice a year is like planning a vacation and nearly as costly. I've literally had to hit redial over and over sometime in the winter when single games go on sale and have been shut out of quality games. Deciding to see a freaking baseball game 8 months before you go? Ridiculous.
Haven't been to YS2 yet. Went to YS1 a few times over the years.
Shea was a dump but it had character and I kind of miss it. Citi is a billion times nicer, though.
random tuesday night we drove up without tickets, and a guy on the way in sold us two tickets with parking for maybe 50$ total. My feet were on the dugout (this was pre-World Series win).
The stadium was as clean as a disney park and before the game was ready to start we noticed it was us and 15,000 asians in the stadium, after the top of the 1st we found out why - Hideo Nomo was pitching for the Tigers.
Nondescript game I didn't care about at all, but I didn't hate the park.
I've been to worse parks - three rivers among them.
Well I do that every where I go. If I'm in a city for a few nights, the first thing I do is check out the baseball or hockey teams schedules. Regardless of the stadium
at Fenway too.
I was sat at the old Yankees Stadium I was looking down at the foul pole. there were birds flying below us, maybe it was my youth, but that place seemed steep.
haven't been to the current YS yet.
With YS3 I wanted so badly to love it. From the renderings, I loved the return to the limestone facing, the old facade, keeping the dimensions, etc. But, the place just feels cold and sterile to me. It is not exciting to be there outside of the team that plays there. As this team is becoming less special with the lack of stars, it really is a dreary place to watch a game. It is not loud partly because of acoustics, but also because there are always thousands of empty seats in the lower bowl every night.
On top of that, there is nothing in the new amenities that really makes it special to the average fan. The food selection really sucks. It is really just decent fast food, maybe a slight step up from the options that were at the old Stadium but at a much higher price. the whole stadium is catered to luxury boxes and seats and that is made very clear in the way the staff treats fans.
But, the design is beautiful. The food is good stadium food with nice options. And, the team was receptive to fan comments about some of the aesthetics and they made changes accordingly.
they had $1 bleacher seats.
I had a good time, but it wasn't a great stadium.
Because it's a shithole full of mouthbreathing Sullys in green Varitek jerseys.
Dodger Stadium is way too high. Just a really lousy stadium imo. Outside of Shea Stadium and the Vet I like it the least of all the stadiums I've been to.
I didn't see a game at Miller Park, but did get to walk around the stadium the friday before the packers playoff game in 2012 we stopped in Milwaukee on our way up from Chicago. Awesome stadium
But, the design is beautiful. The food is good stadium food with nice options. And, the team was receptive to fan comments about some of the aesthetics and they made changes accordingly.
I think the initial dimensions were a little too extreme but they're fine now. It's just a pitchers park. It's not impossible to hit it out, though.
The Mets are waaaay too low. It's a nice park. Great food options, terrific sitelines, superb amenities, nice ambience. My only issues with it are the absurd ticket prices. He actually says you cant walk around the main concourse... on what planet? I question this guys IQ that he couldnt walk around the park without getting on escalators.
I agree with his top 3, that's about it.
How is Dodger stadium #8? Only way you are giving that stadium such a high mark is for the product on the field and the weather.. neither of which have anything to do with what is an old stadium in need of renovation.
How can you complain about neighborhood but put Comerica at #12? That's inconsistent, illogical.
Angels stadium at #13? LOL, its in a wide open parking lot in the middle of a hot valley surrounded by a few spread out corporate buildings and the arena the Ducks play in. Sure they did some renovations but it still feels like an old football stadium. I'd have it bottom 5.
Nationals Park at #16? I get that its new... but talk about fucking a park up, with all the opportunities that come with showcasing DC, they built what is essentially an enclosed stadium in a crappy neighborhood and mediocre food options.
On bottom 5 his bottom 4 are obvious, no one would argue that. But i wouldnt have Texas bottom 5... there are enough redeeming features about that stadium... I'd probably put Angel Stadium or Turner Field there.
One i do agree with is the Marlins at #23. What besides the Clevelander is there to like about that stadium? The food options are horrendous. If you sit close to the field, you have to walk up about 40 rows to go get beer or food, makes no sense. The field is enormous, and the building is enclosed for 70 of 81 home games per year so there are no views. Just a collosal failure.
I mean the Astros are terrible... unwatchable... but Minute Maid is in my top 10 anyway
Safeco is for the pure baseball experience. it's a cool park with great amenities, etc.
Camden, is older now, but the combination of the stadium and the night life right around the stadium (without venturing too far to the low rise) is a lot of fun. First time I saw outdoor cornhole and beer pong tournaments in a bar was at sliders.
Fenway is #3, because as much as I hate the Sox, the crowd, and everything they stand for, it's so much fun going to the game and hitting the bars before, after, etc. being in that location removes most of the animosity I have.
Some of my best times have involved fenway and none of it had anything to do with baseball (other than Derek Lowe's no-hitter and Mike Mussina's almost PG - those were cool).
Which given the traffic, not such an awful idea... but cmon, there's no intensity when it comes to most Dodgers fans.
I am actually in the middle of writing to the Yankees to complain. It was the single worst game day experience I have had. While nothing was egregious (i.e. no food poisoning, nobody tripped and fell, etc.), my wife and I both left feeling crappy. First, it was a giveaway and was the first time I ever did not receive the giveaway. We did not arrive any later than I ever have. Next, we are walking with 3 kids and food and get turned away from an escalator as it is for suites only and there is not a single other one anywhere in the vicinity. Next, I am with my son and we passed a bank of elevators to which 2 young couples walked up to. the operator VERY rudely told them they couldn't enter as it was just for suite ticketholders and they clearly did not have a suite. I had to explain that interaction to a 4 year old.
Then the food is shit. All these ballparks have such unique and upscale options now. YS has a slight upgrade (maybe) over standard ballbark fare. For example, instead of a generic burger, you can get Johnny Rockets. There are not unique options unless you want to spend a fortune to watch the game inside a restaurant. All this at ridiculous prices ($6 for water, $12.50 for beer, $6 and $7 hot dogs, etc.) and some stands take credit cards while others do not. Then there are bar like areas at the railing that are only reserved for certain fans to use to eat.
The last thing is how rude they are, which I touched on before. It used to be a time honored tradition of moving down in the late innings. I understand not allowing it anymore. But, they have guys stationed at every entry to every section other than the very upper tier and they are very rude and even get physical. We went to a game a few years ago when my wife was pregnant. We walked down to watch the final 3 outs from the main concourse to make it easier to avoid the crowd. We were standing behind the railing of the box seats and an usher physically tried to move my wife (again pregnant) because we didn't have tickets to the section. Now, she was just standing there behind the railing, not even trying to sit. And, the section was almost entirely empty.
The only time I have felt a remotely special atmosphere there was when we were lucky enough to have been at Jeter's 3000th hit. Even at that, it wasn't nearly as loud, special, or exciting as it would have been at the old ballpark.
1. AT&T Park
2. Camden Yards
3. Fenway Park
4. Petco Park
5. Yankee Stadium
6. Wrigley Field - could be ranked higher but it's been 13 years and I don't remember it that well
7. Citi Field
8. Comerica Park
9. Dodger Stadium - I enjoy the experience of being there but the stadium itself is very meh
10. Citizens Bank Park
11. Chase Field
12. Nationals Park
13. O.Co Coliseum
14. Angel Stadium
15. Tropicana Field
2)Citizens Bank Park
3)Dodger Stadium
4)The Jake (whatever they're calling it now)
5)Nationals Park
6)Chase Field
7)Turner Field
8)Anaheim Stadium
9)Fenway
All the former stadiums I'd been to sucked except for Yankee Stadium - Shea, the Vet, RFK, Joe Robbie, Jack Murphy, Fulton County, and especially the goddamned Kingdome.
The shame is that I remember when they used to sell the place out. Back when they had Ricky Henderson and the Yankees or the Red Sox were in, the upper deck was packed.
I went to Coors Field the week before that and I thought the experience was MUCH better. That stadium is nice, they have a kinds of entertainment for the kids and in between inning contests, etc. Weather was perfect, scenery was, umm, awesome, etc. Personal preference I guess
I went to Coors Field the week before that and I thought the experience was MUCH better. That stadium is nice, they have a kinds of entertainment for the kids and in between inning contests, etc. Weather was perfect, scenery was, umm, awesome, etc. Personal preference I guess
People rank Wrigley and Fenway high on the list because of the history, the uniqueness, and the ambience, including a cool bar scene outside.
It sounds like what you prefer is the modern day amenities. So yeah, Wrigley & Fenway arent for you. Nothing wrong with that - but its not that hard to understand why certain people do like the throwback experience.
I love Fenway and try to go every year. The environment is like nowhere else I've been to except maybe Michie Stadium for football. But going once or twice a year is like planning a vacation and nearly as costly. I've literally had to hit redial over and over sometime in the winter when single games go on sale and have been shut out of quality games. Deciding to see a freaking baseball game 8 months before you go? Ridiculous.
PNC
Citi (I'm biased, even as a Yankee fan - I lived walking distance away for three years)
Camden
Yankee
Chase Field (AZ)
Fenway