MLB's Best Baseball Stadiums

I’m not a fan of the new park. Call me old fashioned, but it looks more like an amusement park (atmosphere) than a baseball park. Although, I have not seen it in person...

I guess the new Busch Stadium doesn't rate because it was built to watch a baseball game and not to provide other entertainment like swimming pools etc. Personally, I like the new Busch Stadium. It is easy to navigate, you get a good view of the field, and overall, it is an enjoyable experience.

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And it's close...right Coach?



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quote:

Originally posted by gotwood4sale:
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And it's close...right Coach?



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YUP! 20 minutes!!!

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"Call me old fashioned..."

You're old fashioned!



Sorry...couldn't resist that. I'm old fashioned too...





But I'm making progress!



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Busch is a great place to watch a game. Has a small park feel.

My first baseball game was in Busch stadium. Double header vs the Toronto Blue Jays. My dad took me to the game, we were in the nose bleed section and the guys next to us had a few flasks full of manhattans. At some point during game two my dad looked over at the guys next to us and asked for the time... the guy was holding his drink in the same had that he wore his watch. Manhattans all over his lap.

That was the "old" Busch stadium...

I'm partial to Busch #3. The last one would get so hot and smell like a bunch of sweaty people and would hold the odor and heat so well.

Also, Kauffmann in Kansas City is underrated. Great place to watch a game, and you can get cheap tickets and concessions on some days.

Nationals Park in DC is nice to watch a game. Took my boys a few times and never came across any "bad" seats.

was just at the new marlins stadium and it would not make my to 10 list....looks like an arcade game inside....

but ...

PNC Park.....thats the one.....great sightlines, great view of the city....

quote:

Originally posted by gotwood4sale:
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"Call me old fashioned..."

You're old fashioned!



Sorry...couldn't resist that. I'm old fashioned too...





But I'm making progress!



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SOOOOOO? which one are you?

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The optimistic and confident one!



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Having been to over half (I think) of MLB stadiums, Fenway remains my favorite...by a very wide margin.

Of the newer parks (that I've been too), I'm beginning to feel they are all roughly the same. But of those, I will rate them as follows:

1. AT&T (Giants) - great views + garlic fries...even if I don't like the Giants
2. Miller Park (Brewers) - might be related to the seats in row 3 that I had.
3. Great American Ballpark (Reds) - might be related to the Reds being my favorite team.
4. Nationals Ballpark (Nationals) - great seats there too and at least now, I sure love the Nats!
5. Ballpark at Arlington (Rangers)
6. SafeCo Field (Mariners)
7. Camden Yards (Orioles) - great park, but concessions do not have sightlines to field as the newer parks do
8. New Comiskey Park (or US Cellular Field) (White Sox)
9. Turner Field (Braves) - seemed like I was a LONG way from the field and I didn't like the guy who said, "Hey man, I watched your car for you!" trying to extort an extra parking fee on my way out.

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...I didn't like the guy who said, "Hey man, I watched your car for you!" trying to extort an extra parking fee on my way out.

Extort? C'mon just...I was exhorting, not extorting! I just want ya' to be my friend...that's all!



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I remember swarms of kids approaching, "watch your car for a quarter, Mister" when I was a little guy before going into games at Connie Mack Stadium. Some were my age, like 7, 8- or younger. Nothing ever happened to our car.

Baltimore has parking issues and some rather creative solutions.

Rangers Ballpark in Arlington is too tight through the concourse. When the temps are up, it is too hot. No air circulation. I do like the way they have incorporated other parks into their design. Especially the right field porch from the old Tiger Stadium.

Comerica is my favorite. I'm a little biased. Huge scoreboard. Nothing beats old Tiger Stadium and my memories as a kid.

I'm sure I would love Fenway and Wrigley Field. Gotta get there some day.

Went to a game at Busch Stadium in 2006. I especially liked the sky line.

The new ballpark in Miami was built with a specific generation (younger) and culture (latin) in mind and it wasn't for those that have memories of the way it used to be.

I haven't been there but most I know who have been there have never been to ballgames before really like it. Go figure.

I heard one guy on the radio say that it was his new hangout, he buys a cheap ticket and hangs out at the Clevelander picking up woman looking for guys.

Playyyyyyyyy Ball!

quote:

Originally posted by gotwood4sale:
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...I didn't like the guy who said, "Hey man, I watched your car for you!" trying to extort an extra parking fee on my way out.

Extort? C'mon just...I was exhorting, not extorting! I just want ya' to be my friend...that's all!



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You must have been to football games at the LA Coliseum. It's a nice gesture. They're willing to watch your car for for $20 rather than break your windows for free.

Anybody ever gone around the corner looking for an ATM near the White Sox stadium?

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Baltimore has parking issues

Try parking at Fenway. There's a reason why you see so many people walking to the park. Many of them park three T stops away and take the T.

I drive to Wondahland and take the Blue Line to Govahment Centah where I change to the Green Line to Kenmoah Squah.

A few years ago we did the PG National at Turner Field. During the day we heard gun shots and alarms going off. Seems the police shot and killed someone across the street in a gun fight. Stayed at the hotel right outside right field. Nice walking straight to the park in the morning, but car was broken into at the hotel.

Some of the MLB parks are built in rough neighborhoods. Probably cost of land I suppose.

I've been lucky enough to have been in most MLB parks. Yankee Stadium and Fenway I like for different reasons. Dodger stadium playing surface is among the best I've ever seen. I also like Petco, Busch, Miller, and DBacks (whatever it is called now days. Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, White Sox (rough neighborhood) Arlington, Tropicana, Minute Maid, Kansas city, Angels, Rockies, Mets new park, etc. lots of great parks, in fact they're all great parks except for one, but that one is the oldest. Wrigley Field lacks MLB playing surface, restrooms, seating, and of course a winning team, but they keep packing the place.

quote:

Originally posted by HaverDad:
Marlins Park? Really?

(TravelAndLeisure)

I have not read the article, but rest assured it is a very nice baseball facility.
Granted it does not have the traditional look or feel, but it certainly was made for baseball with not a bad seat in the place.

Cleveland has one of the best ballparks in all of baseball. We now have a Casino just down the street along with many lovely attractions like the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. We also have the all time record for most consecutive MLB sell-outs at our ballpark yet we get no mention from anyone.

It's a shame these parks have to be built with so many "amenities" that do nothing but take you away from watching the game.

You should be there to watch the game. Your food should be hot dogs, peanuts and a Coke or beer (but not 10!). No pizza, quiche or frozen yogurt.

Those people making multiple trips to the concession stand and gift shop should catch a foul ball in the back of the head!

Someone tell me about Cincinnati's park. We'll catch a game there during the Flames tournament.

quote:

Originally posted by biggerpapi:
Someone tell me about Cincinnati's park. We'll catch a game there during the Flames tournament.

I was there once, I liked it but it was the day after watching a game at PNC. Im by no means a Pirates fan but that place is beautiful.

It's all personal opinion.

To me nothing compares to watching a game at Wrigley field. I love the feel of the old ballparks but as a venue to watch sports there are definately better places. But I still advise all baseball fans to go to at least one of the few old parks that are left so you can get at least a feel for what the old parks are like.

San Fran has a nice park, Camden is nice and of course I love Safeco. Bush is a nice field too.

To be honest, I have never been to a bad place to watch baseball. As long as there is baseball being played I can sit anywhere.

Cleveland Dad,

I thought the Red Sox (Fenway) has had the most sell outs. Every game for something like 10 years.

quote:

Originally posted by AntzDad:
Baltimore has parking issues

Camden Yards didn't have parking issues until they put in the football stadium (M&T Stadium) which took up a good chunk of them. That said, I still enjoy going.

Parking for Nationals Park is extremely limited - better to take Metro. Haven't been to Nats Park, but I have heard it is really nice.

quote:

Originally posted by PGStaff:
Cleveland Dad,

I thought the Red Sox (Fenway) has had the most sell outs. Every game for something like 10 years.

On the news last week:

The Red Sox sell out because two ticket agencies buy up the tickets. The plan is to sell them at excessive rates. This year you can go to the agencies and get tickets for $10 thirty minutes before game time.

The Red Sox also hold back about 2,000 bleacher seats for game day. These haven't been selling out this year even though the Red Sox claim they are.

quote:

Originally posted by Wklink:
It's all personal opinion.

To me nothing compares to watching a game at Wrigley field. I love the feel of the old ballparks but as a venue to watch sports there are definately better places. But I still advise all baseball fans to go to at least one of the few old parks that are left so you can get at least a feel for what the old parks are like.

San Fran has a nice park, Camden is nice and of course I love Safeco. Bush is a nice field too.

To be honest, I have never been to a bad place to watch baseball. As long as there is baseball being played I can sit anywhere.

While it is well worth going to Wrigley for historical reasons, it is amazing what a dump it truly is. I detested the old Yankee Stadium (post 1975). What they did in the renovation is tear down a jewel and rebuild inside Shea Stadium.

My favorite is whatever Pac Bell is now called in SF. I also love Dodger Stadium, a classic. I enjoy Bank One Ballpark (or whatever it is now) in Phoenix. It is easy in and out, great sight lines and always very comfortable. It looks too boxy on the outside, but, still, it is a great place to watch the games.

The upper deck seats in Camden Yards are too far from home plate. One of my favorites was old Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. It was not much to look at, but the upper deck seats behind home plate were perhaps the best in all of baseball. Camden Yards is beautiful but not nearly as functional. I think my all time favorite was the old Comiskey Park in Chicago, another old jewel gone to the wrecking ball.

I have not been inside the new ballpark in Washington, but is is very cool from the outside. I cannot wait to see a game there. Perhaps this summer, although the D.C. humidity is suffocating. I very much look forward, also, to a game at the new Pittsburgh ballpark, of which I hear the very best things.

And, of course, Fenway is everything Wrigley is not and probably is the (all things considered) the best of all.