The best ballparks in baseball...
Hey NatsTown,
I hope all is well. With Interleague play taking us to new ballparks like the new Yankee Stadium, in today's blog I'm going to discuss some of the newly built stadiums, and a couple that have been built over the last few years.
Since we're currently playing in the new Yankee Stadium, it will be the first one on the list.
Yankee Stadium:
Simply put, it is a cathedral; everything you could ask for is in there (as it should be, given the amount of money that was used to build it!).
Our visiting clubhouse is very big--so big that some of us are still getting lost walking around. They've got a great gym and, as one of the clubhouse attendants told me, a "NY style" kitchen, which means the eating area is absolutely HUGE.
Once you get on the field, unless you notice the new bleachers in left-center and right-center, you think that you are in the old Yankee Stadium. They did a great job making this place look just like the old stadium.
I visited the monument and it was a great experience. The dimensions are supposed to be the same, but for some reason it looks smaller.
Just like the new trend of most of the new stadiums, it's not a pitcher-friendly place. Balls are just flying out of there like crazy, and they've told us a ton of theories while searching for the reason - including a jetstream wind that comes in from the third base side and goes straight out to right field. I don't know, but whatever the reason is, we were taking batting practice and balls were hit WAY out by little guys not even putting their best swings on the ball.
Citi-Field:
It's a beautiful place that has a lot of character to it. The entrance is a replica of the old Ebbets Field and gives it a really nice touch.
I love the dimensions--it's a pitchers park, so you need to have athletic guys who can cover some ground in the outfield. High walls in the outfield stop guys from robbing homers and teach them which balls to go for and which ones not to. Just like most of the new stadiums, fans are very close to the action and can interfere with batted balls.
Nationals Park:
My favorite! - and not because I work there. Nationals Park is a state of the art place. Our clubhouse is a spectacular sight to see. I love everything about it and the dimensions on the field are as fair as they come in all of baseball. It is certainly not RFK in size, but you won't see cheap home runs either.
I also love how our bullpens are set up, and the view from the dugout to the restaurant in the center field area. Our video screen is fantastic and you can't beat the Presidents Race. The visiting teams also love our stadium too, so that's a good sign.
Citizens Bank Park and Great American Ballpark:
These two are in the same category for me: they are both beautiful places to watch a game, but they are WAY too small on the field.
PNC Park:
Another favorite of mine! It's beautiful all around; it has fair dimensions on the field; and you can't beat the skyline view of downtown Pittsburgh. Lastly, it is within walking distance of our hotel, and it's a very nice walk over the river.
AT&T:
It's a gorgeous park and has some cool stuff that makes this place different, like the big Coca-Cola sign in left next to the gigantic glove. Being on the bay makes it special, but Lord knows it gets chilly there.
Special mention to Coors Field...I love that place. It is beautiful and so well kept that it always looks new...
What's your favorite ballpark in the Majors? Tell me that and why using the comment box below!
Take care NatsTown,
-MA
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Categories (click for archive)MASNblogs | Manny Acta |
I went to see the Nats play at CitiField a few weeks ago and on Tuesday at new Yankee Stadium. CitiField reminds me alot of Camden Yards. From this fan's perspective, I preferred it to new Yankee Stadium, because there was more access to the really nice features for the regular fans as opposed to the fan on a budget. I saw alot of features at CitiField I'd love to see at nationals Park someday. Also, while the Met fans at nats park are often arrogant and rude, I experienced none of that while at CitiField. The real Mets fans were actually quite nice!
At Yankee Stadium, where I was wearing my new Nats home Strasburg jersey, they were quite obnoxious. I put that down to being passionate for their team. It was the fans in the Yankee Stadium bleachers that were over the top, but in the other parts I visited, everyone was a gracious host.
After visiting these two newer and more expensive ball parks, I appreciate what we have in DC much more.
Nats park is ugly.
Nationals Park is probably my favorite too because it is ours. However, I really like PNC park - the backdrop is spectacular. I was up for yesterday's Yanks Nats game to check out the new park. It was really nice. I grew up a Yankees fan and spent a lot of time at the old stadium. The all stadium has his aura about it, something the new park doesn't have. Also, the old stadium was so dark and when you came through the tunnel to the field it opened up and was just majestic. Seeing the field and green grass for the first time will make any kid say "WOW". The new stadium is so open and airy. It is almost like a mall with a ballpark in the middle of it. However, all the yankee history is well document. The field and seats are nice and compact and it doesn't have too much signage other than on the cupholders. They did a great job.
I will be visiting Citi field in Sept to watch you guys beat the Mets. I don't think I am going to like that park, but we will have to see. It has to be better than Shea though.
I am not a fan of Camden yards, never was. It is okay - it was the first of the retro parks, but it is overhyped.
Welcome home, Manny.
I've not had the opportunity to visit that many MLB ballparks (just RFK, Camden Yards, Nats Park, Wrigley, and AT&T). The latter, which we recently visited, is my favorite to date. You get a great sense of place there. We sat in the upper deck up the first base line and the view of the bay was just gorgeous. Great view of the field as well. Sappy, perhaps, but I loved that they played "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" after the home team won (they were playing the Braves that day, so that made it even more special). I will admit I'm a little biased about SFO, because I grew up in the area. BTW, the low A ball affiliate of the Giants plays in an charming old WPA-project stadium in San Jose.
I'd particularly like to visit PNC Park someday. Hopefully when the Nats are playing!
Manny,
Visiting teams love our park because they win at over .700 rate here.
All are pretty good parks but you missed the best one. Fenway Park. All these new parks are cookie cutters and there isnt much difference. Give me one with History, a great fan base, the Green Monster and a True event every single game.
I took my 3 &4 yr. olds to thier first game at Nats Park. It was awesome (specially when Dunn hit the grandslam)! I heard some B-more fans commenting saying they could have added more seats, and that is the problem with Camden. There were picnic tables at the top of our section and it was perfect for us to have enjoy lunch and then move down to our seats for the game. I can't possibly tell you how much I enjoyed eating my food as opposed to wearing it, which is likely the case when trying to eat in our seats. Job well done! A Great experience.
I've been to Camden, AT&T, Citizens Bank Park, Turner Field, RFK, the old Yankee Stadium and a few that no longer exist, like the Vet and the old stadium they just imploded in Pittsburgh. I hope to visit Nats Park on 8/22, my birthday and Hondo bobble night. I live in South Carolina. I think Nats Park will be my favorite place, it is just beautiful on TV. I'd agree that PNC park looks awesome to. I hope to visit that one in the future also.
The (non-reserved) picnic tables in various locations are a great addition, as are the stand-up rails in other locations. Thanks to the Nats for that.
The most beautiful ballpark is CAMDEN YARDS !! No comparison!! Nats ballpark you've got to be kidding!!!
Camden Yards??? WAY WAY OVERATED. Ugly colors - Orange, Black and Green. Way too many seats. "Thank God I'm a Country Boy"? What's up with that? Also too corporate and agressive, annoying ushers.
Old yankee stadium is the best, but of the new its gotta be citi field tho it has too many advertisments and the board is way too high in left, I've seen the nats this year at yankee stadium it is nice but the atmosphere was way too quiet for a baseball game, citizens bank park in philly smells like cat urine also as I wear my zim jersey to every game I go to and the fans in philly barely said a peep to me, citi I got the most trash talk to me. Yankee stadium was quiet, nationals park was ok but center field is over emphasized, too far of a walk to my seats near home plate, also the prices there match that of yankee stadium what a joke! When the nationals spend 200 mil and have a competetive team then maybe but right now that is ridiculas! Manny u have to go, so does colome and hanrahan, ernie I think I saw u at yankee stadium in the left field bleachers awesome jersey but wishful thinking