#DMTBeautySpot #beauty
The Best MLB Stadiums to Catch a Game
Baseball has long held the title of “America’s pastime” and if you’ve ever been to a game in person, it’s easy to see why. There’s something about ballpark hotdogs, cold beer and a nine-inning baseball game that’s perfectly soothing. Throw in a warm summer night to cap it off and few places manage to be as relaxing as a baseball stadium.
RELATED: Underrated National Parks
But not all ballparks are created equal. Thirty-two teams make up Major League Baseball, meaning there are 32 stadiums those teams call home – and the variety of what each offer on gameday differs greatly. Some provide state-of-the-art digs and chef-inspired food while others make you feel as if you’ve transported back to the 1920s.
Though each park has its own reasons to visit (yes, even Tropicana Field has some redeeming qualities), some offer fans a much better gameday experience. To help you round out (or create) your MLB stadium bucket list, we’ve rounded up the top five ballparks to catch a game.
1. Fenway Park - Boston, MA
GettyImages
Home to the Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park is a living relic of baseball’s past. Though it’s the oldest stadium in the league – it was built way back in 1912 – it still serves as a mecca for anyone even casually interested in the sport. It’s the kind of place that gives you chills just walking through the concourse.
But it's Fenway’s unique personality that makes it truly iconic and firmly embeds it in baseball’s culture. There’s the Green Monster in left field, Pesky’s Pole in right and the giant, neon Citgo sign floating just beyond the stadium. Even Yankee fans are picturing it in their heads right now.
Everywhere you turn inside Fenway, a part of baseball history stares back. Whether it’s the lone red chair in right field to signify Ted Williams’ 502-foot home run (the longest in Fenway’s history) or its manual scoreboard, a century’s-worth of MLB lore sits around every corner. If you haven’t yet seen a game there, you’re sorely missing out.
2. Wrigley Field - Chicago, IL
GettyImages
The only other park on this list to closely rival Fenway in age is Wrigley field, home of the Chicago Cubs. Built in 1914 and originally opened as Weegham Park, “The Friendly Confines,” as it’s affectionately called, is a bonafide blast from baseball’s past. Though it’s undergone a massive half-billion-dollar renovation of late, the stadium is still rooted in baseball’s early days – for better or worse.
On the one hand, you have its modern upgrades: New outfield bleachers, a ritzy members-only club and a host of fan-focused amenities like the two-story Cubs Store and its Motorola Trophy Room. Then, there’s the Wrigley of old. It still features the classic ivy-covered outfield wall and the can’t-miss Wrigley sign out front, but it also has seats situated directly behind steel beams. Just make sure your ticket doesn’t say “obstructed view” if that’s a deal-breaker.
Even after the ninth inning has come and gone, the party at Wrigley doesn’t stop. Chicago’s party-ready (and aptly named) Wrigleyville neighborhood sits just beyond the gates, giving fans the opportunity to wind down or keep the night going at any of its lively restaurants and bars.
The sum of Wrigley’s parts creates an environment for the fan that’s one of the league’s best. It may be an old stadium with a few unique peccadilloes, but it’s one of the closest representations of what the baseball scene was like over a century ago.
3. PNC Park - Pittsburgh, PA
PNC Park is the apex of baseball’s gameday experience. It’s located in downtown Pittsburgh, offers fans a wide variety of amenities and attractions, and is a pleasing sight for sore eyes. The hometown Pittsburgh Pirates may lead fans on a roller coaster of success and failure, but the park they play in is in a league of its own.
While Fenway and Wrigley offer a better sense of baseball in its early years, PNC Park is at no lack for its own storied history. Take getting to the park for instance. Sure, you could arrive via boat on its river access but hoofing it across the Roberto Clemente Bridge brings you closer to the action – and lets you feel like part of the stadium itself. Bright yellow and prominently featured in any photo of the field, it’s one of the park’s distinct features.
It’s not just the commute that puts PNC Park on this list; the stadium’s food alone is reason for a visit. It has your typical hot dog and burger concession stands but also offers jerk chicken nachos and cinnamon-spiced pork tater tots. There’s even something called the Pittsburgh Cone which is a waffle cone filled with kielbasa sausage, pierogies, swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Russian dressing. In other words, when you go to a Pirates game, show up with an appetite.
4. Oracle Park - San Francisco, CA
GettyImages
Home to the San Francisco Giants (and several name changes over the years), Oracle Park is a spectacle. Not only is it located on a small wedge of land in the northeast section of the city but it offers gorgeous views of San Francisco Bay. If you’re lucky enough to visit the stadium on a fog-less day, the scenery is stunning.
The stadium is also flanked by the iconic McCovey Cove, an inlet of water that’s heavily-populated on game days with kayakers hunting for any home run ball that leaves the park. You’ve likely seen video of the frenzy, too – Giants great Barry Bonds made a habit out of sending those kayakers into a tailspin every time he went up to bat.
And if baseball history is your thing, like Bonds’ home run race(s) or the Giants’ recent World Series success, Oracle Park has you covered. There are memorials, plaques, trophies, team photos, you name it, spanning decades of Giants baseball. It’s worth it to take it all in but don’t forget to step inside to see the actual game (and that unique glimpse of the bay).
5. Petco Park - San Diego, CA
GettyImages
If we judged stadiums on the amount of sunshine they get each year, Petco Park in San Diego would win in a landslide. It’s so sunny so often that the last time a game rained out at Petco Park was in May of 2017. This means break out the sunglasses, tank tops and SPF 50 sunscreen if you’re heading to see the hometown Padres play.
Much of what defines “going to a Padres” game exists both in and out of the ballpark, and that starts with its location. Right outside the stadium’s gates is San Diego’s budding Gaslamp Quarter, a trendy, hip neighborhood that’s become one of the city’s most popular areas. It has everything from upscale restaurants and new breweries to art galleries and ritzy hotels. If you’re planning a trip to see a game, you’ll want to stay here, too.
If being located in a great neighborhood in sunny San Diego wasn’t enough, Petco Park’s incredible interior piles it on even more. Though it’s mostly modern in its layout and design, the stadium does still give off a classic vibe. Pair that with a beautiful view of the city’s skyline and food from local restaurants, and you have a truly authentic San Diego experience. Watching the sunset over San Diego Bay is a nice added extra, too.
These five MLB stadiums may be the cream of the ballpark crop but the best part about seeing an MLB baseball game live is that the gameday experience is what you make of it. Of course, some stadiums offer amenities others don’t but there’s more to it than that. It’s about being able to enjoy a day of eating ballpark franks, drinking cold beer and shoveling garlic fries into your mouth regardless of whether you’re watching the Boston Red Sox or the Cincinnati Reds. We do recommend going to watch the Red Sox, though.
You Might Also Dig:
Baseball Game Rookie Tips Talkin' Baseball and Nutrition With Mike Trout Best Gifts for Sports LoversDMTBeautySpot
via https://www.DMTBeautySpot.com
Rick Stella, Khareem Sudlow
0 comments