(Editor’s Note: Much like giving the star player one final day of rest before the playoff push, we gave our regular contributor, Tim Russell, a week off and he’s coming back fresh and with three posts for your enjoyment this final week of MLB’s regular season. He gives us his rankings of the 19 MLB ballparks he’s visited in person.)
Well, another summer of chasing ballparks as come and gone.
This year, I didn’t add as many new parks to the total, but it was the big three, so to speak. Yankee Stadium, Citi Field and, of course, Fenway Park.
So I figured I had enough ballparks to do an actual ranking. Without an actual ranking system, I had a couple favorites that I really enjoyed. And for the most part, they held true through the rankings. I thought PNC Park in Pittsburgh might be No. 1, but when I added the rankings together, that didn’t hold.
I rated the parks on eight criteria: food and beverage, atmosphere, neighborhood, fans, accessibility, seating and sight lines, panoramic view, and scoreboard/entertainment.
Some of the criteria is self-explanatory. Others like neighborhood reflects the surrounding area around the park, including stuff to do, eat or see. Accessibility relates to how easy it was to get to the park. I may not have got food at every park, but I did peruse the offerings.
Next year’s trip is already being planned. It likely will include the west coast, in an effort to knock out the Oakland Coliseum, since the A’s may be moving soon. I only rated the 19 parks that I have been to, so there could be some movement after visiting the final 11.
While these rankings are subjective, let’s keep in mind, it’s never a bad thing to be at a ballpark. Just some more than others.
#19 – Guaranteed Rate Field home of the Chicago White Sox
- Food and Beverage: 4. Food is good. You can get an Italian beef or a Chicago-style hot dog.
- Atmosphere: 2. Not a horrible atmosphere to watch a game, but more like a workman-like feel. Watch the game and go home.
- Neighborhood: 2. Not a dangerous neighborhood, but the South Side does have some rough spots. Not much to see or do in the immediate ballpark area.
- Fans: 2.5. Fans can be a little rough at times. Usually if you buy a 500-level ticket, you are restricted to that level and can’t roam the park.
- Accessibility: 4. The El train can get you there from downtown. Parking is plentiful and ballpark is right off the freeway.
- Seating/Sight Lines: 2. Upper levels are quite steep. Decent sight lines even though you are high in the air. Lower level is the place to be though.
- Panoramic View: 3. If you go to the 500 level, you can get some scenic shots overlooking downtown.
- Scoreboard/Entertainment: 3. Center field party area has a couple poles that can block parts of the scoreboard. Walk the outfield concourse, which features statues and an old working shower from Comiskey Park locker room.
- Final Score: 24.5/40.
- Final Thoughts: Not a horrible ballpark, but nothing to get really excited about either. The city is great to roam around in before or after the game, so spend a weekend there.
#18 – Yankee Stadium home of the New York Yankees
- Food and Beverage: 3. Food options are good. Whether you go for the 99 Judge Burger or Nathan’s Famous hot dogs, Bobby Flay’s Bobby’s Burgers or a Lobel’s steak sandwich, you can eat fairly well here.
- Atmosphere: 2. I never got to visit the original Yankee Stadium, but this seems like a carbon copy of it, without the charm.
- Neighborhood: 2. The neighborhood is safe, but is fairly non-descript as a destination. Very few places to eat just outside the ballpark.
- Fans: 3. A lot of fans may be living on past glories. The Legends seats behind home plate are rarely filled to capacity, leaving a void.
- Accessibility: 5. This is one place the stadium excels. With the subway (No. 4 line), and the D and B lines, it’s quite easy to get to the ballpark.
- Seating/Sight Lines: 3. Padded seats throughout the park is a nice perk.
- Panoramic View: 3. You can see the subway line passing through in right field. No real view of anything but buildings, though.
- Scoreboard/Entertainment: 3.5. Scoreboard offers good information, but not a lot of other entertainment options.
- Final Score: 24.5/40.
- Final Thoughts: Some of the areas of the park have tight concourses. The stadium feels more like an updated version of the old stadium, rather than a brand-new park.
#17 – Nationals Park home of the Washington Nationals
- Food and Beverage: 3. Ben’s Chili Bowl has a stand inside the stadium. Fairly standard options otherwise.
- Atmosphere: 3.5. This felt like a more low-key atmosphere both times I was here.
- Neighborhood: 3. The neighborhood is developing rapidly around the ballpark. Options have multiplied between my visits.
- Fans: 3. Fans are knowledgeable, but not as welcoming as other parks.
- Accessibility: 3.5. D.C. traffic is fairly bad, but it’s not too difficult to get out of the park. Subways help as well.
- Seating/Sight Lines: 3. Good sight lines, even from the upper deck regions.
- Panoramic View: 4. You can see the U.S. Capitol building over the left field fence.
- Scoreboard/Entertainment: 4. The President’s Race is something to look forward to after the fourth inning.
- Final Score: 26.5/40.
- Final Thoughts: It’s a fairly non-descript ballpark, your basic ballpark. The only thing that really standouts as something to see is the President’s Race. But being close to D.C. makes up for that.
#16 – Citizens Bank Park home of the Philadelphia Phillies
- Food and Beverage: 4. Chickie and Pete’s Crab Fries and Federal Donuts and Chicken are two strong options. Ashburn’s Alley in center field has more selection.
- Atmosphere: 4. Good crowd makes for a nice atmosphere.
- Neighborhood: 3. All three major Philadelphia stadiums are located in the same area. Xfinity Live is a nice bar complex.
- Fans: 3. Phillies’ fans get somewhat of a bad rap. I wore my Tiger jersey and had no problems at all. It might be different if it were the Eagles though.
- Accessibility: 3. Subway is a good option, but highway access is fairly easy to get to. Easy parking area.
- Seating/Sight Lines: 3. Seating is good with good leg room. Pretty good sight lines as well.
- Panoramic View: 3. Stadium is away from the downtown area, so not much to see.
- Scoreboard/Entertainment: 4. There is big, neon bell in right-center field that lights up and moves during home runs and victory celebrations.
- Final Score: 27/40.
- Final Thoughts: Take a day and see some of the history in Center City area. Independence Hall, Constitution Center, U.S. Mint, Reading Terminal Market, and even the Liberty Bell make for a fun, interesting day.
#15 – American Family Field home of the Milwaukee Brewers
- Food and Beverage: 3.5.
- Atmosphere: 4. Party atmosphere. Get here early and walk around the tailgaters, who might even give you a brat or two.
- Neighborhood: 2.5. Not much around the stadium itself. There are a few bars a few miles away. Downtown is a little further.
- Fans: 4.5. Great fans, who will share a beer or brat with you before or after the game.
- Accessibility: 4. Easy parking lot and fairly easy to get out of, if you know what you’re doing.
- Seating/Sight Lines: 3.5. Sight lines are good, even at the top of the stadium, where Bob Uecker has a statue.
- Panoramic View: 2.5. View is ok, even if the roof is closed. Windows let you see out and sun come in.
- Scoreboard/Entertainment: 4.5. Bernie Brewer slides down his chalet in left field during every home run. The Selig Experience, dedicated to former owner and MLB commissioner Bud Selig, is something to see before the game. And, of course, we have to mention the racing sausages.
- Final Score: 29/40.
- Final Thoughts: I was lucky enough to see a game there with the roof open. Probably a whole different vibe with a closed roof. But either way, a fun park to attend.
#14 – Kauffman Stadium home of the Kansas City Royals
- Food and Beverage: 4. Brisket nachos are really good here. Obviously, lots of barbecue places in Kansas City.
- Atmosphere: 4. Fun atmosphere with the waterfalls.
- Neighborhood: 2. Not a whole lot around the two stadiums (Arrowhead Stadium is next door). Just parking lots and a few hotels across the freeway.
- Fans: 3.5. Fans are alright here.
- Accessibility: 4.5. Located right off the highway, so easy 15–20-minute drive back to downtown.
- Seating/Sight Lines: 3. Roomy seats and not really a bad seat in the park.
- Panoramic View: 4.5. The waterfalls are fun to walk around, although they have made more club areas out there.
- Scoreboard/Entertainment: 3.5. Big scoreboard with a crown on top is can’t miss. The Royals Hall of Fame is well done and some welcome relief from the heat. The kids’ area in left field has more entertainment options.
- Final Score: 29/40.
- Final Thoughts: A good place to visit, but do it soon as there is talk of moving to a downtown stadium. Ownership wants an entertainment district like in several other newer parks.
Check back on Wednesday for Part 2.
Previous Installments of the Great Ballpark Chase by Tim Russell
- The Overview, August 10, 2022
- Rocky Mountain High, August 17, 2022
- Back to School Time, August 24, 2022
- On Target, August 31, 2022
- Milwaukee’s Best, September 7, 2022
- Guaranteed Fun, September 14, 2022
- Busch!, September 21, 2022
- Sidetrip!, September 28, 2022
- Fountains & Waterfalls, October 5, 2022
- That’s a Wrap, October 12, 2022
- Fenway Sizzle, Then Fizzle, July 24, 2023
- Taking a Bite Out of the Big Apple, July 31, 2023
- Hall of Dreams, August 7, 2023
- Citizens of Philadelphia, August 14, 2023
- National Treasure, August 21, 2023
- Yankee Doodle, August 28, 2023
- Birds of a Feather, September 4, 2023
- A Moment of Silence, September 11, 2023