(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.)
Here’s the second in Tim’s series of ballpark rankings. Check out his entire series at the links below.
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.
#13 – Progressive Field home of the Cleveland Guardians
- Food and Beverage: 4. Get the Discount Drug Mart club seats. It is worth the extra money, maybe $30-40 more. You get unlimited food and non-alcoholic drinks, peanuts, popcorn, and ice cream. Seats are very good down the first base line.
- Atmosphere: 3.5. Party deck in right field is a good time. Was always a good time, hearing longtime fan John Adams beating his drum in the bleachers. Sadly, he passed away in 2023.
- Neighborhood: 3.5. Park is downtown, so the casino and a few restaurants and bars are within walking distance.
- Fans: 3. Fans can be a little apathetic, even if the team is doing well.
- Accessibility: 4. Park sits right next to I-90. Pretty easy off and on. Big parking structure connected to park with entrance in left field.
- Seating/Sight Lines: 4. Good seats all around the ballpark.
- Panoramic View: 3. Not a great view, unless you like buildings and the Rocket Financial Arena.
- Scoreboard/Entertainment: 4. Big scoreboard in left field, which is hard to see if you have bleacher seats. Heritage Park is nice to walk through with statues and plaques, honoring past players and teams.
- Final Score: 29/40.
- Final Thoughts: I’ve been here several times and it’s always a good time. Good, short getaway to see the Tigers on the road.
#12 – Wrigley Field home of the Chicago Cubs
- Food and Beverage: 3. Nothing super special inside the ballpark, although it has been a few years since I’ve been there.
- Atmosphere: 5. Old-time ballpark, although it has gone through massive renovations of late.
- Neighborhood: 4.5. Wrigleyville is hopping with lots of bars and restaurants.
- Fans: 3. Fans can be a little unruly, especially to non-Cub fans.
- Accessibility: 3. As usual with a neighborhood park, parking is at a premium. You may have a good walk if you choose to drive. You can also take the subway or El from downtown for an easier commute.
- Seating/Sight Lines: 3. Seating is a little cramped and there are a lot of posts that can block some part of your view during the game.
- Panoramic View: 3.5. This has gone down since the renovations when the owners put up billboards and scoreboards to block the rooftops.
- Scoreboard/Entertainment: 4.5. Cool looking scoreboard atop the bleacher area in center field. Always fun to watch the “W” or “L” flag raised after a game.
- Final Score: 29.5/40.
- Final Thoughts: While I may not be a fan of the team or its fans, the park is still fun to visit and soak in the history. It just isn’t remotely close to the charm of Fenway.
#11 – Coors Field home of the Colorado Rockies
- Food and Beverage: 4. Rocky Mountain Oysters are available here, although I did not partake. Totchos are a tasty item, like nachos but with tater tots. For dessert, they have two types of berry kabobs.
- Atmosphere: 3.5. Fun park to be around.
- Neighborhood: 3. It’s in a downtown area, so there is a fair amount of non-baseball things to do, as well as good places to eat.
- Fans: 3.5. Fans are friendly and fairly knowledgeable.
- Accessibility: 4. For a downtown ballpark, getting to and from was fairly easy.
- Seating/Sight Lines: 3.5. Upper levels are pretty far away from the action. Lower levels offer good seats. The Rockpile in center field offers a cheap way to see the game.
- Panoramic View: 4.5. What’s not to like about a view of the Rocky Mountains, especially if you make the climb to the Purple Row, mile high seat level.
- Scoreboard/Entertainment: 4. Good information on the scoreboard. Be sure to visit the Purple Row, which is exactly one mile above sea level. The higher altitude can cause problems, so take it easy.
- Final Score: 30/40.
- Final Thoughts: Any ballpark fan will want to visit the Ballpark Museum, across the street from Coors Field. It’s a small, private collection available for self-guided tours.
#10 – Citi Field home of the New York Mets
- Food and Beverage: 4.5. Pastrami sandwich is one of the highlights, along with Shake Shack and others along the outfield concourse.
- Atmosphere: 4. There is a buzz in the air most of the time around the stadium. If you lose your party, just tell them to meet you at the Shea Bridge in right-center field.
- Neighborhood: 2.5. Not much around, except for the U.S. Open National Tennis Center (Arthur Ashe Stadium).
- Fans: 4. Fans are more down-to-earth and fun to be around than Yankees’ fans.
- Accessibility: 4. Like Yankee Stadium, it is quite easy to get to the stadium via the subway.
- Seating/Sight Lines: 4. Good sight lines, even from the upper reaches.
- Panoramic View: 3. Good view of planes landing at LaGuardia Airport, which is within a few miles.
- Scoreboard/Entertainment: 4. The Big Apple raises and lowers with each home run. You can also see the old apple, along with Tom Seaver’s statue outside the stadium. Inside the main entrance, be sure to visit the New York Mets’ Museum.
- Final Score: 30/40.
- Final Thoughts: Overall, a fun stadium to visit and enjoy. Not as stuffy as it’s crosstown neighbor.
#9 – Target Field home of the Minnesota Twins
- Food and Beverage: 3.5. You can’t go wrong with a Kramarczuk Polish Sausage or a Bub’s Gourmet Aussie Pie (sloppy joe or chicken wild rice encased in a flaky crust). Outside, be sure to try a Juicy Lucy at Matt’s.
- Atmosphere: 4. Lots of party decks in the outfield. Fans are into the game.
- Neighborhood: 3.5. It’s a downtown park, but there are things to do as well as places to eat.
- Fans: 4. Fans stay involved in the game, which makes it fun to join in.
- Accessibility: 3.5. I was on a bus tour, so I didn’t drive, but bus parking wasn’t far from the entrance. Pretty easy drive to and from.
- Seating/Sight Lines: 3.5. One of the few stadiums that the average fan has access to almost every area of the park, including some of the inside club areas.
- Panoramic View: 4. Good view of downtown, as well as the iconic Twins’ logo of Minnie and Paul shaking hands in center field.
- Scoreboard/Entertainment: 4. Nice set of statues outside the stadium. Fun party deck in right field.
- Final Score: 30/40.
- Final Thoughts: Thankfully, I was here in summer, so I didn’t have to put on any extra layers. Park was a lot of fun. Take the pre-game tour. It’s one of the better ones in MLB.
#8 – Busch Stadium home of the St. Louis Cardinals
- Food and Beverage: 3. Barbecue is the way to go here, usually with the brisket nachos.
- Atmosphere: 4.5. Electric atmosphere, especially if the Cardinals are doing well. Ballpark Village just outside the center field gates is the place to be before and after the game.
- Neighborhood: 4.5. Ballpark Village is across the street and downtown is a few blocks away.
- Fans: 3.5. Cardinals’ fans know their stuff and are fairly friendly, just not to Cubs fans.
- Accessibility: 3.5. Close to freeways. Parking can be a little tougher, but is available.
- Seating/Sight Lines: 3. Even in the right field bleachers, the seats are comfortable and easy steps to climb.
- Panoramic View: 4.5. Great view, looking out from center field of the Gateway Arch and downtown.
- Scoreboard/Entertainment: 4. Ballpark Village is the place to be before the game. The Cardinals Hall of Fame is one of the best. Lots of statues of past greats around the stadium.
- Final Score: 30.5/40.
- Final Thoughts: If you visit, do it on a Cardinals-Cubs series. Fairly intense action, but usually good baseball.
#7 – Great American Ballpark home of the Cincinnati Reds
- Food and Beverage: 3. Skyline Chili is prevalent here. It’s not bad, but it’s more spaghetti sauce, than chili.
- Atmosphere: 4. When your scoreboard has the look of an old steamboat, you know you’re going to have some fun.
- Neighborhood: 3.5. It’s a downtown area. Montgomery Inn Barbecue is one place to visit after the game. Or take a walk across the bridge into Newport, KY, for more options.
- Fans: 3.5. Pretty decent fans. Fairly loyal despite past down times.
- Accessibility 4. Best bet is to park in Kentucky and walk across the bridge.
- Seating/Sight Lines: 4. Good sight lines throughout. The stadium feels smaller, so you seem closer to the action.
- Panoramic View: 4.5. Good view of the Ohio River and boats passing during the game.
- Scoreboard/Entertainment: 4. The Reds Museum is probably the best in the league. Fun statues of past greats, including a sliding Pete Rose.
- Final Score: 30.5/40.
- Final Thoughts: Pretty easy drive coming from the Detroit area. Enough things to do to make the trip a nice weekend getaway.
Check back on Friday for Part 3.
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
- Rank’em Part 1, September 25, 2023