Best Ballpark in the MLB? - 1 vote for Comerica

41GoudeyGuy · September 23, 2007 1:09PM

My current job transfers me around the country every few months so I have the opportunity to visit a great number of ballparks. Last night I made my first trip to Comerica in Detroit and was blown away. What a wonderful place. The views, the panaroma of the downtown skyline, the attitude of the fans. If I lived in Detroit I'd be a season ticket holder. Anybody else been here? Any differing opinions?

So far in my travels I've been to the following parks:

Dodger Stadium
Jack Murphy Stadium
Petco Park
Candlestick Park
Oakland Coliseum
Camden Yards
Fenway Park
Yankee Stadium
Wrigley Field
Shea Stadium
Great American Ballpark (Reds)
Houston Astrodome
Citizens Bank Ballpark (Phillies)
Miller Park (Brewers)
Comerica Park (Tigers)

I know that's fewer than half the current stadiums but hope to visit them all eventually. Anybody have any recommendations that I've never been to?

frankhardy · September 23, 2007 1:17PM

You've got to go to St Louis. The Cardinals are out of the playoff race and still, tonight, they were sold out and the fans were going nuts in the 9th. The Cardinals pulled it out against Brad Lidge. It is an awesome stadium.

NYYanks23 · September 23, 2007 1:23PM

Yankee Stadium...sure I'm biased, but the best and smartest fans in sports. I just wish they weren't building the new one. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

BobaFett72 · September 23, 2007 1:29PM

I thought Safeco was pretty nice, I loved Jacobs field and Camden Yards... Fenway is fun because its so small. Kaufmann stadium was very pretty.

TNTonPMS · September 23, 2007 1:33PM

I agree .

There is so much history there .

That could be a bad omen

This could anger the Gods .

You could tear Shea down and I couldn't care less though .

skilow · September 23, 2007 1:39PM

skilow · September 23, 2007 1:40PM

PNC Park hands down

mcholke · September 23, 2007 1:41PM

<< <i>PNC Park hands down >>

I agree

Goot · September 23, 2007 1:52PM

Citizens Bank, Turner Field and I will get laughed at for this but the Trop. If you don't live in Florida then you don't understand what I'm talking about, but try going to a game in August when the temp is 95 deg. with 100% humidity. Nothin beats the constant 72 degrees indoors. Better yet, while sitting and watching a game at the trop, you see that the Marlins game is still postponed and it is already 9 pm. Of course I have only been to 5 different major league parks (been to every single florida spring training stadium) but these are my favorites.

mosaic · September 23, 2007 1:58PM

I loved Comerica when I went there... and Petco too... but the huge crowds and high prices turn me off...

Over the past five years, I've come to really love our minor league park here in Lansing. Oldsmobile Park, home of the low-A Lansing Lugnuts, affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays (used to be the Cubs: go Pie, go Marmol, go Dempster!)

Architecturally, the park looks like a miniature rendition of an MLB park, with seats for about 10,000, brick facades, and a super scoreboard. Plenty of food stalls, great between-inning entertainment, and priced so nice I drag my gf and our family members to 10+ games a year (and sit so close the players hear me when I proposition them). Initially, I thought minor league ball wouldn't satisfy my itch. As it turns out, I feel the same energy and euphoria I used to as a kid that grew up watching the Mariners in Seattle.

Of course, it helps that Olds Park is upper crust compared to most A-ball parks. Heck, some triple-A teams don't have it so nice!

But back on topic: the statues in the outfield concourse in Comerica are sofa king sweet. And I can't hate on having a ferris wheel with baseball shaped gondolas.

41GoudeyGuy · September 23, 2007 2:03PM

We're done with trips this year but next year will include trips to St. Lous, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Chicago White Sox and back to Comerica.

I was very excited to visit Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park and Wrigley field this year and was pretty disappointed with all three. Before I offend the local diehards my issues with these stadiums had nothing to do with the fans. I was born and raised in Southern California and attended dozens of Dodgers games. My first East Coast game was a real eye opener. Any LA fan who has not attended an East Coast game has never seen real passion. Every ballpark I've visited back here is full of knowledgable, intense fans who bleed for their team, regardless of their place in the standings or the score of the game. I greatly admire that and wish LA was more like it.

The problem with these venerable stadiums is they are basically pits. Wrigley was great to watch a game in with the ivy and the history but many of the seats have obstructed views and a great number of the fans keep score because there is no other way to keep track of the game except in your head. The scoreboards provide very little information. Yankee Stadium was a bit better but it's crap when you get out of the seats and have to walk through the bowels of the stadium. Fenway has been upgraded so much that it's a bit more modern and the small size helps with the feel of the game but it's still 95 years old and shows it's age. The area around Fenway though was amazing and I encourage anybody who has not been there to make the trip and take in a game.

A lot of the modern stadiums feel like billboards with grass in the middle. Very little to really standout and help the fan experience the game. I'd say the East Coast stadiums are a bit better than the West Coast stadiums in this regard but that may be due to the lack of spark from the fans.

But, in my opinion, the worst part of any ballgame is the roof. I can't stand watching baseball indoors. Miller Park had the roof closed on opening day and really ruined the experience for me. I'm sure it's better than watching in 50 degree or 120 degree weather and I'd rather they play than get rained out but it's just not the same for me.

Griffins · September 23, 2007 2:06PM

I've been to about 30, major and minor, in the last 4 years. I'd vote PNC hands down. Great stadium, a skyline that looks like a Hollywood backdrop, and great stuff before the game around the stadium.

41GoudeyGuy · September 23, 2007 2:09PM

<< <i>I loved Comerica when I went there... and Petco too... but the huge crowds and high prices turn me off...

Over the past five years, I've come to really love our minor league park here in Lansing. Oldsmobile Park, home of the low-A Lansing Lugnuts, affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays (used to be the Cubs: go Pie, go Marmol, go Dempster!)

Architecturally, the park looks like a miniature rendition of an MLB park, with seats for about 10,000, brick facades, and a super scoreboard. Plenty of food stalls, great between-inning entertainment, and priced so nice I drag my gf and our family members to 10+ games a year (and sit so close the players hear me when I proposition them). Initially, I thought minor league ball wouldn't satisfy my itch. As it turns out, I feel the same energy and euphoria I used to as a kid that grew up watching the Mariners in Seattle.

Of course, it helps that Olds Park is upper crust compared to most A-ball parks. Heck, some triple-A teams don't have it so nice!

But back on topic: the statues in the outfield concourse in Comerica are sofa king sweet. And I can't hate on having a ferris wheel with baseball shaped gondolas. >>

One additional benefit to our trips is we have lived in Hartford, CT and South Bend, IN and have been able to get to a minor league game at least twice a month. For my money I'd much prefer to visit a minor league game and enjoy the night out with the family. Most of these games are a real enjoyable couple of hours outdoors taking in a ballgame but the key to a good minor league experience is good fan involvement with the team. The Frederick Keys and the New Britian Rock Cats had good involvement and the energy really showed. Here in South Bend the Silverhawks are not really that exciting to watch because you show up and there are around 1000 fans in a 5000 seat stadium and the energy just isn't there. Lancaster Jethawks games were horrible. Showing up on a Sunday, sitting in the blazing heat and the howling wind with the dust swirling along with around 100 other fans to watch a game just didn't do it for me. It's pretty hit and miss in my opinion but when it hits it's great family entertainment. The opportunties for the kids to interact with the players is really special and anybody who is not taking advantage of that wonderful opportunity is really missing out.

mosaic · September 23, 2007 2:20PM

What do the Silverhawks do to entertain the kids?

Up here in Lansing, the Lugnuts have a playground behind left field with a moon walk, slide, inflatable obstacle course, and soft toss. Autographs before the game. During the game, Big Lug, the dinosaur mascot wanders around and dances. They do lots of fireworks shows on Fridays. Sundays tend to be kids days where the player photos on the board are altered to look like cartoon characters, complete with cartoon theme walkup music. And they get to run the bases after the game.

I get your drift about 1,000 fans in a 5,000 seat park. The Luggies draw about 1,000 per game in April, May, September. I like the calm, but gotta admit I miss the cheering and banter. The summer months range between 2,000 to 8,000 per game though, thanks to good weather and fireworks shows.

Do you remember the Battle Creek Yankees (called the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays in 2006)? They averaged something like 500 fans their final season before moving to Midland, where the Great Lakes Loons now have a new park and capacity crowds. Think the Silverhawks will get a new park, or is community support so low they should move instead? It amazes me how minors teams can flounder in some cities while teams a few dozens miles away flourish.

JeremyDie1 · September 23, 2007 2:33PM

Wrigley Field.

stitzen · September 23, 2007 2:55PM

Best ballpark I've been to is without a doubt AT&T park in SF.
Second? Safeco.

As far as history goes, the old parks like Wrigley, Fenway, and Yankee stadium are great but they suffer as they don't have the amenities or comfortable seating the new parks do. Yankee stadium in particular is plagued with a lo of terrible sight lines for seats.

I enjoyed Petco a great deal as well.

gocatsgo538 · September 23, 2007 3:17PM

Most definitely Dolphins Stadium and the Marlins!

Maybe in my dreams...

41GoudeyGuy · September 23, 2007 3:25PM

<< <i>What do the Silverhawks do to entertain the kids?

Up here in Lansing, the Lugnuts have a playground behind left field with a moon walk, slide, inflatable obstacle course, and soft toss. Autographs before the game. During the game, Big Lug, the dinosaur mascot wanders around and dances. They do lots of fireworks shows on Fridays. Sundays tend to be kids days where the player photos on the board are altered to look like cartoon characters, complete with cartoon theme walkup music. And they get to run the bases after the game.

I get your drift about 1,000 fans in a 5,000 seat park. The Luggies draw about 1,000 per game in April, May, September. I like the calm, but gotta admit I miss the cheering and banter. The summer months range between 2,000 to 8,000 per game though, thanks to good weather and fireworks shows.

Do you remember the Battle Creek Yankees (called the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays in 2006)? They averaged something like 500 fans their final season before moving to Midland, where the Great Lakes Loons now have a new park and capacity crowds. Think the Silverhawks will get a new park, or is community support so low they should move instead? It amazes me how minors teams can flounder in some cities while teams a few dozens miles away flourish. >>

South Bend isn't that different than the other cities I've been to but the spark is definately missing between the team and the community. The stadium is fairly new so I don't think anything will happen to improve the situation involving the facility. I also don't think they will be moving. Attendance for the year ended up around 200k so they draw enough to make it viable but it's not like other cities. Kids do run the bases on Sundays and they do fireworks every Friday. Mondays are Dollar nights. They've got a mascot who wanders the stands during the games too. I do wish they would do more autographs and some better promotions. We had plunger night here late in the season. That really brought in the fans. Plus a lot of the promotions are 18 and over which surprises me. The area is in pretty bad shape economically but what part of Michigan/Northern Indiana isn't right now?

In Hartford they had 5 days during the season where the kids could come out to the stadium during the day and run drills with the players. This was at no cost. It usually was just a free-for-all rather than an educational thing but the kids got to connect with the players for a couple hours. Then they got to come back to the game that night for free. They don't do that here. They do have skills sessions but they run around $50 which just doesn't seem worth it to me. I have no idea how well these are attended.

I hope they can get some management in place which can sell the team better. The minor leagues can be a great experience but it doesn't come easy.

JeremyDie1 · September 23, 2007 3:29PM

AT&T park is a great place to see a game. I must admit. Still love Wrigley and the post game fun next to the stadium. Cant beat it.

MooseDog · September 23, 2007 3:56PM

2nd on ATT/SBC/PacBell Park. Although I am an A's fan and practically grew up at the Oakland Coliseum, I had ballpark envy the first time I stepped into PacBell Park. I thought Camden Yards was nice too, but I was there on a non-game day and "only" got to do the tour (highly recommended by the way).

BTW, from the upper level seats at PB, you can view the boats on the San Francisco Bay.

Edited to add: Safeco Park in Seattle is also quite nice. I would say not quite as nice as ATT but the food is much better, although being ballpark food that isn't saying much.

Ahmanfan · September 23, 2007 4:08PM

I live in Missouri, and I like Wrigley a little better than Busch. Both are fun parks, though. Tropicana field is nice and cool =-)

RoarIn84 · September 23, 2007 6:20PM

i was at a game at Comerica this past weekend...easy cause i live nearby. still love Tiger Stadium......and with some restoration, they could still be there. Fans fought and fought to keep it from being demolished. it worked, and it's still up, yet little ever happens there. it's like an old run-down haunted house filled with ghosts......somewhat of an embarrassment. still, just couldn't beat that park......short fences down the lines, deep 440 foot centerfield, big classy light towers that took poundings from all of baseball's greatest sluggers, the old red brick street they kept from the Cobb/Cochrane days, the loud shameless scalpers outside, the way they'd slop mustard on the dogs without your asking but still tasted amazing, the hollow metal floors under the seats that fans would stomp on to make a rumbling noise that seemed to resonate throughout the city, the overhang in right field that seemed to scoop up routine flyballs and make 320 foot homeruns look like 500 foot blasts, the fact that it was named after the TEAM and not some dippy bank or soda-pop or other corporate nonsense......jeez i could go on and on.....

oh, were we talking about current parks? i dunno.....ain't been to many, because i don't pay more than $15 for any ticket.....

mercurynut · September 23, 2007 9:55PM

Fenway. There are not any good old pallparks anymore. It has a history and charm. Next would be in Baltamore. A new park that tried to get the old world charm

goose3 · September 23, 2007 10:09PM

Jacob's Field is VERY nice.

Of course I only have the OLD Cleveland Municipal Stadium (where seemingly every seat was behind a steel I beam) and Great American Ballpark to compare it to.

Best Ballpark in the MLB? - 1 vote for Comerica

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