Favorite Major League Stadiums

[Loosey]

This morning John Bonnes' wrote a post on the Twins 6-2 win over the Tigers last night and gave a mini review of Comerica Park.  He gave it a nice review but said it wouldn't quite make it into his top 10 stadiums.  Which got me thinking about my favorite MLB stadiums and what other's favorite ballparks are.

 

I didn't really care about seeing different parks until 10 years ago when I was just out of college and in between jobs.  A few buddies of mine were going to take a 10 day stadium trip.  I decided what the hell, I'll go along.  I am glad I did!  At the time I had only been to the Metrodome and Comiskey/Cellular one.  It was great seeing all of the different designs, foods, beers.  The great thing about baseball stadiums compared to every other sport is the field dimensions are not standard and each stadium can pretty much do their own thing within reason (or not within reason . . . Minute Maid Park).  Anyways, it was one of my favorite vacations of all time and got me interested in seeing different parks. 

 

Even with that trip I have only been to 12 Major League Ballparks including Target Field and the Metrodome, but here is my list: (For the record Metrodome is last).

 

#10 - Minute Maid Park - Houston, TX: This place was on my ballpark trip back in 2005.  Maybe it was me but talk about a stale place.  It was a 95 degree day game and the roof was closed.  But outside of the big hill in centerfield and the wall with train in left it felt like I was just inside a really big industrial building.  Food and beer options were Metrodome-esque.

 

#9 - Cellular One - Chicago, IL: This was the first MLB outdoor stadium I had ever visited while I was in high school in the 90's.  I have been back multiple times to watch Twins games since.  While it is a nice stadium, it was built about 10 years too early before stadiums started have a personality.  Still always enjoyable to catch a Twins game there.

 

#8 - Miller Park - Milwaukee, WI: Another retractable roof stadium.  I have only been to one game here, but found them to be enjoyable.  They have lots of Miller Lite, but they also had a section that sold huge margaritas.  I -partook in those and may not remember innings 7-9.  Overall, pretty cool stadium seems much more modern than the 15+ years old it actually is.

 

#7 - Chase Field - Phoenix, AZ: Again, retractable roof.  I went to two games here.  One with the roof closed and one with it open.  Open is MUCH better.  This place is gigantic.  I saw the Twins play two games there in 2005 on my ballpark trip.  It was a fun place though.  There was a little plaza outside it between it and the arena that was supposed to be a fun place to pregame but, outside of that I don't remember there being much else around the stadium in terms of bars. 

 

#6 - Kaufmann Stadium - Kansas City, MO: I have been to 2 games here, once on my 2005 ballpark trip.  Food selections are pretty good (BBQ).  I haven't been there in about 10 years but I think the baseball being played there is much better now.

 

#5 - Coors Field - Denver, CO: I really enjoyed Coors.  Very good beer selection, awesome setting in the mountains.  The area surrounding the stadium before and after the game was especially fun, lots and lots of bars and restaurants to choose from.

 

#4 - Petco Park - San Diego, CA: This one was part of my 2005 trip.  I really liked this place.  It had an original feel to it.  The building left standing in left field they built into the stadium the dog area in the outfield.  Also, I just love San Diego.  You may be surprised by this, but the weather was perfect the day I went there.  Stadium had a very neat and tidy feel to it, if that makes any sense at all. . . .

 

#3 - Dodger Stadium - Los Angeles, CA:  Again part of the 2005 trip.  We saw the Twins play the Dodgers there.  When you think of the glamour and flash of LA this stadium doesn't really come to mind because it is not flashy.  But what it lacks in flash, it has in history and just reminds you of baseball and old school LA.  The game we were at we got to see Johan Santana pitch but also go to see Hee-Seop Choi hit three home runs, including a game winner off of 95 year old Terry Mulholland.  Great stadium I would love to go back to again now that I appreciate stadiums a little bit more.

 

#2 - Wrigley Field - Chicago, IL: Wrigley is baseball.  It's hard to explain but sitting out in the bleachers in the sun with an Old Style is pretty much perfection.  Ivy on the walls, history, no electronics really (when I was there last).  Also, probably no better pre and post-game bar/restaurant setting.  I love this place and one of my favorite baseball memories came at the Twins game I was at when Milton Bradley threw the mostly Twins fan filled right field bleachers a ball . . . when there were only 2 outs.

 

#1 - Target Field - Minneapolis, MN: Beautiful place.  I love Target Field for a multitude of reasons.  It's new, but still has charm, design and layout are great with lots of stone.  Also, the food and beer options are great and it's getting better in my opinion.  Many different bar/restaurants inside and outside the stadium, plus there is enough there to keep you entertained even if the game isn't doing it for you. If I didn't live here it probably wouldn't be #1, but I can go here whenever I want and it's home to my favorite team.

 

What are everyone else favorites? 

 

 

 

 

[James]

Great thread.  

 

I honestly haven't been to 10 MLB stadiums yet.  Going to all of them is on the list though.

 

My rankings of the ones I've been to:

 

5. Metrodome - I threw this on here just for comparison.  I have great memories there, and horrible memories of my neck strains after watching an entire game and having to turn my head to the side for 3 hours.

4. Wrigley - I had a great time there, don't get me wrong.  Just because it's 4 out of 4 doesn't mean it is bad.

3. Coors Field - Great views, good beers.  Feels a little closed in when walking in the lower concourse, but not too bad.

2. Fenway - There is a reason this stadium has stood the test of time.  I really enjoyed my baseball experience there.  

1. Target Field - Call me a homer, but I think it just has the best views, food/beer combos.

[biggentleben]

I'll be hitting up 10 stadiums this summer as part of my honeymoon, including one that I'm very excited to see in PNC Park.

 

For the ones I've seen thus far:

 

1. Wrigley - Just nothing close, though we'll see how I feel after getting to Fenway this year.

2. Target Field - Well designed, both inside and out. 

3. Turner Field - Incredible once you're on grounds, but akin to the U of M campus, be very, very careful once you take a step off the facility.

4. Miller Park - My only visit was in the inaugural season, so they opened and shut the roof every day regardless of the weather, and the outside the stadium experience is tremendous, though one thing 'Sconnies know how to do is tailgate.

5. Kauffman - Rained out once when I was there, and the other game I was at was shortened by lightning, so my presence at Kauffman may be cursed, but their work a few years back took a good park and made it a great one.

 

Dishonorable mention:

Metrodome - Thankfully no longer in service. Going there when the team was good was great, but even then, the baseball still had a very artificial/plastic feel to it. Hard to beat the deals to see a game there, even below price for most around the league at the time, but while the greatest World Series was played there, some of my least favorite moments as a Braves fan were there (forever may Hrbek be cursed).  Glad it was there while I was in college for cheap live baseball, but I certainly shed no tears in its destruction.

[TheLeviathan]

Kauffman is still number one for me.  Target Field is 2.  Wrigley in the bleachers is special, but Wrigley as an actual ballpark sort of sucks in every other way for me.

 

The Cell/Miller Park/Petco all seemed roughly the same in quality.

[Willihammer]

1. Target Field

2. Metrodome

[Steve Lein]

I've been to a little over a third of MLB stadiums I think by now, and some that are no longer around, planning to add Texas to the list in June.

 

But of the one's I've been too, My top 5 would go:

 

5. AT&T Park, San Francisco - Really cool spot on the water and beautiful stadium. But it's an absolute maze of small concourses, making it a chore to navigate.

 

4. Wrigley Stadium, Chicago - This ranking is on pure nostalgia. And Wrigleyville is pretty fun.

 

3. Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City - The new renovations really make this one stand out.

 

2. Coors Field, Denver - You won't find a better neighborhood to hang out in after a game. Also a lot of openness, which I like.

 

1. Target Field, Minneapolis - Ignore that I've been to about 100 games here since it's construction. They got this right on so many levels.

[biggentleben]

 

Kauffman is still number one for me.  Target Field is 2.  Wrigley in the bleachers is special, but Wrigley as an actual ballpark sort of sucks in every other way for me.

 

The Cell/Miller Park/Petco all seemed roughly the same in quality.

 

When did you go to Wrigley? They've done a lot of work in the last few years on the "other stuff" quality, opening day bathroom issues notwithstanding.

[USAFChief]

I'm at 19 ballparks, will knock Fenwway off the list in June.

 

My top 3:

1. Camden Yards.

 

2. AT&T

3. Target Field

 

Honorable mention: Coors Field, the Big A

 

Least favorite: Metrodome, Wrigley, Safeco, Chase Field, whatever they call that thing in Oakland

 

Although to be fair, least favorite is something of a misnomer. I'd go back to all of them.

[Hrbowski]

 

I'll be hitting up 10 stadiums this summer as part of my honeymoon, including one that I'm very excited to see in PNC Park.

 

For the ones I've seen thus far:

 

1. Wrigley - Just nothing close, though we'll see how I feel after getting to Fenway this year.

2. Target Field - Well designed, both inside and out. 

3. Turner Field - Incredible once you're on grounds, but akin to the U of M campus, be very, very careful once you take a step off the facility.

4. Miller Park - My only visit was in the inaugural season, so they opened and shut the roof every day regardless of the weather, and the outside the stadium experience is tremendous, though one thing 'Sconnies know how to do is tailgate.

5. Kauffman - Rained out once when I was there, and the other game I was at was shortened by lightning, so my presence at Kauffman may be cursed, but their work a few years back took a good park and made it a great one.

 

Dishonorable mention:

Metrodome - Thankfully no longer in service. Going there when the team was good was great, but even then, the baseball still had a very artificial/plastic feel to it. Hard to beat the deals to see a game there, even below price for most around the league at the time, but while the greatest World Series was played there, some of my least favorite moments as a Braves fan were there (forever may Hrbek be cursed).  Glad it was there while I was in college for cheap live baseball, but I certainly shed no tears in its destruction.

How dare you curse my favorite player! Everybody knows that Gant was coming off the bag anyways.

[Hrbowski]

I have only been to Target Field, so that is my favorite.

[TheLeviathan]

 

When did you go to Wrigley? They've done a lot of work in the last few years on the "other stuff" quality, opening day bathroom issues notwithstanding.

 

Admittedly 4-5 years ago.  Glad to hear it because the stadium was pretty awful in most every respect back then.

[USAFChief]

How dare you curse my favorite player! Everybody knows that Gant was coming off the bag anyways.

Looked to me like Gant was pushing poor Hrbek off first.

[kab21]

Safeco - not understanding Chief's comment

Target Field

Comerica - really nice all around park with exactly 1 nice block surrounding and then everything that Bert said was true

Miller - took in maybe 10 games from 2000ish-2005ish

Wrigley - cool history but not as great for actually watching baseball but things could have changed as Ben points out

 

Metrodome and County Stadium - neither were any good

[nicksaviking]

AT&T Park

Fenway

Target Field

Busch Stadium

Kauffman

Wrigley

Miller

New Comiskey

Arlington Stadium

Minute Maid

 

I loved Fenway, but was less impressed with Wrigley. Maybe if I'd seen it after some updates. Both parks were old, and I love historic places, but Fenway was old but with a noticeable effort put into keeping the place fresh and relevant. Wrigley was old and there seemed to be little to no effort made on that upkeep. Pretty much summed up the franchise for most of it's run it seemed to me. Why make an effort to make the park nice or the team watchable when fans will show up to get drunk in our bleachers anyway?

[biggentleben]

 

How dare you curse my favorite player! Everybody knows that Gant was coming off the bag anyways.

 

I honestly never had much of an issue with that play, though it's funny that universally after that game Hrbek pulled him off, but as the Twins fortunes declined in the decade and the Braves continued forward, more and more talked about Gant coming off the bag.  But Hrbek has been a grade A a-hole any interaction I've had with him, so he's never going to get the benefit of the doubt.  Kirby, on the other hand, was actually a grade A a-hole in his off-field life, but in my interactions with him, he was always amazing.

[biggentleben]

 

I'm at 19 ballparks, will knock Fenwway off the list in June.

My top 3:
1. Camden Yards.

2. AT&T
3. Target Field

Honorable mention: Coors Field, the Big A

Least favorite: Metrodome, Wrigley, Safeco, Chase Field, whatever they call that thing in Oakland

Although to be fair, least favorite is something of a misnomer. I'd go back to all of them.

 

When are you going to Fenway? I'll be there in June as well as part of my honeymoon

[ashbury]

I hate ranked lists, but I'll give it a go. It's as much dependent on the experience you happen to have as what the designers put into it.

• AT&T Park (SFG) - get upper deck behind home plate and it's tough to beat the view
• Camden Yards (BAL) - been years since I visited but it was just a solid experience
• Target Field (MIN) - haven't been there as much as I would like but it's been great (thanks glunn!)
• O.co Coliseum (OAK) - my controversial pick, but I've never had a bad experience there - Oakland weather in summer is sunny and temperate - Saag's bratwurst is my must-have treat there
• Rogers Centre (TOR) - now come a sequence of good indoor parks
• Safeco Field (SEA) - continuing
• Chase Field (ARI) - continuing - I like all the little points of interest as I walk the circuit here
• Kaufmann Stadium (KC) - I liked it, nothing really memorable now
• US Cellular Field (CHW) - some call it antiseptic, I like the experience better than Wrigley
• Progressive Field (CLE) - I liked it, nothing really memorable now
• Angel Stadium of Anaheim (LAA) - nothing really memorable now
• Busch Stadium III (STL) - my one game was seated in RF and couldn't see deep flies, disappointing for a new park billed as state of the art.
• Fenway Park (BOS) - if you like the smell of urine...
• Wrigley Field (CHC) - ... try either one of these. The neighborhoods are fun of course, particularly Wrigley, but I have had too many bad experiences at Wrigley games (hot, cramped, no vendors, frigid cold, fans throwing debris on the field when their closer blew it, you name it) and just can not rate it well.
• Citizens Bank Park (PHI) - oh just soooo bland
• Dodger Stadium (LAD) - my one experience there was with prior ownership - nothing to eat but Dodger Dogs and few concession stands were open to sell even these. I'm sure it's better again but I can only go by what I saw.
• Miller Park (MIL) - I hate everything about Milwaukee, including this roofed monster
• Minute Maid Park (HOU) - the bad roof, plus stupid short LF porch and stupid CF hill, and what I felt certain was artificial crowd noise

 

Three parks no longer standing:

• Municipal Stadium (CLE) - I had two games there before they tore it down and this gave witness to both the best and worst of the old ballparks - my first game was in the lower deck and the view was obstructed by pillars - my second game was down close in the upper deck and you felt so close to the game you could practically pick up the cap off the on-deck batter if you wanted to.
• Tiger Stadium (DET) - they had it freshly painted near the end of its life and I enjoyed the visit there even though the experience outside the park was less than stellar.
• Metrodome (MIN) - I have so many happy memories inside this miserable dump, one that I had to apologize for to out-of-towners, that I truly don't know how to rate it. Best? Worst? Personal rating somewhere in between I suppose. When filled to capacity for a game that mattered it was an experience.

[Monkeypaws]

My list of deceased parks is longer than current ones:

 

1. Comiskey Park- great old bandbox.

2. Yankee Stadium - pretty bland, but hell, it was the House the Ruth built.

3. Met Stadium - pretty good stadium for baseball.

4. Shea Stadium - very Met-like. the pitch of the upper deck was frighteningly steep.

5. Expo stadium - wasn't a dome yet when I was there. Classic 70s ring stadium.

6. Metrodome - awful.

 

Current:

 

1. Fenway - I've been to many games there, and love the place.

2. Wrigley - almost 1b. Not sure I will like it as much after "renovations."

3. Target - Yep, it's a great ballpark. We are lucky.

4. Petco - just toured it, never saw a game, but much like Target, good park in a great area.

5. Busch - Another pretty nice new-school stadium.

 

Will be going to SF and AT&T park this summer, and hope to do a Cleveland -Pittsburgh swing one of these days.

 

[scottz]

 

Least favorite: Metrodome, Wrigley, Safeco, Chase Field, whatever they call that thing in Oakland

 

I don't see how Safeco belongs on this list. I'm very confused.

My ranking of current stadiums that I've been to:

1) Safeco Field

2) Camden Yards

3) Target Field

4) Kaufmann Stadium

5) Miller Park

6) Oakland Coliseum

 

My ranking of dead stadiums that I've been to:

1) Yankee Stadium
2) Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)
3) Metrodome
4) Comiskey Park

 

I feel like I've been to way more MLB stadiums than that, but try as I might, that's all I remember.

[USAFChief]

When are you going to Fenway? I'll be there in June as well as part of my honeymoon

2-4, vsTwins, natch.

[USAFChief]

As to Safeco, to me it felt like a giant airplane hanger, like other roofed stadiums I've been to. I was disappointed.

 

YMMV, of course.

[kab21]

 

As to Safeco, to me it felt like a giant airplane hanger, like other roofed stadiums I've been to. I was disappointed.

YMMV, of course.

I thought Miller (sat in many different places) felt like you were boxed in despite the open roof but I thought Safeco (one game) opened up nicely since it is sunk (IIRC) and you get a nice view of the cityscape.  Of course where one sits is important as far as the ballpark experience.  I just didn't understand how it ranked with other deplorable stadiums.

[Squirrel]

Admittedly 4-5 years ago.  Glad to hear it because the stadium was pretty awful in most every respect back then.

Meh. They added a big video board, otherwise it's pretty much the same.

[scottz]

 

As to Safeco, to me it felt like a giant airplane hanger, like other roofed stadiums I've been to. I was disappointed.

YMMV, of course.

 

The game I was at was a lovely day with the roof open, and I thought it had wonderful sight lines and ambiance, so maybe I'd feel differently if it were closed in airplane hangar mode. The only thing I didn't like was the rather small cup of beer for a rather high cost.

[biggentleben]

 

Meh. They added a big video board, otherwise it's pretty much the same.

 

It could have just been that weekend, but I felt the whole stadium was much, much cleaner in my last visit 2 years ago vs. my first visit 5 years ago. Going back this summer, though, so I'll give a report then!

[biggentleben]

 

2-4, vsTwins, natch.

 

I'm heading there in mid-June as part of our trip, but it happens to be when the Braves are there, which is a great way to take in my first time to Fenway.

[Monkeypaws]

 

I'm heading there in mid-June as part of our trip, but it happens to be when the Braves are there, which is a great way to take in my first time to Fenway.

Speaking of the Braves, I've also been inside Nickerson Field at BU, which retains certain elements from when it was Braves Field. 

 

Kind of like counting Met Stadium if you've stepped on home plate at the Mall of America.... 

[zenser]

My favorite current stadiums:

 

1) Kauffman - Absolutely beautiful.  The openness, the fountains, and until last year, it was easy to get great tickets for cheap.

2) Target - Not a thing I can say negative about it.  Great stadium.

3) The Big A - It was under construction when I was there back in 96.  Saw a freeway series game and the only brawl I have seen in person.

 

Other stadiums

 

1) Yankee Stadium - Old and dingy but walking from the concourse and seeing the field seemed like you were walking into a history book

2) Metrodome - Not my favorite, but at least you knew you were going to see a game.  That was always a plus for me when you drive 5 hours to see it.

3) Shea - Nothing special about it.

[Vanimal46]

 

AT&T Park
Fenway
Target Field
Busch Stadium
Kauffman
Wrigley
Miller
New Comiskey
Arlington Stadium
Minute Maid

I loved Fenway, but was less impressed with Wrigley. Maybe if I'd seen it after some updates. Both parks were old, and I love historic places, but Fenway was old but with a noticeable effort put into keeping the place fresh and relevant. Wrigley was old and there seemed to be little to no effort made on that upkeep. Pretty much summed up the franchise for most of it's run it seemed to me. Why make an effort to make the park nice or the team watchable when fans will show up to get drunk in our bleachers anyway?

 

 

Is Arlington Stadium a former Rangers stadium? Or is that their current stadium just renamed to Globe Life Park? I'd like to go to either Globe Life Park or Minute Maid when the Twins make their way down here, but it sounds like both are bad stadium experiences.....

[Loosey]

 

I'll be hitting up 10 stadiums this summer as part of my honeymoon, including one that I'm very excited to see in PNC Park.

 

Oh man, your wife sounds awesome!  If I attempted a ballpark trip for a honeymoon I don't know if my marriage would have lasted until the honeymoon . . .