Reaching 16 of the 30, I decided to put a list together of the things i enjoy about the different parks, as well as things I may not be particularly fond.
I've marked off 11 stadiums in the last 3 years, and with 14 to go, the time for this list was spot on.
Angels Stadium, Anaheim
Date of first visit: 2003 vs Chi. (AL)
Number of visits: 42 and counting
Final Score: 10-8 Chicago
What I Like: Ease of access from freeways and Amtrak line. Best deal on food in the ballpark: Chronic Taco. During summer night games, visitors to the ballpark can hear fireworks from Disneyland at 9:30 pm. The stadium also serves as the host of 2-3 AMA SuperCross races, including the season opener.
What I Don't Like: The inability to place a deposit on group tickets, the rise in cost of parking with either the New York (AL) or Boston
AT&T Park, San Francisco
Date of first visit: Aug 25, 2012 vs Atl
Number of visits: 44 (as of 2013)
Final Score: 7-3 Atlanta
What I Like: A taste of San Francisco at the ballpark, offering italian breaded chicken tenders, Northern California brewed beers and a wide array of alcohol to choose from. The view of the Bay Bridge at sunset is the best in ballpark view in California. Public transportation, BART, runs right along the left field line.
What I Don't Like: Winners of 2 of the last 3 World Series, baseball in San Francisco is at its peak right now. However, the Giants have begun to increase ticket prices including those in the upper reserve as well as the outfield. Parking for game 2 of the 2012 Fall Classic was $45. Parking for Braves vs Giants in May 2013: $35. 2012: $20.
Chase Field, Arizona
Date of visit: May 20, 2006
Opponent: Atlanta
Final Score: 13-0 Arizona
Liked: This was the first field outside of California I visited. First air-conditioned stadium, as well as first retractable roof stadium (and so far only).
Disliked: First experience of a parking structure outside a ballpark or arena.
Citizen's Bank Park, Philadelphia
Date of visit: June 28, 2012
Opponent: Pittsburgh
Final Score: 5-4 Pittsburgh
Liked: While this is the home of one of the Braves biggest rivals, I still enjoyed how the Phillies honored those of the past.
Disliked: Attending a day game in June was not something I thought into. The humidity of Philadelphia turned a white shirt yellow.
Coors Field, Denver
Date of visit: July 10, 2010
Opponent: San Diego
Final Score: 4-2 Colorado
Like: Similar to Safeco Field, Coors Field provides an element of the Rocky Mountains within its walls. Another one of the best sunsets in MLB, the ballpark also boasts the founding of Blue Moon beer with its own Blue Moon brewery & restaurant behind home plate. (http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130501&content_id=46419990&vkey=pr_col&c_id=col)
Dislike: n/a
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
Date of first visit: 1987
Number of visits: 40 and counting
Like: This was the first ballpark I ever went to, and many memories of trips here with my mom will always be fond ones. The sunset over the pavilion is one of the most gorgeous views in all of baseball.
Dislike: Parking, lack of public transportation - The Dodgers and the LA Metro system do offer a shuttle from Union Station to the stadium, but there is no direct line to the stadium. Food - while Dodger Dogs are iconic in Los Angeles, the other food selections are rather unappealing and have remained the same for the better part of 20 years (eg. California Pizza Kitchen & Carls Jr.)
Fenway Park, Boston
Date of visit: June 22, 2012
Opponent: Atlanta
Final Score: 4-1 Atlanta
Like: The nostalgia of catching a summer game at the oldest park in baseball is hard to put to words. The smell of the food from behind the outfield, joining with the crowd in singing "Sweet Caroline" and getting to stare at a giant green wall in left field, also known as the Green Monster, is something you can only dream of until you see it with your own eyes.
Dislike: While Fenway is the oldest park in MLB, it's seats are rather small. The older stadiums were built with support beams that do interfere with the view, but the stadium is rather intimate, IMO.
Marlins Park, Miami
Date of visit: April 8, 2013
Opponent: Atlanta
Final Score: 2-0 Atlanta
Like: Being in attendance for the Marlins second home opener, I got to see this park as many haven't: near capacity. With 34,439 "fans" in attendance, the park was 3,003 paid tickets off from being classified as sold out.
Disliked: Not much to dislike going in with no expectations.
O.Co Coliseum, Oakland
Date of visit: July 26, 2013
Opponent: Los Angeles (AL)
Final Score: 6-4 Oakland
Liked: The selection of food and beer, for a stadium that had not undergone any major renovations since being built in 1967, was a welcome surprise.
Dislike: The yard in Oakland is the last of a dying breed - this is the last dual facility in regards to MLB and NFL. The age of the stadium shows, and the organization is desperate for a new stadium.
Petco Park, San Diego
Date of first visit: July 16, 2006
Opponent: Altanta
Final Score: 10-5 Atlanta
What I Like: An east coast ballpark in Southern California, Petco is one of the absolute best environments for a game. In 1993, saw San Diego vs Chicago (NL).
Safeco Field, Seattle
Date of visit: Sept 11, 2013
Opponent: Houston
Final Score: 6-1 Houston
Liked: The aura of Seattle is second to none. Safeco Field truly encompasses the Great Northwest within its grounds, and $5 beers in the pen from the time the gates open up until an hour before first pitch is one of the best deals in all of MLB.
Dislike: n/a
Turner Field, Atlanta
Date of first visit: Oct 3, 2010 vs Phi.
Opponents: Philadelphia, New York (NL), Chicago (NL)
Final Score: 7-0 Philadelphia
Like: This park, to me, is home. For years, I've dreamt of being able to witness a game live in Atlanta. In 2010, I made my first venture. This will always be my favorite park, as it is the home field of my favorite team.
Dislike: Distance from home to Turner Field. Watching games via TBS for years made my summer dream to be at Turner Field.
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg
Date of visit: April 7, 2013
Opponent: Cleveland
Final Score: 13-0 Cleveland
Liked: This was the first true dome stadium I visited. While the club does not have much history, it did pay homage to one Hall of Famer that spent the final years of his career there: Wade Boggs. The ballpark's walls are adorned with comic book style drawings.
Dislike: n/a
U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago (AL)
Date of visit: 2010
Opponent: Texas
Final Score: 7-4 Texas
Like: While the South Side of Chicago is one of the worst areas in the country, this is one of the most storied ball clubs in all of MLB. On the night of my visit, the Sox hosted "Elvis Night". The food selections bring you a taste of Chicago, including an italian meat sandwich that included horseradish. (When in Rome…). This stadium is also very accessible from Chicago's public transit, build for the Worlds Columbia Expedition in the late 1800's.
Dislike: One wrong turn and you can find yourself in a neighborhood you don't want to remain in for too long.
Wrigley Field, Chicago
Date of visit: 2010
Opponent: Atlanta
Final Score: 3-0 Atlanta
Like: This was the first of the old ballparks I visited. Being able to take in a night game at the friendly confines was an experience in itself, especially during August. This ballpark was truly built into the neighborhood, as can be seen from watching a Cubs game on TV. While the stadium approached it's 100th year, renovations have been made, as after it's 100th anniversary, the stadium cannot undertake more upgrades as it is a national monument.
Dislike: n/a
Yankee Stadium
Date of visit: June 25, 2012
Opponent: Cleveland
Final Score: 7-1 New York
Like: While this was the new Yankee Stadium, it still had the nostalgia, to me, of the old park. While everyone looks at the Yankees as "The Evil Empire", one cannot help but indulge themselves in the ballpark with the history of baseball at the museum the ballpark boasts. With displays set up honoring Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth, the club sure did go all out to make sure it held onto the memorabilia of old.
Dislike: The new stadium, as all original stadiums were built, is entrenched in the Bronx. But what this does is cut down on parking, for those who do not have the ability to take the public transit that runs right by the ballpark. I recommend getting to the stadium early - we paid $48 for valet parking.
