All 30 MLB Ballparks in One Season - 2009 & 2010
Bobby D's Officially Subjective Ballpark Rankings
I have devised my own way to rank ballparks. After visiting all 30 ballparks two seasons in a row, it provided me the unique view to have the first impression of the ballpark in 2009 and then the “upon reflection” view in 2010. I broke out the ballparks into categories and basically feel that ballparks within that category could very easily be ranked in any order within that category.
When I ranked the ballparks I took into account the total fan experience and not just the ballpark itself. Factors such as location, parking, mass transit, atmosphere, ticket prices, roominess of the seats (I am a big guy you know), fan experience before, during and after the game and so on... I also took into account is did I have fun and would I go back? And these are important facts since most of the newer ballparks were designed by only a few groups so the overall look of the ballparks are very similar.
So with all that said and without further ado - here are my rankings:
The Mount Rushmore of Ballparks – the 4 ballparks listed in this category are ones that make it almost impossible to rank against the others. These ballparks are either old ones that have history or uniqueness that the current new ballparks can’t match or in the case of Oriole Park @ Camden Yards, it is the ballpark that started the retro trend of new ballparks and has been improved upon with each new ballpark built of that style.
The beauty of this category is it takes debate out of the mix when ranking ballparks. Some people out there refer to Wrigley Field, Fenway Park and Dodger Stadium as rat infested dumps and have them ranked at the bottom of their list while others like myself, feel the exact opposite and almost take it personally when we hear that description (in one case I almost got in a fight over it.)
The Mount Rushmore of Ballparks in my order of preference are:
· Wrigley Field
· Fenway Park
· Oriole Park @ Camden Yards
· Dodger Stadium
When I ranked the ballparks I took into account the total fan experience and not just the ballpark itself. Factors such as location, parking, mass transit, atmosphere, ticket prices, roominess of the seats (I am a big guy you know), fan experience before, during and after the game and so on... I also took into account is did I have fun and would I go back? And these are important facts since most of the newer ballparks were designed by only a few groups so the overall look of the ballparks are very similar.
So with all that said and without further ado - here are my rankings:
The Mount Rushmore of Ballparks – the 4 ballparks listed in this category are ones that make it almost impossible to rank against the others. These ballparks are either old ones that have history or uniqueness that the current new ballparks can’t match or in the case of Oriole Park @ Camden Yards, it is the ballpark that started the retro trend of new ballparks and has been improved upon with each new ballpark built of that style.
The beauty of this category is it takes debate out of the mix when ranking ballparks. Some people out there refer to Wrigley Field, Fenway Park and Dodger Stadium as rat infested dumps and have them ranked at the bottom of their list while others like myself, feel the exact opposite and almost take it personally when we hear that description (in one case I almost got in a fight over it.)
The Mount Rushmore of Ballparks in my order of preference are:
· Wrigley Field
· Fenway Park
· Oriole Park @ Camden Yards
· Dodger Stadium
Okay, now that is out of the way – let’s get on to ranking the ballparks.
The Must Visit Ballparks – I feel that ballparks in this category are ones that you almost should go out of your way to see a game at them and since Pittsburgh and Detroit made this list you really do have to go out of your way.
1. AT & T Park – San Francisco (will be on the Mount Rushmore of Ballparks one day)
2. Comerica Park – Detroit (great utilization of the downtown location)
3. PNC Park – Pittsburgh (would have been #2 but the Tigers are more fun to watch)
4. Petco Park – San Diego (great weather, Gaslamp Quarter and California girls – nuff said)
5. Citizen’s Bank Park – Philadelphia (could have been #1 or #2 if it were located downtown)
6. Yankee Stadium – Da Bronx (love it or hate it – it still is Yankee Stadium)
The Must Visit Ballparks – I feel that ballparks in this category are ones that you almost should go out of your way to see a game at them and since Pittsburgh and Detroit made this list you really do have to go out of your way.
1. AT & T Park – San Francisco (will be on the Mount Rushmore of Ballparks one day)
2. Comerica Park – Detroit (great utilization of the downtown location)
3. PNC Park – Pittsburgh (would have been #2 but the Tigers are more fun to watch)
4. Petco Park – San Diego (great weather, Gaslamp Quarter and California girls – nuff said)
5. Citizen’s Bank Park – Philadelphia (could have been #1 or #2 if it were located downtown)
6. Yankee Stadium – Da Bronx (love it or hate it – it still is Yankee Stadium)
The Almost Must Visit Ballparks, BUT – These ballparks would have been Must Visit except they have one thing that keeps them from being Must Visit – hope that makes sense. For example – Busch Stadium is a great ballpark with an exciting team, great food, great downtown location but for whatever reason they decided to close in the concourse so when walking around the main level you can’t see the field except from your seats.
7. Busch Stadium – St. Louis (closed concourse on the main level)
8. Target Field – Minnesota (blends in too much to the area that I drove right past it)
9. Citfield – New York (36 price levels for tickets, yes 36!)
10. Progressive Field – Cleveland (because they sold out and don’t call it the Jake anymore)
11. Coors Field – Denver (I don’t like the Rockies uniforms)
12. Safeco Field – Seattle (Parking sucks and mass transit isn’t much better)
7. Busch Stadium – St. Louis (closed concourse on the main level)
8. Target Field – Minnesota (blends in too much to the area that I drove right past it)
9. Citfield – New York (36 price levels for tickets, yes 36!)
10. Progressive Field – Cleveland (because they sold out and don’t call it the Jake anymore)
11. Coors Field – Denver (I don’t like the Rockies uniforms)
12. Safeco Field – Seattle (Parking sucks and mass transit isn’t much better)
The Middle of the Road Ballparks – The best way to describe these ballparks is like when you were in school and got a “C” in a class. You could have done better, but you could have done worse. And that is how these ballparks, could have been better – but could have been worse.
13. Turner Field – Atlanta (would have been better with less seating capacity – seats 50,000)
14. Great American Ballpark – Cincinnati (nothing to do before or after games near the ballpark)
15. Nationals Ballpark – DC (will move up the rankings when the local area and team improve)
16. Chase Field – Phoenix (best of the enclosed ballparks)
17. Miller Park – Milwaukee (would have been awesome if built on the lakefront)
18. US Cellular Field – Chicago (upper deck ticket holders not allowed in the lower deck)
19. Kaufman Field – Kansas City (middle of nowhere location drops it to #19)
13. Turner Field – Atlanta (would have been better with less seating capacity – seats 50,000)
14. Great American Ballpark – Cincinnati (nothing to do before or after games near the ballpark)
15. Nationals Ballpark – DC (will move up the rankings when the local area and team improve)
16. Chase Field – Phoenix (best of the enclosed ballparks)
17. Miller Park – Milwaukee (would have been awesome if built on the lakefront)
18. US Cellular Field – Chicago (upper deck ticket holders not allowed in the lower deck)
19. Kaufman Field – Kansas City (middle of nowhere location drops it to #19)
Would Have Been a Spinach Ballpark except for – ummm – what? Well if you look at the grouping below you will get the definition of a Spinach Ballpark. These ballparks would have found their way into the Spinach category except for a reason or 2 that give them a redeeming quality
20. Rangers Ballpark – Arlington, TX (newer ballpark with a good team and affordable tickets)
21. Angels Stadium – Anaheim (parking was only $8 right next to the ballpark)
22. Minute Maid Park – Houston (great downtown location)
23. Rogers Center – Toronto (only because Toronto is a very cool city and they let me on the field before the game)
20. Rangers Ballpark – Arlington, TX (newer ballpark with a good team and affordable tickets)
21. Angels Stadium – Anaheim (parking was only $8 right next to the ballpark)
22. Minute Maid Park – Houston (great downtown location)
23. Rogers Center – Toronto (only because Toronto is a very cool city and they let me on the field before the game)
The Spinach Ballparks – Remember when you were a kid and at dinner your mom would make spinach. You didn’t want to eat it and would ask your mom why you had too and she would say “because I said so”. Well when asking “why do I have to go to these?” Because to go to all 30 ballparks, you have too.
24. Tropicana Field – Tampa Bay (horrible location, boring ascetics, high ticket prices but good team)
25. Sun Life Stadium – Miami (new ballpark being built to be ready for the 2013 season – thank God)
26. Oakland-Alameda Coliseum – Oakland (ironic how you can see the best ballpark across the bay)
Well there you have it, my rankings of ballparks. And the cool thing with a very subjective list like this is that these are my rankings taking into account a wide variety of stuff to finalize the list. I am sure there are differing opinions so please feel free to contact me – I would love to see your rankings.
Over the course of the next few months I will be writing up a review of each ballpark with helpful hints for visiting the ballpark as well as stuff in there for someone crazy enough to try to get to all 30 in one season.
24. Tropicana Field – Tampa Bay (horrible location, boring ascetics, high ticket prices but good team)
25. Sun Life Stadium – Miami (new ballpark being built to be ready for the 2013 season – thank God)
26. Oakland-Alameda Coliseum – Oakland (ironic how you can see the best ballpark across the bay)
Well there you have it, my rankings of ballparks. And the cool thing with a very subjective list like this is that these are my rankings taking into account a wide variety of stuff to finalize the list. I am sure there are differing opinions so please feel free to contact me – I would love to see your rankings.
Over the course of the next few months I will be writing up a review of each ballpark with helpful hints for visiting the ballpark as well as stuff in there for someone crazy enough to try to get to all 30 in one season.