August 18, 2011

Ballpark Roadtrip: Petco Park

Petco Park is an open-air ballpark in downtown San Diego, California. It opened in 2004, replacing Qualcomm Stadium as the home park of Major League Baseball's San Diego Padres. Petco Park is named after the pet supplies retailer Petco, which is based in San Diego and paid for the naming rights.
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July 1, 2011

Ballpark Roadtrip: Tiger Stadium

Tiger Stadium, previously known as Navin Field and Briggs Stadium, was a baseball park located in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan. It hosted the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball from 1912 to 1999, as well as the Detroit Lions of the National Football League from 1938 to 1974.
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June 30, 2011

Ballpark Roadtrip: Comerica Park

Comerica Park primarily serves as the home for the Detroit Tigers, who moved to the new venue in 2000. Comerica is the third home for the Tigers since becoming a charter member of the American League in 1901.

The team previously played in Tiger Stadium (1912-1999) and Bennett Park (1901-1911). The club was founded in 1894 as part of the Western League. Read more

June 24, 2011

Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark

Rangers Ballpark in Arlington is a ballpark in Arlington, Texas, located between Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. It was known as The Ballpark in Arlington until May 7, 2004, when Ameriquest bought the naming rights to the ballpark and renamed it Ameriquest Field in Arlington.

On March 19, 2007, the Texas Rangers severed their relationship with Ameriquest and announced that the stadium would be named Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
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June 16, 2011

Ballpark Roadtrip: Turner Field

Atlanta is a beautiful city, clean with friendly people. Same goes for Turner Field for the first game I attended.

The ballpark is just south of downtown Atlanta, just off the highway. I found a parking lot that was small on the side of the street for $12.00. Wearing a plain colored t-shirt, I was greeted by friendly security guards that checked my backpack at the main gate. They asked about my camera I was carrying and if I had a pocket knife? Read more

June 14, 2011

Ballpark Roadtrip: Forbes Field

Forbes Field was a baseball park in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1909 to June 28, 1970. It was the third home of the Pittsburgh Pirates and the first home of the Pittsburgh Steelers.The stadium was named after British general John Forbes, who fought in the French and Indian War, and named the city in 1758.

The US $1 million ($26.3 million today) project was initiated by Pittsburgh Pirates' owner Barney Dreyfuss, with the goal of replacing his franchise's then-current home, Exposition Park.

The stadium was made of concrete and steel (one of the first of its kind) in order to increase its lifespan. The Pirates opened Forbes Field on June 30, 1909 against the Chicago Cubs, and would play the final game that was also against the Cubs on June 28, 1970.
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July 21, 2010

Ballpark Roadtrip: Chase Field

Chase Field (formerly Bank One Ballpark) is the second stadium I have visited with a retractable room. Milwaukee was the first; while I was there the Brewers had the roof opened a sunny 80 degree day. I am not a big fan of retractable roof ballparks, but it's necessary in Phoenix and some other cities.

Chase Field had the roof opened when I arrived for a tour at 11:30 in the morning. The temperature in Phoenix that day reached 115 degrees, so a roof is necessary in the Arizona summer.

After I picked up my tickets, I had a few minutes before the tour so I wandered into the Diamondbacks team store. I was greeted by two enthusiastic employees who were there to help me. I purchased a few items and was impressed by the friendly staff.

The tour went around the ballpark, to the press box, a luxury box and Diamondbacks' dugout. Luckily, this tour did allow us on the field and some other areas that some other tours don't allow.

The tour leader was rather bland and pointed to lots of places like doors we could enter. In other tours, the leaders would take us behind those doors, playing the role of baseball fan and motivational speaker.

The three trademarks of Chase Field are of course the retractable roof, the dirt pathway from home plate and the swimming pool in right field.I returned to the stadium an hour before game time and saw the ballpark was near empty. The only crowds were behind the visitors' dugout seeking souvenirs.

The roof was closed and it was darker inside the park and much cooler than the 100-degree temperature outside.

I asked an usher if it was okay to walk around and take photos. He said yes and to enjoy - another pleasant staff member. As I walked around the park, I ran into Met fans who were transplanted New Yorkers. Many missed the east coast sports scene; people in Phoenix were not as passionate about pro sports. The field level concourse was easy to move around and filled with stores and concession stands.

I grabbed a hamburger at FAT BURGER for $6.00. It was very good. I then headed towards my seats and decided to get a hot dog and soda. At the concession stand, everything stopped when the National Anthem was performed. No one moved everywhere I turned. This wasn't New York, Philadelphia or many other ballparks where people will wander around during the anthem. I found my seat and by visitors' dugout, 10 rows back - really great seats.

The rows in front of me were empty as were all the seats to my left. This meant I could move around and get clear shots with my camera. A few people behind me who were Mets fans who now live in the Phoenix area now. Then a few Diamondback fans arrived at game time to my right. I heard a lot of frustration from fans of both teams. The Mets were not going to spend money or make any moves. The Diamondbacks were young and talented, but underachieving after making the playoffs just two years earlier. They were looking to dump salaries.

There was one fan from another New York team who the Diamondbacks defeated in the 2001 World Series. I always wonder why some people come to games wearing jerseys of teams not playing at that particular venue that game. This fan screamed at several players about poor play and contracts. People laughed at the fan when he was corrected about some of his incorrect facts. Later on, someone noticed that he was quiet and perhaps left. Another fan said he was actually asked to leave by security for his behavior.

The game went back and forth and in the middle innings, the bullpen doors opened in right field and four large "foam heads" emerged with Diamondbacks hats. The heads resembled Randy Johnson, Luis Gonzalez, Matt Williams and Mark Grace. Recently the Diamondbacks started a legends race of players who have made a significant contribution to the organization on the field. The legends race is similar to the Presidents Race at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., and the Sausage Race at Miller Park in Milwaukee.

Mets fans started yelling out "Let's Go Mets" and after a few moments enough D-Backs fans started booing to drown out the chant.

During the 7th inning stretch, Baxter (the team mascot) tosses team shirts on top of the dugout with the Rally-backs. Baxter rounds around the park posing with fans and taunts the fans of the opposition. While I was there, he hit a fan with a whip cream pie and ripped up a sign held up by a fan.

I attended two games there on the field level by the visitor's dugout. Prices were expensive for a non-contender - over $100. Other teams that did not believe they would contend this season charged half of what I paid for the same seats. I should have bought cheaper seats and moved down.

The Diamondbacks defeated the Mets in both games. The second game went 14 innings with most of the ballpark empty when it ended at 11:30 to complete the three game sweep. The ballpark is great, food was good, and the staff was the friendliest I ever encountered. I wore a neutral shirt the first game and a Mets shirt the second and was treated the same by the staff.

When in Phoenix, take a tour on an off day to see the closed-off areas when the team is home. Check out some of the beautiful golf courses in the area. Then see the Diamondback and their friendly staff in their cool home in downtown Phoenix.

 

CLICK ON PHOTOS TO VIEW SLIDESHOW

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Ballpark Roadtrip: Chase Field Chase Field Chase Field
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Ballpark: B – The three trademarks of Chase Field are of course the retractable roof, the dirt pathway from home plate and the swimming pool in right field. Beautiful rotunda.

Fans & Atmosphere: C – The fans? More Met fans present and I felt like I was in an airport hanger. During national anthem the staff in the kitchen of concession stands came out and removed their hats. Everybody stood still in concourses. Never seen this before. Prices were expensive for a non-contender - over $100 by dugout.

Food: B – Hamburger at FAT BURGER for $6.00. It was very good. Hot dog was okay.

Mascot: A – Baxter an obnoxious Bobcat. He hit a fan with a whip cream pie and ripped up a sign held up by a fan.

Staff: A – Staff was the friendliest I ever encountered. I wore a neutral shirt the first game and a Mets shirt the second and was treated the same by the staff. Went to fan assistance office and complimented staff who showered me with gifts.

Team Tradition: C – Not a baseball town, college sports are big. Won World Series in 2001 and trophy is in rotunda. Nice team store with memorabilia.

Location: A – Downtown Phoenix, easy to get to with parking available.

Photos taken July 20-21, 2010 using a Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Digital SLR and EOS 50D Digital SLR with a EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Standard Zoom Lens, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens.

July 19, 2010

Ballpark Roadtrip: Oakland Coliseum

O.co Coliseum– also known as Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, and commonly The Oakland Coliseum or The Coliseum; and formerly known as Network Associates Coliseum, McAfee Coliseum, and Overstock.com Coliseum– is a multi-purpose stadium, located in Oakland California in the Coliseum Industrial area.

It is the only remaining multi-purpose stadium left to serve as a full-time home to both a Major League Baseball team (the Oakland Athletics) and a National Football League team (the Oakland Raiders). Read more

July 19, 2010

Ballpark Roadtrip: AT&T Park

I went to several baseball games in San Francisco when the Giants played at Candlestick Park. The last game ranks up there as one of the coldest I ever attended, surpassed only by opening day at Yankee Stadium in 2003 (when the seats were covered in ice and snow.)

Now the Giants are playing in their newest home at AT&T Park. The ballpark has changed names several times and has been proclaimed as one of the best parks in baseball by many people I meet. Opened in 2000, AT&T Park is just up the bay, 6 miles north from Candlestick in the South Beach section of San Francisco.
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