Citi Field ties for 22nd place on The Stadium Journey's list of ML ballparks.
The Stadium Journey visited 29 Major League ballparks this summer and posted the rankings yesterday. Oriole Park at Camden Yards — which I’m thinking of visiting next season — was at the top of the list.
Nationals Park — also under consideration — came in at number 28. As deal of Phungo pointed out, there just isn’t much to do in the area surrounding the ballpark yet.
Citi Field tied for 22nd, but somehow New Yankee Stadium finished tied for sixth place. That’s not quite how I would have ranked them.
I thought that new Yankee Stadium does a better job of celebrating the team’s history, but Citi Field was a nicer place to watch a game — at least as long as you avoided the seats with obstructed views. I preferred the Citi Field food options, too, but it’s not the greatest place to go if you are looking for vegetarian food options — Yankee Stadium did a better job on that score.
I spend more time in independent league and Minor League ballparks. Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf, Md. and Clipper Magazine Stadium in Lancaster, Pa. came in at the top of my list of places I visited this season.
Of the ballparks you visited, which one gets your top grade?
I've been a Mets fan for about 20 years. I'm holding out hope that 2010 will be a better season for my favorite team.
I do not agree with most of their picks. I’ve been to 24 of the 30 current ballparks and they are putting way too much emphasis on the neighborhood. You could put Camden Yards on the moon and it would still be a great place to see a game.
They didn’t like the neighborhoods in Milwaukee and Kansas City. Maybe they should have tailgated before the game like many fans do. Why go to the bar when you can bring the bar in your car?
There is no way that Rangers Ballpark and Turner Field are the second and third best ballparks. While both are nice (all new ballparks are nice), there is really nothing that sets them that far up the ladder. They both have nice museums inside. But Turner looks like any other new ballpark and has some of the worst food in the Majors. Rangers ballpark is new, but it doesn’t even have an open concourse and there is no view in centerfield because it is enclosed like a cookie cutter.
Kauffman Stadium is one of my top ballparks (I know I am a little biased) because it is the most unique ballpark in baseball and was well thought out when it was built. All other ballparks that were built in that era were cookie cutters and none of them are around any more. While it is not the best ballpark, there is no way that US Cellular, Tropicana Field, Angles Stadium, Chase Field, Busch Stadium, Turner Field, and the Rangers Ballpark are as good or better than the K.
As for my favorite ballparks, I usually go with Petco Park. It has a lot of great things going for it that I have never seen at any other ballpark.
By: zman40 on November 6, 2009
at 12:49 am
From the reviews I read, they gave “neighborhood” — generally meaning the local bar scene – a lot more importance than I do.
The main factor for me is “Is this ballpark a nice place to watch a baseball game?”, followed by “Can I really afford to go to a game here?” and “Can I find something decent to eat?”
Anything else is a bonus.
By: Paul on November 6, 2009
at 11:12 am
well, Ive only been to four parks. keyspan park (brooklyn cyclones) shea, citi, and i went on a tour of fenway. I say i like fenway the most because of the environment and just the feel of that place.
By: gobigpelf34 on November 6, 2009
at 11:27 pm
I have not read the survey, but I thought Nationals Park was great. Nothing to do in the area?!!? Hop on a subway and there is plenty to see/do/eat & drink.
Looking forward to reading the rankings. Thanks for posting.
By: Jeff Breen on November 9, 2009
at 10:09 am