Hazelwood72 wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025 13:13 pm
From a spectator standpoint, Fenway Park is the most overrated venue in all of sports, not just baseball. The nostalgia is great, but it’s cramped, many of the seats are at a bad angle to the diamond, the concourses are cramped, etc, etc.
I’ve been to 15 MLB parks, 8 current and 7 of them now gone. Have not been to Oracle, PNC, or Camden Yards. Have been outside Petco but not in (the Padres were on the road when I was there).
My favorites (just the ballpark, not what’s around it): Busch III is still tops for layout and baseball watching. Citizens Bank Park is good, I prefer it over Coors. Coors is a bit bland unless you’re sitting high with a mountain view. I like Minute Maid except the Crawford Boxes are too close for MLB hitters. Minute Maid & Safeco in Seattle have the best retractable roof designs. The roof on Miller in Milwaukee doesn’t open up enough and still makes you feel like you’re more indoors than outdoors. (Great experience otherwise, though).
The worst, and it’s not even close: Oakland Coliseum. I saw an afternoon game there in the mid 1980’s before they built “Mt. Davis”. Other than the nice view of the Oakland Hills, it was a crapbox even back then. The fans who were there were great however.
Lived in suburban Chicago 6 years. Saw several games at Old Comiskey Park. Loved it, and loved the Soudtside fans. They were underdogs in their own city. First game I attended at the New Comiskey Park (now Rate Field), I had cheap seats with my son’s Cub Scout den. Thought I was gonna need an oxygen tank and a Sherpa guide to climb up to our seats.
I did get to see a game at Old Yankee Stadium in 2007, second-to-last year there. Impressive history and I posed in front of the Yogi Berra plaque in Monument Park (we old St. Louisans gotta stick together). But sad to say, by then, the stadium was looking pretty run down.
I’m sure Yankee stadium was run down. They probably stopped doing anything to it since they were building a new one.
If you haven’t been to Wrigley since the renovations, you should.
A great example of restoration.
Howdy, ecleme,
The last time I saw a game at Wrigley was around 1998. My company transferred me from suburban Chicagoland to Houston in 1994, but I often traveled back to Chicago on business. So, in the late ‘90’s, the ballpark was nice, clean and decent, but still prior to all the big renovations within the last 20 years. I’m sure Wrigley is fine these days, but I’m not a fan of the ginormous new message boards. To me, they detract from the aesthetics of the place.
Hazelwood72 wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025 13:13 pm
From a spectator standpoint, Fenway Park is the most overrated venue in all of sports, not just baseball. The nostalgia is great, but it’s cramped, many of the seats are at a bad angle to the diamond, the concourses are cramped, etc, etc.
I’ve been to 15 MLB parks, 8 current and 7 of them now gone. Have not been to Oracle, PNC, or Camden Yards. Have been outside Petco but not in (the Padres were on the road when I was there).
My favorites (just the ballpark, not what’s around it): Busch III is still tops for layout and baseball watching. Citizens Bank Park is good, I prefer it over Coors. Coors is a bit bland unless you’re sitting high with a mountain view. I like Minute Maid except the Crawford Boxes are too close for MLB hitters. Minute Maid & Safeco in Seattle have the best retractable roof designs. The roof on Miller in Milwaukee doesn’t open up enough and still makes you feel like you’re more indoors than outdoors. (Great experience otherwise, though).
The worst, and it’s not even close: Oakland Coliseum. I saw an afternoon game there in the mid 1980’s before they built “Mt. Davis”. Other than the nice view of the Oakland Hills, it was a crapbox even back then. The fans who were there were great however.
Lived in suburban Chicago 6 years. Saw several games at Old Comiskey Park. Loved it, and loved the Soudtside fans. They were underdogs in their own city. First game I attended at the New Comiskey Park (now Rate Field), I had cheap seats with my son’s Cub Scout den. Thought I was gonna need an oxygen tank and a Sherpa guide to climb up to our seats.
I did get to see a game at Old Yankee Stadium in 2007, second-to-last year there. Impressive history and I posed in front of the Yogi Berra plaque in Monument Park (we old St. Louisans gotta stick together). But sad to say, by then, the stadium was looking pretty run down.
I’m sure Yankee stadium was run down. They probably stopped doing anything to it since they were building a new one.
If you haven’t been to Wrigley since the renovations, you should.
A great example of restoration.
Howdy, ecleme,
The last time I saw a game at Wrigley was around 1998. My company transferred me from suburban Chicagoland to Houston in 1994, but I often traveled back to Chicago on business. So, in the late ‘90’s, the ballpark was nice, clean and decent, but still prior to all the big renovations within the last 20 years. I’m sure Wrigley is fine these days, but I’m not a fan of the ginormous new message boards. To me, they detract from the aesthetics of the place.
I recommend getting back to Wrigley.
As much as I love historical preservation, I understand the team rebuilding the bleachers to add more seating and club areas. I was in the bleachers during the Pozo game and it was a blast. And the scoreboards really don’t distract when you’re at the game. I understand them wanting to enter the 21st century.
I’d much rather have an old Yankee stadium w flashier amenities than a ‘new’ one that lacks the history.
Side note: the Ricketts are tearing down 2 or 3 brown/grey stones on Sheffield. The ones Ruth pointed towards. I don’t like that.
Hazelwood72 wrote: ↑08 Aug 2025 13:13 pm
From a spectator standpoint, Fenway Park is the most overrated venue in all of sports, not just baseball. The nostalgia is great, but it’s cramped, many of the seats are at a bad angle to the diamond, the concourses are cramped, etc, etc.
I’ve been to 15 MLB parks, 8 current and 7 of them now gone. Have not been to Oracle, PNC, or Camden Yards. Have been outside Petco but not in (the Padres were on the road when I was there).
My favorites (just the ballpark, not what’s around it): Busch III is still tops for layout and baseball watching. Citizens Bank Park is good, I prefer it over Coors. Coors is a bit bland unless you’re sitting high with a mountain view. I like Minute Maid except the Crawford Boxes are too close for MLB hitters. Minute Maid & Safeco in Seattle have the best retractable roof designs. The roof on Miller in Milwaukee doesn’t open up enough and still makes you feel like you’re more indoors than outdoors. (Great experience otherwise, though).
The worst, and it’s not even close: Oakland Coliseum. I saw an afternoon game there in the mid 1980’s before they built “Mt. Davis”. Other than the nice view of the Oakland Hills, it was a crapbox even back then. The fans who were there were great however.
Lived in suburban Chicago 6 years. Saw several games at Old Comiskey Park. Loved it, and loved the Soudtside fans. They were underdogs in their own city. First game I attended at the New Comiskey Park (now Rate Field), I had cheap seats with my son’s Cub Scout den. Thought I was gonna need an oxygen tank and a Sherpa guide to climb up to our seats.
I did get to see a game at Old Yankee Stadium in 2007, second-to-last year there. Impressive history and I posed in front of the Yogi Berra plaque in Monument Park (we old St. Louisans gotta stick together). But sad to say, by then, the stadium was looking pretty run down.
I’m sure Yankee stadium was run down. They probably stopped doing anything to it since they were building a new one.
If you haven’t been to Wrigley since the renovations, you should.
A great example of restoration.
Howdy, ecleme,
The last time I saw a game at Wrigley was around 1998. My company transferred me from suburban Chicagoland to Houston in 1994, but I often traveled back to Chicago on business. So, in the late ‘90’s, the ballpark was nice, clean and decent, but still prior to all the big renovations within the last 20 years. I’m sure Wrigley is fine these days, but I’m not a fan of the ginormous new message boards. To me, they detract from the aesthetics of the place.
I recommend getting back to Wrigley.
As much as I love historical preservation, I understand the team rebuilding the bleachers to add more seating and club areas. I was in the bleachers during the Pozo game and it was a blast. And the scoreboards really don’t distract when you’re at the game. I understand them wanting to enter the 21st century.
I’d much rather have an old Yankee stadium w flashier amenities than a ‘new’ one that lacks the history.
Side note: the Ricketts are tearing down 2 or 3 brown/grey stones on Sheffield. The ones Ruth pointed towards. I don’t like that.
Totally agree — the new Yankee Stadium doesn’t do much for me other than the exterior facade where they did a credible job of mimicking the old ballpark. But inside is really bland. Not at all like the real Yankee Stadium.
