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Another Random Question

Which ballpark have you been to and which, in your opinion, is the best? I've only been to the Rogers Centre and Arlington Ballpark (and saw Minute Maid Park and Busch Stadium from the outside so really doesn't count) so I can't say much...I personally like the RC better because of the retractable roof and temperature control system. Since I live in Dallas I'd go to the Rangers games more often but it's just too darn hot down here. I'd definitely go to more games if Tom Hicks ( or George W) build us a dome hehe. Anyway, your thoughts guys...

Interesting episodes regarding the park would be fun as well...

2 recs  |  Comment 42 comments

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Hmmmm which one did I like the most?

I’ver been to Dodger Stadium, Anaheim (can’t think of the name at the moment), Oakland, Safco in Seattle, Yankee Stadium, the Astrodome, Rogers Center and Exhibition Stadium in Toronto. Maybe had the most fun in the Bleachers at Yankee Stadium. The people are the best part. Talked to an old guy leaving the Angels park who was a big Yankee’s fan, he told me about his dad taking him to games and seeing Joe Dimaggio and all the great Yankees players. Seattle’s is a beautiful park. Love it there.

Best story is from Dodger Stadium. Was years ago on my honeymoon (I have the worlds best wife) we got tickets to two Dodger vs. Expo games, one in good seats, one in cheap seasons. Being Canadian we cheer for the Expos. The game in the cheap seats, my wife was sitting beside a young, maybe 8 or 9 year old Mexican boy. Expos were losing bad but we scored and my wife cheered.

The little boy asked why she cheered. She explained we were from Canada and the Expos were our team. The little boy talked to his dad for a moment and then he and his dad changed seats so the dad was beside my wife. I’m not sure what ‘Canadian’ means to Mexicans but I’m pretty sure they were worried it was contagious.

by Tom Dakers on Jan 30, 2009 6:12 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I saw games in Seattle, Anaheim, LA, Oakland, and SF all in 2007

and I think AT&T Park was the nicest. Also, I was there right after Dodger Stadium, so being able to get hot dogs bigger and better than Dodger Dogs without leaving my seat was great. Safeco was nice too. Can’t really comment on the Cable Box, since I haven’t been there in about 15 years.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on Jan 30, 2009 6:25 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Oh, I've been to Coors too

It was okay.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on Jan 31, 2009 4:26 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

never really been there

but looks amazing in the MLB games (the show), with the Rocky Mountains visible in the background. wonder if it’s really like that thoguh

by bryfryy on Jan 31, 2009 8:40 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Great Question - Camden Yards

and PNC (Pittsburgh) are my favourites. I have also been to Seattle, San Fran (my two favorite other than those two), Houston, Wrigley, Cincy, Kansas City (liked it a lot), Cleveland, RFK and the new Nationals stadium, Shea (RIP), Yankee stadium, the Vet, the new Philly stadium (eh), Atlanta, Montreal, Skydome/RC, the Ballpark at Arlington, the old Busch stadium. Never been to the Metrodome, LA, Fenway, new Busch Stadium, Milwaukee, or Coors. or the Arizona or Florida parks, but I’m not too worried about going to those three.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Jan 30, 2009 9:03 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

What were your thoughts on the Ballpark In Arlington?

...Snoop Doggy-Dogg... Ya need to get yourself a jobby-job.

by oc on Jan 31, 2009 1:47 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

well

the inside of the ballpark was really well done, I loved it. But it was 100 degrees at first pitch, which was at 7 p.m. and that was a little much – I don’t mind hot days at all but sitting there sweating in the dark isn’t so much fun.

I’m also not a huge fan of the DFW area – it is kind of boring and paved over. I’ve heard there are some decent spots in Dallas, but I didn’t see any while I was there. I also made the mistake of going to an “Italian Restaurant” there – which was one of the dumber things I’ve ever done.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Jan 31, 2009 7:38 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

How big a mistake?

Spaghetti and Meatball Sandwich big?

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on Jan 31, 2009 4:27 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

worse

pasta with mint in it instead of basil big

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Jan 31, 2009 9:58 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Tell me the name of the restaurant and I will see if this criticism is justified.

You just don't know when to keep your mouth shut, do you Saxy boy?

by oc on Jan 31, 2009 10:17 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

you doubt

there is a bad Italian restaurant in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area?

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Feb 1, 2009 8:23 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I would just like to get an opinion on the restaurant you ate at.

You just don't know when to keep your mouth shut, do you Saxy boy?

by oc on Feb 1, 2009 6:11 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Arlington is not boring and paved over.

You just don't know when to keep your mouth shut, do you Saxy boy?

by oc on Jan 31, 2009 10:22 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

oc

you live in the DFW area?

by bryfryy on Jan 31, 2009 10:38 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Damn straight.

You just don't know when to keep your mouth shut, do you Saxy boy?

by oc on Jan 31, 2009 11:49 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

sorry to rag on your hometown

but I have to say that so far (and I haven’t been there more then 4 or 5 times) I find it incredibly boring and paved over. no real downtown, public transportation is a joke, chain restaurants everywhere, strip malls, Six Flags, etc. though that big park in North Arlington is pretty nice and the people I’ve met there are really friendly. Course, if you grew up there, you know all the best it has to offer, so I’ll count on you for fun stuff to do the next time I’m there for work.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Feb 1, 2009 7:08 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Actually with the Cowboys stadium being built next door, it's about to get a lot worse.

This is where I give you a quick rundown of Arlington: Arlington has always been the suburb that never wanted to get too big for it’s own britches. For the better part of a century, Arlington has been a quiet little university town with a pro baseball team. The city (and Fort Worth for that matter) have always been in the shadow of the city of Dallas. Though now, with the Cotton Bowl and the Cowboys becoming part of the community… the city is about to take on a complete ‘paving over’

The city has voted down public transportation on many occasions. The reason being is that the wealthier citizens would rather avoid linking up with Dallas and Fort Worth and risk crime, flagrants (bums) being swept in with ‘public transportation’. I can see both sides of the argument. For my part, I’d rather Arlington stay the way it’s always been.

You just don't know when to keep your mouth shut, do you Saxy boy?

by oc on Feb 1, 2009 7:36 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

wow hugo,

you’ve been to a lot of ballparks, I really envy you. One of the best experiences I had at the RC was when Boston and NY visited us. On both occasions, the game went into extra innings and both times we won. Aside from the fact that we won against our division rivals, the arguments (fights actually) between the fans were really fun to watch.

by bryfryy on Jan 30, 2009 10:59 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

yeah

it helps that I have lived in the northeast, the south, and the mid-atlantic of the US and travel quite a bit for work.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Jan 31, 2009 8:13 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Here’s what Ichiro thinks of playing in Kansas City

...Snoop Doggy-Dogg... Ya need to get yourself a jobby-job.

by oc on Jan 31, 2009 1:46 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Everywhere

I’ve been to every park, except a few in the National League, and I can tell you that Rogers Center may be super nice (in fact, I love the Rogers Center), but there is no comparing it to the older parks, like the Old Yankee Stadium, and Fenway Park.

Matty Gaul
Toronto Blue Jays Beat Writer
Email: mattygaul34@hotmail.com
Phone: 902-840-0905 (Text only, please.)
Website: www.bluebirdbanter.com

by Matty Gaul on Jan 31, 2009 9:46 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

I did like Yankee stadium,

it wasn’t the most comfortable and certainly didn’t have many amenities, but it was really cool anyway and I always had great conversations with the fans there. Out of the old parks, though, Wrigley is my favourite by far.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Jan 31, 2009 10:02 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I've been to...

Fenway Park…Yankees vs Red Sox, the game where Boston went back-to-back-to-back-to-back. Have never been in a louder place. It had the feel of a playoff game, and it was April.

Yankee Stadium…Jays & Yanks. We were crushed, but it was Yankee Stadium. It had to be done, once.

Camden Yards…Jays & Orioles, last season. An absolutely splendid ball park, and the greatest fresh cut fries I’ve ever had at a ball game.

Sports And The City

A Toronto sports blog, where we unequivocally and unapologetically support the home team...

by eyebleaf on Jan 31, 2009 11:47 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Stadiums

I’ve been to Rogers Centre, the Ex, PNC Park, and old Tiger Stadium.

PNC is the best of those to watch a game. Small and intimate. The view of downtown Pittsburgh behind the OF is spectacular. They’ve got vendors up and down the aisles constantly, so you’ve never got to go up to the concourse, and the price is awesome!! Tickets behind home plate for under US$40 and only US$ for a big can of beer!!! Too bad the Jays vs Pirates series was a bit of a snoozer though.

All the stadiums gave great memories though.

The Ex….seeing Nolan Ryan almost pitch a no-hitter…got broke up by Nelson Liriano in the 8th or 9th.

The Ex…George Bell cranking a Grand Slam to cap a comeback against the A’s.

Rogers Centre… Sitting at the very top of the 500 level (that section that is even higher than the regular section) for a home opener back when they sold the place out. Man that was a long ways from the field.

Series against the Yanks and Sox are great….Monetary disadvantage aside, it’d suck to not be in their division. The back and forth with the fans at those games are great.

But nothing beats heckling Bobby Higginson back at Tiger Stadium when more Jays fans showed up than Tigers fans. Don’t think he liked getting heckled is his home stadium too much.

by jay_tee_slash on Jan 31, 2009 2:11 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Only two...

I love the Dome. I went in the first week it was open with my grade 5 or 6 class, and it was pouring rain outside. The Dome leaked still, and there was a waterfall in our section (200 OF I think), and they moved the whole group down closer to the action, and we all thought that was the best.

I heckle like crazy, and I usually sit in the 100 OF above the visiting pen. I heckled the shit out of Vlad last year, and he went 0-4. He was really pissed. I snuck down to the field level on the RF line, when the Jays were playing Baltimore. Rios was watching the first pitch strike all night, and it was brutal. I was literally a couple of feet from him, and I kept asking why he doesn’t swing at such pitches. The Jays were down a few runs in the bottom of the ninth, and Rios hit a three run triple to tie it. I think it was our first walk-off of the season.

I also have been to Tiger Stadium, where I sat in the Lower bleachers. Cecil Fielder hit a monster HR that went into the upper deck above us, and the fans were stomping on the floor so hard we thought it was going to collapse. The place went nuts. That was a cool experience at a great ballpark.

But the Dome is my favorite place in the world, especially at night, with the CN Tower lit up to the skies above.

by Andy Mc on Jan 31, 2009 4:41 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

i agree

the sight of the RC and CN tower is awesome, I really like how they set up the lights on the CN tower. By the way, i think heckling is almost half the fun in baseball. When i was watching the Jays-Rangers game down here in TX, I took a few of my friends and we sat a few rows behind the visitor’s dugout, proudly wearing my Wells jersey. Just to give me a hard time, my friends would totally boo the jays especially Frank Thomas. Every time he came up on the deck they shouted “Retire! Retire!” He really sucked that day (0-4? or something ) and continued to suck and finally got kicked out. It was still a good day because BJ made his return and i caught a ball.

by bryfryy on Jan 31, 2009 8:47 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

hey all

i actually took two weeks off work last year with some friends and we did a bunch of parks out in the midwest . . . pittsburgh, cleveland, detroit, cincinnati, st louis, wrigley and milwaukee. covered it in a blog if anyone cares to read it http://flashingtheleather.blogspot.com/search/label/Stadium%20Tour

i have also been to shea, yankee, new philly (never went to the vet), camden, skydome, RFK and new Nationals. not sure if i’m missing any

my favorite park was wrigley, but they all have great things about them. as hugo said, PNC (pitt) is a phenomenal park, and, honestly, the new Phillies stadium is basically a bad imitation.

i’d love to see coors, i agree that it looks incredible on tv and video games.

"The NY Mets are my favorite squadron" -- Apu Nahasapeemapetilon

by jessef on Feb 1, 2009 10:29 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

You guys really have to let me know the reason

why there are so many Jays fans down south? What is the story here? A bunch of fans in TX? MS? Tell me a story…. Why? I realize they are the greatest team ever, but I also live 50 miles from the Dome. Are you guys just all ex-pats?

by Andy Mc on Feb 1, 2009 12:11 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I am

Got back into baseball while waiting for my work visa.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on Feb 1, 2009 2:16 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

school

I go to grad school down here in Dallas; been here for 3 years now.. haven’t seen snow for 3 years now

by bryfryy on Feb 1, 2009 10:58 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I've been to..

The Ex, Dome and Turner Field in Atlanta (in 2005)

Turner Field is a really nice park, great views, great atmosphere, 1000x better then the Dome (errr Rogers Centre).

I’ve been a strong beleiver for a long time now that a great way to get fans back would be to build a new open air stadium on the Waterfront in Toronto. This would accomplish a few things.
  1. New stadium creates buzz, buzz creates ticket sales, ticket sales create more reveunue for the team, revenue creates more money for payroll, ideally more payroll puts a better product on the field, better product would mean playoff contention which would in turn put more butts in the seats and even more revenue, even more revenue helps pay off the cost of the new ballpark.
  2. This allows the Rogers centre to be modified for more seats for when the NFL comes to Toronto…Again more revenue for Rogers Corp to help off-set the cost of the new baseball stadium
  3. It should start the rejuvination of the Waterfront in TO one thing the city has been trying to accomplish for ages…Might be able to get the City or Province pitch in a chunk of money to help this get started, even the Federal Government could kick in some $ as they are trying to create new jobs in infrastructure/construction….this would create jobs for at least 3 years

An open air stadium in Toronto is no different then an open air stadium in Detroit or Chicago or Pittsburgh…There is no reason why TO must have a dome…

by bunner on Feb 4, 2009 9:45 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Not to mention...

Selling the naming rights of this new stadium to RIM for $30Million over 20 years puts even more money towards financing of the park.

by bunner on Feb 4, 2009 9:47 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

If the stadium is baseball only

then yes, you can get away without a dome. Not so much if you’re going to have the kitchen and bath expo, or whatever other crap they shove in there.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on Feb 4, 2009 4:39 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

so true

This would be baseball only…Skydome can be used for NFL, Auto Show, Kitchen and Bath Expo, Disney on Ice…whatever else they can throw in there.

The Jays deserve an open air, retro styled, waterfront ballpark that sells beers for less then $12!!!

by bunner on Feb 4, 2009 9:44 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

bunner, I think that would be a great thing for the Jays and for the city

Toronto’s waterfront is amazing. Baltimore’s Camden Yards is within walking distance of the inner harbor (though separated from the harbor by the convention center) and it is great, but would be even better if it were closer. I love Keyspan Park, a short season minor-league park in Brooklyn you all probably haven’t been to, but it is right on the ocean at Coney Island facing the water and is really, really cool.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Feb 5, 2009 8:32 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

It's funny

When you go past the Rogers Centre on the Gardiner, you don’t realize how close it already is to the water.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on Feb 5, 2009 3:45 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

it is...

but would be nice to be right on the water down on Queens Quay somewhere…homers into Lake Ontario!!!!

by bunner on Feb 5, 2009 7:16 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Or put it on Toronto Island

because having a ballpark next to YTZ couldn’t possibly go wrong. They would need to finally build that bridge.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on Feb 5, 2009 8:19 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Nah..

Residents of Toronto Island would complain WAY too much…too noisy, too many people…wah, wah, wah…I say build it where The Docks is or Sound Academy or whatever it’s called now….

by bunner on Feb 6, 2009 8:43 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

that would be cool

I love the TO waterfront. I really think it is one of the most amazing places I’ve ever been. Plus, downtown TO is relatively clean (compared to many US cities) and you can find pretty much anything.

by bryfryy on Feb 4, 2009 11:34 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

OK...let's do it then...

If you guys get the money I’ll find a construction crew to start digging!

by bunner on Feb 5, 2009 1:13 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

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