On the Cusp of Greatness

MLB Stadiums 7-12 that I’ve visited and ranked.

#7. Kauffman Stadium (1973) - Kauffman Stadium is one of a few stadiums on the list that falls under the older city planning models of a sports complex. You lump all your stadiums together at the edge of the city and the cross-section of a few highways. The idea was good, relieving intercity traffic, more parking and less riffraff in the city but you miss out on all the growth around the ball park. For this reason, Kauffman doesn’t make it higher in the ranking but it is truly a beautiful park.

I love Kauffman Stadium. The food was amazing with Kansas City BBQ and the beer was even better with local brewery Boulevard. If you ever get a chance to go try the seats out by the waterfalls and fountains, they are maybe the best seats I’ve ever had. The mist cools you down in the mid summers heat. It’s amazing.

#8.Petco Park (2004) - Parking can be problematic but if you do have to park far away, you might not have a nicer walk through downtown San Diego. It’s a beautiful stadium with a Camden Yards like warehouse down the left field line. The concourse is nicely laid out and the local brew along with the international cuisine is great.

#9. Yankee Stadium (2009) - This is one of my latest additions to this list and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. Yankee Stadium was by far the biggest baseball stadium I’ve ever been t; just massive. The old Yankee Stadium had a claustrophobic concourse and that is one of the first things you notice about the new park. It has two humongous concourses when you enter the stadium. The Yankees did a great job of keeping the old stadium feel and upgrading everything that needed to go. I never saw a parking lot for the stadium but the subways brought you right to the front door.

In baseball, you either love the Yankees or you hate them. I hate’em but I gotta give credit where credit is do, they made a great stadium. Bring your checkbook and all your credit cards though. You are gonna drop a few bills at the park. It was 36 dollars for 2 generic beers alone.

#10. Safeco Field (1999) - There are some negatives about this stadium. Although it falls into that sports complex category, it does have a few breweries around it but its primarily in a abandoned factory district. It also tends to rain a lot but that just brings out the color in the city. Once you get out of the drab stadium surroundings, it is beautiful inside and the view the upper deck is great, mountains on one side and the inlet on the other. Seattle does brews well both beer and coffee and you could get both anywhere in the stadium. They also had fried crickets on the menu for those brave enough to try them. All in all, a quality stadium and one deserving one a top mark.

#11. Chase Field (1998) - Chase Field is in a tough situation. I rank it at 11 but it’s the lowest of it’s NL West brethren. It’s a beautiful stadium in a nice location right on the edge of downtown Phoenix with plenty of parking. The wild specialty foods at the park are fantastic and fun while the weather is always nice. Plus if it gets too hot which it does on occasion, the roof closes and the stadium is air-conditioned. BUT the stadium is constantly trashed but it’s NL West neighbors. It just doesn’t have the timeless qualities of Dodger Stadium, AT&T Park and others. I personally don’t hold that against them. It’s a nice park.

#12. Citizens Bank Park (2004) - My first visit to this stadium wasn’t the greatest. The fans were typical cranky Phillies fans but the expectations were so high in the late 2000’s with their championship runs that the place was down right miserable. Everyone complained about everything. The stadium was a cesspool of anger and vitriol but my latest trip erased some of that negative past. The stadium had changed with along with it’s expectations with the new fightin’ Phils. The youth in the team brought in a new wave of more family friendly attractions. I enjoyed the stadium a lot more this time around.

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