While it seemed that many people were able to find a little something, like a bobblehead or a promotional bat, many of the special and unique items were apparently “held back” for a memorabilia dealer with a friend in the organization. According to the comments on the mlb.com article, there was a large box containing a number of championship flags and stadium banners, that were not “first come, first served” as advertised.

So, that particular failure comes from the fact that the deal wasn’t completed before the garage sale, but during… of course some premium items are going to a dealer to get them a better price, but you don’t have to be so public about it.  There were other mistakes though, that could have been avoided.

1. Once you realized there would be a line around the stadium waiting to get in, maybe you could have called in some extra cashiers… only 4 were on hand.
2. The sale was confined to a small corner of the Metrodome, as a college football game was also taking place there that day. If the sale were held on the Metrodome floor on a non-game day, they could have been much more accomodating to the folks waiting outside, and given more people an opportunity to preview the items before they were gone.
3. Anything you were going to hold back should never have seen the light of day on the public sale.  Just incredibly bad form.

So, what’s the right way to do this kind of a sale? You want to open it up to the public, and you know that these garage sale prices aere cheaper than the items will be when they resurface on eBay, but do you just put them up for auction in the first place, and reduce the secondary market? When the Yankees and Mets have done this, prices have been so sky high that the “average joe fan” is shut out.  Do you put limits on how much someone can buy?

I’m not sure, but I commend the Twins for trying to do the right thing, but just failing a bit on the execution.

1. Homers. Lots and Lots of Homers: these are Earl Weaver stadiums, the perfect place to get a couple guys on base and wait for the 3 run homer. The Yankees hit 136 of the 237 homers (57%) hit in new Yankee Stadium in 2009, while the Phils hit 108 of the 207 (52%) at Citizens Bank Park. As much of a hitter’s parks as CBP is, the Phillies hit even more on the road (116)
2. Baserunners: The Yanks have a home OBP of .368 and an OPS of .858.  They’ve held their opponents to 40 less points of OBP, and 130 less in OPS. The phillies have a home edge as well, but it’s nowhere near as pronounced, nor their numbers quite as gaudy.  These two teams combined for 1,252 walks this year, meaning nearly 8 per game in total… and that leads us to…
3. Long games: The average Yankees / Angels game in the LCS was just shy of 4 hours, with no game being completed in under 3 hours. The Yankees stadium policies allow you to bring your own water in a factory sealed bottle only.  I think you can pack a snack, and with the price of World Series tickets these days, you might need to. Phillies games were about a half an hour shorter on average, with 2 games just barely eclipsing the 3 hour mark.

Playoff baseball isn’t really about the stadium, the way a regular season game can be… it’s really about the game on the field, and the energy in the stands. I’ll be interested to see how Yankee Stadium III holds up as a World Series venue. My last playoff visit to New York was for Game 7 against the Red Sox in 2004, and that was unlike anything I’d ever experienced.  I’m hoping that the new park can shake some of its sterility tonight with some playoff magic of its own.

If any of you are going, please leave a comment, and let us know how your World Series experience stacked up against previous visits.

Tonight, as the entire Midwest holds its collective breath, Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings take on the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football. this quirk of scheduling fortune brought about the need to move the play-in game between the Twins & Tigers to Tuesday.

If the Tigers win, this will be the last major league game in the HHH Dome, and outside of a mirtacuous Twins romp through the Yankees, Red Sox, Angels and the World Series, I can’t think of a better way to close it out.

When the doors do finally close on the Homerdome, and the official countdown clock towards the bran new Target Field begins, one way or another, we’re going to miss the “old girl”..  Hefty Bag and all.

1) Where should I sit? Regulars always know the best places to sit, and the worst.  What sections do you target? Is the 3rd base line preferable to the 1st base line?  Is there a specific section that’s half the price of the seats just in front, making it a great value?  Is the bleacher experience not to be missed?  Are there hidden ticket deals to be had?

2) What makes this park unique and special? Whether it’s the Western Metals Supply Building in San Diego, or Monument Park in Yankee Stadium, each ballpark has a “treasure”  What’s not to be missed?

3) What should I eat? Part of the ballpark experience is what makes the concessions here different/unique/local? Every ballpark has its signature.  If you were telling someone to get one thing, what would it be?

4) What else should I do? Before/After the game, what are the local traditions? Is there anything else in the area, or do people just vacate?  Are there “amusements” within the park, like Turner Field, or is it a special watering hole that adjoins the park, like the area around Fenway?

Your answers here will help your fellow ballpark traveller in the future.  So let’s start with Camden Yards… How will you answer these four questions for a first time visitor to Baltimore?

Generally, when taking a stadium road trip, my rule of thumb is to attend a game every night.  The day is usually dedicated to traveling to the next city for a game. Prior to last year, I did some of my road trips alone.  Then last year, I met someone online through a personal ad and began dating him.  After we had exchanged a few e-mails, he told me he also had an interest in baseball stadiums and also maintained a stadium website (www.ballparkreviews.com)  Talk about a coincidence!  After that, my stadium road trips were taken with him.  This past February, we got engaged in Cooperstown and we will now be continuing our stadium journeys together, but maintaining separate websites, of course!  We even occasionally take separate stadium road trips since he is a little bit further along (actually, A LOT further long) than I am as far as the number of parks visited.

Last Summer,  we took a 7 day trip out to Southern California and went to 7 stadiums.  One of my favorite parks out in southern California is Sam Lynn Ballpark in Bakersfield.  Sam Lynn Ballpark is the only park that faces the setting sun, which means evening game times need to be moved until after the sun sets.  The game I attended had 808 fans in attendance with a game time temperature of 106 degrees, which made the team name of the “Blaze” seem very appropriate.  Sam Lynn Ballpark is one of those types of parks which has dedicated season ticket holders and fans that are really into the game.  The fans who go to a “Blaze” game are going for one reason….to watch baseball.  They aren’t going for silly on-field contests, promotions, or just to eat concessions.  They are going because they have a love for minor league baseball at its purest.  I have found that some minor league parks can get way too carried away with their wacky promotions and contests, thus taking the focus away from the game.  These types of parks tend to have atmospheres which are not conducive to actually paying attention to the game.  While these parks might be nice places for families, they are not the types of parks I would prefer to watch a game, unless I enjoy the constant barrage of sound effects, kids who can’t sit still, and annoying advertisements in between each pitch.  I recently wrote an entry on these types of parks in my blog which can be accessed through my site, www.baseballstadiumreviews.com.

Speaking of minor league baseball at its purest, Damaschke Field in Oneonta, NY is another park that I enjoy very much.  Just like Sam Lynn Ballpark, Damaschke Field offers a relaxed atmosphere to watch a game.  Instead of fans tackling each other for t-shirts being thrown into the crowd, you might actually see fans keeping score. Instead of kids jumping around on inflatables in a play area, kids are actually watching the game.  Damaschke Field doesn’t even have a liquor license, that’s how pure the place is!  You go there for one thing….baseball.

I tend to enjoy the parks that have some kind of distinguishing characteristic which sets them apart from the other parks I have visited.  For example, Greer Stadium, home of the Nashville Sounds, has the best scoreboard ever!  The guitar shaped scoreboard is definitely the most unique scoreboard I have seen in my travels.  I also find it interesting to see the architecture of stadiums when other structures are assimilated into the design of the stadium.  For example, the Western Metal Supply Co. building in Petco Park in San Diego and the B&O Warehouse at Camden Yards in Baltimore.

Sometimes it’s not what’s inside the ballpark that makes it a unique, but it’s what is around the park.  For example, the bridges in the background of PNC Park in Pittsburgh have to be the best backdrop in Major League baseball.   Also, I love the mountains in the background at The Diamond in Lake Elsinore, California and the Gateway Arch beyond the outfield wall in Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

This week, Brian and I will be heading out on a 10 day trip to visit 10 stadiums.  The trips will include visits to US Cellular Field, Miller Park, Comerica Park, Wrigley Field, and a few minor league parks.  Stay tuned to my website, www.baseballstadiumreviews.com for photos and reviews.  I also maintain a Facebook page, so become a fan of my site using Facebook.

Thanks to Ticket to the Game for allowing me to post a guest entry!

Overview:

Nationals Park - Washington, DC

As a season ticket holder, I’ve made about a dozen visits to Nationals Park since it opened on March 31^st, 2008. The Park is located in Washington, DC and is situated on the bank of the Anacostia River. The specific location was selected as a compromise reached between MLB and the DC Council during negotiations to relocate the Montreal Expos to Washington. The DC Council wanted to build a new stadium in the parking lot next to RFK Stadium to take advantage of land already owned by the city; MLB wanted to use a site called the Benjamin Banneker Overlook which would have taken advantage of the views of the Washington Monument and other DC landmarks. Both sides agreed to the current site and the DC government hopes to be able to use the ballpark as a focal point to revitalize the area around the ballpark. Currently, there is little besides the ballpark to draw people to that neighborhood.

Nationals Park - Home Plate Entrance

Depending on how you arrive and where you arrive from, Nationals Park has a number of gates from which to enter (look ma, no dangling participle). If you arrive via boat or water taxi, you can enter via the grand staircase and come in at First Base. If you arrive via Metro – as many fans do – you’ll arrive via the Centerfield Gate. Entering via the Centerfield Gate allows fans the opportunity to enjoy the large plaza area. The Nats pregame show is broadcast from a tent in the plaza, and there are often bands playing out there to create a party-like atmosphere. You’ll also find the two tiered Red Porch/Red Loft restaurant and bar.

Food and Beverages:
Being a new stadium, there are a multitude of choices for food and beverages. The most popular place in Nats Park is the Red Loft. It is a bar located high in the centerfield area and is the place to be for the young fans of the Nationals. The Miller Lite Scoreboard Walk is located on the same level as the Red Loft and is a good place to catch a pregame beverage. Adjacent to the Scoreboard Walk is Five Guys Burgers and Fries which always seems to have a long line of people. The signature item in the ballpark is the Chili Cheese Half Smoke from Ben’s Chili Bowl. Ben’s is a DC institution and has several locations within the ballpark.

There are food stands throughout the stadium; besides what I have already mentioned, there are all of the ballpark staples sold here: hot dogs, sausages, pizza, ice cream, soft pretzels, you name it. There are also several full service bars through the stadium – so, if a cold beer is not your thing, you can grab a gin and tonic to cool you down.

Two things to be forewarned about, the vendors that you see in the stands will not likely have much more than beer, soda, water, peanuts and crackerjack. I see a hot dog vendor in my section, maybe, every third game. Secondly, the quality of the food service is wildly inconsistent. Food stands open and close from game to game without reason, some stands open late, the sausage stands never seem to have brats or kielbasa, and when they do, they are “not ready yet.” Frustratingly, the past two games that I have been to, the beer stands that I was at had to “cash out” their register – so, everyone had to wait while the cashier emptied the register, counted out a set sum of money, and handed it over to a waiting supervisor. The supervisor was escorted by an armed DC Metro police officer.

The Mascots

Shortly after the Nationals moved to DC, they announced “Screech” the baby bald eagle as their mascot. Apparently, he (she?) is popular with the kids, but the costume made Screech look like a fat chicken. In 2009, the second year in Nationals Park, they re-outfitted Screech and the mascot is now leaner and intended to look like a “teenaged” bald eagle. To me, it still looks like a chicken – just a skinnier one. As long as the kids like the mascot, I really don’t care much either way.

Nationals President Mascots on the White House Lawn

The Nats also have 4 other mascots: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abe Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt. In the middle of the 4th inning, the Presidents enter from a gate in centerfield and race around the warning track to a finish line near first base. Initially, the Nationals made an effort to find new and creative ways to keep Teddy from winning. Lately, it seems like they even try any more and Teddy just loses; he has yet to win a race.

Gear:
The Nats have a large team store in centerfield that is accessible from outside the ballpark, and is open during non-game days and of course, during games. They also have a second smaller store behind home plate within the ballpark that is open during games. There are also stands throughout the stadium – there is even a merchandise stand in the club level. There are plenty of opportunities to separate fans from their dollars at Nationals Park. However, the prices at Nationals Park include a 10% ballpark tax that the DC Government collects to help pay for the construction of the ballpark.

The Game:
As far as Nationals Park goes – there are no unique architectural features like Baltimore’s Warehouse, of the Western Metals Building in San Diego. Nevertheless, it is a very solid ballpark. It has plenty of openness in the concourses – in fact, you will almost always feel outside. In the lower bowl of seating, you can maintain your view of the game while getting your concessions as the concourses are open to the playing field side. And when they are now – as is the case behind home plate – you’ll have a view outside of the stadium.

When it was installed, the video screen was the largest HD screen in the USA. The HD screen is 47 high by 101 wide and is situated in right center field. Seating in right center field will not have a view of the scoreboard, but the ballpark is ringed with 600 feet of electronic ribbon boards that provide the basic needed information. The ballpark also features an electronic out of town scoreboard on the fence in right field.

The Ballpark has very nice sightlines.  The lower seating bowl is rather flat and deep. Much of the second and upper levels are set back from the field. This distance is mitigated by the small amount of foul territory. So, the upper levels still offer an excellent view of the game. Despite the small amount of foul territory, the outfield distances are not extreme in either side of the spectrum, and in the first one and a half seasons, Nationals Park has played fairly neutral – favoring neither hitters nor pitchers.

Atmosphere:
The seats are your basic plastic ballpark seat and don’t offer a lot of extra leg or shoulder room. In the club level and in the preferred seating areas, seats are padded and more comfortable. The sections are wide and the aisles are not moderated by the ushers, so, it seems like there are always fans standing up for one reason or another.

Washington, DC went 33 years without a baseball team to call their own, so, there are a lot of new fans and a lot of other team’s fans depending on the opponent. Washington DC’s allure as a tourist site and its proximity to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and Boston mean that it seems like a road game for the Nats on many nights. Over time, the Nats will build a tradition and a fan base – just as soon as they can win some games. When you win, attendance spikes.

The Verdict:

Washington Nationals Inaugural Logo

Honestly, I cannot think of anything that I would change. Sure, the DC Government (responsible for the design and construction of the ballpark) could have made the Washington Monument and the Capitol Building more visible from the ballpark, but the reality is that if the area gets revitalized, those views would eventually be blocked by new construction. Some folks complain about the parking garages that surround the Centerfield Gate, DC was committed to providing a specific number of covered parking spaces, and those needed to be built in time for the stadium’s opening. In my opinion, the parking garages are preferred compared to one developer’s preference to build 9 stories of condos and mixed use retail on top of underground parking.

This a very solid new-school park. It has great sightlines, There are lots of food and beverage choices. You can enjoy the game as a hard core baseball fan, or as a family seeking more of an entertainment experience.

And if anyone knows what order the teams are displayed on the banners that drape the garages, drop me a note.

91/100