Great Baseball Stadiums to Visit

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By US Daily Review Staff.

Baseball is a truly American pastime. This warm weather sport brings just about every person back to the smell of fresh-cut grass, sunflower seeds and something new to talk about every night. One of the best aspects of Major League Baseball (MLB) is that each team gets to play in its own unique stadium. If you are traveling this summer, consider checking out a game at each team’s stadium. Here are a few of the best:

Wrigley Field: “The Friendly Confines.” This field has been the home of the Chicago Cubs since 1916, and was one of the last stadiums to play a nighttime baseball game. The present seating capacity is slightly more than 41,000 and, despite the longest active World Series drought, it is hard to find one of those seats open. Two aspects of this ballpark make it notable: The ivy-covered outfield walls and classic brick backstop and the rooftop seats provided by surrounding buildings. The rooftop seats are pricey but, when considering that you can bring your own food and drink (as well as being a premier Chicago experience), the price is not all that bad for these one-of-a-kind seats. Wrigley Field is a must-see – not only for baseball fans, but sports fans as a whole.
Fenway Park: “America’s Most Beloved Ballpark.” The home of the Boston Red Sox since it opened in 1912, this stadium has an old-world feel. Located in the dense Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood of Boston, the stadium has undergone many renovations, resulting in some architectural quirks associated with the stadium, such as “Pesky’s Pole,” “The Triangle,” and, most famously, “The Green Monster.” The Red Sox’s recent World Series success has, at least on a national scale, watered down the diehard Red Sox fan base; however, there will be no doubt in your mind that the Boston Red Sox have one of the most dedicated and hardcore local fan bases in the country. This stadium has the longest running home sellout streak at 631 – aided by the small capacity size of the stadium (37,065).
Safeco Field: “The House that Griffey Built.” Safeco Field is located in Seattle’s SoDo district just south of Pioneer Square and was opened in July 1999. Although this is one of baseball’s newer stadiums, it is universally considered one of the best ballparks and cities to play in. A special architectural feature of Safeco Field is the retractable roof, which allows cover from rain while still giving the game an appropriate outdoor feel. Games earlier in the season will be a little chilly, but come mid-June, there is perhaps no better baseball weather than Seattle: a sunny 75 degrees with no humidity does just fine. We suggest seating on the first base or right field side for a great view of the Seattle skyline. Additionally, Safeco Field has repeatedly won national honors for best ballpark food – try the garlic fries.
Citizens Bank Park: “The Bank.” Philadelphia is truly a sports town and there is perhaps no better stadium for a sports fan to visit. Besides the fact that the Phillies have, thanks to some savvy business moves, played some of the MLB’s best baseball in the past five years, the atmosphere at Citizens Bank Park is electric, especially considering that all 43,651 seats are almost always filled. Known for having a more vocal fan base, this stadium is great for baseball fans who have little patience for failure. If a player does not execute a routine play or does not hustle out a ground ball, the fans have no problem letting them know. The stadium is one of the newest in the league, opening in April 3, 2004 and is located in the heart of Philadelphia. We suggest checking out Ashburn Alley – an area of the park with memorabilia and food. It opens up two hours before the first pitch.

These ballparks are just examples of some of our favorites and this is not by any means an exhaustive list. For more information, check out the following resources:

Ballparks of Baseball – A comprehensive look at every ballpark in America.

Baseball Stadium Reviews – A personal blog-style website that catalogues one baseball fan’s journeys to various baseball venues, including minor league ballparks.