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Stadium
tours fun summer vacation for sports fans
By
Matt Pearson
Online Forty-Niner
Sports Editor
Between the time the basketball playoffs
end and the football season begins, it is
all about baseball. And the summer is the
perfect opportunity for road trips and for
sports fans to check out some of the fantastic
ballparks across the country.
This is a list of some ballparks that you
should check out if you are in the area
or want to plan a trip. This list does not
include the local stadiums of Southern California.
Not to say these stadiums are inadequate,
because that’s not the case. But local
fans generally see enough of them during
the season.
When people think of classic ballparks,
Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park are always
on the list. These are well known ballparks,
and if you happen to be in New York or Boston,
any sports fan knows the stadiums are a
must-see.
The farthest stadium distance-wise on the
list is Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago
Cubs. What makes Wrigley Field so fascinating
is that fans actually come for the experience
of seeing a baseball game in a wonderful
ballpark.
Unlike Yankee or Red Sox fans, historically,
Cubs fans do not go to the ballpark expecting
their team to win. But with the atmosphere
that is Wrigley Field, who cares who wins.
The ivory-covered walls are best seen during
a day game.
The area that encompasses the stadium is
known as Wrigleyville. This universe unto
itself is a great hangout for pre- or post-game
activities. There are bars and restaurants
such as the Cubby Bear, Murphy’s Bleachers
and The Goose Island Brew Pub where fans
come to have a good time.
If you happen to be in the Seattle, go to
Safeco Field and check out a Mariners game.
One of the most intriguing parts of Safeco
Field is the retractable roof. Although
the roof covers the playing field, it is
not a closed environment. There are plenty
of openings, depending on where you sit,
where fans can have a view of the Space
Needle, downtown Seattle or Mount Rainier.
Safeco Field is also abundant in its food
selection. If you are in the mood for barbecue,
the Bullpen BBQ and Porters are fine selections.
Ivar’s Original Acres of Clams is
a place where fans can enjoy seafood. Other
concession areas such Dippin’ Dots
and the Grounds Crew espresso stands are
just some of the 62 food stands and 26 food
kiosks in the ballpark.
Next up is Bank One Ballpark, the home of
the Arizona Diamonbacks. If you happen to
be a baseball purist, the BOB isn’t
for you. But the attractions that disgust
purists are the same ones that make the
BOB an event in itself.
Like Safeco Field, the BOB has a retractable
roof which opens and closes in five minutes.
The roof comes in handy because during the
summer temperatures can reach 100 degrees
on average. There is also the Sun Pool Party
Pavilion, which is a pool area located beyond
the outfield walls. Even though a pool at
a baseball field seems rather ridiculous,
it goes with the atmosphere of Arizona—pools
are a necessity in the desert heat.
Despite the circus-like attractions, baseball
history buffs should check out Cox Clubhouse,
which features vintage and current uniforms
for all major league teams and other memorabilia
donated from Cooperstown. Unfortunatley,
the food is rather expensive.
An Oscar Meyer quarter-pound Diamondbacks
dog is $4.75. But an interesting element
to the menus in the concession stands near
sections 130 and 325 is the “Visiting
Team Special.” For example, if the
D-backs face the Dodgers, you could get
a Dodger Dog in Arizona.
Last but not least is SBC Park, home of
the San Francisco Giants. I know Dodger
fans probably feel about the Giants the
way Shaq feels about Kobe, but the ballpark
is a sight to see.
There really is not a bad seat in the house.
Fans can walk along the Arcade in right
field and look out into McCovey Cove where
people in anything from boats to canoes
hang about in hopes of retrieving a homerun
ball hit into the water.
Even if you do not have money for a ticket,
you can still catch a few innings of a game.
Located at the bottom of the right field
wall, fans can watch the game through a
screen for three innings. The area is cleared
out after the third, sixth and ninth innings
so different fans can get a glimpse. I’ll
be honest—it’s not the best
seat in the house, but it’s free.
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