Great American Ballpark...worst place to watch a MLB game

[Soul]

Same difference. The experience of going to another team's ballpark and watching your team lose is generally going to be negative.

It's not really the same at all. There was perhaps 1 sentence in there that reeked of sour grapes, but there were a lot of valid points in there describing a terrible experience for watching a baseball game.

 

And they're all things you're going to encounter at pretty much every stadium that isn't Wrigley, Fenway or Yankee Stadium.

That's not even remotely close to being true.

 

Yeah, it really is.

[javy knows my name]

there are two differences between this and the stadium in tampa:

1) less cowbell

2) bad metal not blaring out at deafening levels of the speakers

 

this is one of the reasons i want to go see a game at wrigley. on tv i don't hear or have seen much prompting on the scoreboards or the speakers for the crowd to get up and make a bunch of noise. tropicana field and great american ballpark reminded me of cardinal stadium on the kentucky fair and expo center (former home of the louisville redbirds nee bats who are now in a much nicer place), which had all the fan features of a high school football field and made lots of noise to get the crowd involved. considering that those were my first ever major league games i was not impressed by the atmosphere they tried to create. i thought the bats did it better, and they were expected to do that because they're minor league.

None of this makes any sense. And these criticisms really do extend to any ballpark built after 1980 or so.

[mjohnson71]

I'd have to agree that of the new baseball stadiums, GABP is at the bottom of the list. From what I understand it was designed to be nicer but the Reds scaled back at the last minute due to costs. I guess the Reds decided a workable $300 million place was better than a $600 million (like Minnesota), $900 million (Citi Field) or $1+ billion (Yankee Stadium) monument to excess.

 

I'm just worried that at some point the Cubs will extort public money from some place like Naperville or Downers Grove and build a "replica" of Wrigley in the middle of some suburban parking lot.

[MWV]

I realize this is an entirely different debate, but I really have no problem with the Cubs building a shiny, new PNC-like ballpark.

 

Re: GABP: I saw a series there a few years back (Marmol's first ML start) and I had a great time. Cinci isn't such a great town, but the ballpark experience was no worse than any other "new park" in the division. As far as Reds fans "trying to rub salt in the wounds of cub fans" after the games, that is the sort of thing you can expect to experience as a visitor to ANY ballpark in the division. And that DEFINITELY includes Wrigley.

[Soul]

I'd have to agree that of the new baseball stadiums, GABP is at the bottom of the list. From what I understand it was designed to be nicer but the Reds scaled back at the last minute due to costs. I guess the Reds decided a workable $300 million place was better than a $600 million (like Minnesota), $900 million (Citi Field) or $1+ billion (Yankee Stadium) monument to excess.

 

OK. IHP mentioned he thought the ballpark was beautiful though. His complaints seemed more driven by the antics of the fans and the music being played than anything, unless I misread what he was saying.

 

I can see a city like Cincy needing to be a little more budget-minded than some other places. I think it's understood they have a little more trouble drawing fans than some other places around the league -- and that it likely won't change until they go on a playoff run.

 

That said, I'd still like to see a ballgame there. Heck, I've been wanting to see a game in KC too. And that place is probably a little on the sparse side too, in terms of number of seats taken.

[loukycub]

I live in Da Ville also...and everything about being at the game yesterday reminded me of a Bats game.

 

two things we agree on, screen name and this.

 

so when's your elite eight getting vacated?

 

:P

/runs

[Ihatepujols]

I live in Da Ville also...and everything about being at the game yesterday reminded me of a Bats game.

 

two things we agree on, screen name and this.

 

so when's your elite eight getting vacated?

 

:P

/runs

 

 

Stop...lol....Btw I go to school at Louisville so I pull for the Cards also. I'll probably be pulling for them in the first game of next years football season, but dont get me wrong if UK wins I wont be that upset. I think Strong is gonna do great things at UL...Joker Phillips at UK...not so much

[slieb85]

I'd have to agree that of the new baseball stadiums, GABP is at the bottom of the list. From what I understand it was designed to be nicer but the Reds scaled back at the last minute due to costs. I guess the Reds decided a workable $300 million place was better than a $600 million (like Minnesota), $900 million (Citi Field) or $1+ billion (Yankee Stadium) monument to excess.

 

OK. IHP mentioned he thought the ballpark was beautiful though. His complaints seemed more driven by the antics of the fans and the music being played than anything, unless I misread what he was saying.

 

I can see a city like Cincy needing to be a little more budget-minded than some other places. I think it's understood they have a little more trouble drawing fans than some other places around the league -- and that it likely won't change until they go on a playoff run.

 

That said, I'd still like to see a ballgame there. Heck, I've been wanting to see a game in KC too. And that place is probably a little on the sparse side too, in terms of number of seats taken.

 

I just went to KC on Friday for a bachelor party and was mighty impressed. I've been to the Dome, Wrigley, the cell, Oakland, Pac Bell, Chase field, and Angels stadium, and outside of Wrigley this was probably tied with Pac Bell as far as experiences go. I saw SF play Pittsburgh last year and Tiny Tim threw an absolute gem so that was pretty darn neat. Friday they gave Grienke his CY award and that was pretty cool. Even for a Friday game, against Boston, the place wasn't all that full. But the fans were knowledgeable and seemed respectful, and only once did they play any stupid music to get the fans going (I think it was when Soria was laboring to get Pedroia out to end the game). Overall a really neat stadium and one worth the 5 hour trip for me again this year for sure.

[mjohnson71]

I'd have to agree that of the new baseball stadiums, GABP is at the bottom of the list. From what I understand it was designed to be nicer but the Reds scaled back at the last minute due to costs. I guess the Reds decided a workable $300 million place was better than a $600 million (like Minnesota), $900 million (Citi Field) or $1+ billion (Yankee Stadium) monument to excess.

 

OK. IHP mentioned he thought the ballpark was beautiful though. His complaints seemed more driven by the antics of the fans and the music being played than anything, unless I misread what he was saying.

 

I can see a city like Cincy needing to be a little more budget-minded than some other places. I think it's understood they have a little more trouble drawing fans than some other places around the league -- and that it likely won't change until they go on a playoff run.

 

That said, I'd still like to see a ballgame there. Heck, I've been wanting to see a game in KC too. And that place is probably a little on the sparse side too, in terms of number of seats taken.

 

I just went to KC on Friday for a bachelor party and was mighty impressed. I've been to the Dome, Wrigley, the cell, Oakland, Pac Bell, Chase field, and Angels stadium, and outside of Wrigley this was probably tied with Pac Bell as far as experiences go. I saw SF play Pittsburgh last year and Tiny Tim threw an absolute gem so that was pretty darn neat. Friday they gave Grienke his CY award and that was pretty cool. Even for a Friday game, against Boston, the place wasn't all that full. But the fans were knowledgeable and seemed respectful, and only once did they play any stupid music to get the fans going (I think it was when Soria was laboring to get Pedroia out to end the game). Overall a really neat stadium and one worth the 5 hour trip for me again this year for sure.

 

Kaufmann is a nice place to watch baseball but I haven't been there post-renovation. I went there a couple of years ago and had a good time as I guess the Twins/Royals are big rivals. Even then the place was still only 2/3 full on a nice summer weekend ngith. The one thing I really noticed is it was a lot of families. Even though it wasn't a kids promo night there was a lot of dad/mom/kid(s) combos. That's an uncommon sight at Wrigley.

 

Though the big difference is Kaufmann is in the middle of a huge parking lot and there's nothing close by to pre/post party. It's the antithesis of Wrigleyville.

[jersey cubs fan]

Even though it wasn't a kids promo night there was a lot of dad/mom/kid(s) combos. That's an uncommon sight at Wrigley.

 

Dad/Mom/Kid combos are uncommon at Wrigley Field? Never heard that before.

[loukycub]

Stop...lol....Btw I go to school at Louisville so I pull for the Cards also. I'll probably be pulling for them in the first game of next years football season, but dont get me wrong if UK wins I wont be that upset. I think Strong is gonna do great things at UL...Joker Phillips at UK...not so much

 

i'm no football fan, but the strong (no pun intended) hire and basketball season made me wish football season got here faster.

[mjohnson71]

Even though it wasn't a kids promo night there was a lot of dad/mom/kid(s) combos. That's an uncommon sight at Wrigley.

 

Dad/Mom/Kid combos are uncommon at Wrigley Field? Never heard that before.

 

I'm not saying you never see families at Wrigley. It's that other ballparks are more accomodating to families and as a result they're more common.

 

You ever taken a 18 month old to Wrigley and had the misfortune of sitting down the 3rd base side in the 300's? The only family restroom is down in the first aid area on the other side of the ballpark. Or have you ever tried to get a pee-shy 5 year old nephew to urinate in a trough?

 

Plus high ticket prices make taking most kids to the ballpark too expensive. I've been to games at SBC/PacBell/AT&T, old Yankee Stadium and Shea where I've noticed the lack of families.

 

But on the upside Wrigley doesn't have all that kid friendly stuff that ends up meaning you miss three innings because your kid is playing in the XBox Lounge or waiting in line for the Pepsi Batting Cages.

[Productive Outs]

I live in Da Ville also...and everything about being at the game yesterday reminded me of a Bats game.

 

two things we agree on, screen name and this.

 

so when's your elite eight getting vacated?

 

:P

/runs

 

 

Stop...lol....Btw I go to school at Louisville so I pull for the Cards also. I'll probably be pulling for them in the first game of next years football season, but dont get me wrong if UK wins I wont be that upset. I think Strong is gonna do great things at UL...Joker Phillips at UK...not so much

 

you are a rare breed, sir

[jersey cubs fan]

Even though it wasn't a kids promo night there was a lot of dad/mom/kid(s) combos. That's an uncommon sight at Wrigley.

 

Dad/Mom/Kid combos are uncommon at Wrigley Field? Never heard that before.

 

I'm not saying you never see families at Wrigley. It's that other ballparks are more accomodating to families and as a result they're more common.

 

You ever taken a 18 month old to Wrigley and had the misfortune of sitting down the 3rd base side in the 300's? The only family restroom is down in the first aid area on the other side of the ballpark. Or have you ever tried to get a pee-shy 5 year old nephew to urinate in a trough?

 

Plus high ticket prices make taking most kids to the ballpark too expensive. I've been to games at SBC/PacBell/AT&T, old Yankee Stadium and Shea where I've noticed the lack of families.

 

But on the upside Wrigley doesn't have all that kid friendly stuff that ends up meaning you miss three innings because your kid is playing in the XBox Lounge or waiting in line for the Pepsi Batting Cages.

 

I've taken kids to the ballpark, and I see plenty of families there. You are probably misinterpreting the full house where families just blend in. Either way it makes absolutely no sense to claim familes at Wrigley are an uncommon sight.

[mjohnson71]

Even though it wasn't a kids promo night there was a lot of dad/mom/kid(s) combos. That's an uncommon sight at Wrigley.

 

Dad/Mom/Kid combos are uncommon at Wrigley Field? Never heard that before.

 

I'm not saying you never see families at Wrigley. It's that other ballparks are more accomodating to families and as a result they're more common.

 

You ever taken a 18 month old to Wrigley and had the misfortune of sitting down the 3rd base side in the 300's? The only family restroom is down in the first aid area on the other side of the ballpark. Or have you ever tried to get a pee-shy 5 year old nephew to urinate in a trough?

 

Plus high ticket prices make taking most kids to the ballpark too expensive. I've been to games at SBC/PacBell/AT&T, old Yankee Stadium and Shea where I've noticed the lack of families.

 

But on the upside Wrigley doesn't have all that kid friendly stuff that ends up meaning you miss three innings because your kid is playing in the XBox Lounge or waiting in line for the Pepsi Batting Cages.

 

I've taken kids to the ballpark, and I see plenty of families there. You are probably misinterpreting the full house where families just blend in. Either way it makes absolutely no sense to claim familes at Wrigley are an uncommon sight.

 

Maybe un common was the wrong term and not as common should have been the right one.

 

I'll still assert that there are fewer kids at games at Wrigley. And like I said that might be a good thing because you're not wasting time and money in some funtime kiddie party zone instead of watching the game.

 

When I was a kid in the 70's my dad would take me to Cubs games and I would be perfectly fine with a comic book before the game, keeping score during it and a box of Cracker Jacks was my one treat. Todays kids are so overstimulated they need a Nintendo DS, iPod, a HD jumbo screen in center field to keep them entertained and three snacks during the game.

[Fro]

It's a fanbase issue because of the Reds being horrible the last 10 years and not capitalizing on the new fans they should have made in the 90s outside of the Cincy market due to their goofy TV deals.

 

I live 70 miles from the park and couldn't even get Reds games on cable TV until the last couple years. That's why most of Indiana is Cubs fans outside of the Cincy suburbs and SW Indiana which has some Cardinals fans.

[loukycub]

I live in Da Ville also...and everything about being at the game yesterday reminded me of a Bats game.

 

two things we agree on, screen name and this.

 

so when's your elite eight getting vacated?

 

:P

/runs

 

 

Stop...lol....Btw I go to school at Louisville so I pull for the Cards also. I'll probably be pulling for them in the first game of next years football season, but dont get me wrong if UK wins I wont be that upset. I think Strong is gonna do great things at UL...Joker Phillips at UK...not so much

 

you are a rare breed, sir

 

try finding the opposite in lessERRRRlexington