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Soccer stadium digest
Westgate Park, San Diego’S Forgotten Super StadiumStaff Photo Courtesy of the San Diego Times-Union
Today, ballparks are built to be the centerpiece of a burgeoning district or neighborhood, a venue that will bring people together for more of a social event than just a ballgame. A new ballpark aims to raise the bar for the ultimate social experience and modern amenities every few years.
There was one such ballpark built in San Diego over 65 years ago that was ahead of its time in both modern comfort and style, however, the forward progress of the city in obtaining major league status would ultimately prove to be the death knell for Westgate Park.
Westgate Park would be the home to the San Diego Padres of the Pacific Coast League from 1958 to 1967; it has been overlooked by many in terms of sentiment; it featured many current amenities and standards for today’s stadiums.
Banker C. Arnholt Smith purchased the minor league Padres in 1955 and kept the team in the town after former owner Bill Starr fell into financial problems. The club was playing at Lane Field, an old WPA stadium that according to Smith was “slapped together with old lumber and falling apart”. The stadium was pretty “punk” and infested with termites eating away at the wooden structure providing it with its nickname “termite village”.
After being advised, Smith picked the pastoral land of the undeveloped Mission Valley to erect his new building. At the time, the area was known for its vast farmland, miles away from downtown. However, there must have been a vision of the area’s potential since the city council voted in June 1958 to rezone 90 acres of farmland along I-8 near where the Padres new stadium would be erected.
Smith, who also owned the Westgate-California Tuna Packing Co., financed the $1 million stadium out of his pockets and was seen as a baseball savior in San Diego. Attendance at Padres games and ballparks around the country was fleeting due to television and broadcasts of major league baseball games in numerous markets coast to coast.
Westgate Park's electronic scoreboard with the two giant tuna cans to promote the company. (CBS 8 San Diego)
Westgate Park would be a state-of-the-art facility that would be the envy of not only the PCL but the rest of the baseball world. The 8,268-seat ballpark featured theater-style seating with armrests and a steel roof that shaded a majority of the grandstand. Four light towers on the roof leaned forward at about a 60-degree angle.
Smith even gave his ballpark a corporate name after his tuna company. San Diego Union Times Sports Editor Jack Murphy, whose name would grace a future stadium, wondered if there would be resentment in the “commercialization of the name”, but proclaimed it the finest stadium in minor-league baseball.
There were no outfield bleachers; the area was made of grass seating for fans to lay out in the sun to watch the game. The seating sloped down to field level behind the outfield fence. Photos of the ballpark show a similar setup that would be incorporated into various ballparks, roughly 35 years later.
Accenting the ballpark was an array of trees, shrubs, flowers, and tropical plants throughout the ballpark's exterior and interior. Perhaps the most exotic of all these trees and plants were the eucalyptus trees planted on both sides of the scoreboard in left field.
“It was well-engineered. We dug it down so as you walked in, you were about halfway up in the seating area and the field was below you, added Smith. “It brought the audience right up close to the team’s activity. You could hear the players swearing and yelling at each other.”
Westgate (L-R) had slanted towers, a storage room for peanuts, multiple ticket booths, and theater-style chairs. (CBS 8 San Diego)
When it came to concessions, the stadium provided vast kitchens with walk-in coolers for both beer and soda. There was a heat-control storage room for peanuts set to 120 degrees and reportedly held up to 10,000 bags at a time.
Another unusual concept of the era, but very common today, was different and outrageous menu options. The park sold a tubed-shaped item called “tunies” made out of fish, a fish hot dog. What is even more bizarre is that it appeared that regular pork or beef hot dogs were not sold, but after a little while the “tunies” were scrapped in favor of the more traditional ballpark staple. Other concessions included hamburgers, popcorn, potato chips, ice cream sandwiches, beer, Pepsi and 7Up prodicts, and cigars.
Westgate had a carnival-like atmosphere with circuses, concerts, and zoo animals entertaining fans. These acts would soon relocate to the San Diego Sports Arena, now Valley View Casino Center, in 1966. The next year the San Diego Rockets of the NBA began operations; the times were changing rapidly, and America’s Finest City was fast becoming a major league town.
When the Major Leagues expanded in 1961 and 1962, San Diego was optimistic about landing a team sometime soon. That feeling only heightened when 9,000 fans watched an exhibition game between the Milwaukee Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers in April 1962 at Westgate Park.
Westgate's outfield walls feature no billboard ads and plenty of green lawn seating behind the chainlink fence. (CBS 8 San Diego)
The next year the Braves flirted with relocation to San Diego and blueprints were developed that added a second deck to Westgate to increase capacity to 43,000. However, the Braves stayed in Milwaukee until announcing it would relocate to Atlanta for the 1966 season. The next year a bid was put up to move the Cincinnati Reds to town, but they were sold to a local group that kept the franchise in Ohio.
Around the same time, the San Diego Chargers of the American Football League were threatening to relocate up the road to Anaheim if the antiquated Balboa Stadium, built in 1914, was not replaced. Soon there was a push, headed by Murphy, for a brand new 50,000-seat dual-purpose stadium.
One would only have to look at the team’s 1966 official program that featured the city skyline and a small banner on the cover that proclaimed San Diego as a city in motion. A few months later on November 2, 1965, a $27 million bond was passed allowing for the construction of a multipurpose stadium that would fit 50,000-60,000 people.
Westgate is featured heavily on its game-day programs, notice by 1966 that the team was pushing away from Gateway Park imagery
By the time San Diego Stadium’s was completed in time for the 1967 football season for the Chargers, Westgate Park had already hosted its last game. The Padres final year in the PCL would be played at the massive stadium that would serve as the home to the major league Padres from 1969 to 2003.
Ernie Hanh, the Director of the US National Bank, came up with the idea of building a shopping center on the site. It was centrally located and everybody could get there by car. And with that decision, Westgate Park was torn down and replaced with the Fashion Valley Mall. The successful mall opened in 1969 becoming the leading shopping center in the San Diego area, boasting 1.7 million square feet of floor area.
The Padres were the top affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies during its last three seasons and were relocated to Eugene, Oregon. The theater-style seats and lighting poles would be sold to its new home at Civic Stadium which had to be renovated to be up to minor league standards of the day. The 800 seats would remain at its new home until 1986 when plastic blue, plastic seats replaced them.
Westgate Park's demise came from San Diego’s aggressive progress in professional sports. When it opened in 1957, the city did not have a major league club, 13-years-later it had teams in the NFL, MLB, and NBA. The City in Motion was no longer a minor league town.
The forward-thinking design of grass outfield seating, a sunken bowl, attention to aesthetics, a corporate name, and detail to concessions would become hallmarks of minor league baseball clubs decades later in the 1990s and early 21st century. It was a stadium that was ahead of its time.
One last nod to Westgate’s legacy is in Kissimmee, Florida, where the blueprints were utilized in designing a new Spring Training park for the Houston Astros Osceola County Stadium in 1985.
Had any of these things worked out differently: 1) the stadium issue doesn’t get past, 2) the Chargers relocate to Anaheim, or 3) Buffalo is awarded an expansion team in the N.L.--Westgate Park would have hosted baseball for a longer period and perhaps become much more cherished by San Diegoians and ballpark lovers alike.
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Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.comstadium
Aug 26, 2024
Soccer stadium digest
Stadium Journey'S Favorite Summer College Ballparks Of 2024Nothing says "summer" in North America more than taking in a ballgame in a small-town ballpark. While in recent years traditional minor league baseball has contracted, summer wood-bat leagues are exploding all across the continent, to the point where it's hard to even keep up with all the new leagues and teams sprouting up all in towns and cities everywhere.
For many towns, summer ball has allowed their local ballpark to stay in use after being abandoned by affiliated baseball. In others, new ballparks have been built to accommodate the new team. Summer ball offers baseball fans an affordable entertainment option throughout the summer months.
Stadium Journey has visited 175 Summer Collegiate ballparks across 27 leagues. Listed below, in alphabetical order, are some of our highest-rated and favorite ballparks. To see the full review, simply click on the stadium/team link. Hope you enjoy it!
Gregory Koch - The Big Train have certainly succeeded in creating a top-notch community baseball experience in Bethesda. On a warm summer night (or the occasional 10 AM Sunday game), baseball fans in Montgomery County will certainly want to make the trip to Shirley Povich Field. It is baseball fun for seasoned fans, young families, and everyone in between.
Lloyd Brown - Bowen Field is one of the treasures of minor league baseball. Though it does not have many of the bells and whistles of more modern stadiums, it more than makes up for it in small-town friendliness, a beautiful natural setting and a community and their ball team putting their best efforts to ensure you have an enjoyable night at the ballpark.
Paul Baker - In a league full of unique parks, Chatham offers an experience that may top them all. It has a real vintage charm, and the view from the top of the outfield berm simply can’t be beaten.
James Hilchen - FieldCorp Field takes fans back in time to when baseball was about taking in the experience of what was happening on the field, rooting for your players and against the opposing team. For a true baseball fan, this is a fabulous venue.
Paul Baker - Lowell Park is a jewel among summer league parks. In addition to Cotuit's picturesque location, Cape League lineups are loaded with future Major League players. This combination makes a visit to Cape Cod a must for any baseball fan. Just remember to put a few dollars in the kettle when it’s passed around, and “Have a Hit!”
Marc Viquez - At one time, Danville Stadium was slated for the wrecking ball and left to rot after the Milwaukee Brewers relocated their Single-A team after the 1982 season. Aren’t we somewhat better off having baseball played at Danville Stadium and other buildings of its kind? It is good to know that there are still old-school parks left to watch baseball at these days.
Gregory Koch - An Otterbots game is an enjoyable way to spend a warm summer night watching a baseball game. With an intimate stadium and a crazy mascot, it's affordable fun for the whole family.
Marc Viquez - A wonderful and charming little stadium in southern Indiana that is somewhat of a drive for some in the state, but perhaps a drive that is well worth it since there is not quite another ballpark like it in the Hoosier State.
Marc Viquez - The charm of Dunn Field would be enough to attract any ballpark traveler to Elmira. The amply-sized stadium has the look and feel of many great minor league ballparks that are no longer around. It is clean, spacious, and ideal for a relaxing day of baseball viewing.
Gregory Koch - It is indisputable that Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park is the most modern facility in the Valley League. While the older venues certainly have their charm in their way, the Turks manage to create the same great atmosphere there is elsewhere in the league in a more modern stadium with all the amenities that come with.
Marc Viquez - Capital Credit Union Park is by far one of the most curious places to watch a baseball game during the summer months. Its design and features best suit a soccer match but it’s full of popular areas and affordable food and concessions items that make it a nice destination for fans in the area.
Marc Viquez - There’s a reason that TVA Credit Union Ballpark has been a class act for so many years in the Appalachian League. It continues that trend as a summer collegiate venue in 2021 but still offers all of the great atmosphere and fun from its days as a Rookie League ballpark.
Alex Mailes - Joe Becker Stadium offers the feeling of small-town baseball at a high level for an affordable price. There are plenty of promotions and games for fans to keep things exciting and Joplin has plenty to offer if you find yourself bored after the game.
Steve Ohnsmann - Given the remarkable number of creative additions in the last year provided by the Growlers in their close working relationship with the city, this venue is a must-see experience. Considering that they offer college wood bat baseball, they are offering a product that competes with class A minor league parks.
Paul Baker - It’s readily apparent once you step foot into Alumni Field why it’s one of the marquee venues in the New England Collegiate League. Take an unforgettable setting, add in great fan support, enthusiastic staff, and tons of extra features and you have all the elements of a fantastic place to catch a ballgame.
Eric Hasman - The Kenosha Kingfish have regenerated life back into the old ballpark. The recent renovations greatly improve the ballpark. According to some fans, there are more renovations planned for the upcoming off-season. This ballpark is a place one should visit. There is history and fun all over the park.
Lloyd Brown - Each off-season the stadium is evaluated for what can be done to improve the fan experience and the changes are implemented. This is rewarded by the most loyal fan following in the league, multiple sellouts, and a definite desire to return for future games.
Marc Viquez - Kapco Park offers great concessions and an atmosphere that reminds me why I enjoy traveling around the country and visiting ballparks. The wait was worth it, a fine ballpark experience.
Lloyd Brown - Just as bacon has seen a renaissance as a food item, the Macon Bacon has brought about a renaissance for baseball in the Middle Georgia area. This Bacon recipe of baseball in a historic structure… seasoned with a few modern elements to meet the taste of today’s fans… is high in fun and low in cost. The Bacon Nation is sure to come back for a second helping.
Marc Viquez - The Madison Mallards might be the O.G.'s of packing in exciting crowds in summer-collegiate baseball. Before the Savannah Bananas brought record numbers to their ballpark, the Mallards were among the leaders in baseball in average attendance numbers at Warner Park.
Jim Flannery - The Mavericks have been a consistent contender in the WMBL for most of their franchise history. Coming out to see a game in a lovely, relaxing environment, with friendly people is a great way to spend a summer evening in “The Hat.”
Paul Baker - Holman Stadium is a quaint ballpark that has likely seen the end of its days as a professional facility. With Northeast Delta Dental Stadium located 20 minutes to the north and LaLacheur Park located 20 minutes to the south, there are just not enough fans for the affiliated ball in the area.
Gregory Koch - For baseball fans in Virginia, the Valley Baseball League is a hidden gem and the New Market Rebels are no exception. Those in New Market certainly know about the team and passionately follow it, but a trip to Rebel Park is well worth it for those who don’t live here as well.
Paul Baker - They certainly don’t build them like Cardines Field anymore. This historic ballpark, filled with features not seen anywhere else, is a relic from another time. Cardines Field is frequently mentioned as one of the top places in the country to watch summer wood-bat baseball.
Richard Smith -Seaman Stadium is a wonderful ballpark, especially for the collegiate summer league level. There are likely to be affiliated minor teams that would be jealous of this fine facility.
Gregory Koch - Although First Responder Field isn’t quite finished yet, an Olney Cropdusters game is still an enjoyable way to spend a summer evening as long as you remember to bring your chairs. Once the permanent seating and lights are added for the 2023 season, and hopefully, a better sound system, the atmosphere here will be even better.
Paul Baker - Baseball has been played at Eldredge Park since 1913. As a member of the Firebirds' staff put it, "We have three things going for us in Orleans. We have the best beaches on the Cape, we have the hill, and we have the history."
Gregory Koch - There is no doubt that War Memorial Stadium is an old ballpark. While it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of more modern facilities in the CPL and elsewhere in the area, the energy at Peninsula Pilots game is top-notch.
Meg Minard - San Luis Obispo is a small but vibrant, entertaining town to visit and well worth a stop for any traveller. Attending a game at Sinsheimer Stadium provides an excellent baseball experience in a community that supports it well.
Gregory Koch - What John Moxie Memorial Stadium lacks in flashiness it makes up for in charm. Baseball has been played at this site for over a century. Although Moxie Stadium doesn’t have the amenities of modern stadiums, and it certainly would never be mistaken for one, it is a gorgeous, historic stadium to watch a game on a summer’s night at a great price.
Marc Viquez - It seems like only yesterday that the team arrived and spearheaded a movement toward ballpark construction in the state. However, the ballpark still stands out as a beauty and provides a highly enjoyable baseball experience.
Gregory Koch - Although Shepherd Stadium is almost 75 years old, you wouldn’t know it from attending a Chili Peppers game here. The stadium has all the amenities and excitement of a newer stadium.
Paul Baker - Centennial Field, while an older facility, offers many modern amenities and enough comforts to keep today’s fan happy. With a decidedly small-town feel, this ballpark belongs on any baseball fan’s must-see list.
Meg Minard - It is so, so comfortable here. The seats are wide, there’s plenty of legroom, the fans are energized, and the Pioneers staff is ready to assis, if needed. It’s still more about the game than the extra stuff but there’s enough of that to keep non-purists entertained.
Gregory Koch - Baseball has been played at Bowman Field for almost 100 years and you can feel a part of the history when stepping in here. However, this very much feels like a modern ballpark as well, not an old decrepit one that is falling apart.
Richard Smith - The Yakima Valley Pippins and Yakima County Stadium is a perfect spot to watch a summer collegiate league team. The stadium is past its prime for minor-league baseball. but is perfect for this level of ball.stadium
Aug 21, 2024
Soccer stadium digest
Td Place Stadium - Ottawa RedblacksPhotos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey
TD Place Stadium
1015 Bank St
Ottawa, ON K1S 3W7
Canada
Ottawa Redblacks website
TD Place Stadium website
Year Opened: 1908
Capacity: 24,000
The Ottawa Redblacks are the third CFL franchise to call the city home – the Ottawa Rough Riders were a founding member of the CFL and played until 1996. A few years later the Ottawa Renegades came into being, but their franchise only lasted a few seasons. The current iteration of CFL football here, the Redblacks, was founded in 2014 and currently plays at TD Place, a facility that has existed in some form since the 1870s. The team has been to the Grey Cup three times, winning it once in 2016.
Originally known as Lansdowne Park, the grounds here have hosted the Summer Olympics, FIFA championships, and seven Grey Cups. In 2010 the city approved a revitalization and redevelopment plan, and TD Place now resembles the type of sports venue that is becoming popular across the United States and Canada, with the stadium serving as the anchor point for a shopping, dining, and entertainment district. TD Place has several restaurants nearby, including a sports bar next door, as well as a massive apartment complex behind the west end zone, with views of the football field from its balconies.
TD Place has all the concessions one would expect from a sports venue, plus some interesting extras, with typical prices compared to other pro sports stadiums. Food selections on offer include fan favorites like hot dogs, Italian sausage, and pizza, but also atypical selections such as a duck meat sandwich, Chicago-style hot dog, and hot dogs with Korean fried chicken added.
You can also find ribs, chicken shawarma, meatball subs, and grilled cheese with or without jalapenos; snacks include chips, candy, donuts, popcorn, tater tots, and fries, as well as the ever-present Canadian favorite, poutine. Main dishes start at CAD 7.80 and go up to $14.50 – the duck meat sandwich with fries comes in at $20 and is the most expensive item on the menu.
Drink selections include bottled Pepsi products, bottled water, coffee, tea, and hot cocoa, or you can find canned beer and hard lemonade. Drink prices run from CAD 3.45 to $5.65 for non-alcoholic choices, while alcohol options go from $10 (happy hour selections including Michelob Ultra, Goose Island, and SVNS hard lemonade) to $13.55 (Stella Artois).
TD Place has a great atmosphere with a great crowd. There are lots of activities on the concourse such as giant Connect Four, giant Jenga, and cornhole, and there are also plenty of different places for fans to sit or stand while eating their food and drinks before heading down to their seats. There are also TVs on the main level so you don’t have to miss the action while waiting in line, and there are several team gear stands – the main one in the middle of the south side, as well as several smaller ones dotted around.
The individual chairback seats are arranged in different colors, mainly red and grey for the Redblacks, of course, which adds a nice aesthetic to the facility, and there is plenty of greenery to be seen from your seat in this riverside setting – there is a bridge on the east side so fans can walk to the venue across Rideau Canal.
The Redblack name is taken from lumberjack lore, and this is evidenced in the team’s logo and tunnel, the latter a giant buzzsaw blade – the mascot can also be seen in his red and black flannel shirt, wielding an axe and holding a circle of wood cut from a tree trunk, emblazoned with the Redblacks “R”. Every time the Redblacks score a touchdown, the staff cuts a new circle of wood from a giant tree trunk in celebration. There are also fireworks shot off behind the north side stands just before kickoff, so have your camera ready.
As mentioned above there are plenty of restaurants within walking distance of TD Place, including Craft Beer Market Restaurant & Bar right next door, as well as numerous other options on the north side of the stadium – everything from fast food to sports bars to pizza places. Hotels are a bit further out, but still only around 3 km from the venue, most of them closer to downtown Ottawa and the Ottawa River, which divides Quebec from Ontario.
There are a few nice attractions in the area, including several parks, but the most well-known are probably the Olympic Garden, the Canadian Museum of Nature, and Billings Estate. There are also plenty of options for shopping if you plan to be in town for the day or weekend, and Montreal (the nearest big city to Ottawa) is only an hour and a half away.
There is a great crowd at TD Place, which contributes to the raucous atmosphere, but the facility most likely will not sell out – the Redblacks have historically been in the bottom half of the CFL in terms of attendance, averaging under 20K fans per game last season. Given the smaller size of TD Place compared to other CFL venues, however, this works out to the stadium being mostly full at your typical Redblacks game, so the low attendance will likely not be noticeable.
Some fans will show up in Redblacks gear, though not a lot. However, they do respond to prompts from the PA announcer and call-outs on the video board, as well as cheering for big plays by their team on the field, so the fans here are definitely into the game, and most stay until the end, even when the home team is way ahead.
There are no parking lots to speak of near TD Place, so fans must either park on the other side of Rideau Canal and walk over, or park in one of the garages near the facility, or you can park on one of the city streets if you get there early. Be aware of posted signs when parking, however, as there are strict time limits that may be shorter than the game.
Once you get to the stadium, however, moving around is easy. There are several entrances into the venue, and there is plenty of room on the concourse to accommodate the size of the crowd. Fans are free to walk across either the west end or the east end to move between the two grandstands, and there are elevators available for those who need them (at least on the south side – the north side grandstand only has stairs).
Tickets to Ottawa Redblacks games are not expensive, coming in at around 85.00 CAD for two tickets about halfway up on the sideline – there is no actual seating behind the end zones, but you are welcome to stand on the concourse and watch from either end. I consider this cost, which is a reasonable price for a CFL game or even a sporting event in general, to be a great return on investment, given the modern facility, great amenities, and wonderful atmosphere and scenery you will find at TD Place.
The scenery at TD Place is great, and the staff does a wonderful job pulling out all the stops to make a great game day experience. The mascot and other accents tie in well to the team’s name and logo, and having games to play on the concourse is a real plus, especially for those bringing kids to the game.
I enjoyed the fireworks before the game, as well as all the tables and standing rails on the concourse, which make it easy to enjoy your food before heading to your seats. The team store also has a huge selection of different items, at a variety of price points, making it easy to afford at least some souvenir of your visit.
Ottawa is not a large city, but I would recommend a visit here to take in a Redblacks game. There are not many cities where the average fan would go just to see a sporting event, but this is one I think should be on that list.stadium
Aug 21, 2024
Soccer stadium digest
Eldorado Gaming Scioto DownsPhotos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey
Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs
6000 S High St
Columbus, OH 43207
Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs website
Year Opened: 2012
Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs is located a few miles south of Columbus, though technically still has a Columbus address. It boasts a horse racing track behind its casino, and unlike many horse racing facilities, Scioto Downs’ only live racing is harness racing (May to September), where the drivers ride in a small cart behind the horse, as opposed to riding the horse itself.
Scioto Downs also offers year-round simulcast viewing of horse races happening at other tracks, and besides horse racing, the track also sometimes hosts high school cross country championships.
There is plenty of food on offer at Scioto Downs – the main draw is the full-service restaurant and bar inside the clubhouse, where you can get table service while you sit and watch the races. Tables must be reserved if you want to sit down in time for the first race, but any unclaimed tables become available on a first come, first served basis 40 minutes after the first post time, which is at 5:50 pm on most race days, so you can grab a table without a reservation starting at 6:30. There should still be plenty of tables available then, but I would recommend making a reservation. There is also a Brew Brothers pub inside the casino, but you must be 21 or older to enter any part of the casino.
Besides the two restaurants there are a couple of food stands in the adjacent building, as well as next to the track – options include all the standards such as pizza, chicken sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, walking tacos, corn dogs, nachos, tater tots, pretzels, funnel cake, and packaged candy, as well as bottled water, bottled soda, and a full range of beer and cocktails.
Scioto Downs doesn’t have much going on besides the racing itself – in past years they have had races where people dressed up in inflatable costume, like the T-Rex costumer popular at Halloween, but I didn’t see anything like that on my most recent visit. The big draw for most attendees is of course the gambling – I do recommend getting there early, maybe around 5 pm, as they sometimes start the races early without warning (technically your clubhouse table reservation doesn’t open until 5:30, since the first race is supposed to be at 5:50).
Scioto Downs is about 11 miles south of downtown Columbus, but there are still several restaurants nearby, most of which are local diners and pizza places, but you can also find Asian cuisine and a Mexican restaurant, as well as the Ohio staple, Bob Evans.
There are a couple of hotels near the track, Budget Inn and Hampton Inn being the closest, and there are also several nearby attractions if you plan to be in town for the day or weekend, especially if you head toward downtown. Columbus Zoo is popular, and if you go to the races in September, you may also be able to take in a Buckeyes game during your visit.
Scioto Downs has pretty good attendance during most race days, especially up in the clubhouse, and you will see a few folks with children. There is pretty good crowd noise as well, most notably at the end of a close race as people cheer on their favorites, and a lot of hustle and bustle at the concession stands, as well as at the betting machines and betting windows.
Getting to Scioto Downs is easy, as it is not far from I-70 and I-71, the two main arteries taking people to the bigger cities north, south, east, and west. Once you get on the property there is plenty of free parking right next to the facility; the track itself is hidden behind the casino; you just need to walk around back. Pro tip – when you get to the casino you should drive your car around back first to see if you can park closer to the racetrack, assuming there are spaces there; on my last two visits I made the mistake of parking way out in front, near the road, instead of checking for parking closer in first.
In addition, when going racing don’t mind the signs saying 21 and older – you only have to be 21+ to enter the casino or to make a bet on the ponies; visitors of any age can enter the clubhouse and racetrack.
Once you get to the track there is plenty of room trackside and in the clubhouse, and since you don’t have to buy a ticket or show an id to get it, there are no lines. You may have to wait in line at the concessions inside the adjacent building, as those stands tend to stack up, but the ones outside next to the track are very quick. There are also plenty of different seating options next to the track if you don’t want to sit in the clubhouse.
No cost for admission, and no cost for parking means to a great return on investment, and it was fun to see a different kind of racing. I would definitely recommend a visit, especially if you have never seen horse racing, or harness racing, before.
Also, it is worth a visit even if you are not a big gambler – technically the minimum bet is only 10 cents or 50 cents, worst case 2 dollars, so you can have a bet just for fun without taking much of a risk. Note that the 10 cent and 50 cent bets are for superfectas and trifectas, which aren’t offered on every single race, but are offered during most races. Standard bets like picking the horse to simply win, or place, or show, start at $2.
During my last visit I introduced some family members to the trifecta box wager – for $3 you can pick the first 3 horses to come in, in any order, and they had a blast with that. We didn’t come out ahead, to be sure, but we only lost a few dollars on each race, so it was totally worth it just for the fun.
The casino that is part of the facility is a nice feature if you are into that sort of thing, and being able to see harness racing is a unique feature, since you can’t see that type of racing at most horse racing tracks.
They also sell track souvenirs, like t-shirts, in the building next to the clubhouse (walk out the left side of the clubhouse, then go down the stairs and up the other set).
The staff also had a charity activity for the kids set up during my most recent visit in front of that adjacent building – it was nice to see them supporting the local community like that.stadium
Aug 21, 2024
Soccer stadium digest
Mel Olson Stadium - Dub Sea Fish SticksPhotos Courtesy of Zach Beeson
Mel Olson Stadium
1321 SW 102nd St
Burien, WA 98146
Dub Sea Fish Sticks website
Mel Olson Stadium website
Year Opened: 1979
Capacity: 1,500
A lot has changed at Mel Olston Stadium in West Seattle. The Fish Sticks began life in 2015 as the Highline Bears in the Pacific International League, a summer collegiate baseball league. After the 2021 season, team management decided to rebrand and consulted the folks and Brandiose in San Diego. However, instead of coming up with one identity, two new logos were created, the Fish Sticks and Seal Slingers.
The club asked social media and the community to vote on their favorite, and after months of promotions, over 5,000 votes globally, the Fish Sticks won with 50.47 percent of the total votes.
The club plays at Mel Olston Stadium, AKA The Fryer. It was built in 1940 and would be the center of the community’s entertainment. It was an all-wooden stadium that held 2,000 people but burnt down as a result of arson on May 22, 1977. That might have been the end of the stadium if not for a local activist named Mel Olson.
He lobbied the county to rebuild the stadium, and on April 2, 1979, a new 1,500 facility opened for business and would bear his name in 1985. However, the stadium needed improvements, and with the help of local groups and volunteers, organized a remodel of the field in 2008. They dedicated the park to long-time community leader and slain officer Steve Cox.
Besides the Fish Sticks, the stadium is also used by Seattle Prep High School, South West Little League, select baseball programs, and the Puget Sound Senior Baseball League.
The Fish Sticks have almost everything from hot dogs to fish stick po’boys. They sell fish sticks. You can get them by the pack of five or in a po'boy. There are many options at the concession stand, including ballpark staples to Pacific Northwest classics. Let’s look at what many consider some of the best options in summer collegiate baseball.
There are a few ways to order a hot dog. They can be topped with chili, shredded cheese, carmelized garlic onions, mac and cheese, and pulled pork. The Seattle Dog is a regional treat topped with cream cheese and caramelized onions.
The stadium offers nachos and garlic fries topped with pulled pork, nacho cheese, and chili. Mac and cheese and mac and pork bowls are available. Then there are the sammies: fish stick po’boys, pulled pork, grilled cheese, and a Kraken IPA fish sandwich.
The Ice Chest beer garden is in left field just past the concessions. You do need an armband for alcohol consumption which you can get at the front gate/ticket office. The ice chest juts out into foul territory up close to the action on the field.
The lines can get very long as there is only one concession that sells these items in left field, especially the night we went which was dollar beer night. There is another concession stand in right field that sells the ballpark basics from hot dogs, peanuts, and nachos.
The Fish Sticks goal is to leave everyone with an impression they’ll remember. The small West Seattle stadium has been set up as a center of entertainment on game nights with in-game promotions, on-field gimmicks, lively music and PA announcements, a beer garden, and plenty of action on the diamond.
There is an on-field MC to get the crowd engaged. It makes for a vibrant atmosphere with engaged fans. It is an interesting setup for a stadium as the only seating directly behind home plate is the press box. The stadium features two covered grandstands that are separated by a press box.
The bleacher seats hover over the synthetic field turf, and many fans stand against the railings to get a better view of the game. Just down the left field line, fans in the Ice Chest beer garden enjoy beer and wine from local establishments in Seattle and the state.
Fin Crispy, Jr. is the giant fish stick mascot who patrols the grandstand, giving out hugs and high-fives to fans of all ages. His upbeat approach to entertainment can be assessed by the smiles on the kids' faces that chase him through the stadium. He is also on the field cheering on the crowd during certain portions of the game.
The team has a few traditions that include the “first toss”. The honoree flings a fish toward home plate instead of a baseball. In keeping with the sea theme, when it came time for a t-shirt toss, the mascot and employees rode in a golf cart made to look like a fishing boat.
It also serves as a target for a ring toss game. Another unique between-inning event is the Fin Crispy, Jr. standing on the boat near the beer garden with a fishing net. Fans are to throw a large, plush material fish into the net.
Fans should bring something to wear since the weather can get a little cooler once the sun sets. The team does have an outdoor team shop located near the front entrance. The team offers an abundance of t-shirts, caps, and replica jerseys.
Mel Olson Stadium is in the White Center neighborhood, 8 miles south of downtown. It is a quiet, residential area in the Burien area of Seattle. Not a whole lot going on. There is a community center next to the stadium with outdoor basketball courts and a multi-purpose field.
The neighborhood offers visitors lively and diverse restaurants within a few blocks of the stadium. Tomo (9811 16th Ave SW) serves eclectic Japanese-American fare, Que Chevere (9808 16th Ave SW) offers Colombian-style empanadas, the Crawfish House (9826 16th Ave SW) is known for its shrimp po’boys, and Future Primitive Brewing (9832 14th Ave SW) has award-winning IPAs. Enjoy a cup at Dubsea Coffee (9910 Eighth Ave SW) while in the area.
The Fish Sticks also play alongside other Seattle teams during the summer. The Seattle Marines play games at T-Mobile Park, the Seattle Storm are at the Climate Pledge Arena, and the Seattle Cascades ultimate frisbee team play at Memorial Stadium at the Seattle Center.
Fan support has been strong the past two seasons; gone are the days of a few hundred fans for a Bears game. They are pretty nice and welcoming, pack the stadium, and cheer at the right times. The team sold out 13 home dates during the 2024 season. The Seattle communities of West Seattle, White Center, Burien, Normandy Park, Des Moines, Sea-Tac, and Tukwila have embraced the ball club since the rebrand.
The stadium isn't very far from I-5 and is easy to find via GPS. The stadium is small and does get crowded on busy nights. The team has set up large signage with arrows to direct patrons. It is advisable to arrive early to find parking in the lot or on the street. There is also a church across the street that also allows free parking.
General admission tickets are $12 a game, and children under 3 are free. The parking is free, but the stadium lot is small and fills quickly. Additional street parking is available, and there are three nearby lots on 13th, 14th,15th Ave SW, and SW 102nd St.
The price of food ranges from $7 for a basic hot dog to $15 for filthy fries (garlic parmesan fries topped with pulled pork, queso, chili, barbecue sauce, salsa, jalapenos, and sour cream). The food, promotions, and merchandise are top-notch and provide fans with quite the atmosphere on a summer night in West Seattle.
However, tickets and concessions are a little on the high side for a summer collegiate team. But it is understandable because of the area of the world in which they play.
The Fish Sticks begin each game with the “first fish”. The honoree flings a fish toward home plate instead of a baseball. The tradition honors the fish tossing at the Pike Place Market in Seattle.
Fans can pick up a souvenir 32-ounce mug for $15 and refill it for free for the entire season. It works for fans attending multiple games, but also great for sharing with a few children.
Fan Batter of the Night takes place during non-league games. One fan is selected to lead off for the Fish Sticks and will receive a contract for $70 (paid out $2 and the rest deferred until 2034).
It is a good time at the Fish Sticks with affordable family fun. Their rebrand from the Highline Bears has proven successful and fans show up.stadium
Aug 20, 2024
Soccer stadium digest
Percival Molson Memorial Stadium - Montreal AlouettesPhotos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey
Percival Molson Memorial Stadium
475 Avenue Pine
Montreal, QC H2W 1S4
Canada
Montreal Alouettes website
Percival Molson Memorial Stadium website
Year Opened: 1915
Capacity: 25,012
Percival Molson Memorial Stadium is one of the oldest (American) football stadiums in the world – well over a century old, it opened in 1915. Compare that to Bobby Dodd Stadium, which opened in 1913, the oldest football venue in US college football’s FBS, or Franklin Field, which opened in 1895, the oldest football stadium in US college football’s FCS. Molson Stadium is on the campus of Montreal’s McGill University and is home to the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL, as well as several of McGill’s sports teams.
Molson Stadium has a good selection of concessions items on offer. Still, most are sold at ground level, and the lines are generally very long – it is common for fans to choose items based on which stand has the shortest line versus which food item they want. For those sitting higher up in the stands, they do have staff who walk around selling snacks and beverages, but it will be a long walk back downstairs to get anything more substantial.
Concessions options include hot dogs starting at 5,25$, fries for 6,25$, Italian sausage for 8,25$, popcorn for 9,00$, and poutine starting at 11,00$, as well as hamburgers and other items. Non-alcoholic drinks include bottled Coke products, bottled water, Powerade, energy drinks, and other items starting at 6,00$, while alcohol selections start at 11,50$ and include canned domestic and imported beer, wine, cocktails, and more.
Molson Stadium has a band on stage behind one end zone, which plays before the game and during halftime – the mini-concert is much better at halftime after it gets dark, with the band indulging the crowd with pulsing lights and cones of smoke. There is also a great mascot that moves around the stadium interacting with the crowd, including playing games with fans (mostly kids) on the field during breaks in the action. They also have cheerleaders on hand, but the videoboards on both ends of the field are relatively small.
One highlight is the tunnel the team comes out of to begin the game – called the “birdcage” in a nod to the Alouettes avian moniker, the blue inflatable tunnel has jail cell bars on one end, complete with a padlock, which are opened to allow the players to come onto the field. The staff also adds a couple of smoke machines at the front of the tunnel to enhance the effect, and the cheerleaders are also on hand to cheer on the Alouettes as they take the field.
Molson Stadium is located in downtown Montreal, so fans can walk to the facility from their hotel if staying nearby (more on this later). There are plenty of restaurants within walking distance, both fast food type places like A&W and the Canadian classic Tim Horton’s, as well as more upscale restaurants like The Keg Steakhouse – you may have heard of Montreal steak seasoning, but if you haven’t, let me tell you that Montreal steak is an actual well-known thing, and I would recommend visiting one of the great steakhouses in town to try it. Also, if you haven’t been to Canada before I would recommend trying smoked meat (Dunn’s is a great choice), poutine (which is sold pretty much everywhere, even places like McDonald’s), or Tim Horton’s.
If you plan to be in town for a full day or overnight, a great place to visit is Old Montreal, where you can find the city’s Notre Dame Basilica, or you may prefer to visit one of the great parks in town – if you head to the east and drive or hike up the hill, you can get some great views of the St. Lawrence River.
Molson Stadium will see a decent number of fans during Montreal Alouettes games – though the dated facility and lack of amenities may not offer much of a draw for some fans, the Alouettes are also riding high right now from winning the Grey Cup last season, which seems to have increased the attendance a little.
In fairness, Molson Stadium has the smallest capacity of any current CFL stadium, so even with their 2nd-lowest average attendance in the league, the facility can appear mostly full. However, this low level of attendance year after year also may explain why they aren’t moving to a better stadium, and also why the staff is not investing in any upgrades to the venue.
Molson Stadium is difficult to get to and difficult to get around. There isn’t a formal parking lot – with its downtown location fans are forced to park in one of the parking garages nearby, or if they come early enough may be able to park on one of the city streets.
As mentioned earlier you can also walk from one of the nearby hotels if staying downtown, although it might be a long walk – uphill on the way there, but downhill following the game. You might also choose to have an Uber drop you off or pick you up near the entrance; there are also bus stops nearby and a metro station on campus.
As mentioned above, it is also difficult to move around the stadium, due to the long concession lines at ground level, which tend to block the pathways fans are trying to use to get to their seats. There is a ramp that goes around behind the north end zone, which fans can use to get to the west side of the facility, or you can walk around at ground level on the south side – the main entrance is on the east side of the field, but the west side is considered the home side, where you will see the mascot hanging out and have the midfield logo facing you.
Tickets to Alouettes games are not expensive, coming in at around $77.00 for two tickets on the sideline (even cheaper in the end zone). That is a reasonable price to pay for a CFL game, and even a sporting event in general, but the facilities and access found here bring the score down a little.
The games here are mostly announced in French (similar to the signage inside), which of course makes sense for Montreal and would seem pretty normal for any local, but for someone from another part of Canada, or the United States like yours truly, does add a bit of an exotic flair.
The Alouettes are in the middle of the pack in terms of Grey Cup wins, with eight victories and 19 appearances as of this writing, but given the current franchise has only existed since 1996 (they relocated from Baltimore after winning the 1995 Grey Cup), that is a pretty impressive record – the Alouettes are the second-oldest active team in the league behind Ottawa, which was re-founded in 2014.
Montreal is a great city to visit, with easy flights from many places in Canada, the US, and even Europe, so if you have a chance to stop by I would highly recommend it. While Molson Stadium itself may not be the jewel of a sports venue it once was, you are still in for a fun time at a reasonable cost, and you are likely to see a pretty good team on the field in the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes.stadium
Aug 20, 2024
Soccer stadium digest
Albert Park Field - San Rafael PacificsPhotos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey
Albert Park Field
100 Albert Park Ln
San Rafael, CA 94901
San Rafael Pacifics website
Albert Park Field website
Year Opened: 1952 Renovated: 2011
Capacity: 900
The baseball team San Rafael Pacifics began their existence in 2012 as members of the now defunct North American League. The Pacifics have been a successful team since their inception.
They played in the Pacific Association from 2013 – 2019, claiming four championships during their tenure in that league. In 2020, they moved to the Independent Pecos League, but no games were played that year because of the pandemic. They won the Pecos League championship in 2023 and were the Pacific Division Champions in 2024.
They play their home games at historic Albert Park Field in San Rafael, CA
Albert Park Field has one concession stand beyond the first base side of the grandstand. It sells fresh-grilled hot dogs, hamburgers, and cheeseburgers ($6 - $8). It also offers cups of noodles, mac and cheese, chicken bake, and chicken rice bowls ($3 - $7). Snacks include popcorn, candy, cookies, chips, and beef jerky ($1 - $5). The concession stand has six different ice cream novelties ($2 - $3).
Non-alcoholic beverages cost $2 - $4 and are a mix of soda cans (primarily Coca-Cola brands), water, Gatorade, and coffee/hot chocolate.
A beer cart has an extensive collection of canned beers, including domestic, 805, Pacifico, and many delicious choices from Pond Farm, a local San Rafael brewery and sponsor.
It’s not a gourmet meal, but there are some unusual choices, and it is enough to get you by during a game. Get a Pond Farm beer and a fresh grilled hot dog, and you’ll be set!
The San Rafael Pacifics provide an enjoyable evening out for the whole family.
Built in 1952, the stadium has an old box-style grandstand with seven rows of original blue wood bleachers with backs. The seats are surprisingly comfortable. The grandstand steps do not have handrails, making it difficult for fans with mobility difficulties to ascend. The stadium has a small walkway between the main stand and “box seats.” The “box seats” are eight sets of two rows, eight patio chairs each. The seating is shaded, and there is no breeze.
The field is nice and green, though a ball can take bad or strange hops on the infield. The center field is unique as it is part of the opposite softball field. The center fielder stands on dirt, not grass.
Photo Courtesy of the City of San Rafael
A black net protects the fans but is not easy to see through. The scoreboard and flagpole inhabit right field. New in 2016, the scoreboard is a dot matrix showing balls, strikes, outs, and the line score. The right field backdrop is a beautiful hill with green trees and a few houses. It is pleasing to the eye.
Another unusual feature is the dugouts. The dugouts are two fenced-in areas on the field in front of the stands, with folding chairs for the players.
The music volume level is perfect and the game day operations thankfully do not play ‘noise’ between pitches. More ball teams should take notice. The PA announcer’s voice is muffled; you can’t always understand what he’s saying.
The organization posts the starting lineups. That’s not the case at all Pecos League parks. It’s an excellent feature for those who like to keep score. Plenty of activities occur between innings: the YMCA dance, hula hoops, musical chairs, kids running the bases, and more.
The ballpark is a few blocks from the downtown area. For places to eat pre-game, try the Red Rooster Brick Oven (Italian), The Stateroom (gastropub), or Sol Food (Puerto Rican). Of course, stop at the Pond Farm Brewery for a cold one or visit the Mayflower Pub or the Flatiron (sports bars and pubs).
The Panama Hotel (a boutique hotel) is probably the closest to the Albert Park Field (less than a ½ mile). An AC Hotel San Rafael Downtown (a Marriott brand hotel) is at about the same distance. Several lower-budget hotels (Motel 6, Best Western, Travelodge) are off the US 101 a mile or two away.
Tourist attractions in San Rafael include the Marin History Museum. Muir Woods National Park is a 30-minute drive away and is worthy of a visit. McNears Beach Park is close by and a lovely place for outdoor activities. Of course, you’re a bridge away from San Francisco and all the attractions that city has to offer.
For other sports to see when in town, see if the SF Giants are home; other Pecos League teams nearby include Martinez Sturgeon or Vallejo Seaweed. Or check on the Sonoma Stompers (summer collegiate baseball).
Attendance generally runs a few hundred fans. Fans can bring their dogs. Lots of children are in attendance. Visitors will see generations of families sitting in the grandstand.
One fan posts Ks near the press box to record the number of strikeouts the Pacifics’ pitchers get.
Albert Park Field Ks, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey
It’s easy to strike up a conversation with fans sitting near you.
Depending on where your travels originate, you may hit some of that famous California traffic, so be cognizant of that. The park is less than ½ mile off US 101.
It is .4 miles from the San Rafael Transit Center, a hub for regional and local buses, and a stop on the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit. The closest airport is a small regional one, the Sonoma County Airport, having three commercial airlines servicing mostly western cities. The San Francisco International Airport is about an hour’s drive away.
If driving, I recommend parking at the lot on the corner of Andersen Dr and Lindaro St. It’s free, easy to exit after the game, and is just across the street from the ballpark.
The stadium is not that easy for fans in wheelchairs, though a ramp goes up to the grandstand on the third base side. I did not see a way for people using wheelchairs to get to the concession stand (but there must be a way, right?).
New, clean, big restrooms are on ground level on the third base side and will easily accommodate a wheelchair. Like many public restrooms in California, they are gender-neutral.
Ten dollars for general admission seats, free parking, reasonably-priced concessions, and a fun time make a Pacifics game at Albert Park well worth the price.
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The city of San Rafael and the Pacifics consistently make alterations and improvements to Albert Park for the betterment of the fans. Examples include the new scoreboard, upgraded restrooms, and new fencing along the ADA ramp and in front of the dugout.
It’s excellent to see local brews at the beer stand at Albert Park.
The configuration of the baseball and softball fields is definitely uncommon and worth an extra mention.
If you find yourself in the Bay Area, take a trip to San Rafael for an affordable, entertaining baseball game.stadium
Aug 19, 2024
Soccer stadium digest
Virginia Credit Union Stadium – Fredericksburg NationalsPhotos by Joseph Oakes, Stadium Journey
Virginia Credit Union Stadium
42 Jackie Robinson Way
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Fredericksburg Nationals website
Virginia Credit Union Stadium website
Year Opened: 2021
Capacity: 5,000
After years of playing in the decrepit Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, VA, the Potomac Nationals were set to move 30 miles south to Fredericksburg and become the Fredericksburg Nationals in 2020. Since the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19, the move to the new ballpark was delayed by a year.
The sparkling new Fredericksburg Nationals Ballpark officially opened for minor league baseball on May 11, 2021, with a 7-5 loss to the Delmarva Shorebirds in front of a crowd of 2,065, since Virginia was still under COVID capacity restrictions. The FredNats began their inaugural season in Fredericksburg with 15 straight losses, and the first win at the new ballpark did not come until a 2-1 win over the Salem Red Sox on May 21, 2021.
The ballpark has since been renamed Virginia Credit Union Stadium. The FredNats have only been in Fredericksburg four years, but are already a staple in the community. The team draws well and the ballpark hosts many events throughout the year.
Virginia Credit Union Stadium offers a wide variety of food options. While the food quality at many ballparks seems to have waned in recent years, Fredericksburg is an exception to this. Caroline Street Grill has two locations in the ballpark and serves up traditional ballpark favorites such as Chicken Tenders, Cheeseburger, Hot Dogs, Chili Cheese Nachos, Ballpark Nachos, Jumbo Pretzels, Cracker Jacks, Popcorn, etc. They even offer a plant-based Veggie Burger. Burg’s Bazaar offers taco options including street tacos, Helmet Nachos (in a FredNats Helmet), and a taco bowl.
On Tuesdays, the ballpark offers $2 tacos. Other stands scattered around the ballpark include Chick-fil-A and Freddie’s Frozen Custard. There is also a large area in right field that has a liquor bar, popcorn, and Dippin’ Dots. There are two grab-n-go areas through the park, where fans can purchase bottled drinks and snacks self-serve, and use self-checkout to pay.
The ballpark serves Pepsi products. There are several local brew options including the team’s own Sluggin’ Gus named for George Washington’s father and the team mascot. Prices tend to be a little high but are on par with what you would expect at most ballparks. Also, we noticed on our visit and also heard from fans that concession lines are extremely long and slow. Therefore, we suggest the grab-n-go areas.
Virginia Credit Union Stadium is designed similarly to many minor league ballparks these days, with the concourse above the single-seating bowl. Except for the areas behind home plate, there is a 360-degree concourse all around the ballpark. This is because the club level is directly on the concourse level, not above as in most ballparks. Therefore, to get from the first base to the third base side (or vice-versa), you have to walk completely around the backside of the club. There is no view of the action and it feels like you are completely leaving the ballpark. Other than that, the concourse gives you a great view of the action all around the ballpark.
All seats in the ballpark are chairback and run just beyond the dugout on each side. In both the right and left field corners are terrace boxes with tables and bar stools. There are several group areas in the outfield including a scoreboard suite with a manual scoreboard operated by the fans, a field suite next to the home bullpen in left field, and several bullpen party decks adjacent to the visiting bullpen in right field.
On the backside of the batter’s eye in center field is a large mural showing the “History of Baseball in Fredericksburg”. There is a large kid’s play area on artificial turf beyond the right-field foul pole. There are two ribbon boards – one above the bullpen in left field and one on the suite level overhang – and one large video board in right field.
The playing surface at Virginia Credit Union Stadium is a state-of-the-art synthetic grass from Shaw Sports Turf similar to what is used by the Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers. It is the first minor league ball to use such a surface. This allows the FredNats to host several events such as concerts and youth sports without the extra cost of maintaining a natural grass surface.
The team store is just adjacent to the main gate on the first base concourse.
Virginia Credit Union Stadium is located just off of I-95 in an area known as Celebrate Virginia. It consists of several stores and restaurants Target, Walmart, Barnes & Noble, Cracker Barrell, Chick-fil-A, Carrabba’s, Outback Steakhouse, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, etc. Immediately surrounding the ballpark is a Wegmans Grocery Store, a Hilton Garden Inn, and the Fredericksburg Expo and Conference Center.
The Ballpark is located at the end of Carl D. Silver Parkway, which can create a few traffic issues as there is only one way in and out. While the address is 42 Jackie Robinson Way, this is a new road so it may not show up on your GPS. Instead, point your GPS to the Fredericksburg Expo and Conference Center. Parking is available here or at the lots surrounding the ballpark for $6. While there are many restaurants and shops within a couple of miles, there is not much within walking distance, except for the Wegmans.
In the first three years at their new ballpark, the fans have shown up in full force. One can expect a nearly full crowd for most games, especially on the weekends. Crowds average around 3,000+ during the week and 4,000-5,000 on the weekend. The fans are involved, cheer frequently, and are into the game. Being so close to their parent team in DC, there are many fans in Washington Nationals gear at Virginia Credit Union Stadium.
With only one way to and from the ballpark, plan a little extra time when going to a game. Interstate 95 is generally a parking lot from Fredericksburg to Washington, D.C., so if you are traveling via I-95, plan accordingly.
Gate entry and security are pretty relaxed. Of course, you can save time by purchasing tickets ahead of time. With the size of the crowds, this is not a bad idea anyway to ensure yourself a seat.
Once inside the ballpark access is a breeze on the 360-degree concourse, except the hiccup behind the club level.
This is one of the few areas where Virginia Credit Union Stadium received low marks. Ticket prices range from $15 to $22 in the seats, and are $10 for standing room only. While this is a new state-of-the-art ballpark, this is a little steep for Low-A ball. Prices like this may wear off as the newness of the ballpark fades, especially if the team stays Low-A. As previously mentioned parking is $6 in the lots surrounding the ballpark. If you are looking to cut costs, be sure to attend on Tuesdays when most tickets are $2 tickets. There are also $2 tacos on Tuesdays.
The new ballpark receives several extra points for the following:
- 360-degree concourse
- Several group areas including the scoreboard suite, bullpen party decks, terrace boxes, etc.
- The large kids' play area in right field
- Several standing areas along the concourse with food and drink rails
After enduring several years of playing in a “dump” in Woodbridge, the FredNats organization now has a beautiful, brand-new ballpark it can call its own and be proud of. A night out at the new Virginia Credit Union Ballpark will be a great experience for many years to come.stadium
Aug 15, 2024
Soccer stadium digest
Waterfront Park - Martinez SturgeonPhotos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey
Waterfront Park
1204 Joe DiMaggio Dr
Martinez, CA 94553
Map It
Martinez Sturgeon website
Waterfront Park website
Year Opened: Unknown Renovated: 2018
Capacity: 360
Marinez, CA, the birthplace of the late New York Yankee Joe DiMaggio, hosts the independent Pecos League of Professional Baseball team Martinez Sturgeon. The team formed just a few seasons ago, beginning play in 2021. Its inaugural season was supposed to be 2020, but the pandemic halted that.
The Sturgeon won the Pacific Division Semifinals in 2021 but lost in the conference championship. Two former major league pitchers (Ron Witmeyer and Manny Corpus) were team managers.
The Sturgeon play their home games on Field Three at the city’s popular Waterfront Park. The park hosted the 2024 Pecos League Pacific Division All-Star Game. It is also a favorite spot for other sports with horseshoe pits, softball fields, bocce ball courts, soccer fields, and a skate park. Families can picnic here and go fishing.
The Martinez Clippers of the Pacific Association of Baseball played at Waterfront Park in 2018. The city of Martinez canceled the Clippers lease because of the team's ownerships fraudulent investment schemes.
One concession stand is open during Sturgeon games. The park has a shaded picnic area in front of the concession stand. The menu offers hot dogs, nachos, and brats $5 - $7. It sells snacks of candy, popcorn, peanuts, pistachios, cookies, and chips for $2 - $3.
Drinks include water, Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Gatorade, and Orange Soda ($2). Canned beers offered are Michelob Ultra, Stella, 805, Five Suns, Del Cielo, and White Claw ($5 - $7).
Not every listing on the menu is available for every game, so choices are limited.
The Martinez Sturgeon offers a pleasant game day experience.
The City of Martinez renovated Field Three at Waterfront Park in 2017 for the Martinez Clippers of the Pacific Association. The seats consist mostly of metal bleachers with no backs. Bring a cushion. The venue has three rows of green chairbacks behind home plate that look to be reserved for season ticket holders. The seating is wheelchair accessible with an easy-to-maneuver ramp up to the first base side bleachers.
The seats behind home plate and the third base side get the shade. The first base side is in the sun but has a better view beyond the ballpark. Additional bleachers extend beyond the first base stand with no net overhead. A netting protects fans in front and above the seating areas.
Waterfront Park Reserved Seats, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey
Sit in the first base stands (if the temperature is not too hot) to see ships pass beyond left field, and for a view of the Benicia Bridge over center and right fields.
Right field has the US flag and the scoreboard, just to the left of the foul pole. The scoreboard is a basic dot matrix with the line score. It is not easy to read in the early innings with the sun.
A female announcer calls the game well. Unfortunately, the music person plays tunes while she’s announcing, so you can’t always hear what is said.
The team holds a 50/50 contest. If a fan gets a foul ball, they can return it and get candy. The entire fan base sang Happy Birthday to another fan who just turned 92 at the game I attended. One feels a sense of strong community ties at these games.
Martinez, CA, is near the San Francisco Bay area, about a 40-minute drive northeast. Waterfront Park is a half mile from Martinez’s vibrant downtown, where visitors can find all kinds of food, shopping, and drinking.
Recommended places to eat:
Breakfast or lunch: Sal’s Family Kitchen, Copper Skillet Courtyard
Lunch or dinner: Lemongrass Bistro (Asian), Roxx on Main, Vic’s, Luigi's Deli (sandwiches)
Local breweries: Five Suns Brewery and Del Cielo, though the city has plenty of other bars and places for adult drinks.
Click here for a more complete list.
Other tourist choices include the John Muir National Historic Site, the Martinez Museum, the Viano Winery, and the California Magic Dinner Theatre. If you’re there on a Sunday, visit the Farmer’s Market downtown for local produce, goods, and people-watching.
Downtown Martinez does not have any lodging. A few miles away is a Best Western Jon Muir (I stayed here; it is comfortable, safe, and reasonable), a Motel 6, and a Super 8. A little further away (6+ miles), you’ll find plenty of hotels off I-680.
Sports fans can enjoy the SF Giants or Oakland Athletics (at least till the end of 2024), the Oakland Ballers, and other Pecos League teams in Vallejo, San Rafael, and Dublin.
The fans are a hardy group, paying attention to the game and staying to the end. They cheer all well-executed plays.
Fans appear to know each other. Visitors often hear snippets of conversation like: “How’s your husband?” or “Did you get the invitation to Brad’s party?” Attendees are retired folks, middle-aged supporters, and parents; it’s generally an older crowd. Many fans have cowbells, lots of them!!
Throughout the game, led by the PA announcer, you’ll hear chants of One! Two! Three! “Go Fish!”
Getting to Waterfront Park is relatively easy. It’s only a half mile from downtown, so you can easily walk there. It’s less than two miles off I-680, just south of the Benicia-Martinez Bridge. If driving, park on the left side before reaching the tree-lined walkway to the field. A golf cart picks fans up at the parking area and drives them to the field if desired.
Map Courtesy of Google
The closest airport is the San Francisco Oakland International Airport (37 miles away). An Amtrak station is just outside Waterfront Park. Bay area fans can also get to Martinez via BART and the Capital Corridor bus service.
The ballpark does not have any bag rules. It has restrooms behind the concession stand.
It is recognizably handicapped accessible. Kudos to the city and the team for going the extra mile for those who experience mobility difficulties.
Attending a Martinez Sturgeon game is an affordable evening out. Tickets are $10 for general admission; sit where you want and move around as desired. Group tickets and season tickets are available for purchase. Parking is free. Concession prices are very reasonable.
It’s a fun time here, and I encourage any baseball fan to visit Martinez and watch a game.
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The fans are very welcoming to all visitors and are easy to strike up a conversation with. The views beyond the outfield from the first base stands are worth mentioning again. And the team having a golf cart to bring fans from their cars to the stands (and back) deserves extra notice.
Visiting Martinez, CA and the Martinez Sturgeon is a delightful day trip or evening out during the summer months. Grab your family or friends, take a trip to this historic city, and catch a game.stadium
Aug 15, 2024
Soccer stadium digest
Fergie Jenkins Field @ Rotary Park - Chatham-Kent BarnstormersPhotos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Fergie Jenkins Field at Rotary Park
30 Tweedsmuir Avenue West
Chatham, ON N7M 2A4
Chatham-Kent Barnstormers website
Rotary Park website
Year Opened: circa1950/2010
Capacity: 1,100
Chatham, Ontario is the home of Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Ferguson Jenkins. Arguably the greatest Canadian baseball player ever, Jenkins’ mark on his hometown is significant. His link to Chatham baseball is even deeper as his father played for the 1934 Chatham Coloured All-Stars, which became the first black baseball team to win the Ontario baseball championship.
In 2024, baseball in Chatham kicked it up a notch with its entry into the Intercounty Baseball League; the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers. The name Barnstormers harkens back to the days of Babe Ruth when the off-season of Major League Baseball saw the biggest stars go on “barnstorming” tours, bringing baseball to smaller towns throughout the country. Owned by Dom Dinelle and Matt Nahdee, the team has enjoyed success on and off the field in its first season.
Home for the Barnstormers is Fergie Jenkins Field at Rotary Park. Originally opened in the fifties, Fergie Jenkins Field, as it is now known, has undergone significant improvements making it more of an appropriate field for the league. The original grandstand was razed in 1984 and the current one was constructed in 2010.. There are several aspects of the operation this season that have proven to be successful, however, there are also bumps that the bus has taken in the inaugural season.
The concession scene at Rotary Park is at the very least confusing. The menu includes hot dogs, burgers, soda, popcorn, ice cream, and sunflower seeds. Concessions are run on a ticket system rather than having specific prices. Tickets are purchased near the admission tent, and patrons must line up to redeem their tickets for whatever concession item they wish. Items can be purchased for anywhere from 1 to 3 tickets. Alcohol tickets are purchased separately and can be redeemed for beer or wine.
Fergie Jenkins Field is located in Rotary Park and offers decent grounds for baseball but has some limitations. The main grandstand is a brown brick structure, which looks like it has been upgraded from a previous structure. The covered grandstand offers bleacher seating with backs behind the plate. These are reserved seats and sold as season tickets.
Aluminum bleachers on either side of the main grandstand round out the seating which totals around 800. There is ample space behind the main grandstand for gathering but not much on the baselines. The placement of the bullpens beside the dugouts behind the fence reduces the space for seating and produces terrible sightlines for those not seated in the grandstand or bleachers. The fieldhouse and headquarters of Chatham Minor Baseball along with Kiwanis Stadium, a local soccer facility past centrefield, make the park dimensions rather odd with an extremely short porch in right field.
The park has some attractive decor. Decorative rocks commemorating Fergie Jenkins, the 1934 Chatham Coloured All-Stars, and Rotary Club are found in the well-maintained flowerbeds behind the first base side. Large posters of Fergie Jenkins and Chatham native Bill Atkinson are also found on the brick exterior.
The Barnstormers do their part to build the gameday atmosphere. Live music is played before each game behind the grandstand and there are plenty of promotions between innings. The Barnstormers “Animation Crew” provides entertainment as well, although they were not prevalent during the game that was reviewed. It appears that the Barnstormers are finding a happy medium between the over-the-top Savannah Bananas philosophy and some of the older IBL teams.
Rotary Park is located in a residential area in central Chatham. For fans wishing to get some pre or post-game food, Mike’s Place and Frick’s Fish and Chips are a close walk. Otherwise, hopping in the car and heading toward downtown might be a better option. Sons of Kent Brewery, Centro Wood Fired Kitchen, and Mamma Maria’s may be interesting local options.
Rotary Park is also located near Chatham Memorial Arena which is home to the Chatham Maroons of the GOJHL. The Chatham-Kent Museum may also be a tourist spot of interest. The Holiday Inn beside Cascades Casino may be a good choice for those wishing to stay in town.
It is difficult to assess fans in the IBL as most teams do not publish their attendance figures. That being said, the game that was was sold out as the seating was at capacity. Fans in attendance are into the game. Unfortunately, the park does not adequately accommodate the number of fans in attendance and many are left unhappy about the seating and sightline situation. It will be curious to see how attendance changes after the inaugural season.
Rotary Park is almost 4 km north of Highway 401, the major artery through Southern Ontario. It is also 4 km west of Highway 40. The ballpark is not that difficult to get to and traffic should not be an issue. There are parking spaces along Tweedsmuir Ave, but most of the parking should be found at the Chatham Memorial Arena. There is a bus that goes to Rotary Park for fans who wish to take public transit to the game. The Ride CK website should be consulted for fares, maps, and schedules.
Inside the park, it can be a bit challenging to get around. Although there are some permanent washroom facilities, there are several portable facilities on site. The seating area is not overly conducive for fans with mobility issues but is not awful. The seating is insufficient for the number of fans in attendance and should be addressed.
The main grandstand was all reserved for season ticket holders and the bleachers on the third base side were also completely reserved. The bullpens significantly hinder sightlines and the grass seating beside the bullpens makes for poor sightlines. The Barnstormers website does list lawn chairs as a banned item, however, numerous fans who could not find a spot in the grandstand brought lawn chairs in.
Concession lines are significant and the system of purchasing concessions is confusing for those who are not regulars. Overall, the Barnstormers and Municipality of Chatham-Kent need to address these shortcomings in subsequent seasons.
Tickets for a Barnstormers game cost $12 for adults with discounts for seniors and children. Packages with concessions can also be purchased. Seats are listed as General Admission, but a full explanation as to the reserved nature of the grandstand is not present on the Barnstormers website. Parking is free and concession prices are decent but confusing. The Barnstormers do what they can to provide a solid gameday production, however, the poor sightlines and lack of seating can leave fans with a sour taste in their mouths.
An extra mark for the nod to the history of the Chatham Coloured All-Stars and the historic “Barnstormer” name, which is a bit of a throwback to baseball generations ago.
An extra mark for Fergie Jenkins, who is undoubtedly Chatham’s favourite son.
The inaugural season for the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers has endured some bumps in the road and some of the issues at Fergie Jenkins Field must be addressed.
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Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube, Twitter, Threads and Instagram @profan9.stadium
Aug 15, 2024Soccer stadium digest
Chukchansi Park – Fresno GrizzliesPhotos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey
Chukchansi Park
1800 Tulane St
Fresno, CA 93721
Map It
Fresno Grizzlies website
Chukchansi Park website
Year Opened: 2002
Capacity: 10,650
Chukchansi Park (formerly known as Grizzlies Stadium) hosts the California League minor league baseball Fresno Grizzlies. Fresno’s first baseball team began in 1898, and the sport has been played in the city off and on since. The most current iteration moved to Fresno when the Phoenix Firebirds relocated in 1998.
The Fresno Grizzlies moved from being the Houston Astros AAA affiliate to the Colorado Rockies Single-A affiliate when MLB overhauled and restructured the minor leagues in 2021. The Grizzlies have also been affiliates of the San Francisco Giants and the Washington Nationals.
In Nov 2023, DBH (Diamond Baseball Holdings) purchased the Grizzlies and now owns and operates it, along with 35 other minor league ball clubs.
Chukchansi is a Native American Indian tribe in central California known for their beliefs in advocating early learning and giving students the tools they need to succeed, including the continued education of their historical culture. The tribe owns and operates the Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino, 40 miles north of Fresno. That casino owns the naming rights to downtown Fresno’s Chukchansi Park.
Chukchansi Park offers a decent variety of food and beverage choices.
Concession stands offer hot dogs, corn dogs, burgers, chicken tenders, pizza, fries, and garlic fries ($5 - $14). They also sell a wing helmet basket for $25. Snacks include pretzels, popcorn, cookies, chips, peanuts, nachos, etc. Pepsi provides soft drinks.
At Chukchansi Park, the beer choices are better than average. The permanent concession stands sell it on tap or in a can. A can of beer is $9. The best place for IPA lovers’ beer is a stand-alone cart near section 117 with almost ten varieties of IPAs.
The Oppo Taco concession, way down the first baseline, is a great place to visit. They provide local craft brews and tacos or chorizos. Wine, cocktails, frozen margaritas, and homemade sangria are available at this stand.
The venue has a new bar and social gathering spot with furniture and drink rails down the third baseline.
Chukchansi Park is a good-looking stadium and offers all you would expect from minor-league baseball.
Three levels of seating are available, with suites on the top level. The seats are standard green fold-down stadium chairs with cupholders, average width, and average legroom. All seats are in the shade, and the venue even has much-needed misters on the concourse. Like many minor league parks, the nets go to the foul poles.
Chukchansi Park Mist, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey
Bullpens are on the field just beyond first base (home) and third base (away). One can sit in the low row numbers in section 122 (home) or 106 (away) and be right smack in front of them.
A manual scoreboard is in right-center field, which is a fabulous idea. The stadium has a new scoreboard in left-center field which shows the line score, player stats, pitcher and batter stats, and an abundance of advertisements. Good stuff.
The interior concourse is remarkably wide, with plenty of room to navigate. The Grizzlies post the starting lineups clearly on a first base concourse wall.
The overall music volume is perfect, but the PA announcer is muffled. The game day music person thankfully plays minimal ‘noise’ between pitches. Between-inning contests are innocent and non-invasive and provide just the right amount of minor league entertainment while giving fans something besides baseball enjoyment. Entertainment involves hug cams, taco races, sumo wrestling races, and the like. The team displays fireworks after every Friday night home game. A kid’s play area and splash park are in right field. Kids get to run the bases after Sunday games (and get free ice cream).
Chukchansi Park is in downtown Fresno, with plenty of places to explore before a Grizzlies game. The area has lots of festivities (at least on weekends). Downtown Fresno is in the midst of a revitalization with a new brewery district, additional public transportation, outdoor public art, and new apartments.
Places to eat and drink near Chukchansi Park include Kocky’s Bar and Grill (sports bar) and Los Panchos (Mexican Restaurant and Cantina). It’s best to go pregame as these places close early during the week. Local brewery Tioga-Sequoia is just around the block from the ballpark. Procreations Brewing Company is three blocks away, and Full Circle Taproom and The 411 Rec Room (pub) are within walking distance.
Hotels within walking distance are the SureStay by Best Western Fresno Central and the DoubleTree by Hilton Conference Center. The La Quinta Inn Fresno Yosemite is a mile away.
Other things to visit include the Veterans Memorial Museum (a half mile from the park) and the Fresno Chaffee Zoo (about three miles from the ballpark). Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia National Parks are an hour to an hour and a half’s drive, and all are well worth the visit if in Fresno.
Other sports in Fresno include the Fresno State Bulldogs, and the Fresno Monsters (junior ice hockey).
The Grizzlies’ average attendance has been near 4,200 per game the last few years, putting them at the top of the pack in attendance in the California League.
A few diehard fans sit at the top of the section behind home plate and often bring banners or posters. The fans do heckle and applaud good (and poor) plays and calls. The fans in attendance are thoroughly supportive of the team.
All staff and fans welcome visitors and make you feel welcome and glad you are there. It's such a nice feeling.
It’s easy to get in and out of the area and find parking. Ten-dollar lots are around the park. If you are staying downtown, it’s just a couple blocks walk. Fans should not feel threatened or unsafe walking to and from the stadium.
Fresno has an extensive bus system called FAX (Fresno Area Express). Route 28 looks to be the one to take, but check the FAX website first.
The closest airport (a very nice one) is Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT), a 12 – 15 min drive to the ballpark. An Amtrak station is also within walking distance (1/2 mile) of downtown and the ballpark.
Once in the stadium, the concourses are wide open and easy to navigate. Restrooms are sufficient and serve their purpose. Ramp access is available at any of the entrances, and there are plenty of accessible seating choices.
The Fresno Grizzlies just recently incorporated a clear bag-only policy. Clear bags up to 16” x 16” x 8” and small clutches up to 5” x 8” are allowed. It is supposed to speed up entry into the park.
Ticket prices run from $10 - $65 (five dollars more for premium nights, including all Friday and Saturday games). A recommendation is to buy the cheap seats and sit anywhere you want, as the venue does not sell out often. Just move to another seat if those ticket holders show up.
The Grizzlies offer daily specials such as Two for Tuesdays (2 for 1 ticket, $2 soda, and ice cream), Tioga Thursdays (two 19.2 oz beers for $10), Save Mart Sundays (bring your receipt and get $5 off each ticket), and the like.
Plenty of promotions occur throughout the season, including fireworks, Christian fellowship night, bark in the park, diversity and inclusion night, back-to-school night, heritage nights, and so on. Check the team’s website for all the specials and promotions.
If watching the ball game is the main purpose for visiting Chukchansi Park, this is actually quite a perfect minor league baseball experience.
It costs $10 to park (seems high, to me, for Single-A ball). Concessions are reasonably priced, and the team offers deals on certain days.
The revitalization of downtown Fresno is extremely noticeable. Thanks to the local businesses, the community, and the city for its continued efforts to restore the downtown area to what it once was, but better. The most recent updates to Chukchansi Park are the new scoreboard and lights.
I love manual scoreboards and am ever so pleased the Grizzlies have continued to maintain the one the ballpark provides.
Chukchansi Park Manual Scoreboard, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey
I was fortunate to attend a Fiesta Oso featuring the Lowriders de Fresno. The Grizzlies dressed as the Lowriders, and the venue displayed many customized cars during the festival.
Although the team moved from a Triple-A to a Single-A affiliation a few years ago, attending a ballgame at Chukchansi Park is still an enjoyable day/evening out with good baseball. For those who live in Central California, I encourage you to visit Fresno and the ballpark. For those who haven’t been to the city in a while, you’ll be pleased with the resurgence of the downtown area.stadium
Aug 14, 2024Soccer stadium digest
Wilson Park - Vallejo SeaweedPhotos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey
Wilson Park
1007 Solano Ave
Vallejo, CA 94590
Map It
Vallejo Seaweed website
Wilson Park website
Year Opened: 1975 (an educated guess)
Capacity: 900
The Vallejo Seaweed are a member of the independent Pecos League and play their baseball games at Wilson Park in Vallejo, CA (a little over 30 miles northeast of San Francisco).
Wilson Park is city-owned, and the Greater Vallejo Park, Recreation, & Open Space Foundation maintains the park. The park also has youth ballfields, a children’s play area with a jungle gym, and shaded picnic areas. You will frequently see dog walkers along its paths. The Babe Ruth League (youth baseball) also plays games at Wilson Park.
The Vallejo Seaweed played as the Santa Cruz Seaweed in 2021 and 2022. They moved to Vallejo in 2023 and are playing their second season at Wilson Park in 2024. The Vallejo Seaweed has not yet been in the postseason. They battled for a spot in the conference finals this 2024 season but didn’t quite make it.
One sad-looking concession stand sells basic stadium fare: hot dogs, nachos, chips, ice cream, and sunflower seeds ($2 - $5). Canned beer (Coors Light, Bud Light, Modelo, Michelob Ultra, and Heineken) sells for $5. Canned Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, and bottled water costs $2. It’s enough for a snack.
The stadium has three sections (14 rows each) of old dark blue wooden bleachers with two sets of handrails in the main seating area behind home plate. The venue has a welcome feature - some portable seatbacks for fans. The steps are very steep. Those uneasy on their feet should choose the first or second row. Additional sets of bleachers lay beyond each dugout. The grandstand is covered, though you will get some sun during the first few innings. A thick chain link fence surrounds the entire field.
A simple dot matrix scoreboard in left field displays the line score, balls, strikes, and outs. Trees adorn the outfield. The batter’s eye is trees.
The announcer calls the starting lineup nice and slow. Fans keeping score can complete their scorecards unrushed. Irritatingly, the music person plays tunes over the PA announcements, so those who keep score must strain hard to hear the names.
The home side is third base.
The Pecos League has two umpires. It has a ‘pass the hat’ for fans to drop in a few bucks after a player hits a home run. Players in this league get paid a pittance. All the funds from the ‘passing of the hat’ go to the player to help with expenses. One unique aspect of a Pecos League game is that the pitchers bat.
Remember to bring a sweatshirt or jacket as it can get chilly when the sun sets.
The baseball park is two miles from the downtown area of Vallejo. You can enjoy a meal at Provisions (breakfast, lunch, and California beer - this restaurant closes at 4 pm except on Fridays when it stays open until 8 pm) or Bambinos Vallejo (Italian). A mile north of downtown, on the Napa River, enjoy The Sardine Can (seafood).
Try the Mare Island Brewing Co. – Ferry Taproom or the recently opened Vallejo Brewing Company (open for business Thurs – Sun) for local breweries.
The biggest tourist attraction in Vallejo is the Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. Visitors can experience the educational Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum, right downtown. The San Francisco Bay Ferry (passengers only) stops in Vallejo. If you like ferry rides, this activity is something to check out. Vallejo is on the southern border of Napa Valley and Suisun Valley. Many vineyards, wineries, and tasting rooms are within a 10-mile drive. I went to the Wooden Valley Winery, and it was delightful. The staff even enjoy talking baseball!!
There are no hotels near the ballpark. You’ll find plenty along I-80 over a mile away.
Other sports to see when in the area include the San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics (until the end of 2024), and other Pecos League teams (the San Rafael Pacifics and the Martinez Sturgeon).
Attendance is small but mighty. About 35 – 40 fans (including dogs) attended the game of this review. The fans (human) heartily cheer on their team.
The crowd is fun. There’s a good rapport between the PA announcer and the regular fans. He calls on regular visitors by name to ring their bell.
There is no need to get to a Seaweed game early, as the team operations are still in the process of setting up 30 minutes before the first pitch.
The closest commercial airport is San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport (OAK), about 35 miles south. Fans in the Bay Area can take the BART (red line) to El Cerrito Del Norte, catch the El Cerrito Del Norte BART Express bus to Curtola Park & Ride, and walk ½ mile to the park.
Upon entry, the team does not have a security check or bag rules. Coolers are not permitted.
The stadium has bathrooms. Bring some extra tissues, in case they’re out. I learned the hard way.
The steps are steep; the facility does not look that conducive to fans with physical impairments.
Parking is free; entry is $10 for general admission (sit wherever you like). Concessions are an affordable $2 - $5. It is an inexpensive evening out.
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The Pecos League is the only league that does not use a designated hitter, following the 2019 National League rules with the pitcher hitting.
It’s mostly about the baseball game in Vallejo, not a lot of other bells and whistles. It’s an affordable night out to hear the crack of the bat and see the rise of dust as an infielder fields a ground ball or when a player slides into base. Veteran purist baseball fans should enjoy the experience at Wilson Park.stadium
Aug 14, 2024