Here are the top five baseball stadiums right now. In the rankings the quality of the experience was taken into account as well as the surrounding scenery. This was a difficult ranking, but the author has been to all five stadiums in the rankings and all five stadiums listed in the honorable mention, and many more.
The stadium, or venue, in which you see a baseball game can make or break a fan’s experience. A great stadium can make your day and is the attraction if you are not interested in the game. Do you prefer newer or classic baseball stadiums?
5. Fenway Park – Boston Red Sox (Seats 37,755)
The grand old stadium is on the bucket list of many people. It is cramped, with many obstructed view seats. It has antiquated facilities as it opened in 1912. That said, seeing a game there is sure to be memorable, with the iconic green monster wall in left field. The monster even has seats on it.
The majestic green field is probably what A. Bartlett Giamanti (who was the President of Yale University and the Commissioner of baseball) was thinking about when he wrote ‘Green Fields of the Mind.’ Fenway Park could probably be listed on the National Historic Register of places. The Red Sox, who call Fenway Park home, are even good every so often.
4. Camden Yards – Baltimore Orioles (seats 44,970)
When it opened in 1992, Oriole Park at Camden Yards was a reaction to the cookie cutter, artificial turf, all-purpose stadiums of the 1970s. And what a response it was. More than thirty years after it opened it remains a great place to see a baseball game. What is particularly nice is the home run placards on the ground on Eutaw Street (which runs past right field).
The warehouse beyond the right field wall, and Eutaw Street is a nice touch and is supposed to be the location of Babe Ruth’s birth. There is a playground along the first base line if you have little children who need a distraction. Even the food is good.
3. Wrigley Field – Chicago Cubs (seats 41,649)
The oldest stadium in major league baseball, it opened in 1914, and it has been designated a national landmark. Despite being somewhat cramped, Wrigley Field is a must get to place for most people. With the ironic brick wall surrounding the green field covered in ivy this makes for a scenic place to see a baseball game. If you cannot get into the park, and you should, there are seats on the roofs of the buildings across the street. The Cubbies are lovable losers, so rooting for them adds to the ambiance.
2. Oracle Park – San Francisco Giants (seats 41,265)
This Stadium opened in 2000 and is celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary. The view from the upper deck of the bay is great. That view is worth the price of admission alone, and there is a baseball game occurring on the field. One thing to watch is that it usually gets cold near the end of the game, though not as bad as Candlestick Park. Even the advertisements on the outfield wall are done tastefully, with unique extensions to the wall. This is a great place to see a baseball game.
1. PNC Park – Pittsburgh Pirates (seats 38,747)
The Pittsburgh Pirates have been bad for the last thirty years, but they got this stadium correct. The view if the city and bridges from the seats in the park is nothing short of breathtaking. Even though the baseball is bad the views are extraordinary. It is even relatively affordable to see a game there.
Honorable Mention
It is good that there is an honorable mention list here because it was difficult to rank these stadiums. It is the case that most cities with baseball parks think that the park, which is often funded by the taxpayers of that city, is the center of the city. Several cities have strategically located their baseball fields in run-down areas of town and consciously tried to build up the surrounding neighborhoods. Washington, DC, is a case in point. So, without further ado, here is the list of honorable mentions.
Petco Park – San Diego Padres (seats 40,209); Dodger Stadium – Los Angeles Dodgers (seats 56,00); Target Field – Minnesota Twins (seats 38,544); Citi Field – New York Mets (seats 41,800); Yankee Stadium – New York Yankees (seats 50,287)
Conclusion
This is a little bit of a subjective ranking, but the author has been to these stadiums and many, many more. Some of the stadiums not on this list are good places to see a baseball game. The experience is enhanced, especially because tickets stubs no longer exist if one keeps score.
