Worst parks you've seen a game in

[ElHalo]

What, in your opinion, are the worst parks you've seen a game in?

I for one have seen games in Montreal, which everyone said was terrible. However, other than the anitiseptic nature of the park (no personality AT ALL) and the roof that didn't open, I thought it was nice enough. No Yankee Stadium, of course.

The worst MLB park, that I've been to, is Shea Stadium. The upper deck is so highly sloped that you can't fit your feet flat on the ground because the seat in front of you is in the way. The sight lines are terrible, the cheesy fake apple in the top hat is annoying, the parking is awful (and mass transit isn't as easily accessible as at YS), and AIRPLANES FLY OVER EVERY THIRTY SECONDS. Absolutely awful place to watch a ballgame.

[BasEbaLlKnoItAll]

I think all of those "cookie cutters" back in the late 70's, 80's, and early 90's. You know what im talking about the Riverfront Stadiums, Shea Stadiums, Olympic Stadiums of the world. The round stadiums that have the round seat format on all the levels except the field level which accomadates the field. The astroturf as well. Lets see what we got:

Riverfront Stadium
Shea Stadium
Olympic Stadium
Bush Stadium
Kingdome
Veterans Stadium
Astrodome
Three Rivers Stadium
Atlanta Fulton County Stadium

those are the main ones but there is of coarse others who have similar features. But notice for the most part they were NL stadiums (except Kingdome). Just my opinion, i think that was the worst stadium trend EVER. Other than that i think Pro Player is definately up there on the list of worst stadiums. Well now i guess its called "Dolphins Stadium".

Though the only Stadiums ive seen a ML game in are Yankee, Shea, Fenway, Camden Yards, Tropicana Field, and the Skydome, this is just my uneducated opinion on the "cookie-cutters".

[tmc_6882]

Originally Posted by ElHalo

What, in your opinion, are the worst parks you've seen a game in?

I for one have seen games in Montreal, which everyone said was terrible. However, other than the anitiseptic nature of the park (no personality AT ALL) and the roof that didn't open, I thought it was nice enough. No Yankee Stadium, of course.

The worst MLB park, that I've been to, is Shea Stadium. The upper deck is so highly sloped that you can't fit your feet flat on the ground because the seat in front of you is in the way. The sight lines are terrible, the cheesy fake apple in the top hat is annoying, the parking is awful (and mass transit isn't as easily accessible as at YS), and AIRPLANES FLY OVER EVERY THIRTY SECONDS. Absolutely awful place to watch a ballgame.

Maybe if that scumbag Jeffrey Loria waas loyal to Montreal instead of being a weasel (i.e. simply using the Expos as a stepping stone to aquire the Marlins), then perhaps, Montreal could've had a much better ballpark than Olympic Stadium:
http://www.ballparks.com/baseball/national/monbpk.htm

[Aegis]

Just my opinion, i think that was the worst stadium trend EVER. Other than that i think Pro Player is definately up there on the list of worst stadiums.

I've been to Busch Stadium. Great place, honestly. I was up in the nosebleeds in RF foul territory and I still had a great time. It's hard to have a bad baseball experience in St. Louis.

I've never been there myself, but I've never heard anything but bad press about, oh, what's the name, Cellular One Field. You know, where the White Sox play.

[west coast orange and black]

Originally Posted by ElHalo

The worst MLB park, that I've been to, is Shea Stadium.

did you see games at shea when the yanks had to use it as their home field in '75 (or maybe '76)?

[Chisox73]

US Cellular Field was hailed as a state of the art ballpark when it opened in 1991.But that praise was definately short-lived when Camden Yards opened up the next year.

Yes,The Cell was a bad place to watch a game.The upper deck was easily one of the steepest in baseball.I was in the last row of the right field upper deck when the Sox clinched the AL West in 1993.From there,you had pretty much a great view of the Chicago Skyline,that was it.

In recent years,The Cell has undergone a transformation to turn a "ballmall" into a "ballpark".The White Sox have added more seating closer to the field,moved the bullpens,created a Fan Deck in center field,where you can get a great view of the action,and have shaved off the top 6 rows of the upper deck.

The ballpark is way better than it was 5 years ago.

[BasEbaLlKnoItAll]

Originally Posted by Aegis

I've been to Busch Stadium. Great place, honestly. I was up in the nosebleeds in RF foul territory and I still had a great time. It's hard to have a bad baseball experience in St. Louis.

no doubt, i was just including that in the category, not by any means was i saying that Busch is a bad park, it just fits the mold of parks that i think are bad parks, with the round structure and the artificial turf for so many years. (until '96 i think)

[west coast orange and black]

oakland coliseum, for the cold, antiseptic feeling. also, it's gotta be the loudest park in the bigs.
anaheim stadium through the mid-90s, because the fans didn't even know when to applaud. (but both edison and the fans are much better now.)

[ElHalo]

Originally Posted by west coast orange and black

did you see games at shea when the yanks had to use it as their home field in '75 (or maybe '76)?

Nope; only seen Yankee home games at Yankee Stadium. But I've seen many a Met game there, and believe me, it's not the kind of place you enjoy going to see a ballgame.

[west coast orange and black]

Originally Posted by ElHalo

Nope; only seen Yankee home games at Yankee Stadium. But I've seen many a Met game there, and believe me, it's not the kind of place you enjoy going to see a ballgame.

i think i'll be seeing the yanks host the mets on 25, 26 june. any tips for me, eh?

[ElHalo]

Originally Posted by west coast orange and black

i think i'll be seeing the yanks host the mets on 25, 26 june. any tips for me, eh?

Yankee/Met games are always very lively affairs; second only to Yankee - Red Sox games. Tip #1: Don't sit in the bleachers. The tickets are dirt cheap (something like $11), and the atmosphere is pure Yankee fan heaven, but I've heard out of towners complain about the poor bathroom and concession situations... as a Bleacher ticket holder, you're not allowed into the other parts of the Stadium, so you feel kind of isolated and second class.

Your first view of the field as you step out of the concourse will be breathtaking, so cherish it.

Beyond that, don't expect to find lots of exotic foods or ferris wheels or other such silly sideshow entertainment; don't expect to drive in (parking facilities are absolutely terrible, and your car is likely to get stolen if you park in nearby neighborhoods, but the subway stop is RIGHT THERE outside the entrance to the Stadium, and there are plenty of bars and restaurants for a carnival atmosphere right outside the subway stop... subway is by FAR the best way to get there, just take the A-C-E north from Manhattan); do expect to hear one of the loudest crowds you've ever heard with plenty of entertaining chants. Have a great time!

[tonypug]

If you go for the love of the game any ballpark is great. I do agree that the cookie cutter were the worst thing to happen ,especially since they took down some wonderful ballparks. Now they are replacing the cookie cutters with ballparks that look like the ones they tore down, go figure.

[west coast orange and black]

Originally Posted by ElHalo

Yankee/Met games are always very lively affairs... Have a great time!

thanx for your time, eh. as it turns out, i will be at yankee stadium during interleague in june, so i will see the pirates.
i have been to the stadium before, and the first glimpse of the field was very memorable. after all, it was yankee stadium.
but no searching for special food or sideshows for me. that stuff i find pretty stupid and i misplaced at a ballpark. and i already have my subway directions.
and lower box seats have already been secured.

no, i was hoping for maybe a little gem of a insider tip. something that gets too-often passed over by fans and is not usually mentioned in guides.

maybe i am asking for too much, as already you mentioned the eab on long island. but if something comes to mind...

[Donnybrook @ Second base]

Elhalo, you must be nuts.

Getting to Shea via Public transportation is a easy as can be, I know you probably miss the crack addicts that frequent the #4 as you approach that dump in the Bronx. LIRR to Woodside one stop. Very easy. Or the other way, 1 stop 2 stops from Penn.

Yankee stadium is just as much of a dump with worse bathrooms, and that takes alot.

They don't even sell "Cracker Jacks" because that whore George got a sweet deal with crunch and munch.

No need to worry about editing Take me out to the ballgame, becasue that self serving George always plays God Bless America instead.

[POLO GROUNDS 1957]

HELLO SHEA STADIUM is not a great park at all. i have been to yankee stadium and it is great. i have HEARD ALOT OF NEGATIVE THINGS ABOUT SHEA. I have never been there and will never go there. lets hope that the METS WILL get a new stadium soon. REMMBER THEY TORE DOWN MY POLO GROUNDS IN 1964 FOR SHEA STADIUM which is a dump. donald

[Donnybrook @ Second base]

I never said it was great, but Yankee stadium is a dump aswell.

[POLO GROUNDS 1957]

Originally Posted by Donnybrook @ Second base

I never said it was great, but Yankee stadium is a dump aswell.

HELLO I WOULD RATHER GO TO YANKEE STADIUM ANYDAY OVER SHEA STADIUM. if i am around when they start to tear down shea stadium i will come to NEW YORK FOR ONE DAY and volenteer my services to the demolition company to take a couple swings at the stadium for free. donald

[Donnybrook @ Second base]

You have never been to Shea, your comments are moot.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Originally Posted by Donnybrook @ Second base

You have never been to Shea, your comments are moot.

He feels the same way about Comerica, which replaced Tiger Stadium. He's just really passionate about those parks. The new stadium could be a veritable Taj Mahal, with every amenity you could dream of, but Donald's fond memories are way more valuable to him.

I don't agree with him, but I respect his feelings.

[POLO GROUNDS 1957]

Originally Posted by Donnybrook @ Second base

You have never been to Shea, your comments are moot.

YES I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO SHEA AND I WILL NEVER GO TO IT I HAVE SEEN IT ON TV AND ALOT OF FRIENDS THAT I KNOW HAVE BEEN THERE AND I RESPECT THERE NEGATIVE COMMENTS ABOUT THE STADIUM. I HAVE NOT HEARD A POSITIVE THING ABOUT SHEA FROM ANYONE THAT I KNOW THAT HAS BEEN THERE. donald detroit mi

[Donnybrook @ Second base]

My feelings about Shea come from about hundreds of ballgames over the last 20+ years.

It is isn't great but it is like an old friend. I take offense to people taking pot shots at it.

Yankee stadium is just as much of a dump, but has some bronze statues so it becomes so much more...Yeah right.

[POLO GROUNDS 1957]

HELLO i went to yankee stadium in 1988 for a red sox yankees game and i really enjoyed being there and the park is great. SOME OF THE STAFF THAT WORKS AT THE PARK WAS NOT GREAT ATT ALL. I also went across the river to go to the polo grounds towers and saw were the PG was located. I wish that i could have seen the 1st yankee stadium at least yankee stadium was renovated something that the polo grounds was not alowed to happen.I will never go to SHEA STADIUM. in 1991 i went to the madison square garden for a NY RANGERS ,DETROIT RED WINGS HOCKEY GAME AND i was not impressed with MADISON SQUARE GARDEN EITHER. remmber they tore down the other MADISON SQ GARDEN IN 1968. SO i have been to YANKEE STADIUM SO I CAN BASE MY OPINIUN on that stadium. also in 1988 i saw were ebbets field was also. DONALD DETROIT MI

[tonypug]

No ballpark should be bashed. Every one is entitled to his or her opinion.The old classic parks should never have been torn down, but they where. At least the cookie cutters are coming down replaced by parks with a little individuality. Until they replace it Shea is where the Mets play and we Mets fans will defend our ballpark.

[ElHalo]

Originally Posted by Donnybrook @ Second base

My feelings about Shea come from about hundreds of ballgames over the last 20+ years.

It is isn't great but it is like an old friend. I take offense to people taking pot shots at it.

Yankee stadium is just as much of a dump, but has some bronze statues so it becomes so much more...Yeah right.

Sorry buddy; I've been going to Shea Stadium games forever, and it's not even close to being a patch on Yankee Stadium.

Yes, the bathrooms are poor in both places. No, Yankee Stadium doesn't have jet aircraft flying over every thirty seconds. No, Yankee Stadium doesn't have hideous neon baseball players five stories high on its exterior. No, Yankee Stadium doesn't have a hideous papier machet apply in the outfield. No, Yankee Stadium doesn't have a beautiful view of a parking lot beyond the center field wall. No, Yankee Stadium doesn't have upper deck seats so close together that you have to rest your feet on the shoulders of the person in front of you. No, Shea doesn't have the beautiful field vistas of YS. I could go on.

Originally Posted by Donnybrook @ Second base

Elhalo, you must be nuts.

Getting to Shea via Public transportation is a easy as can be, I know you probably miss the crack addicts that frequent the #4 as you approach that dump in the Bronx. LIRR to Woodside one stop. Very easy. Or the other way, 1 stop 2 stops from Penn.

Yankee stadium is just as much of a dump with worse bathrooms, and that takes alot.

This is what I'm talking about when I say it's a pain to get to by public transportation.

First you have to take a subway to Penn Station. Then you have to get off the subway, go into the LIRR area, buy an LIRR ticket, and then hop onto one of their trains... which run on a schedule instead of just coming every few minutes. I'm not sure if you can take a subway to Shea, but if you can, it's got to be by some convoluted route that I've never figured out.

Don't get me wrong; I go see games at Shea all the time, and it's the first MLB stadium I ever went to. But it's a dump, and it really should be replaced. Between Shea and the Nassau Colluseam, Long Island corners the market on crappy sporting venues (Yes, Queens and Brooklyn are on LI. Look at a map.).

[Donnybrook @ Second base]

Originally Posted by ElHalo

This is what I'm talking about when I say it's a pain to get to by public transportation.

First you have to take a subway to Penn Station. Then you have to get off the subway, go into the LIRR area, buy an LIRR ticket, and then hop onto one of their trains... which run on a schedule instead of just coming every few minutes. I'm not sure if you can take a subway to Shea, but if you can, it's got to be by some convoluted route that I've never figured out.

I guess Grand Central station is really hard to get to. The #7 train directly links with every line except the A/C/E line. It is a cross town train.

I have seen barefoot homeless crackheads on the #4 while going to Yankee Stadium, and the parking is quite awful.