Fenway Park
Before I begin ranking the ball parks, I would like to make it clear that these are only my personal rankings. I do not claim to speak for anyone else or any of you. I also reserve the right to change my mind year after year.
For example, the first time I attended a game in Kansas City I really enjoyed it and had Kaufmann Stadium easily in my top ten ball parks. However, this was before their $250 million renovation. After “The K” had a facelift and the green grass beyond some of the outfield wall was turned to concrete in the name of “progress,” it has become one of the stadiums I like the least, even though the amenities and updated remodeling in certain parts of the stadium have supposedly made it so much better.
Sometimes how one views a ball park has to do with their experience there, too. If you sit in a section where the people are friendly, you may think positively about the fans of that team and, in turn, think more favorably of that venue. Likewise, if you sit in a section with a few troublemakers, it will impact your experience and that is what you will remember from your one and only visit to that stadium.
For example, I read a recent article from someone who has now watched a game at every MLB stadium. They were positive about Wrigley Field and not so kind to Fenway Park because of having seats behind a steel beam, which affected their viewing pleasure and experience. After having been at Wrigley Field over 20 times and Fenway Park almost 10 times, I can say with certainty that there are just as many spots in Wrigley, as there are at Fenway, where you may have an obstructed view. This particular person obviously let their one seat location at Fenway dictate their overall view of that park.
Wrigley Field
The day of the week is another factor in potentially judging a ball park. If you go to an early weeknight game, the atmosphere is likely to be more subdued and the facility is likely to have fewer people than it would during a weekend contest. You may come home from your tour thinking that ball park was or was not what you expected due to the day of the week or the opponent you saw play. Yankee Stadium is a different world when you see them play a weekend game versus the Red Sox than when you see them play a Monday game against a team such as the Astros.
Another example of personal preferences is Detroit. I do not like Comerica Park. However, I have had several people on our tours that rank it among the top of their lists. It’s simply a matter of personal opinion.
I am ranking the parks not solely on their facility. If I did a nicer park like Nationals Park would be much higher than Dodger Stadium. I am also factoring in the surrounding area of the park such as views and game day experience. If you set a stadium near natural beauty, like Chavez Ravine, that’s an example how I can like Dodger Stadium better than a place like Nationals Park.
PNC Park
Also, if I judged parks solely for their ball park only, a venue like Wrigley Field would be close to the bottom of my rankings, rather than in the top five that I have them in below.
With all of this being said, this is my personal rankings of favorite places to attend a baseball game as we are about to enter the 2015 regular season:
http://bobsbaseballtours.com/bobs-ball-park-ratings/
