A little bit of heaven begins again this week. Baseball. Among the days on my calendar (like Christmas and our anniversary), opening day is just an absolute joy in our family. We have lived within footsteps of the St. Louis Cardinals stadium prior to moving to the suburbs and have spent our years traveling to and from stadiums all over the country. With our love of travel, it also comes with a lot of opinions, comparisons, and observations. With that being said, I dedicate this week to baseball!
Over the past couple of years, I have started reviewing the stadiums that we have visited just with my point of view. I do not necessarily mean to hurt anybody feelings when I say that I still think that Busch Stadium is one of the greatest ones out there or that Cardinals fan are the best. That is just my opinion -- but what kind of Cardinals fan would I be if I felt otherwise?! I still however give each stadium their own chance and a clean slate. I look for great food, a good crowd base, the stadium's surroundings and architecture, and above all, if the team, the fans, the game feels like an old American tradition. With a community hugging the team. Supporting their players. Loving the game.
Duston and I visited the AT&T Park in the summer of 2012 on a Californian baseball adventure. We spent a week traveling from one end of the state to the other, visiting each major league baseball stadium along the way. AT&T Park was our first stop.Opening its doors in 2000, this baseball field is located in the heart of San Francisco. Nestled on the southern tip of the bay, spectators can be seen in the waters on kayaks and boats with hopes of catching the home runs that soar over the outer walls of the stadium. If anybody was to ask my husband, he would assure them that the Giants have the worst fans. Most would assume that the recent World Series created a rivalry within him that would provoke such a statement; however, I agree with him…when I typically don’t.
We sat in the bleachers on a June afternoon with many other baseball lovers. It was a weekday game, and generally, at day games, there are array of businessmen and younger families that consume the crowds. We, however, found ourselves sitting in between a couple of hoodrats that loved to express their feelings toward other players aloud for all to hear. The personal comments that those fans yelled at the Astros players that day were beyond low, and they quickly became cruder as the game progressed. This quickly granted the “worst fans” award to the Giants.
On the other hand, the stadium is beautiful. It is a nicely built structure with multiple modern amenities. There are over 6,000 luxury and club seating. AT&T Park has been given the reputation as the most pitcher-friendly ballpark as well. McCovey Cove, a coined term for the area of the San Francisco Bay around the stadium, is a prime area for hitters to aim for as they attempt homeruns into the bay. The “splash hits” counter keeps track of exactly how many balls have made it into the waters. Additionally, iconic sculptures, such as a cable car, are featured in and around the stadium to add an additional touch.
I personally loved the atmosphere of the Giants stadium. The fans were a little ruthless; however, the stadium itself was easily accessible and super clean. The structure felt similar to Busch Stadium, our love and home stadium, and the game that afternoon was a good game. The area around the stadium was gorgeous and felt super safe. Transportation in and out was a breeze and it was truly an overall great experience.
Have you ever visited the San Francisco area? What is your favorite thing about AT&T Park?
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