or somesuch wrote:
Deloise is about to dominate this thread.
Now up to 18.
Kaufman Stadium -- Really liked this one for a 40 year old stadium. Doesn't try to be retro like most new parks, but isn't outdated despite the appearance of a mid-70's stadium. Fairly small and intimate. Nice hall-of-fame with high levels of baseball history for a fairly young franchise. Side note, only got to hit Oklahoma Joe's for barbecue. But the Z-Man sandwich was worth the drive by itself. And I have never seen so much tailgating before a game. Tents, canopies and other shelters were up when we got there 2 hours before game time. Lots of cornhole, ladderball, and beer pong. And this wins:
Busch Stadium -- Kinda meh. Nice looking downtown stadium with a great outfield view of the city and the arch, only blocks away. But the stadium itself was just like every other new retro stadium. Nothing to distinguish itself. Had some dudebros sitting right behind us that wouldn't shut up. I hate people. Only hit Ted Drewe's Frozen Custard after the game. It was greatness.
U.S. Celluar Field -- Nice stadium for its age. I cut it some slack for it really being the first of the new retro stadiums. The fans around us sucked. Stadium was nice, the upper decks still feel close to the action. But you cannot access any other levels if you have tickets on the upper deck. I assume to keep the degenerate South Siders from disturbing the people in Elysium. We got to see Jose Iglesias make the best defensive play I've ever seen live. Yes, cap, I went after dark.
Wrigley -- What am I supposed to say? We did a night game in the upper deck behind home plate and a day game in the front row of left center in the bleachers. Glad we saw it before the (needed) renovations. I've been to old Yankee Stadium and Fenway, and this compares favorably with Fenway. I felt Yankee Stadium was a toilet and Fenway was well kept and awesome. Like Fenway, Wrigley felt clean and convenient despite its age. It had trough-style pee facilities, but still usable. Also, was offered ganja outside the stadium.
Side note -- Did the food tour of the city. Giordano's, Gino's East, Portillo's, Ed Debevic's. All great. Saw Mario Batalli walking in his orange crocs. Saw an improv show at Second City. Good times.
Miller Park -- Outside of the Mecca of Wrigley, this was probably my favorite stadium. We paid $7 to sit in the upper deck behind home plate and they gave us a $10 voucher for food/beer. Thank you, Ryan Braun! Great view of the field and the open roof mimics the lines of the field for a nice aesthetic (gay). Did nothing else in Milwaukee.
Side trip --
Got to do this in Iowa.Target Field -- Really cool, despite what it looks like on TV. Never liked the travertine behind home plate on TV, but in person, the look distinguishes itself from the rest of the new retros. Downtown stadium with the skyline view, but has plenty of parking, namely an attached garage. We originally had tickets in the third deck in left field but then this happened and was awesome:
Best nachos: Target Field. Triangular chips that didn't feel like store-brand versions of Tostitos.
Best sausage/dog: Brats at Miller Park. Makes sense.
Best beer: Old Style at Wrigley. Fuck you and your craft beer.