A Definitive Ranking of America's Baseball Stadiums: 3 More!
My ranking of MLB stadiums
Our Baseball Stadium Tour
A few years back, my cousin and her husband set out on a venture to travel to all 30 baseball stadiums. A lover of baseball myself, I had already racked up a few ballparks on my own; however, two are better than one. Once my baseball-loving husband decided to jump on board, we were up for the challenge. This past July, we reached the three-fourths mark.
I have decided to rank each stadium so far (an updated list will occur when I have finished) based on three simple criteria, also known as the 3 A's:
- The Atmosphere: This includes the fans and their enthusiasm. The more diehard and crazy they are, the further up on the list the stadium will fall.
- The Amenities: This includes what is around the outside of the stadium and what special features the inside of the stadium has to offer.
- The Ancestry: Even though I am a lover of baseball, I by no means claim that I have knowledge of all things baseball. While I can't rattle off the starting lineup of the 1936 Yankee roster, I do appreciate a stadium that is rich in history.
So without further ado, here is my list.
27. Tropicana Field (St. Petersburg, Florida)
Do you love large, obtrusive structures oddly reminiscent of orange juice squeezers standing out in the middle of a city? If so, this stadium is for you.
The inside of this stadium robs you of the lovely Florida springtime weather and provides you with ample views of ... tarped-off sections of the stadium. The fluorescent lighting makes you feel as if you are staring into a hotel bathroom mirror. Everyone's dream.
However, have no fear; there are plenty of amenities! And by plenty of amenities, I mean if you like battling small children to touch living stingrays who look just as depressed as the fans are.
A team that has only been around for a mere 20 years and boasts no World Series wins, a move to Montreal might be best for this team in the future. The only reason I even remotely enjoyed this ballpark was that I was with good company.
26. Oakland Alameda Coliseum (Oakland, California)
This stadium lies adjacent to the BART and a vast wasteland of nothingness (except where the Warriors play). Considering the surrounding Bay Area is so nice, I would have thought this stadium would have more pizazz. But, alas, it falls subject to one of the crappier ballparks in MLB.
Mt. Davis blocks any good chance the stadium remotely has of a good view, and it is mostly tarped off. There is no wow factor nor any amenities worth mentioning.
However, the atmosphere was good. I will give them that. Other than that, I think this stadium is permanently stuck second to last.
25. Globe Life Park in Arlington (Arlington, Texas)
It's hard not to let the weather affect my decision on this one, but then again, it was 39–41 degrees at the start of the game in Texas in April when the day before was in the 80s and sunny. Therefore, the crowd was kind of lackluster, and many food stands were closed.
Globe Life has a retro ballpark feel to it, which makes it kind of cool in a nostalgic way; however, a new one opened in 2020. (Maybe the weather can have a chance to redeem itself during our visit to the DFW and Chip and Joanna Land). There isn't too much around the ballpark except Six Flags and Jerry World, aka AT&T Stadium. I, personally, always enjoy a ballpark more when the outside area boasts restaurants and bars.
As for inside the stadium itself, I was impressed that they had gluten-free beer at a vegan stand. So that's a plus! The jumbotron had fun games and quips, and the between-innings entertainment was slightly strange (Why were there dots racing? Why did the little girl have to run so far to steal a base? And why, when they scored a run, did people with Texas flags have to race across an out-of-place green space in the outfield?), but worthwhile fun nonetheless. However, I do have to rank this a little low for lack of atmosphere and amenities.
24. Guaranteed Rate Field (Chicago, Illinois)
Southside ≠ best side. I found this whole stadium obnoxious. From the loud youths trying way too hard to impress the girls they were with to the obtrusiveness of the stadium itself (the ramp to go up was outside of the stadium and dragged on for too long), I found myself displeased with the stadium for the whole game.
James got a soggy Buona Beef© sandwich, and I got a mediocre pizza. We left our seats in the bottom of the seventh inning to get away from the fans sitting near us and to walk around the stadium. I found nothing worth mentioning and no saving grace. The Sox lost too.
Sorry White Sox, the Cubs definitely upstage you in this city. I literally know virtually nothing about the team and its ancestry. Sorry if I should, but I don't care.
*Turner Field (Atlanta, Georgia)
Since the Braves have left and taken their services outside of Hotlanta to SunTrust Park, this stadium doesn't officially count in the rankings, but this is where it would fall otherwise.
Turner Field really had nothing going for it except one RibHouse restaurant outside of the park and a fun, but maybe offensive chop that fans did whenever the Braves did something noteworthy. The team was good in the '90s, but it isn't the '90s anymore, so perhaps a new stadium is very much welcomed.
23. Chase Field (Phoenix, Arizona)
Maybe if we hadn't visited this stadium in the dead of July with temperatures pushing 110° F, this ballpark would be higher on the list.
We found ourselves pre-gaming under the coveted misting spray stations. The atmosphere before the game was lively, and the bars and restaurants lying adjacent to the stadium gave the field some bonus points despite the heat.
Even though I am not a huge fan of indoor baseball, I was thankful for the reprieve of the retractable roof. During the game, we found ourselves seated next to other baseball fans who were traveling to all the ballparks as well, so we had a good time breaking down each stadium with them.
As for the amenities, there is a pool in right-centerfield if you want to dish out a pretty penny.
Lastly, there isn't too much to show for the ancestry (the team was founded in 1998) except a World Series championship in 2001. I was glad to "chase" this stadium away.
22. Minute Maid Park (Houston, Texas)
My experience here can be summed up in two words: Torchy's Tacos. Yes, that's right. We spent over 1/3 of the game waiting in line for what I assumed were going to be the BEST tacos in the world. With each step closer, my mouth watered in anticipation, and my eyes bulged in delight until, alas, we made it to the front, where I found out that they only had 4 pre-made tacos on their menu, and the cashier spent 10 minutes determining whether I did or did not want hot sauce with my tacos. I didn't.
The next 2/3s of the game consisted of eating the mediocre tacos, listening to the announcer sensually announce the opposing team's players when they came up to bat, staring at a guy with a gnome hat, wondering about the actual height of Jose Altuve, reluctantly doing the wave, looking up pictures of Chris Devenski on a dragon, and willing for the Astros to get a home run, so the train could move. Yes, there is a Texas Beef train with oranges at the stadium.
The atmosphere was good since they just won a World Series, but other than that, nothing stood out too much except the amount of time I spent waiting for Torchy's Tacos.
21. Nationals Park (Washington D.C.)
Another NL East rival of the Mets, the Nationals' stadium was still just meh to me.
Sure, the pre-game atmosphere of the BullPen is tantalizing with its cornhole boards, live music, and food trucks, and the in-between innings fun is captivating with their gigantic George Washingtons and Teddy Roosevelts running the bases. And Nationals Park is one of those new-age stadiums where everything is bigger, louder, and bolder, so amenities are abounding.
But, still, overall, something was missing: the ancestry. The Nationals have only been around since 2005, and even if in the last few years they have been on the brink of greatness, there are no banners and statues of the years and players that once were. No 70-year-old fans recounting the good ole days when they would take the train into the city and watch the likes of Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron, Ken Griffey Jr., Willie Mays, or Babe Ruth. There is just something about the allure of a stadium that can boast such history. However, all in due time, Nationals Park.
In a decade or two, fans will be recalling the days of Bryce Harper and Daniel Murphy.
Nationals Park
20. Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Maybe it is because the Phillies are NL East rivals to my team, the Mets, or because there were pending thunderstorms that caused us to arrive late to the game and consequently leave early, but I was simply not impressed with this stadium.
Located in a multicomplex section outside of the city, there isn't much besides the Phillies, Flyers, 76ers, and Eagles stadiums, along with their obnoxious fans (don't worry, I have a lot of friends from Philly) milling about and yelling whatever things they yell. Overall, this stadium is an "eh."