MLN Top Ten Minor League Ballparks 2006
Joe Mock
Minor League News
There was a time when minor league baseballparks were for hard core baseball fans. Guys who could be in hog-dog heaven sitting on splintering aged wooden benches, scarfing down antique death dogs and washing it down with skunked beer in a run-down stadium with port-a-potties. Actually the portable facilities would be considered an ‘upgrade’ back in the day.
The modern fans flocking to minor league baseball parks, however, want quite a bit more for their entertainment dollar: Lots of food choices including margaritas, salads and sandwiches, cup holders, clean bathrooms, a changing table for the little ones,and maybe even a pool to lounge by, a place for kids to play, or a place to get married.
In our fifth anniversary ranking of the top-ten minor league and independent parks, we pick ballparks that deliver the "fan friendly" experience for both for locals and sports tourists wanting to catch a minor league game.
What guides our search for a top ten ballpark?
- Does the game-day experience leave the fans well-treated and entertained?
- Is the ballpark attractive and feature facilities which enhance the fans’ enjoyment of the game?
- Do all of the ballpark bells and whistles that generate a great game-day experience deliver impressive attendance numbers?
Baseball Sampler
Where you catch a game can also be a factor because there are many classes, or levels of minor league baseball (See: MLN’s Minor League Baseball Primer). The more As the closer the talent of the players to the major leagues. There is also independent baseball which has no direct ties with Major League Baseball (MLB)
Four of our top ballparks are in the Triple-A, the top level of the minors. Two are from class Double-A. In Single-A, we draw one each from High Class A, Low Class A and the Short-Season A leagues. There is one from an independent league. Two opened for professional baseball last season in 2006’s list.
The winners are:
Click on the link to go to their story:
Do not run out and buy new glasses. Fifth Third Bank sponsors naming rights on ballparks in both Toledo and Dayton, Ohio.
With the exception of the FirstEnergy Stadium most of the ballparks making the grade in the modern minor leagues are ones built during the stadium renaissance of the late 90's and early 21st century.
Read up on each ballpark and what it has to offer by clicking on the links above. Or check out past picks from previous MLN Top Ten Ballpark rankings:
