CHRONICLE 15-16 ISSUE 14

38 The Chronicle March 21 - 27, 2017 chronicle.durhamcollege.ca Sports
Baseball stadiums worth
The MLB
has some
of the best
stadiums in
the world
Michael Welsh
The Chronicle
PNC Park in Pittburgh is widely regarded as one of the best stadiums in baseball.
The fresh cut grass, the bleachers,
a stadium dog, a cold beer and of
course some great baseball. There’s
nothing quite like a day at the ballpark.
The Rogers Centre is a great
venue for people living in the GTA
to cheer on their hometown Blue
Jays, but with 30 MLB teams, the
league has so much more to offer.
So this summer, why not pack up
the car with a few friends and hit
the road to one of the many gorgeous
and historic ballparks within
a day’s drive of Toronto.
Baseball is the ultimate family
game, with roots that go back almost
200 years. Baseball historian
and Canadian Baseball Hall of
Fame inductee, William Humber,
says the game’s deep, traditional
roots are what make it attractive to
so many different types of people.
“People are able to trace their
love of the game back many generations,”
says Humber. “I have
grandchildren now that are fourth
generations fans of the game.”
Humber is a published author
who has written multiple books
about sports in Canada, particularly
baseball. He also teaches a
course at Seneca College called
Baseball Spring Training for Fans.
He recommends his students visit
other stadiums, besides the Rogers
Centre.
One of the problems with getting
young people to visit baseball
stadiums is that the game does not
have the same appeal for young
people as it used to.
According to Geoff Baker of
the Seattle Times, the MLB has
the oldest fans of any major sport.
Many people believe the slow pace
of the game turns young people
away, however Humber believes
this isn’t true.
“When the Blue Jays became a
good team the past couple of seasons
it was largely young people going
out to the games and enjoying
the full experience,” Humber says.
“We like the speed it up tempo of
other games but baseball has an
endearing charm.”
The Blue Jays’ success has been a
lot of fun to watch, but it has come
at a cost for fans wanting to see a
game live. Toronto had an average
attendance of 41,000 last season,
which was tops in the AL.
Tickets sold out weeks in advance
for much of the summer. Fans
wanting to catch a game either
had to plan a long time before going
or had to pay much more on
the second-hand market.
The narrative is likely to be the
same this year should the Blue
Jays enjoy similar success. Taking
a drive to a foreign ballpark would
give you a better chance at getting
tickets for a reasonable price.
The success has also been very
beneficial to youth baseball in the
GTA.
According to Howard Birnie,
president of the Leaside Baseball
Association, enrollment was up
over 25 per cent in the summer of
2016 compared to 2015. Humber
Photograph courtesy of Michael Welsh
Baseball stadiums are an exciting experience for everyone.
says it’s no surprise baseball interest
has spiked in the GTA at the same
time the Blue Jays have fielded their
most competitive team for the in
over two decades.
“The Blue Jays are the benchmark
for baseball in not just Toronto
but all of Canada,” says Humber.
“As the Jays improve, suddenly
people are more aware of the game,
particularly kids. They want to play
it and watch.”
Interest in baseball as a whole
continues to grow. Attendance
across the league has never been
higher. Fans flock from all around
to have a full entertainment experience
at the state of the art stadiums
baseball has to offer. Every ballpark
has unique features and provides its
own atmosphere. Whether it be the
history, framework, or attractions
within the stadium, each of these
parks is worth paying a visit to this
summer.
PNC Park - Pittsburgh
-Opened in 2001
-575 km from DC/UOIT
-Blue Jays do not play there this
season
PNC Park is home to the Pittsburgh
Pirates and is widely regarded
as one jewels in all of baseball.
Built with a salute to classic
stadiums like Fenway and Wrigley,
it is a modern stadium that has a
feel of an old-time ballpark. When
PNC opened it was named the best
stadium in the MLB by ESPN.
The stadium is located along the
Allegheny River with spectacular
views of the downtown skyline from
the outfield.
The stadium is easily accessible
from the downtown core. From
the Roberto Clemente Bridge you
can see the arches which make the
concourse of PNC so recognizable.
On game days, the bridge is closed
off to cars and transformed into
an interactive experience for fans.
Photograph by Michael Welsh
Fans can enjoy some food and a
beer while listening to live music
and playing games before entering
the stadium.
The 38,000-seat venue is the
perfect mixture of old-time charm
with all the modern amenities to
create an exceptional fan experience.
Comerica Park - Detroit
-Opened in 2000
-432 km from DC/UOIT
-Blue Jays will be at Comerica
July 14-16
Comerica Park is a centerpiece
of the revival of downtown Detroit.
An area that was once avoided by
many people has become an entertainment
hub.
Baseball has
an endearing
charm.
The stadium is right beside Ford
Field, home to the NFL’s Detroit
Lions and right across the street
from the soon-to-be-complete
Little Caesar’s Arena, future home
of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings
and the NBA’s Pistons. Detroit will
be the only city in North America
to have an MLB, NFL, NHL and
NBA team in its downtown core.
The area around the stadium is
loaded with sports bars, including
Cheli’s Bar, owned by former Red
Wing Chris Chelios, located right
across the street. The area is also
full of sports stores and lots of parking
for easy access to the stadium.
The inside of the ballpark was
designed with the whole family in
mind. There is a ferris wheel and
carousel for kids to enjoy, a giant
water feature in centre field that
celebrates Tigers’ homeruns and
other moments in the game. For
the adults, there is a beer garden
on the main concourse and a brew
house on the second deck.
Fans can also check out the Walk
of Fame. It has statues and plaques
of Tigers’ legends going all the way
back to the 1800’s.
Wrigley Field - Chicago
-Opened in 1914
-901 km from DC/UOIT
-Blue Jays will be at Wrigley
August 18-20
Wrigley Field is one of the most
historic stadiums in all of sports.
With over 100 years of history, a
visit to Wrigley is an experience
of its own, a baseball game is just
the cherry on top. The home of the
2016 World Series champion Cubs
is known for its ivy outfield wall and
scoreboard that is still operated by
hand.
Unlike most major league teams,
the Cubs play most of their games
during the daytime, even on weekdays.
The only time they play at
night is for nationally televised
broadcasts. Wrigley Field didn’t
even add lights on the field until
1988. This is just another way the
Cubs have stuck to the traditional
roots of baseball.
Given the age of Wrigley, many
people have been calling for a new
stadium for decades. This idea is
not usually met with agreement
from those who love the history
and feel of this classic park.
Wrigley is currently undergoing
renovations of over $500 million to
make the stadium more modern.
The renovations go beyond just the
park though. The Cubs are working
with business owners to revitalize
the neighbourhood around the
park with new restaurants, hotels
and stores.
To get a truly unique experience
unlike anywhere else, fans
can watch the game from rooftop
bleachers across the street. Since
the 1980’s, building owners across
the street from Wrigley have sold
tickets that overlook the outfield
wall and right into the stadium.
This is truly a one a kind way to
watch a baseball game.
Fenway Park - Boston
-Opened in 1912
-843 km from DC/UOIT
-Blue Jays will be at Fenway July
17-20, September 4-6 and 25-27
The only stadium in baseball that
could challenge Wrigley for its rich
history is Fenway Park. The home
of the Boston Red Sox has been
used as much more than a baseball
stadium in its more than 100 years.
The stadium is used to host special
European soccer games, outdoor
hockey games, NCAA football and
is a popular concert venue.
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