Here it is my baseball fan friends, your complete, incredibly useful and necessary Fenway Park guide. I’ve put together my best tips for visiting one of my favorite ballparks, and I’m sharing them with you to help you not only save money at Fenway Park, but also get the best bang for your ballpark buck. Whether you’re a frequent or a first time visitor, there’s plenty of useful information here for you.

Fenway Park, I often tell people, is not for amateurs. I learned from my first couple of games there that there are lots of pitfalls to avoid: insanely priced tickets and parking, obstructed views, distant seats, crowded trains, game day traffic, you name it. Think of anything that’s exasperating about going to a ballgame, and Fenway’s got you covered.

Baseball as it is meant to be watched.

But when you know what you’re doing, Fenway is one of the greatest experiences in baseball. It’s an opportunity to take in the experience the way fans have for over 100 years, surrounded by beautiful green walls and red seats, in a space with location-necessitated dimensions, most notably that imposing 37-foot wall in left field.

This essential Fenway Park guide will help you avoid the pitfalls and fully enjoy a memorable Red Sox baseball experience. I’ve broken it down into parts for your easy reference:

Find Deals on Red Sox Tickets
Choosing The Best Seats
The Best Ways To Get To Fenway Park
What to Eat at Fenway Park
Fenway Park With Kids
Photo-Ops and Must-Sees

So after this quick word from our sponsor, we’ll get started.

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Fenway Park Guide, Part 1: Finding Deals on Red Sox Tickets

There are, of course, multiple ways to get tickets to a Red Sox game, and it may take a little effort, but if you plan properly you can save a lot of money on tickets. If you really want to get detailed about it, I’ve written this much more in-depth guide to finding cheap Red Sox tickets, but for this guide I’ll keep it relatively simple.

A big part of the equation is the game you plan to see. High demand games at Fenway are any games against the Yankees, July and August weekend contests, and Opening Day. The Red Sox are aware of this, making tickets available for low demand contests first before the season starts. Low demand contests are games during the week, non-Yankees games in April and May, and September games if the Sox aren’t contending.

Ah, there’s still a few available.

So if you just want to visit Fenway, choose a midweek game in April or May. Go for a day game if you can, because you’ll likely want to be in the sun in Boston during those months. Try to choose a game against an opponent that is over 1,000 miles away and not doing well.

If you choose a low demand game, definitely go through a third party rather than through the Red Sox. I have paid a third of the face price for pretty good seats at Sox games doing this.

Now you know what gift to get for lady Sox fans.

However, if you want to pay as little as possible for a July weekend game against the Yankees, going through the Red Sox website (or the box office if you can, to avoid the fees) might be your best bet.

You need to plan way ahead for this. Sign up for the Red Sox ticket alert newsletter so you know exactly when tickets go on sale and get them at face price, which is probably the cheapest that you’ll find them. The newsletter will alert you to any specials, too.

The Sox also sell multi-game packs of tickets, so you can see a Yankees game if you’re willing to pay full price for a midweek game against Oakland. They’ll let you know.

It’s tough waiting in line just steps away from sausage vendors.

If you live in the Boston area or know someone who does, you can get your tickets at the box office and avoid the “convenience” fees, which are considerable at Fenway.

It’s well-known to Sox fans that the Sox always have a handful of tickets available on game day, and a line usually starts forming well before game time. That’s well well well before game time for Yankees games.

I know several Sox fans who use this option all the time and haven’t been turned away. If you don’t mind the wait, it’s a good way to see a high demand game. Kind of a tradition here.

They actually don’t even use this. It’s just there for Yankees fans.

Again, if you’re just looking to visit Fenway and you’re flexible, choose a weekday over a weekend, and try a game against a far away team that isn’t good. These are your best contests for third party seller tickets. My friends at Gametime are my favorite resource for third party tickets; they often have the best deals and ticket guarantees, which is why I made them an affiliate.

But shop around a little bit. When comparing prices through third parties, be sure to go all the way to the checkout screen and know what you’ll really be paying.

So to find scalpers, don’t go to Gate C.

There are plenty of scalpers around Fenway, and they are very skilled hagglers. Usually they are legit, but check the date and opponent on your ticket, and if you see anything fishy or your gut tells you something isn’t right, don’t buy the tickets. Be willing to walk away or even wait until after the game starts; both could lower the price. In the scalp-free zone, ticket holders with extras can sell them at face price or less, so try that out first. It’s usually at Gate C.

Most importantly, do NOT buy a ticket that says “OV” on it. More about that in a bit.

I say the same thing to people about buying Red Sox tickets on Craigslist. Treat them like scalpers and be careful. If you’re willing to take the risk, you might find the best deal out there. (More about buying baseball tickets on Craigslist here.)

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Here’s where you really see the oldness of Fenway Park.

Fenway Park Guide, Part 2: Choosing The Best Seats

When choosing a seat at Fenway, the goal is to get the best seats that are within your budget. The smaller that budget is, the more careful you have to be to avoid a seat you won’t like.

The most expensive seats at Fenway Park are mostly behind home plate; the Dugout Box and Field Box seats on the field level, and the two tiers of club seats on the mezzanine. All of these offer very good views, cushioned seats in many cases, and usually club access where the food is better. Depending on the type of ticket you get, it may include a parking pass. Whether that’s worth the price is up to you.

Green Monster seats at Fenway…where you pay more because you can.

Green Monster seats are also among the most expensive and are difficult to come by. This is another case where you’ll need the help of your newsletter to know when they’re going on sale.

Incidentally, if it’s a good view you want, avoid the Green Monster seats. They’re more for the experience than the view, which would be the worst in most ballparks. If you’re not in the first row, you’ll lose a good portion of left field in the view.

Still close enough to hear the crack of the bat (eventually)!

This is similarly the case with the right field Ultimate Deck seats. They’re very far away and the view isn’t great, so for the price the Red Sox throw in access to a bar and tables to sit at for eating or drinking.

This space is popular with ballgame socializing types, so maybe you could meet a future Red Sox fan mate here, since a ballgame 500 feet away isn’t likely to be a distraction.

Red seats = no blocked views.

If your budget isn’t quite that expansive, the Loge Box seats are very good, and cost significantly less than the Field Box seats in front of them.

The only slight problem is that Rows AA-CC are “walkway advisory” seats, meaning you’ll have people walking in front of you a lot. With MLB cracking down on people finding their seats during at-bats, this is less of a problem than it used to be.

Not too bad without multiple levels of suites under you.

Similarly, since the mezzanine/upper deck at Fenway isn’t that high at all (support poles are your friend). Pavilion seats offer a great bird’s eye view at a fairly affordable price compared to most seats here.

If you want to save a few bucks more on even that, you can go for Pavilion standing room, which offers a counter and a nice view, better than most standing room here. You might even be able to snag a seat if someone leaves.

Be sure to sign the foul pole!

The Right Field Box and Right Field Upper Box sections are also a decent value for the buck at Fenway. They’re down the right field line past the Field Box sections, and they’re the cheapest seats that close to the field in foul territory.

The seats face the outfield, so you’ll be turning your neck, but it’s not that big a deal. If you’d like to be a step above the cheap seats, these might be the best deal for you.

So now we get into cheap seats, for those of you on a budget, and we’ll start with the Grandstands.

An intimate setting where every fan is your close friend!

The Grandstand seats are behind the field level seats, and they’re covered by the upper level. They’re wooden, small, and tight with little leg room, and of course, there’s those support poles that will likely block your view of some portion of the field (more about that in a minute).

That said, they’re very inexpensive by Fenway standards, and in the middle of a hot or rainy day, you’ll appreciate the cover. It can be a good deal, but you have to work for it.

Note the complete absence of shade.

There are a lot of Bleachers seats in the outfield, and in some cases a Bleachers seat might be preferable to a Grandstand seat (for more details on that, see my seating guide for Fenway).

There’s up to 50 rows of seats in some Bleachers sections, so many seats are very far from the field, and sitting there you could have the sun directly in your eyes in the late afternoon.

There are some advantages, though. Bleachers seats are close to the bullpens, and also close to the Big Concourse if you like better food selection. If you are going for a Bleachers seat, try to get as low as you can.

You probably won’t catch a foul ball back here either.

Finally, the cheapest standing room tickets basically just get you into the ballpark. You are limited to spaces behind the concourse walkways even.

You will have a very hard time finding anything resembling a decent view. Paying whatever amount you need to for an actual seat will almost always be a better alternative.

Ah, here’s the trick…just sit in FRONT of the poles!

Avoiding obstructed views: If you’re going for a Grandstand seat, there are ways to minimize the obstructed view and not have the support pole be too annoying. I go into much more detail about that on this page, but for this Fenway Park guide I’m going to keep it simple.

If you can find a ticket in the first row that doesn’t say “OV” on it, you will likely have a great view, since the pole is usually in the first row. “OV” means Obstructed View, obviously, but it has to be really bad before the Red Sox will admit to it, so avoid “OV” tickets at any cost.

The obstructed view seat is a perfect place for your bag.

Otherwise, in most sections (the right field corner excepted), if you get something between Rows 5-10, and avoid low-numbered seats if you can, you should be okay.

Again, these rules don’t apply to the sections in the right field corner; honestly, take a bleacher seat over those. It’s cheaper and the view is better.

Believe me, you can get much more scientific about this, and I can’t guarantee that you won’t have ANY view problems following this advice, but use the 5-10 rule if you can’t get the first row.

Something in Rows 5-10 and even seats numbered 5-10 is often the best policy for avoiding poor views. Any higher rows may start losing the view of the scoreboards to the overhang.

Click here if you’d like to know more about the dreaded obstructed view and how to avoid it.

Once you get to this point, you’re good.

Fenway Park Guide, Part 3: How To Get To Fenway Park

If you’re a Fenway newbie, I highly recommend against driving to the ballpark, for several reasons. I’ve written this very helpful and detailed guide to getting to Fenway via transit if you need help.

Traffic is extremely slow closer to game time, it’s difficult to get around Kenmore Square, and parking is scarce and extraordinarily expensive. I’ll talk about what to do if you want to drive in a bit, but for your first time, take the T.

The MBTA (called the T in Boston) runs trains on their Green Line to Fenway Park; all but the “E” train stop at Kenmore station, which is a block away from the ballpark. You can park your car much more cheaply at just about any perimeter station, and get to Fenway with at most one transfer.

Easy peezy, and this is how most fans get to the ballpark. So to avoid sardine-level packed trains (and I am not joking about that), leave as early as you can.

Remember, use the Kenmore station, not the Fenway station on the Green Line.

Yes, what they said.

One key thing, get enough value on your trip card for the way back. A crowded station is not a place to be trying to put more money on your card, and it will take a while.

If you don’t mind a bit of a walk and would prefer a less crowded train, you can use the ill-advised E line after all and get off at the Prudential station, where many Sox fans park their car cheaply to get to Fenway. It’s just under a mile walk, and it’s not bad on a nice day.

There’s also the Lansdowne station of MBTA’s Commuter Rail, on the Framingham/Worcester Line. This station is just a fly ball from Fenway, so if you can easily catch this train it’s a nice ride, and you’ll likely have a seat.

The station is in the same spot as $50+ parking lots, to give you an idea of its convenience. The Back Bay station is on this line; I’ll explain the advantage of that shortly.

Yes, they stack cars on top of each other. You’ve been warned.

OK, so you have two viable train lines to get to Fenway, but if you still want to try driving, I’ll help you as much as I can.

As you can imagine, traffic in Kenmore Square gets super slow on game day. It’s a given that you should arrive as early as you can. Most routes to the ballpark involve Storrow Drive, so avoid that if possible.

Keep in mind that if you park close to Fenway, it’s likely going to take you a fairly long time to get out, and there will be pedestrians everywhere.

Yes, you read that right.

For almost any parking within a block or two, and even for some lots a half mile away, you’re going to pay at least $50-60. You can, if you’re willing to walk a bit, drop that price quite a bit, and this is a great time for me to tell you about pre-paid parking.

Here is my number one, most important tip for driving to Fenway Park: Book. Your. Parking. In. Advance.

I have a favorite money-saving trick for this: book your parking at the Prudential Center or at the 100 Clarendon Street lot. You can use my friends at SpotHero for great Red Sox parking, including that garage.

It’s about a 15-20 minute walk from there to Fenway (I usually walk it); but if you don’t want to do the walk, the Back Bay Commuter Rail station is right there and it’s just a couple of bucks to get to Lansdowne station.

You save quite a bit of money, ride a much less crowded train, and can get off the train right at Fenway at a spot where people paid three times as much to park.

Your helpful parking landmark!

It’s also easy to find your way back, with the very tall Pru Center visible from inside the ballpark.

There are some fairly close streets where you can park for free, especially on Sundays. More about that in my detailed guide for Fenway parking.

Keepin’ it green at Fenway.

If you’re a green sort or just like riding a bicycle in a city where even cars barely fit on the streets, the Red Sox reward you with a free bicycle valet service. The valet stop is at 73 Brookline Avenue.

You also have the Bikeshare option; Bluebikes has close to ten stations very close to the ballpark. (Not sure about the bicycle availability after the game, but I presume it would be okay given the number of stations.)

The perfect size vehicles for Boston streets.

And finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Boston Pedicabs, cyclists who pedal rickshaws from numerous destinations in the city, including the aforementioned Prudential Center. You can flag one of these guys down if you’re tired after the game, and it’s a fun experience riding through Boston.
 

Never Drive To Fenway Park Without A Plan…

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Outdoor dining at its best.

Fenway Park Guide, Part 4: What To Eat at Fenway

For a while, Fenway had some interesting food selections, like the Lobster Poutine Stak, but they’ve scaled them down a bit. Still, you have some perfectly good options for Fenway Park grub, especially when you include the famous sausage vendors outside.

If you’d like the much more detailed edition of the menu, check out this guide to Fenway Park food. But for this guide, I’ll just go over some classic items and some new ones.

The Monster-sized Fenway Frank, still unequaled.

The Fenway Frank (and the much larger Monster Dog edition) is still the go-to food item at Fenway; it’s a Kayem hot dog served on that famous mushy white bread. The Monster Dog is close to a footlong, so bring an appetite for that one. It’s well worth it.

The Red Sox close off Jersey Street before and during games, making it accessible only for ticket holders. They need to feed all these people of course, so there are several worthwhile stands selling classic Fenway stuff and some unusual items.

For the record, no, that’s not Luis Tiant.

Most notably, El Tiante, named for Sox star Luis Tiant, was (I think) the only spot in Fenway where you can get a Cuban sandwich and Luis Tiant’s autograph (Tiant has passed away unfortunately). Jersey Street offers most of the non-hot dog food items.

In addition to Jersey Street, the Big Concourse area beyond right field also has a wider variety of food selection than most stands. You can find unusual items here, like the Bloody Mary Burger, Grillo’s Pickles, and a “Franken Bean” hot dog.

This is your favorite part of this guide, isn’t it?

Lobster rolls are another classic at Fenway; they used to be made by Yankee Lobster Company but I think Sox fans may have had enough of that.

The Lobster roll is cold by design, and obviously given that it’s seafood in a ballpark it’s expensive, but the fans still get them. It’s Boston after all.

There’s always pizza at Fenway Park; currently the provider is Sal’s. Sal’s has numerous locations in New England, and in 2022 they offered a free small pizza with the purchase of a large following a Red Sox victory (at their restaurants, not Fenway). I’ll keep you posted if that changes.

Burgers AND fries? Sold!

Burgers and steak tips sandwiches at Fenway feature beef from Savenor’s, who was once voted Best of Boston by Boston magazine, so you know it’s good quality beef.

In addition to the aforementioned Bloody Mary Burger, at the new Truly Terrace behind the Bleachers, you can get a Truly Awesome Burger, with (deep breath) Savenor’s Butter Smash Burger, melted Vermont cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion, and Thousand Island dressing on a brioche roll. (Okay, maybe that’s not that awesome, but I like the butter smash bit.)

There were a couple of new items that I definitely want to give a mention to. One solid addition in the ballpark food realm is the Mings Bings, created by Chef Ming Tsai.

Mings Bings are vegan pockets with a brown rice wrapper, filled with vegan-based cheeseburger or sausage and peppers. They’re a healthy snack that you can easily carry around and eat in a ballpark, and gluten-free to boot.

There’s also Fluffernutter Fries: sweet potato fries topped with crushed peanuts, peanut sauce, and marshmallow cream. I loved Fluffernutters as a kid and cannot believe no one has ever thought of this.

If you are looking for more adventurous food selections, Jersey Street and the Big Concourse are your best destinations.

A chicken teriyaki sandwich with Inner Beauty hot sauce. Because you.

Now then, I can’t ignore the outside sausages, and neither should you. Surrounding Fenway Park on game day are numerous sausage carts that sell hot dogs, sausages, and chicken and steak tips sandwiches.

Lansdowne Street is the best spot for these, being in the path from the Kenmore station.

I talk more about these different vendors in my much more detailed Fenway Park food page, but I’ll just tell you that The Sausage Connection is my favorite. They offer a good value, tasty sandwiches, and their amazing Inner Beauty hot sauce, which is a mustard-style hot sauce that goes great on any sandwich.

Visit the yellow stand and tell them Kurt sent you.

You can bring in a much smaller bag. If you’re not hungry.

You can bring food into Fenway Park, but the Sox now only allow a small bag – 5*9*2 inches as I write this, and they will search it. (Killjoys.) You should be able to pack a sandwich from an outside vendor into a bag that size, but adding a drink with it might be tough.

Finally, there is a wealth of restaurants walking distance from the ballpark at Fenway, and some of them can even be reasonably priced.

There’s a lot of good grub at Fenway Park, but don’t feel like you have to get the feedbag on at the game, especially since you might have to wait a while after the game to leave anyway.

Get your picture taken with a seating chart!

Fenway Park Guide, Part 5: Bringing The Kids to Fenway

If you’re planning to bring the little ones, check out Red Sox Kid Nation. The Sox offer a free game ticket with their free membership (I presume they are still doing this, but I’ll keep checking).

The paid membership is even better. It includes a backpack, a jersey and chances to get other stuff. Well worth the price. You still have to buy a ticket for you of course, but a free ticket to the most expensive ballpark in baseball is a nice thing.

As I’ve mentioned, you should subscribe to the Red Sox newsletter, and part of that will be promotions dedicated to kids, such as Star Wars Day.

If they lock your kids out, you can at least take a selfie.

Fenway wasn’t always much of a kid-friendly ballpark, but it’s gotten much better with entertainment and face painting and such on Jersey Street. Also, in the Big Concourse there is a play area called Wally’s Clubhouse open after the 3rd inning. Use the Gate K entrance, it’s designed for the young ones.

The kids’ area features a virtual reality batting cage, face painting, beanbag tosses and a visit from Wally the Green Monster. They can even sign a mock-up Pesky’s Pole. There is no view of the game though, so decide for yourself if you want the kids to be aware of this.

When taking kids keep in mind their restlessness; not that kids won’t enjoy the game, but it’s tight quarters and you may have an easier time in the Pavilion or Roof Box seats.

Keep a close eye on them in crowded areas, and the Big Concourse and Jersey Street are less congested if they need to walk around.

Sometimes employees will try to score some of the swag. You can’t blame them.

First-timers at Fenway get some small gifts at the Fan Information Booth; last I checked it was a sticker, a free photograph and a welcome message on the scoreboard. And a Fenway bingo card. And you’ll want a memento of your first trip here.

You can get free diapers or sunscreen at booths at Gates D and E should you need them, and the family restrooms have changing tables.

The Sox have also added nursing areas at Fenway (and NO, I don’t have photos of that). They’re also in the family restrooms. They’re not sweet lounges like in Cincinnati or Washington, but they’re there.

The Red Sox designate games where kids can run the bases after the game (my kids love this). They will tell you which games on their promotions page.

This number is called “25 Or 6 To 4”.

Fenway Park Guide, Part 6: Photo-Ops + Extra Tips For Newbies

Finally, there’s a few more things you should know about your first (or next) visit to Fenway.

Fenway Park is cashless, so no need to bring along a wad for the inside vendors. I’m pretty certain the independent sausage stands will still take cash, though. Incidentally, MasterCard holders get occasional deals, so at least bring your MasterCard.

Keep in mind the New England weather. There’s a very good reason that April and May Red Sox games are the cheapest. Dress very warmly, especially if you will be sitting in the shaded Grandstand, and have a place to go to warm up if you need to.

Here are some of my favorite photo-ops at Fenway:

You’re pretty much right with the world in this spot.

The Green Monster. When my wife surprised me with Red Sox tickets for my birthday, my father recommended sitting in the Right Field Box seats for that solid view of the most iconic feature of Fenway. He was right.

Very well guarded as you can see.

The Big Papi Lego Statue. David Ortiz is one of the greatest heroes in Boston sports history, so of course someone took the time to build a Lego edition of him. It’s in the main concourse.

I would love to have the set for this. With instructions of course.

The Fenway Lego Model. This is located in the concourse in the left field corner: a Fenway Park built with Legos. Can I buy the set?

I had to hold the camera sideways.

Big League Brian. He’s the guy on stilts wandering around Jersey Street before the game, posing and playing catch with fans. Pretty easy to find him; look for the stripes on his pants.

Wally likes to let his guests have the spotlight.

Wally Statue. This one’s popular with the kids, Wally even sits perfectly still for your shot.

Enjoy the game!

Well, that’s a wrap. Hopefully this detailed Fenway Park guide is of some use to you. As I’ve said, it’s well worth knowing how to avoid the pitfalls, even if the difficulties are part of what makes Fenway Park great.

If you’d like to know more, I’m happy to help! Check out my much more detailed guide to getting the best deals on Red Sox tickets, this complete guide to Fenway Park seating, the complete menu of food both inside and outside of Fenway, and my very helpful Fenway parking guide. And feel free to drop me a line and let me know what you think!

Please support my sponsors and help this website help baseball fans. Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you at the yard!

(Note: this article contains affiliate links. If you use an affiliate link to make a purchase, Ballpark E-Guides earns a commission, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!)

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I get where the best seats in PNC Park are by many fans planning a trip to Pittsburgh to see a Pirates game in one of the most beautiful ballparks in baseball. I’m happy to help. This complete PNC Park seating guide will tell you everything you need to know about every seating area.

Everyone’s taste is different, and everyone has different budget levels, so there isn’t one right answer to where the best seats are in PNC Park are. I’ll help you find the best option for your budget, from the most expensive to the cheap seats, including standing room spots and ideal places for shade.

Yes, they’re all good. But I’ll help you find the one with your name on it!

PNC Park Seating Guide – Table of Contents

Here is the breakdown, from premium to cheap seats at PNC Park:

• PNC Park Layout
• Luxury Suites
• Club Seats, Part 1: The Home Plate Club
• Club Seats, Part 2: Club Cambria
• Club Seats, Part 3: Pittsburgh Baseball Club Level
• Field Level Seating
• Upper Level Seating
• All You Can Eat Seats
• Outfield Seats
• Bleacher Sections
• PNC Park Standing Room
• A Few More PNC Park Seating Tips

OK, lots of useful information here. So we’ll get right to it after this message. (Thanks for supporting our sponsors.)

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I took this picture so I know how to find seats near food.

PNC Park Seating Tips, Part #1: Ballpark Layout. PNC Park abuts the Allegheny River in the outfield, with home plate in the northwest corner, which in turn causes the setting sun to blind people in the left field stands and the third base side rather than in right field like most ballparks.

There are technically two tiers and those extend generally from foul pole to foul pole; the luxury suites are neatly tucked underneath the upper tier. You need to use a stairway, elevator or rotunda to get to the main level concourse, which is elevated above the bleachers level in the outfield.

Easy to navigate ramps to get to another level with great views.

There are two rotunda ramps that fans can use to get to the main and upper levels; one is plainly visible in left field, the other is behind home plate at the main entrance.

The concourses are open on the lower level, enabling fans to see the action. There is a River Walk behind the outfield seats, where people can take in the Allegheny and a stunning view of the Roberto Clemente Bridge, and try the fancier concessions like Manny’s.

Here is the Pirates’ useful PNC Park seating chart with views from each section; the total seating capacity is 38,362 as of 2023. Rows are lettered rather than numbered, and there is no Row I. Facing the field, seat numbers start with 1 on the right.

Here’s the score on all of the seating areas, from most to least expensive:

Add a bed and you could make this a seriously lucrative hotel room.

PNC Park Seating Tips, Part #2: Luxury Suites. The suites at PNC Park come in two forms, Luxury and World Series Suites. The luxury suites hold about 15 people and are built for indoor and outdoor game watching, with a full-service bar, leather couch, TVs, and catering options (costs extra) from a diverse menu. And a private restroom of course.

The World Series suites are for larger groups of up to 100 and are located down the left field line (beyond Club Cambria) of the suite level, making for a better view of the skyline. They are named for championship years in Pirates history, 1960, 1971, 1979, etc. Suites closer to home plate are more expensive than those in the outfield.

Bill Mazeroski earned his place in the Hall the moment he swung.

Both types of suites include VIP parking passes, Wi-Fi and access to the PBC Clubs. Again, premium suites cost less than at most ballparks; for a World Series suite you could pay less than $100 a person with parking passes to boot, although you need to chip in for the food. Probably still better for corporate types, but they’re within range of middle class groups.

You work hard. At least be as comfortable at the game as you would on an airplane.

PNC Park Seating Tips, Part #3: Home Plate Club Seats. The six sections of Home Plate Club seats are the finest and most expensive seats at PNC Park. They are located behind home plate (making them aptly named), with seats closer to the batter than the pitcher who worked much harder to get there.

The seats are wide and comfortably padded. The front row is the most expensive, Rows B through J are slightly less; Rows K through M are for cheapskates.

Home Plate Club seats include a private entrance, access to a complimentary chef-prepared high end buffet through the third inning and in seat service, and entry into the luxurious Home Plate Club and any exclusive club on the Club level.

(Cool fan experience tidbit: The Home Plate Club has a “candy wall” with candies from each World Series winning year for the Bucs, like Bit-O-Honey from 1925.)

Heck yes. This is how baseball should be watched.

Home Plate Club seats are sold on a season package basis, or as individual games for season ticket holders of other seats in the ballpark. Keep this in mind if you know a season ticket holder.

As these types of seats go, ticket prices here are more affordable than at most ballparks. You can sometimes find these on third party sites for $150 or less.

A fine view of the city, but you’ll really appreciate the air conditioning.

PNC Park Seating Tips, Part #4: Club Cambria. In response to lackluster suite sales in lean years, the Pirates knocked out a few walls on the third base side and created Club Cambria. It’s on the second deck with the rest of the private club areas.

Club Cambria is for those who aren’t interested enough in the game to spring for Home Plate Club seats but still want to appear well-off at Pirates games. Tickets are sold in season packages or as individual games to season ticket holders.

Oh and being out of the rain too.

Again, you have access to a fine upscale climate-controlled club to entertain clients with a nice write-off, padded and comfortable seating, a full bar and high end buffet (alcoholic drinks cost extra), a private street-level entrance, and best of all a fine view of the Pittsburgh skyline.

As with the Home Plate Club, Rows A and B costs more than Row C, etc. For Row C, the price isn’t bad at all for everything that is included.

Club membership is all about having a place to rest your drink.

PNC Park Seating Tips, Part #5: Pittsburgh Baseball Club Seats. The wide and padded Club seats, though possibly short on the view of the game and the comfort that Home Plate Club seats offer or the view of the skyline in Club Cambria, may be the best bang for the buck if you’re willing to spring a bit for premium seats.

The Pittsburgh Baseball Club, or PBC, sections are in the 200 lower section of the upper level, out to just past the bases.

With the suites placed under the upper level, the PBC seats are much closer to being on top of the action than at most ballparks. There are about ten rows in most sections; the first three rows are slightly more expensive.

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They’ll turn the lights on when you get there. At least I’m pretty sure they will.

PBC tickets include access to three climate controlled clubs on the private concourse: Club 3000 (named for a hit milestone passed by three Pirates), Gunner’s, and the Keystone Corner.

These clubs have pool tables, arcade games, full service bars and outdoor patios to see the game, and Gunner’s has a porch behind home plate for the best view on the Club Level. All of the clubs have lounge areas and TVs to watch the game; they’re a great place to wait out a rain delay.

You can buy PBC Club tickets for individual games. The food isn’t included in the ticket, unfortunately, and neither is in-seat service. But the price is very good for all that is included, and you can save a bundle bringing a group.

Again, try Gametime on a low demand night and you might find a great deal.

Even with so many amazing seats available, some folks prefer to stand. But hey, your preference.

PNC Park Seating Tips, Part #6: Field Level. The lower level seating at PNC Park is broken down into seven pricing levels now. Seats drop in price past the bases and at the foul lines, and the back rows cost less than the front rows.

Baseline Box (lowest level in the corners) is cheaper than Lower Infield Box (behind the Home Plate Club seats), so you can figure that in if you like being closer to the field. Seats are angled towards second base as you get past the bases.

With the best lower level seats, you’re usually better off buying through the Pirates in advance than through a third party.

Most of these seats aren’t backbreakers as far as your wallet, and honestly, none of the seats are bad, although you should avoid seating down the right field corner or outfield if you want a nice view of the city or fireworks (third base side sells out first on fireworks nights).

There isn’t a lot of foul territory, so you don’t have to spring for the most expensive seats.

Not AS padded, but more comfortable than most.

The Dugout Box seats on either side of the Home Plate Club seats are also padded, but they are nowhere near as large and don’t include the amenities (or the additional $100 in price).

If you’re in a section directly behind the dugout, the first seven rows or so are skipped, so if you have Row H you’re right on top of everything and can lean on the dugout.

Behind the Dugout Box seats are the Infield Box seats; these are priced the same all the way out to the bases, so the ones behind home plate are in high demand.

PNC is one of the best ballparks when it comes to overhang problems; even if you’re in Row JJ (which is row 35 or so, and the last in most sections), you’ll still be able to see pretty much everything, which is not often the case at ballparks.

As long as someone over seven feet tall doesn’t stand in front of you, you should be fine.

One caveat to be aware of is that there is a walkway in between the first ten rows or so and the seats behind them; the seats are raised but there may still be a foot traffic view problem in the first couple of rows.

The only other issue is that the concourse does get crowded about an hour from game time; if you would like to get your grub then you may be waiting in line a bit. The food court with the best selection is in the left field corner, if a short walk to cool food items matters to you when choosing your seat.

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Some Pirates fans like to sit where they can be reminded of years when ownership put a good team on the field.

PNC Park Seating Tips, Part #7: Upper Level. Behind the Club seating on the upper level are the Grandstand and Upper Grandstand sections.

There is no Upper grandstand behind home plate, this being the location of the press box, behind the grandstand (another thing the PNC designers got right). Just about all upper deck seats have a sweet view of the city.

The upper level is close to the action here (the Pirates brag that the highest seat is just 88 feet from the field), and there’s nothing wrong with the panoramic view of the whole ballpark from just about anywhere.

These seats are a relative bargain; Upper Outfield Grandstand seats are especially a great deal. You can’t see the Clemente Bridge as well from left field, although there is still a great view of the Pittsburgh city skyline.

“Oh come on ump, he swung at that.”

Beware, though. Some of the seats on this level may have a bit of an obstructed view, with glass stairway landings placed between Club and Grandstand seating. The problem is nowhere near as bad as it is at Citi Field in New York, but in sections with landings like 313, 315, etc. (you can see them on the Pirates’ 3-D seating map), it can be annoying.

Just avoid low numbered seats in Rows H-K on the third base side, and high numbered seats in those rows on the first base side.

The Pirates made the most of their limited space for seats.

Behind home plate there are support poles holding up the press box, which can (but won’t likely) cause you a problem in Sections 315-317. Avoid the highest row (R, usually) if you can. Also, down the left field line, some sections miss the scoreboard to the rotunda ramp in left.

With helpful lamps in case you’d like to read.

There is a roof covering the highest rows; Rows Q and higher are under the roof if you’re interested in shade.

Finally, the upper concourse at PNC is also fairly tight, and on big attendance nights it can get congested. Best to get your dog and beer before the game.

Imagine working at a job where you make hungry people happy.

All You Can Eat Seats at PNC Park: The club level sections of seats down the left field line used to be called the Cove; the Pirates now just all them All You Can Eat seats to avoid confusion.

For a decent price you get a wristband and can grub on all of the hot dogs, burgers, nachos, popcorn, peanuts, and non-alcoholic beverages you can handle in seven innings. There is a separate North Shore stand set up for this.

Unlimited hot dogs plus this view equals a pretty good life.

The view of the game is just okay here, but the view of the river, bridge and Riverwalk area is still terrific. If the game isn’t keeping you interested you can watch boats go by on the Allegheny.

It’s just my opinion but I’m not big on all you can eat at a ballgame; lines get long and food sometimes doesn’t get fully cooked, or the dogs are kid-sized portions, and from what I’ve read PNC is no exception.

But it’s a good deal if you’re hungry and don’t need anything fancy like a sandwich with French fries and slaw stuffed into it. One fan suggested wearing cargo shorts to put extra bags of peanuts in your pockets. I love the way baseball fans think.

You can’t see the skyline or what other teams are doing. This section is for people who came to see Bucs baseball.

PNC Park Seating Tips, Part #8: Outfield Seats. The Outfield Reserved seating in right and center field costs a bit less than the sections down the right field line; however, if you would like a good view of the game these might actually be better, at least in terms of not requiring a neck twist to watch the game.

Lesser view of Pittsburgh from here though, and it gets more direct sun than the right field line seating in foul territory.

The right field seats are raised over the out-of-town scoreboard in the right field wall, and the wall is 21 feet high in honor of Roberto Clemente’s number 21. So these seats could miss some of the action on balls hit to right field, which isn’t a big deal.

Hyundai, Xfinity, and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Two beloved institutions in Pittsburgh.

The sections in center field are lower; they are a bit further out but are closer to the field for the same price. Section 139 could miss some of left field if you’re close to the fence, so avoid low-numbered seats there if possible which are closest.

On a hot sunny day you will definitely bake sitting in the outfield seats (I speak from experience); I would be sure to bring water, a hat and sunscreen.

Because nothing is more baseball than rubbing cheeks with your fellow fan.

PNC Park Seating Tips, Part #9: Bleachers. Yep, most of the hard metal benches in left field in front of the scoreboard are reserved seating. But they are cheap, costing about the same as the Grandstand seating and less than the reserved seating in right field. And they have backs, so it’s not all bad.

Behind the Bleachers is the General Admission bleachers section. The Pirates sell more tickets for this than there are seats, so you should get there early or be a large person if you have a GA ticket. This isn’t the best area to be, but the Bucs did add a drink rail for standing patrons, so it’s not awful if it gets you into the ballpark.

Not to worry if you can’t see the scoreboard, you won’t be allowed to forget who sponsored this nice ballpark.

Keep in mind these seats are in front of the Big Board, so you’d need to crane your neck to see the pre-game cartoon (I kid; the PNC Park scoreboard is actually quite impressive). There are two tiers, and the lower tier is probably your best chance to catch home runs (it’s a good spot during batting practice).

The Pirates won’t let you throw an opposing team’s home run ball back on the field, but if you catch one hit by a Pirate, they’ll have him autograph it for you.

One nice thing about the bleachers is the proximity to the new bar under the rotunda and the Left Field Lounge, so you have a place to get a craft brew or duck out of the elements. Which you may need to with the sun bearing down.

Not the best heckling spot, unless you want to heckle the groundskeeper. Which can be fun.

PNC Park Seating Tips, Part #10: Standing Room. The Pirates have millennial-friendly standing room space now; the Left Field Terrace behind the bleachers is a nice spot to stand, lean and rest your drink, and it’s close to the Left Field Lounge for shelter if needed.

There is an outdoor bar at the entrance to the lounge on the center field side, if it gets too hot for you.

Remember when you ordered baseball tickets with your phone? Ah, the good old days.

The Pirates offer a standing room Ballpark Pass for just $29.99 a month (you can upgrade it for actual seats). This can be great if you’re in town to see a few high demand games (i.e. weekends against the Yankees). Well worth it with just 3-4 visits.

At the bottom of the rotunda is a full bar with craft beers. The Pirates sell it as a gathering spot to watch the game, but most of the area, including the bar and tables and drink rail, doesn’t have a view of the action on the field. It’s in an odd spot, truthfully, so it’s really more of a place to get a brew or wait out a rain delay watching something on the ginormous TV.

“Hey, lean over and tell me if the Mets are winning, will ya?”

You may have noticed the people watching from a covered area below the outfield seats in right field; this is standing room and handicapped space and you can hang out there if you want.

If you’re there, check out “Baseball Joe” Vogel, the world’s #1 Pirates fan, who’s been to over 2,500 games. I find Baseball Joe and hang out with him whenever I visit Pittsburgh. He’s great.

Offering shade and cover from the rain as well.

You can also watch from anywhere in the left field rotunda, which is a popular spot for standing room fans; they know they may get on TV there.

If you want a standing spot in the lower level, especially in the infield, you should stake it out early; the arrangement of concessions and handicapped seating makes the space for standing small in the main concourse. I had an usher kick me off of the handicapped platform in one visit. (He was polite though.)

This picture has been brought to you by Coppertone!

PNC Park Seating Tips, Part #11: A Few More Tips. Because of the orientation of home plate, the setting sun affects those on the third base side and in the left field bleachers. The seats on the third base side have better views of the downtown Pittsburgh skyline, but that’s the trade-off. You’d do well to have sunglasses and sunscreen on the third base side in the early evening.

PNC has some seats on the end of certain rows with no armrests for handicapped or oversized among us. You can order these by phone or at the box office.

It’s a great place to be.

The best entrance to use will be marked on your ticket, and this can come in handy in a quirky ballpark with a lot of nooks in it. Besides, it’s pretty neat to look at on the outside too.

Even with all of the details I shared here, the good news if you don’t remember it all is that PNC Park has very, very few bad seats. Some are better than others, but as you can see that depends on your taste. You’ll probably be happy wherever you sit, but hopefully this helps.

Love models like this. It makes me want to be a tiny person.

Thanks for reading this complete guide to PNC Park seating. I hope you enjoyed it and that it helps you make the most of your next visit to this superb ballpark. Happy to share more PNC Park tips here, and please support this website’s sponsors.

(Note: this article contains affiliate links. If you use an affiliate link to make a purchase, Ballpark E-Guides earns a commission, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.)

Greetings Baseball Fans and ballpark nerds! This is your invaluable and well-researched Target Field seating guide! I’ve done all of the investigating for you, and put it all here for your next baseball game at the home of the Minnesota Twins.

Whether you’re a first timer or a regular, there’s tons of valuable info here. Use this to find the best seats at Target Field for your taste and budget!

Again, there’s a lot here, so I’m breaking it down into parts. Skip anything you don’t need. (See the Target Field seating chart for where everything is.)

Best Seats at Target Field: Champions Club
More Premium Seating: Thrivent Club
Field Level (100) Seating
Mezzanine Level Seating (Legends Landing)
Terrace Level (200-300) Seating
Lower Outfield Seats – Left Field Bleachers, Cove, Dock + Corona Patio
Upper Outfield Seats – Delta SKY360 Suite, Home Run Deck + Grandstand
Best Standing Room Spots For Twins Games
Where To Find Shade at Target Field
Accessible Seating at Target Field
A Few More Tips

Ready to rock? Here we go, after this quick word from my friends at Gametime (please support this great blog’s sponsors!)…

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The Twins, like all teams, offer lots of high end seating to their corporate clients. That’s baseball. I’m not going to bother with the suites…if you can afford those, you don’t need my help. That said, there’s more info here if you’d like to know from the Twins directly.

I’m also not going to get into the party areas, since that’s worthy of a separate post. Here’s more from the Twins on that.

So then, let’s start with the best seats at Target Field, the Champions Club.

When you feel like you’re on an airplane, life is good.

Target Field Seating, Part #1) Champions Club. The Champions Club is the 400 extra wide, higher back, comfortably cushioned seats behind home plate, in four sections of 12 rows each. They definitely stand out among the rest of the seats.

Not only is the view fantastic of course…the front row is just 50 feet from home plate…but of course it comes with “you or someone you work for has arrived” amenities. If you’ve never seen hitters practice in a batting cage, it’s pretty cool.

The Club itself is a spacious lounge that features artifacts from great Twins moments, including the two World Series trophies. There’s plenty of comfortable places to chill, and TVs everywhere to watch the game if it’s too cold outside.

“The game’s on! Who’s got the remote?”

There’s more…excellent complimentary food and drinks, except for the liquor and “premium” beer and wine, and you can order from your seat. You also get valet parking for every four tickets and a private entrance. If you’d like to visit the Thrivent Club, you can do that too.

Needless to say, these tickets aren’t cheap; the first row (Row A) is upwards of $300 per game, and it’s only available through season ticket plans. So if you’d like to try these out, you’ll have to go third party…see this post for help with that, especially choosing a contest.

If you’re lucky enough to land a Champions Club seat, save room for dessert!

Because when you pay premium prices, you deserve to sit in front of sportswriters.

Target Field Seating, Part #2) Thrivent Club Seating. Like most teams, the Twins recognize that baseball fans love bird’s eye views, and they offer premium seating just above the field level.

The Thrivent Club seats are between home plate and third base, and are fairly close to the action, although they are mostly behind the 100 level seating. The seats are cushioned and low by club seating standards, and there are only ten rows, making for less traffic.

The seats on the third base side especially offer a first class view with the city backdrop, although I love the view of the impressive scoreboard on the first base side too. The real advantage, though, especially in the Minneapolis climate, is access to a spacious climate-controlled bar and lounge area. No small thing, private restrooms.

Say it with me Twins fans: “We will see you tomorrow night!”

The lounge features sections dedicated to Twins greatness like the Carew Atrium and Club 573 (Harmon Killebrew’s home run total). There are plenty of high end food and drink options, although it’s not complimentary here. You can also watch the game from inside the club, while sitting along a drink rail.

The Twins casually mention that you can sometimes find Twins alumni in the Thrivent Club; they feature photo sessions from time to time.

Again, the Thrivent Club is only for season ticket holders, so you’ll need to go through a third party like Gametime for a single game. But if you can find something around or under triple digits, it’s well worth it, especially if the weather isn’t conducive to baseball.

Don’t try to hop the railing for a cushioned seat. They have ushers watching.

Target Field Seating, Part #3) Field Level (100) Seating. The lower level of Target Field is divided into multiple sections and price ranges, but they fall under three general categories.

Dugout Box Infield and Dugout Box sections are closest to the field; Dugout Box Infield are on either side of the Champions Club sections. They aren’t as large or wide, but they do have cushions.

They‘re great seats, of course, but there’s the extra bonus of access to the First and Third Base lounges. Which means shorter lines for food and bathrooms and an escape from the elements. You do have to descend a flight of steps to get to the clubs, though.

If you want to offer encouragement to either team, the Twins dugout is on the first base side. Incidentally, if you have Row 5 behind a dugout, that’s the first row.

Sure, there’s no cushions or food included, but there’s lots of money left over!

Home Plate Box and Infield Box seats are behind the Champions Club and Dugout Box seats; those sections typically have about 15 rows so you’re still pretty close. These are the best seats that aren’t considered “premium” at Target Field, and are priced accordingly.

These are bigger sections too (with multiple price ranges) so there’s more traffic. They elevated the sections above the Dugout sections nicely; you shouldn’t have a problem with people walking in front of you.

Shade, nice sightlines, and proximity to Banh Mi brats!

I’ll talk more about shade later, but Rows 13 and up in these sections are generally under the overhang, for rain and sun protection. Don’t go too high up though, or you won’t be able to see the scoreboard or skyline, a worthy part of the Target Field experience.

Compared to higher end seating that isn’t much closer, these are a pretty good deal. You might be able to score a nice price on a low demand night. There’s plenty of great food in the concourses too.

Nicely inclined for the kids.

The Diamond Box and Field Box sections are down the baselines, with Field Box in the corners. They’re further away from home plate, but you can get closer to the field, and they’re nicely angled towards the infield.

More than anywhere else in Target Field, with Diamond and Field Box, which corner you choose depends on your view preferences; the impressive scoreboard over left field, or the stunning cityscape past right field. Twins fans talk about this a lot.

If you’re a foodie, what you’ll be close to could figure into your decision too; Papa Pete’s donuts are closer to right field, while Red Cow burgers are closer to left field, for example. You can use the MLB Ballpark app and this post to learn more about that.

The incline in these sections is less steep, so there could be a problem if your kid sits behind a tall person like me. I’m a nice guy though, so I’ll switch if you need me to.

Only a few yards further from home plate, and your food’s free!

Target Field Seating, Part #4) Other Mezzanine Level Seating (+ Legends Landing). Other than the Thrivent Club sections on the mezzanine level, you’ll see four sections in the left field corner. These are called the Legends Landing. The right field corner features suites, including the Sensory Suite, which I’ll discuss in the Accessible section.

In addition to a nice view of the Minneapolis skyline, Legends Landing seats include all you can eat of what the Twins call “a comprehensive assortment of ballpark delicacies”. In other words, hot dogs, burgers, chicken tenders, popcorn, peanuts, chips, soda, juice, etc. No alcohol unfortunately.

Munch all you want, they’ll make more!

That’s a decent enough selection, certainly so for the price range. As I write this, a Legends Landing seat is just $39 for Extra Value games. I can easily put away $39 worth of food at ballpark prices. It’s a great spot for families, and the Twins market it as such.

In addition, since the concessions area is roped off, only Legends Landing ticket holders can access it, so there are short lines especially since you don’t have to show a credit card.

Again, save some room for dessert; they offer ice cream bars and such too.

Just how do you get to that top level?

Target Field Seating, Part #5) Terrace Level (200-300) Seating.

The upper level of Target Field consists of what the Twins call “Terrace” (200) and “View” (300) sections. Like many modern ballparks, the upper tier is high up because of open concourses and suite level seating, but the view is still pretty good. Seats are steep up here too, so it might be troublesome for the acrophobic.

Ticket prices are based on proximity to home plate, so View seats in the corners are among the cheapest seats at Target Field. Being behind home plate is best, but Target Field is overall very nice to look at from anywhere. Many fans prefer the third base side for the skyline view.

No need to go up any more steps than you have to.

It’s worth shelling out a few extra bucks for Terrace seats. There are fewer rows (eight) in the Terrace section, and the view is better. For View level, you have to use a walkway above the concourse, so it takes some steps to get to your seat. It can be inconvenient; I recommend picking up your food before going to your seat.

Speaking of that, the concourse is much narrower on the upper level than on the lower level. Lines get longer and it gets more crowded, especially on high attendance nights, another reason to grab your grub early.

As you can see, shade sometimes isn’t popular in Minneapolis.

That said, View sections are mostly covered by the impressively large roof, so fans are protected from the rain and sun at least. It most definitely can get hot in the summer here, so that’s a nice bonus. (Again, more about shade in a bit.)

Minneapolis weather is what it is. I can tell you from personal experience that the wind can be fierce. It can be rough enough in April that in 2024 the Twins closed off the upper level for the whole month.

Don’t be shy…really, go ahead inside!

If the weather is challenging, you can duck into the Twins Pub that takes up much of the first base side of the concourse. You can order a drink and watch the game through the windows inside, although you might have to stand behind people. And say hi to Sue Nelson, the longtime organist for the Twins. She’s a sweetheart and greets everyone.

Finally, Section 324 in left field is the “TickPick Family Section”, which is alcohol-free and includes a free hot dog and Pepsi with your ticket. Not great seats, but a fair deal for the kids.

If you love baseball, you don’t mind a little cheek rubbin’.

Target Field Seating, Part #6) Lower Outfield Seats – Left Field Bleachers, Cove, Dock + Corona Patio.

The Twins know that people who sit in the outfield like to have a good time, and they designed Target Field accordingly. There are many flavors of outfield seats here, each with their own style. So here’s the skinny on all of them…

The Left Field Bleachers are benches tucked under the Home Run Deck sections. The seats do have backs, so Wrigley it’s not. Given their location, they’re among the cheaper seats at Target, so you’ll see a lot of families here. The upper rows are also almost entirely covered and protected from the elements, and you can bring a cushion.

Support your Twins…sit near the opposing bullpen and bring your heckling best!

Another cool feature of the Left Field bleachers, especially Section 131, is their proximity to the bullpens. Watching pitchers warm up from up close is really cool, and you can shout friendly encouragement too. If this matters to you, the Twins bullpen is in the back.

That said, you have no view of the impressive scoreboard here, and in the higher rows you don’t see much of the skyline either. There are TVs, but you probably have one of those at home. If you prefer the views, I would look elsewhere. It’s great if there’s a rain delay, but that’s not something you hope for.

Clearly, the lady sitting down is the only one unafraid of blisters.

The Treasure Island Cove sections are under the Grandstand in right center field. You may have noticed that these seats have wooden backs on them (like the Thrivent Club seats)…which, so I’m told, was to blend in with the color scheme. It does that nicely, but the seats aren’t any more comfortable.

Like the Left Field Bleachers, the Cove seats are almost entirely undercover. There are only four rows, but you’ll have a better view of everything in the first row (including deep outfield plays). And again, there are TVs, which are closer to you here.

One nice feature of the Cove, aside from its proximity to great donuts, is the mounted overhead heaters. If you’re an outfield sort, it makes for a good inexpensive choice in September. It’s also mostly shielded from the wind.

Don’t worry about sitting in the front. It won’t tip over.

The Overlook sections are to the right of the Cove. Unlike the Cove though, these sections are completely out in the open…true bleachers in that sense. These seats offer a better overall view of everything without the overhang, but you’ll also be more in the sun and wind.

This section actually juts out eight feet over the field somewhat, in a nod to Tiger Stadium. Balls that hit the façade are in play, so don’t pull a Jeffrey Maier. Before the game the Overlook is an excellent spot for batting practice home runs, but you don’t need a ticket for that.

One nice thing about the Overlook is that it’s just in front of the Target Plaza, where the Twins often have activities for kids (and sometimes discounted food and drinks). If your little ones get bored easily, it might be a good spot. Tickets are very cheap.

“DOWN IN FRONT!”

In the back of the Overlook area, the Twins built a small, interesting looking spot called “The Dock”. This is exclusive seating for groups of 12, with tickets going for around triple digits per person.

You do get a lot for the money with your not-so-great view…a $30 concessions credit, and very comfortable and large swivel chairs, and access to “lakeside” style food. (Minnesota thing, see.) Like with the Overlook seats, keep in mind these are among the last to see shade.

Never underestimate the value of having a place to put your bobblehead.

Next to the Dock in the right field corner is the Corona Right Field Porch, which is also for groups. These are nice for your baseball party, with stools and drink rail counters. Each ticket comes with a small concessions credit, and the price isn’t too bad given the value of drink rails.

The location offers some advantages, being close to the Target Plaza and its activities being one, and it’s easy to duck into the concourse in right field. You also will want to sit somewhere where the foul pole isn’t in your way.

The Right Field Porch sections are mostly for groups, so you have to go through the Twins for that, but they do sell individual tickets from time to time.

I wouldn’t expect to catch a home run ball in the Home Run Deck.

Target Field Seating, Part #7) Upper Outfield Seats – Delta SKY360 Suite, Home Run Deck + Grandstand.

Not enough outfield seating info for you? We’ve still got a second deck to cover, stay with me…

The left field sections under the impressive scoreboard make up the Home Run Deck, although I wouldn’t expect to catch a homer there. In the upper upper seats especially, you might not even know whether a hit is a home run until you hear crowd reaction.

There are two tiers, so to speak, which like the upper level elsewhere are also called “Terrace” and “View”. And again, Terrace seats are significantly better, with fewer rows and far fewer steps to get to your seat.

No problem sitting behind tall people here!

The View sections get pretty high up and are very steep, and you’re pretty far from the action. But it’s got some nice things about it. They’re among the cheapest seats in Target Field, for one. And not to harp on that skyline view too much, but it’s very impressive from this standpoint. The big scoreboard is behind you, though.

This area is close to great concessions; there’s a Red Cow, Pizza Luce, big cheese curds and great dessert choices nearby, and the Town Ball Tavern with wacky cocktails is close too. If you like to go cheap and use money for grub, this is a good spot…and if you choose View seats, you’ll definitely burn some calories using the numerous steps.

Home Run Deck seats are uncovered and face the setting sun, which is nice in the colder months but can be rough in July.

You can pretend you’re at the Rebel base on Star Wars night.

That center field area under the ultra-cool Minnie and Paul neon sign is actually two sections. The Delta Sky360 Suite is the lower portion; it’s an exclusive area for season ticket holders. You can try Gametime for this if you want to check it out.

Despite its distance from the action, there are some cool amenities…all-inclusive high end food and drinks from a changing menu, lounge seating (no view of the field with that), and barstools with drink rails. You can even order food from your seat. You can start grubbing tough two hours before the game.

For the record though, there’s no climate-controlled lounge or private bathroom, but for the price (somewhere around triple digits) and what’s included it’s not a bad deal.

If you think the big sign is cool from a distance, try standing under it!

Above the Delta Suite is what is now called the Cutwater Cocktail Bar; there’s no seating here per se, just barstools and tables. And of course, a cocktail bar. It’s now open to all guests, so for socializing sorts it could be a nice spot. If you have a standing room ticket, you can grab a barstool seat if you’re on time.

Like the left field sections, the center field spots are close to Red Cow and Pizza Luce.

Is it me or does it look like they ran out of seats?

Then there’s that odd-looking Grandstand in right center field, above the Cove seats. It always struck me why the highest seats are furthest from home plate; the nice Target Field tour guide informed me it was to maximize the tiny space Target Field was built into. Fair enough.

Bring some energy for these sections; you will travel up quite a few steps to get to them. I also would avoid these if you’re acrophobic or prone to vertigo; the seats here are probably the steepest in the ballpark and can be nerve-wracking to descend. The highest section (237) has 22 rows, and you will be quite far from the action at that point.

The person at the top of the mountain didn’t fall there!

You’ll also encounter some view issues here; many of the seats miss a portion of the outfield, and you may have to judge what happened by crowd reaction (it’s not terribly bad). You’ll also have your back to the skyline view, and it’s among the last places to see shade for a night game.

Sold yet? Okay, they’re not the best seats. But they’re cheap, make for great exercise, and are close to the gate at the B parking lot, if you want a quick exit. It’s also a popular spot during batting practice; a few homers will land up there.

Almost an entire building dedicated to people who stand for baseball.

Target Field Seating, Part #8) Best Standing Room Spots. If the Twins are good, they could sell out a few games, especially on summer weekends against a high value opponent like the Cubs. When they do, they’ll make a few standing room tickets available, and your options are many and actually pretty good.

For locals, the Twins also offer the Twins Pass, which includes free standing room tickets for a month; you can use the thing all year if you like. It’s a sweet deal if you use it for enough games. Go on the giveaway nights and you’ll make out like a bandit.

Were I presented with standing room tickets at Target Field, my first move would probably be to one of the lounge areas in the left field corner. The lowest tier is the Gray Duck Deck, the second tier is the Summit Brewing Pub, and the Budweiser Roof Deck is the top level. The Bud Roof Decks is for groups, but the rest is open to all ticket holders.

Get there early for a stool with a view.

There are plenty of spots at the Gray Duck Deck and Summit Brewing Pub to sit and rest your food/drinks, including barstools and drink rails with a view of the field. You can also hang out at the center field bar area.

These are popular places though. For sold out games, you would have to arrive early to stake out a good spot near the left field foul pole. Both areas also feature comfortable seating inside around the bar, albeit without a view of the field.

There are standing spots behind most all of the outfield seating, including some drink rails behind the Cove and Corona Corner, popular SRO spots. The Cove is in the shade, the Corona Corner is not. If you don’t mind being higher up, there are counters behind the Home Run Deck.

It’s far away and you have to lean over the counter, but there’s no wind!

If being in the left field corner or outfield doesn’t work for you, you can find a spot in the lower concourse, and possibly a drink rail. The drawback is that with the overhang you won’t see the scoreboard, skyline or fly balls. You could move towards the outfield for a better view.

Not done yet…you can also use the Truly On Deck restaurant in the upper level of right field. There is indoor and outdoor seating, so you have weather options. The view isn’t great, but there are barstools and counters. I don’t know if you have to eat there or not, but no one bothered me when I visited.

Just go ahead and take a seat, no one cares up here…

Even when games sell out, some fans roam, and in the lower corners and upper deck especially ushers aren’t very tough on seat poaching by most accounts. It might be different for a sold out night, just know your limitations.

Here’s a pro tip I read and probably shouldn’t share, so you didn’t hear this from me. If you have standing room tickets, check the MLB Ballpark app and see if there are seats available. That way you can find a seat that no one’s bought. Hey, at least you bought a ticket.

Buy two seats, and switch during the game!

Target Field Seating, Part #9) Where To Find Shade at Target Field. Minneapolis can get hot in the summer. That said, there are also days where you’d prefer to be in the sun than in the shade. You can get more in depth about finding shade at Target Field, but here are some general tips.

The sun sets on the first base side of the ballpark, closer to home plate, and this affects day games as well as night games. For evening games the first base side is in the shade earlier, and day games see shade on that side earlier in the afternoon.

Shade, or lack of it, is a reason premium seats allow access to climate controlled lounges: Champions Club seats see very little shade especially for day games, so you’ll probably want to duck into the Club at times. The upper rows (starting about Row 9) of the Thrivent Club seats are covered during day games, again more so on the first base side.

That big ol’ roof does come in handy in July.

On the lower level, again, the first base side is better for shade, and the upper rows (starting about Row 15) are covered by the overhang, including on the third base side. For day games, lower rows on the third base side will be in the sun the whole game.

Left Field Bleachers are shaded in the upper rows, but the first 5-6 rows are directly facing the sun early in night games. The Cove’s upper rows are covered, making it a popular spot in the summer.

It takes a while to get shade in the left field corner.

With the large upper level roof, much of the View (300) sections are in the shade for day games, especially from home plate to right field. If you want to be on the third base side, go for a higher row. As the afternoon goes on, the Terrace (200) sections see more shade; the left field corner sections are the last to be in the sun.

In the upper outfield, the Home Run Porch seats are facing the sun and uncovered, and it can be really annoying on a hot summer evening. The Grandstand seats, Overlook and Corona Patio are also unprotected from sun for day games, although you won’t be directly facing the sun.

Remember, being in the sun can be a good thing here, so read this backwards if you’re seeking a warmer spot in April.

“Catch Health”. Ah, I see what they did there.

Target Field Seating, Part #10) Accessible Seating at Target Field. Like I said, I’m not going to get into the details about the suites. They’re nice seats with a heater overhead, and include lots of cool stuff like the Champions Club seats.

But I will give a shout to the United Healthcare Sensory Suite. The Twins dedicate a suite for those who for neuroatypical reasons need to escape the noise or other factors of the ballpark environment. The suite offers sensory kits, toys and features for the kids. You can also view the game from the suite or the attached balcony.

A nice thing for them to do, offering an actual suite for fans in need.

Nicely placed close to concessions too.

As far as accessible seating, there are wheelchair areas behind multiple sections throughout the ballpark, including for premium seating and in the outfield. These spots have electrical outlets, and the Twins will supply folding chairs for anyone not requiring a wheelchair. In the Cove section, there is a handicapped area with no seating in front of it.

All of the accessible areas in the lower level are in the back and well-protected from the sun and rain. This isn’t the case in the Terrace level and Home Run Deck, so choose accordingly.

I don’t know if the Twins charge less for “partial scoreboard view”.

Target Field Seating, Part #11) A Few More Tips. Not enough information for you? Really? You’re my kind of fan! So I’m offering a few more seating tips:

I’ve found precious little about obstructed views at Target Field, but there are a couple of things. As I’ve mentioned, a lot of the upper rows of outfield seating miss a portion of the outfield. There are also some problems in right field corner, where tucked away seats lose a lot of the outfield.

This is a very small number of seats, though. In my opinion, the worst seats for view problems are the seats under overhangs that block the scoreboard and skyline.

First rows of sections throughout the ballpark have railings in front of them, and this may require you to lean a lot to see the action.

Have a seat and watch the game on a large TV while you thaw.

In the colder months, if you need to warm up, you have a few options: there are heaters at the entrances of most sections, and the numerous lounge areas are usually warm and dry too. Minnesota gets the most rain in June and July. During these months, it might be a consideration to find covered seats…see the shade section.

Facing the field, Seat 1 is always on the right side of a section. Something to be mindful of to avoid late arrivals blocking your view.

Yes, maybe they could charge more for this view.

I’m not sure if the Twins still do this, but seats on the third base side could cost a couple bucks more than on the first base side, since people love the downtown Minneapolis view so much. Secondary market prices somewhat reflect this, so people seem to think it’s worth it. As I’ve said, I find the huge scoreboard just as impressive, so it doesn’t matter to me.

You can find escalators to the upper level near the corners, but there are also 13 elevators to make it easy to get to the upper levels. They’re all around the ballpark, but mostly in the foul territory sections.

If you’re sitting in the Thrivent Club or on that level, Parking Ramp A includes a “skyway” walkway directly to the Club level. Nice and convenient. Not a bad idea to choose your parking accordingly. (I’ll put up a post about parking soon.)

Welcome to Target Field…one of these seats’ll work!

There you are my baseball fan and ballpark roadtripper friends! Everything you need to know to pick the best seats at Target Field for your taste and budget. I hope you enjoyed the read and found it helpful.

Be sure to learn how to get cheap Twins tickets, and there’s some great local grub at Target Field too.

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Search no more friends…this is your complete Wrigley Field seating guide, with all the info you need…including about avoiding obstructed views to how to truly do the bleachers. I’m here to help you find the best seats at Wrigley Field, whatever your budget size!

As much as I love Wrigley, I wish I’d read what you’re about to read before I went to my first few games there. Your choice of seat definitely matters at the Friendly Confines, for reasons like proximity to Wrigley Field food stuffs, Chicago weather, and the best unobstructed view.

To the best of my knowledge, all the info here is up to date. I’ve also got plenty more Wrigley info for ya…check out my guides to parking, food, and scoring the best deals on Cubs tickets!

Even this seat isn’t so bad, but I’ll help you pick out a better one.

Here is the breakdown:

The Cubs Seating Chart – New Section And Seat Numbering
Wrigley Field Lower Level Seating – Premium, Club, Field and Terrace Seats
Wrigley Field Upper Level Seating – Upper Box and Reserved
Avoiding Obstructed Views at Wrigley
Home Of The Bums: The Wrigley Field Bleachers
Wrigley Field Standing Room Options
Finding Shade, And Other Stuff About Wrigley Field Seating

Gametime has your cheap Cubs tickets…with a lowest price guarantee, panoramic seat view photos, and great last minute deals…even after the game starts!

(See why Ballpark E-Guides loves Gametime here!)

2015, I know. But it’s only obsolete if you squint to see the section numbers.

The Cubs Seating Chart – New Section And Seat Numbering

The Cubs website has their perfectly nice seating map, which when buying tickets shows you some nice views. The team recently reconfigured the seat and section numbering at Wrigley, and this is a good thing.

The bleachers are now the 500 sections instead of 300, and the 400 and 500 upper levels are now the 300 and 400 levels, respectively. The Cubs’ comical reasoning for this was that people don’t fully appreciate the excellent view from the now 300 level. Certainly a lower first digit will convince the masses otherwise.

I’m joking. The 300 level seats truly are excellent, and are among the best upper level seats in baseball. But they aren’t any closer with the new section numbers.

A hundred years ago, seat numbering like this seemed like a good idea. Don’t knock them – our generation contributed the DH.

With the new seat numbering, it’s now a low number at one end of a row and a high number at the other end. As you would expect. It definitely makes the seating much less confusing, especially without having seat 15 next to seat 115 in a row. Never understood that.

Also, in the upper level, section numbers have an L or R after them; this designates what side of the field you’ll be on, e.g. L is left field.

Even in a ballpark 100+ years old, you need cup holders.

Wrigley Field Seating, Lower Level – Premium, Club, Field and Terrace

First we’ll talk about what is now premium seating at Wrigley. These are only available as part of season ticket packages, so to score one for an individual game you’ll need to go third market. (This post can help you with that.)

The American Airlines 1914 Club seats are the first three rows in Sections 13-22; the recently added W Club and Maker’s Mark Barrel Room seats are on the outer side of both teams’ dugouts. All of these go for a very premium price and each section has its own high end club. More importantly, they are cushioned and have cup holders.

These seats are so close to the action that you may hear dugout conversations (although ballplayers don’t usually say anything interesting). They are also so expensive that they are not likely to attract those who offer discouragement to opposing players; but should you be so inclined, the visiting team dugout is on the first base side.

Club seats no longer offer a sporty view of the bullpen. Nor do any other seats.

Club Box seats are the rest of the seats behind the 1914 and Bullpen Box sections. Club Box seats are more expensive between the bases, but are next to the field once you get past the Bullpen Box seats.

Club and Field Box seats heading down the foul lines begin to rise along the outfield wall; this can cause you to miss balls hit in areas close to you (which isn’t a big deal). Club Box seats are turned towards home plate as you get further out though, sparing you neck strain.

The dark, ominous Bartman seat is no more.

I’m hearing your question. Where’s the Steve Bartman Seat?

The Bartman seat, for better or for worse, is no longer here. I spoke with an usher about it and he told me they replaced the existing club seats in that area with more comfortable premium seats. Conveniently, that included removing a seat marking one of the darkest moments in Cubs history.

Honestly I can’t say I blame them, but just in case you were wondering. The general area is between Sections 4 and 5 and up against the wall, if you want to see if you’d go for the foul ball.

Sure Braves fans, no one will be walking in front of you there…

Field Box seats are behind Club Box seats. Again, infield Field Box seats are costlier, significantly so for prime games, but the difference isn’t large for value games.

Field Boxes are separated from the Club Boxes by a walkway; in the first couple of rows this means you will have foot traffic in front of you. It’s not likely to be a big problem once the game gets going, but in early innings it can be annoying.

Otherwise though, Field Box sections are great seats – close enough to the action without the “Friends of the Ricketts” price tag.

Yes, those poles can be a problem. Stay tuned.

The Terrace level is behind the Field Box seats. There is a walkway between Terrace and Field Box, but Terrace seats are somewhat elevated to help patrons see over pedestrians. Terrace Box seats are the first six rows; these are in front of the support poles and thusly offer unimpeded views.

Most all Terrace Reserved sections are in the shade of the upper deck, which can be a good or bad thing here…bring a jacket. Only the seats down at the end of the foul lines are out in the open.

Terrace Reserved seats also risk being close to a support pole, causing the dreaded obstructed view. Stay tuned for how to avoid that.

The Cubs know to make the most of good seats.

Wrigley Field Seating, Upper Level – Upper Box and Reserved

Upper Box (300 level) seats are close to the field and offer a terrific bird’s eye view; many folks prefer these seats to Terrace Box seats (and they are priced about the same).

The Cubs recognized this, so they remade the four sections behind home plate. These are now the high end Catalina Club seats. They cost a lot more than they used to, but like the lower premium seats, they’re cushioned and have cup holders. And of course they include access to the much-coveted Catalina Club, just under the press box.

Even beyond the Catalina Club sections though, upper box seats are still great seats. Many frequent Wrigley patrons will tell you they’re the best bang for the buck, with the bird’s eye view and proximity to the field. Even if “Upper Box Midfield” is actually outfield, it’s a good deal.

Remember, the support poles are your friend!

Upper Reserved (400 level) seats also have the problem of support poles; in this case poles hold up a roof that protects patrons from the sun and rain. Upper Reserved only has nine rows, so in Row 9 you will be all the way at the top and almost leaning against that outside fence.

The Upper Reserved sections are elevated, but there is still foot traffic in front of the first row, which can be very distracting as patrons snap photos and chat and Instagram themselves at Wrigley while you’re actually trying to watch the game. You may want to avoid Row 1 of Upper Reserved.

Almost close enough to grab a beer from rooftop patrons.

Some more notes about the upper level. Past the bases, seating is not angled towards home, so the furthest seats require a minor neck twist—although they do offer great bleachers and Rooftop people-watching.

Word of advice here…getting to the upper level requires a long trek up several ramps (which are behind the Terrace seats) and up steep steps with no railing to get to an Upper Reserved seat. This can be tough on the elderly and less fit among us, especially after the game when everyone is leaving. There are elevators, but it can still be a hassle.

With the improved upper concourse, bathrooms are now much easier to find. The heated restrooms, by the way, are a good place to spend a few minutes warming up on a cold Chicago evening if you can handle the social awkwardness. There are also TVs hung from the rafters in the upper level, to keep you posted on anything you might miss.

Never drive to Wrigley Field without a plan…

Book your Cubs parking spot now with SpotHero!

Well, I guess it’s better than having the upper level collapse on you.

Avoiding Obstructed Views at Wrigley

You can get really scientific about how to avoid obstructed views at Wrigley Field, but here are some basic tips:

Terrace Reserved and Upper Reserved sections have support poles in front of them, which explains their lower prices compared to the rest of the Wrigley Field seating bowl. The worst seats have “limited view” marked on the ticket, but the Cubs have a high standard for this, and the seat has to be really bad.

The Cubs also sell what they call “Terrace Reserved Preferred” seats, which are less likely to have a view problem, for a few extra bucks.

Ah, that’s the trick…get between the poles!

In most Terrace sections, there are 23 rows. The pole is usually at Row 6, although they are in higher numbered rows in the sections towards the outfield (where you should just shoot for a low row). In Section 230, for example, the pole is in Row 17, in front of Seat 6. In Section 205, it’s in front of Row 9, Seat 19.

Except for down the third base line in Sections 210-215, the poles are at the end of section, so seats numbered between 5-12 or so should be an okay bet. In Sections 210-215, try to get low numbered seats, especially in Sections 212-213.

If you want to keep it simple, go for something between the 10th and 15th row, where the pole isn’t likely to be much of a big deal and you can still see the video boards.

Go as high as you can and try not to look to the left.

Similarly, in the upper level, the support poles are in the first row of the Upper Reserved sections, at the end of a section. Try to avoid low-numbered, low row seats…not just to avoid the pole, but also to avoid the aforementioned foot traffic. In most Upper Reserved sections, the pole is in front of Seat 1 or Seat 22.

Again, there are only nine rows in the Upper Reserved sections, so chances are that there will be a pole in your sight somewhere. But with the angle of the seats, it’s usually not bad unless you’re in the first few rows directly behind them.

It gets worse in outer sections, however, and you may want a seat in a higher row just in case.

No, I didn’t photoshop that scoreboard into this picture. It was really there.

Aside from support poles, the highest rows in Terrace Reserved, starting at about Row 16, have the overhang blocking views of the outfield scoreboards, including the hand-operated scoreboard, one of the more striking visual aspects of Wrigley Field.

There is a mini scoreboard with vital info, and the Cubs put TVs in the rafters in case you miss anything, so it’s not all bad. But given the choice, an upper level seat would likely be a better option, especially if it’s your first time at the Friendly Confines.

Yes, someone will pay for these seats. Because Wrigley.

My Best Obstructed Views Tip For Wrigley: Hopefully my advice is useful, but you’d be reading all day if I covered everything. So try the excellent “A View From My Seat” website, that offers you excellent photos of what the view from your chosen seat, or at least a nearby one, will look like.

You can plug in your section number and see the views for yourself. It may take some work, but this is a fantastic resource. Here is their Wrigley Field page…I recommend highly using it to get a great seat at a great price.

A big scoreboard? Finally some shade!

Home Of The Bums: The Wrigley Field Bleachers

The Wrigley Field Bleachers used to be the most inexpensive seats in the park and were packed with the venerable “Bleacher Bums”. Neither is the case anymore, but even at the inflated prices the Bleachers are still the only place to be for many fans.

The Bleacher experience can be a blast or an annoyance depending on your mindset, but there’s unquestionably no baseball experience like it. That said, there’s a few things you should know:

Bleacher fans are serious about a good time.

Pick Your Seat On Game Day – When I say “get here early to pick a seat“, it has a different meaning at Wrigley. For a good spot you are looking at arriving three and a half hours before gametime at the least. People get in line very early, and the first seats to be taken are the front rows of the left field seats, where folks scramble for souvenirs during batting practice.

Sneaky Pro Tip: Speaking of souvenir baseballs, if you’re looking to snag some, try looking under seats as soon as you get in to see if any have already been hit there.

Weekday game. This is why people get in line.

If you can’t land these, at least stay away from the Batter’s Eye in center field, lest you lose a portion of the field to the protruding restaurant.

Aisle seats, by the way, make going for a dog or a brew a little easier. For the most part, fans will gladly keep an eye on your seat during the game, provided you aren’t rooting for the other team.

Once the bleachers are full, it becomes SRO for late arrivals. The Cubs reportedly sell more tickets than there are seats for prime games (and that’s most of them), but if you get there late ask an usher if there are any seats available. You might be surprised.

Keep this in mind in October: there are heaters under the scoreboard in center field.

Featuring numbered seats for Cubs playoff runs!

Bring A Cushion – Bleacher seats are metal and backless, meaning you could be sharing your seat with your neighbor’s cheek, and you should bring a cushion on a cold day (actually, it’s not a bad idea anytime).

Consider Your Fellow Fans – The bleachers are often full of hardcore party animals; meaning some people drink more than they should and do and say things that they shouldn’t. It may not always be the best place for kids, especially on weekends. Fans wearing opposing teams’ gear will take good-natured abuse at the least.

FORBIDDEN! Well, okay, maybe an opposing home run ball. Or an opposing team fan. But otherwise FORBIDDEN!

If you catch a home run hit by the other team, just throw it back. It’s not worth the souvenir. (Some fans keep an additional ball in their pocket to throw back just in case.)

Important note: The Bleachers are zoned off from the rest of Wrigley. You can only access the area with a Bleachers ticket. If you have a bleachers ticket you can still roam around the rest of the ballpark, which is nice. They have a walkway in the left field corner leading to the concourse.

One more thing. You will have to ascend steps to get to the bleachers; I believe they probably have an elevator somewhere, but just something to know.

Cubs fans know the value of counter space.

Part of the recent Cubs’ renovation in Wrigley is group spaces in the bleachers; including the Left Field Patio behind the left field bleachers, the Budweiser Patio in right field, and the Hornitos Hacienda, which is the well in front of the left field seats. The center field batter’s eye restaurant is also a climate-controlled suite now.

All of these spaces feature stools and counters for your drinks, but probably not enough seats for the size of the group. They’re not cheap, but they’re all-inclusive and great fun for a party if you have the means.

You can’t see the score, who’s at bat, or the scores of other games. But you can still see the ivy!

Wrigley Field Standing Room Options

The Cubs say that they make a limited number of standing room tickets available on game day, which doesn’t say much. Wrigley isn’t a great place to have a standing room ticket anyway; the lower concourse area is behind the high rows of Terrace Reserved seats that have overhang view problems to begin with.

You likely won’t find any usable space in the upper level, especially now that the pavilion behind home plate is the Catalina Club.

It wouldn’t be too bad if you could bring a barcalounger.

There is some standing room space on the outer edges of the upper level that isn’t terrible (some Cubs fan friends of mine tell me they love it), but it’s far from home plate and there’s nothing to lean on.

Wrigley is one of the tougher ballparks to poach a seat; you won’t have an easy time getting past ushers here. Chances are good you’ll get caught unless you occupy a vacant seat after the 7th inning stretch. You likely won’t get ejected, just thrown back into the concourse. But that’s embarrassing enough.

In an early April evening, savvy Cubs fans choose the “sun” spot.

Finding Shade And Other Stuff About Wrigley Field Seating

No Chicago native needs to be told this, but you should always be prepared for the weather at Wrigley, and take into account where you’re sitting.

The sun sets on the third base side, so that side will have shade first for afternoon and night games and will also cool down first. In the higher rows of Field Box seats you will see shade earlier on the third base side. To stay out of the sun, avoid the lower level seats down the right field line.

I would avoid the bleachers if you don’t like being in the sun. The bleachers now have some shaded spots, although most all of the seats are in direct sunlight. If it gets to be too much for you, you can duck under a scoreboard, but you’ll be far from home plate.

As you can see, the roof protects patrons from the sun that might actually thaw protruding body parts.

In the upper level, the roof provides shade for Upper Reserved seats especially on the third base side, but Upper Box could still see sun.

Chicago climate being what it is, you could be at Wrigley on a windy day and see people sweating in the bleachers (which are generally protected from the Lake Michigan breeze), while people in the seating bowl are bundled up trying to stay warm. I’ve shivered in the Terrace seats in June.

For April and October night games at Wrigley, fans dress extremely warmly, and with good reason. Be prepared…on a cold night you will be sitting on a metal seat for a long time. (Remember my tip about restrooms!)

Hopefully, I’ve made the job of choosing one of these a bit easier.

There you have it my friends, your complete primer on choosing a seat at Wrigley Field…compiled from my own and others’ experiences. I hope you’ve enjoyed the read and found it useful.

If you want to find the best deals on Cubs tickets, check out this post, and read this for a full primer on how to get to Wrigley. And this should help you decide what to eat. Hope it helps, and I’ll see you at the Yard!

(Note: this article contains affiliate links. If you use an affiliate link to make a purchase, Ballpark E-Guides earns a commission. Thanks for your support!)

Greetings baseball fans, ballpark nerds and Braves game goers! This here is my fully detailed, info-rich Truist Park seating guide. I’m here to help you make the best seat choice for your next game at the home of the Atlanta Braves (it was called SunTrust Park, but it’s the same place).

I’m covering most everything on the Atlanta Braves seating chart here (except group spaces and party suites…that’s for another post). This post tells you what to expect with premium seating, what makes Chop House seats special, where you can find shade from the Atlanta sun, and much more.

There’s a lot to go through here, so I’ve broken it down for you:

The Best Seats at Truist Park – Premium Seating
The Chop House Seats
Field Level (100) Seating
Terrace Level (200) Seating
Vista Level (300) Seating + Coca-Cola Corner
The Cheap Seats: Grandstand Level (400) Seating + General Admission
Outfield Seats + Home Run Porch
Truist Park Standing Room Tips
Best Seats For Shade at Truist Park
Accessible Seating
A Few More Tips

Ready? OK, let’s get this party started, after this quick word from our sponsor!

Gametime has your cheap Braves tickets…with a lowest price guarantee, panoramic seat view photos, and great last minute deals…even after the game starts!

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Truist Park Seating Tips, Part 1) The Best Seats at Truist Park – Premium Seating.

The Truist Club Seats. Where you pay more because you can.

The first and second levels (100-200) between the bases is all premium seating at Truist Park. This is how the Braves afford great players. If this is too rich for your blood, skip to the 100 section.

Truist Club Seats are the best seats in Truist Park, and are priced accordingly, for multiple reasons. These are the lowest sections directly behind home plate, with just nine rows of 23” wide, cushioned seats, and…get this…TVs to watch the game on.

Seats include a countertop for your food, which you can order from in-seat service. The menu in the very high end Truist Club lounge includes a carving station, charcuterie, etc. Complimentary alcoholic drinks at full-service bars too. All the modern amenities to remind you that you’ve made it enough to ridiculously overpay for live baseball.

You also get complimentary valet parking in the convenient Orange Deck (no small thing here), a private entrance (short lines!), and access to the Delta Sky360 Club. We’ll talk about that in a minute.

Sure, there’s no obvious difference when you can’t see the TV sets.

Chairman’s Seats are the sections directly behind the Truist Club seats, and are almost equally desirable. These are great seats too; they’re wide and cushioned and a bit more elevated. They include everything that goes with the Truist Club seats, except the TV at your seat and access to the Truist Club. You can stare at people entering the Truist Club wistfully and hope someday you won’t be a nobody anymore.

The seats in the back are just as comfortable.

Executive Seats are directly behind the Chairman’s seats, completing the 100 section around home plate. Again, these are wide and cushioned seats with in-seat wait service, and access to the Delta Sky360 Club Lounge. The only difference is no valet parking, just a pass to a premium lot. This saves you a few bucks tipping the driver, you financial wizard you!

Sections 122 and 130 now have multiple tables, where you can place your stuff and watch the game.

It’s baseball…let’s get swanky!

So, now about this Delta Sky 360 Club Lounge access included with these seats. It’s, we’ll just say, sweet…bring your appetite. Ticket holders get endless inclusive food prepared by executive chefs…stations everywhere with pizza, tacos, nachos, sliders, chili dogs, salads, you get it. Complimentary beer and wine (the Truist Club includes hard liquor, but the Delta Lounge charges for it). And of course, lots of dessert items to save room for.

Needless to say, the club is climate-controlled, and there are TVs everywhere to watch the game. And you can check out great Braves history throughout the club, awards on display and such.

All of these premium sections include access to the Xfinity Club on the 200 level as well.

If you’ve never sat in mesh seats at a ballgame before, you really should.

Dugout Seats are the front sections on the field level, past the premium seats. They extend to the corners in three price ranges. Dugout seats are, literally, very cool…they are made with a comfortable mesh fabric, so it’s kind of like you’re sitting in a hammock. They’re cooler on warmer game days, which Atlanta has a few of. There’s also fewer seats per row here than usual.

You get a small concessions credit, and access to the Dugout Lounges near the outfield corners. These are climate-controlled spaces with drinks and complimentary snacks. Chipper’s Lounge on the third base side features memorabilia from the great Chipper Jones himself. Needless to say, the seats offer the closest views without the extensive “look rich” fee.

No, they aren’t reserved for Xfinity customers.

Finally, (whew!) the Xfinity Club seats and tables are on the 200 level, again the full sections between the bases. These seats have that nice bird’s eye view, and include access to the large (and climate-controlled of course) Xfinity Club behind you. Enjoy some complimentary popcorn or peanuts, and use your $15 concession credit towards a drink at one of the full service bars.

The Xfinity Club isn’t as lavish as the Delta or Truist Clubs. Food and booze isn’t complimentary. But they have a variety of decent food options there, including Mr. B’s Bourbon, and it’s a great space to duck out of the elements. That and the padded seats are worth the few extra bucks.

“Have a seat here, we’ll discuss financing for your tickets.”

So, how do you get the finest Braves seats with access to exclusive clubs? Well, from the Braves, you need an A-List Membership, which I presume includes going to multiple games. Perhaps you can persuade your employer on the numerous benefits of live Braves baseball.

For single game tickets from the Braves, you might find Dugout Club seats, but little else. If you want to go third party and see what’s out there, you can, but good luck. They aren’t cheap. Try waiting till the last minute, or get a cheap ticket and look for an upgrade from the Ballpark mobile app when you get there. Couldn’t hurt to try.

Sometime soon I’ll post knowledge about finding cheap Braves tickets, so stay tuned; maybe I can help you with the premium stuff.

Truist Park Seating Tips, Part 2) The Chop House Seats.

The Braves know how to make seats better.

The seats in front of the Chop House restaurant in right field are still premium seats of sorts. But I gave them a separate section, because they’re very popular among Braves-loving faithful.

The Chop House Deck is a multi-terraced section beyond the right field fence, featuring the Chop House restaurant itself. Some sections, like the Below The Chop area, are held mostly for groups. But you can go third party for Chop House Deck seats.

The view isn’t the best by premium seats standards, but there’s a lot of cool amenities. For one, the seats are bar-style with backs, made with that comfortable mesh. There’s a table in front of you for your food and drinks…which you can order from your seat. There’s even refrigerated cup holders! If anything is worth a premium price, it’s keeping your beer cold in Atlanta.

Because you’re going to have cups.

Not done…there’s phone chargers near each seat, and tickets include a parking pass and a concessions credit…which you can use at Fox Bros. BBQ or H&F Burgers nearby, which are true grub staples here. And of course, the Chop House restaurant is right behind you.

Like I said, these seats are very popular (much like they were at Turner Field), and the area gets crowded. Get here early for a good spot; tables are first come first served. It might not be the best spot for families, since it’s a drinking and socializing type of spot and the sun can be rough.

Again, this is a premium Braves experience, and are season tickets only, so if you want to try it, try checking Gametime close to game time.

Truist Park Seating Tips, Part 3) Field Level Seating (100 Level).

The people closer to the shade might be the smarter ones.

So, as we’ve discussed, much of the field level seating is premium seats, but there are sections for the rest of us. Seats behind the Dugout seats down the lines are called Diamond seats, and are in three pricing tiers based on distance from home plate.

These seats offer value in being closer to the field; as you get higher in levels seats are significantly further from home plate. This is especially true in corner sections, something to consider if you want to be close to the action.

I’ll discuss finding shade more later, but since people care about covered seating: seats covered by the overhang usually start around rows 8-10. If you get into row 15 or higher, though, the overhang could block your view of the Big Board, especially on the third base side. (Incidentally, this is only a problem on the 100 level.)

You might not have a cup holder, but we’ll see who’s laughing when the rain starts!

If you’re going somewhat economical, the right field corner sections aren’t bad…they’re mostly covered for shade, are angled towards the field, and close to the kids’ area and several great eating spots. Keep in mind they’ll still be behind the Dugout sections. Left field corner is more in the sun and not as good.

So overall on the Field Level, go for first base side over third base side, as per every Braves fan who offers opinions online. Besides better shade, the Braves Monument Garden is on the first base side concourse, and it’s a must visit spot for any baseball fan.

Truist Park Seating Tips, Part 4) Terrace Level Seating (200 Level).

Not bad, as far as seats for the rest of us go.

Like the 100 Level seats, on the Terrace 200 Level all the seats between the bases are premium seats, Xfinity Club in this case. But beyond that, everything is available to the public, save for Hank Aaron Terrace seats overlooking left field, which are reserved for groups.

It’s debatable whether 200 level “Lexus” seats are worth the higher price than the 300 level seats just above them, especially for sitting between the bases. They’re lower, but the view isn’t significantly better, and the concessions choices are actually inferior, what with the Xfinity club and suites taking up so much of the concourse.

They are cheaper than the Chop House though. Just saying.

At my first game at Truist, I had seats in the right field corner; in my opinion those sections are too far from the field for 2nd-deck seats. They were further than I expected, anyway. I would get as close to home plate as possible. The corner seats are angled towards the field, which is nice.

Not totally denigrating the 200 level; some fans consider the Terrace level to be the best value for seats at Truist Park. The rows numbered about 14 and higher are covered by the overhang, but never enough to lose the view of the Big Board. Closer to home plate it’s a nice bird’s eye view.

I read a complaint from one fan about the speakers being placed just above the higher rows, and the resulting noise level. I haven’t experienced this at Truist, but I have elsewhere, and I agree it can be grating. Something to keep in mind.

Truist Park Seating Tips, Part 5) Vista Level Seating (300 Level).

Not much higher or further back, and much cheaper. I personally never cared for Xfinity anyway.

As stated, I’ve read accounts from people that believe Vista Level seating is a better deal than Terrace Level. For the price, you get a nice view of pretty much everything, including the Big Board. Vista Level is also the best deal to sit behind home plate without spending triple digits; scrap the upscale food options and spend your money in the Battery Atlanta. Seats are higher and further back though, and it gets close to acrophobia level here.

Some caveats: the 300 level has less overhang covering (about the last three rows are covered), so check out my shade tips if that matters. One fan also said to avoid the lowest rows, because of the slightly annoying railing/plexiglass obstruction. Again, as you get to the corners, seats are pretty far from the action, but at this price you likely won’t complain.

See that little opening there with the sunlight? Take note of that.

For another opportunity to stay cool (take what you can get here), try Vista Reserved sections just beyond the bases, Sections 315-317 or 335-339. One nice Reddit poster pointed out that these seats get frequent breezes from the open areas behind them. Needless to say, it works the other way on a cold night. 315-317 past first base is better.

Finally, the upper deck concourse can be tough to navigate up here, accommodating both 300 and 400 level fans. On a sold out night, I’d get food and drinks beforehand if at all possible.

All that said, 300 level seats at Truist are a pretty good value…especially being cheaper than outfield seats in most cases. They do go fast though, so plan ahead for high demand games.

Who knew that simply offering a free Coke could draw so many fans!

The Coca-Cola Corner is on the Vista Level in left field. Like the Chop House, this is a carry-over of sorts from Turner Field, although it doesn’t include fun stuff for kids. These seats are as far from home plate as can be and feature zero shade, but they do include a 20 oz. Coca-Cola beverage for your trouble.

There is a big huge chair and huge Coke bottles behind this section for photo-ops. Bathrooms right there as well. You might enjoy the nice elevated view of the buildings around the ballpark. The seats are cheap, but remember the distance, limited view of the Big Board, and lack of shade. You’ll need that complimentary Coke.

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Truist Park Seating Tips, Part 6) Cheap Seats at Truist Park – Grandstand Level and General Admission (400 Level).

When you go to a game in July, you’ll understand the big roof.

The Grandstand Level seats are way up there, and are the most affordable seats for Braves games. The cheapest seats in Truist Park are the five general admission sections in the left field corner…super economical, first come first serve seats.

There are actually some nice benefits to sitting in the top level here, if you can handle the acrophobia. For one, nearly all the Grandstand seats are covered by the extensive roof, for much needed protection from the elements. The upper concourse also seems to offer better food selection than the 200 level, much of which is the Xfinity Club.

That said, there are disadvantages too…and reasons the Grandstand seats are so cheap. The biggest challenge is simply getting to them…from the 300 concourse, you have to climb up steps past duct work and HVAC equipment to get there. It’s odd.

In addition, the sections themselves aren’t quite steep enough to prevent partially blocked views from tall people in front of you. Like on the 300 level, the plexiglass railings can be an annoyance in the first couple of rows too.

Yep, this is the 400 level concourse.

Still, if you’re able-bodied enough to handle it and don’t mind the nosebleed level, Grandstand can be a great deal, especially behind home plate. I enjoy panoramic ballpark views. 400 seats are super cheap, covered by the roof, and even offer a nice breeze in the top rows.

If you’re doing General Admission, get there early to snag a good spot. Especially for high attendance nights. If it’s a low attendance night, you can probably improve your lie to a lower section or closer to behind home plate in later innings.

Both the 300 and 400 levels access the same concourse, and there’s a rooftop patio in the right field corner. Views of the action aren’t great from the patio, but the panoramic view there is pretty sweet.

Truist Park Seating Tips, Part 7) Outfield (Home Run Porch) Seats.

See anyone without a hat? Just saying.

The Braves call the outfield seats the “Home Run Porch”. Presumably they hope fans forget their infinitesimally small chances of catching a Braves home run ball. All the outfield seats are on the 100 Level.

There are multiple reasons not to sit in the outfield at Truist Park. For one, most of the seats, except in the upper rows of left field, are out in the Atlanta sun. All day, and often well into the evening with the sun directly in your eyes in left field seats at sunset.

Another flaw of the Home Run Porch is in the far right field sections. Upper rows especially can lose quite a bit of the field to the Chop House fence. On top of that, you have to crane your neck to view the impressive Big Board scoreboard, if you can see it at all.

Yes, that is the Braves bullpen. No, pitchers won’t friend you on Facebook.

So there’s three strikes against outfield seating. Any good reasons to sit there? Well, the Braves bullpen is in front of Sections 152-153, and the visitors’ bullpen is in front of Sections 144-145. If you want to offer encouragement to Braves relievers or hassle Phillies relievers, there’s your chance. In addition, most of Sections 144-146 are covered by the Hank Aaron Terrace seats, so there’s some shade. No view of the Big Board there though.

The outfield seats are also close to Hope & Will’s Sandlot in the right field concourse, which is a very cool play area, so if you’re bringing the kids you could do worse. However, I would go for right field corner before outfield seats in this case, where you’ll see more shade.

That’s another thing, though: the kids’ area is a concourse bottleneck and makes it difficult to pass through if you want a beer at the Terrapin Taproom. Another reason to avoid outfield seats if you’re not bringing kids.

Interestingly enough, while they are cheaper than most tickets here, outfield seats are more expensive than most of the 300-400 level seats. Which is baffling to me for the reasons I just described, but I’m not a billionaire sports team owner. Unless you’re cheap and acrophobic, or just want to be close to the field cheaply, you can do better than outfield seats at Truist Park.

Truist Park Seating Tips, Part 8) Standing Room Advice.

Yes, you can stand here! Shade and everything! Just no view of the Big Board.

The Braves will make a handful of standing room tickets available for sold out games, which are somewhat frequent in this town. Standing room is a great deal if you just want to get into the ballpark. Where you can stand depends on your taste, but here’s some ideas.

The Top of The Chop at the Chop House is a popular standing spot with younger folks; if you’re early enough you can stake out a good place to stand. You’ll need someone to get your food or drinks or hold that good spot though. You can take turns ducking out of the elements in the restaurant itself, and if no one is renting out the Deck (unlikely), you can stand there.

But if that’s not an optimal viewpoint, there’s plenty of great spots throughout the 100 level. The 100 level has railings everywhere for your drinks and food. Better yet, the infield SRO areas are mostly in the shade, and there are huge concourse fans blowing air around. You won’t likely see the Big Board with the overhang, but you could do worse. Remember what I said about the right field concourse, though…try to avoid going through it for food or answering nature’s call.

About 500 feet from home plate, but railings, barstools, and a view of the Big Board.

The 200 level has standing room space where the bases are and beyond, but there’s no place to rest your drink or elbows. Not really a good spot. On the 300 level in right field, there is the aforementioned rooftop patio, which while far from the field is fun in its own way and close to drinks. The patio includes some chairs along the railing, so you might even find a place to sit.

As of 2024, the Braves no longer offer a Ballpark Pass with a month’s worth of standing room tickets. If that changes, let me know and I’ll update this.

Truist Park Seating Tips, Part 9) Where To Find Shade at a Braves Game.

This picture makes it pretty clear. But there’s more.

It being an outdoor venue in Atlanta, finding shade at Truist Park is super important. I probably should led off with this part, but here’s some tips for how to stay out of the sun:

First, Truist Park is shaped as such so that the first base side sees shade for night games far sooner than the third base side and the outfield. Most any frequent visitor to Truist will tell you the importance of this. Not only will you be baking on the third base side and outfield during early innings, the sun will likely be in your eyes as well. Always go first base side for shade.

Second, surprisingly, nearly all of the premium seating is uncovered and unprotected by the sun. As I’ve said, the Dugout Club seats are made of a cooler mesh, but those leather seats in the high end clubs probably aren’t ideal in the heat. That said, you have climate-controlled club access, so you can always escape the oven there.

The upper 100 sections and 400 sections offer the best coverage.

Third, as I’ve described, there are overhangs and roofs that do offer quite a bit of protection from the sun. On the 400 level especially, nearly all of the seats are covered. You should be fine regardless of the time of day. In the 100 level, rows 10 and higher are usually covered, but remember the highest rows can lose the Big Board. On the 200 and 300 levels, you have to go to nearly the top rows for protection during the day.

Finally, for shade in afternoon games, avoid the third base side and outfield entirely. The sun will grow progressively worse there through the game. Stay on the first base side, and try to find something under an overhang. This is easier in 100 or 400 than it is in 200 or 300.

Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen if you can’t manage a shady seat.

Truist Park Seating Tips, Part 10) Truist Park Accessible Seating.

No breakdancing on the aisle steps.

You can find out more about what the Braves offer for handicapped seating on this page, but let me just briefly offer a summary.

The Braves have designated accessible seating throughout the 100, 200, and 300 levels, including behind the Truist Club and Chairman’s Club seats. Accessible seating is at the top end of sections. On the Truist Park seating chart, you can see the wheelchair logo at designated sections if you squint. There’s plenty of spaces, and most all of them offer decent views.

Yes, you will almost certainly be in the shade.

Many of the sections behind the 100 level will be under the overhang. You’ll be in shade but could miss the Big Board. If that matters and you don’t mind being higher, you can take an elevator to the 200 or 300 levels.

The team has a dedicated phone number and email address (accessibleservices@braves.com) for info about these sections. Contact them and let them know what you need; they can accommodate groups as well. The Braves also have wheelchair attendants and service, and they will let you use any wheelchairs they have for the game.

When you’re buying tickets through the Braves website, you can filter out “accessible seating”.

Truist Park Seating Tips, Part 11) A Few More Notes.

OKAY, I know where the general admission shaded overhang bullpen club chop seats are! What the heck else do I need?

Yes, believe it or not, I have a few more tips to share with you about Truist Park seating…

There really isn’t much to see outside the ballpark from the seating bowl except a couple of tall buildings. Don’t expect a great view of downtown Atlanta; Camden Yards or PNC Park this is not. The huge Braves “A” towering over right field is kind of cool, but not worth getting a special ticket for.

I don’t encourage seat poaching, but in the 300-400 levels especially, you should be easily able to move somewhere closer to home plate or somewhere in the shade, especially after a few innings. It’s tougher on the lower levels, where ushers are (probably rightly) more strict.

Just wanted to remind you about the Dugout Club mesh seats.

The Atlanta Braves dugout is on the first base side, in front of Sections 16-21. The visiting team dugout is on the third base side, in front of Sections 31-35. The Braves bullpen is in front of Sections 152-153 in right field; the visitors’ bullpen is in front of Sections 144-145 at the left field foul pole.

Facing the field, seat numbers always start with seat 1 on the right.

Finally, the Braves feature an outstanding Virtual Venue page on their site, where you can literally select almost any section in the ballpark and see a 360-degree view from that seat, including general shade. You can even compare two seating sections. It’s a bit wonky trying to move your view around, but it’s well worth using.

You should be able to pick one now. Hope this helps.

Okay, did you get all that? Sorry if I went a little long. But hopefully, you have all the info you need. Now you can make an informed seating choice for your next baseball game at the home of the Atlanta Braves. Or any upcoming events. Remember, stay in the shade!

Stay tuned for more Truist Park info, including how to score cheap Atlanta Braves tickets. And check out the rest of this highly informative blog for great ballpark tips. Feel free to drop me a line if you have a question.

Thanks for reading, and please support this website’s great sponsors!!

(Note: this article contains affiliate links. If you use an affiliate link to make a purchase, Ballpark E-Guides earns a commission, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!)

Hello dear readers! I have recently made a change to my site and wanted to let you know why.

As some of you know, this blog is supported in part by affiliate programs. When I send my readers to certain sites and they make a purchase, this blog receives a percentage of the sale. It helps to pay for hosting, site support, promotional services, and other necessities of running a blog.

Below, I’m sharing why I now recommend Gametime for finding deals on baseball tickets.

I chose Gametime for several reasons. The biggest one was my surprise when I compared them to other resellers. When doing price comparisons, I found that Gametime was offering better prices than SeatGeek, TickPick, StubHub and several others for seats in similar sections. In fact, sometimes the price difference was significant. It may not be always the case, but I did notice it. (You can read more about comparing Gametime to other resellers here.)

In addition, I’ve found multiple benefits with using Gametime that not every other reseller offers. Have you ever been overwhelmed by all the seating choices for an event? Gametime only shows you the better deals. They’re aware you’re not going to pay $4,000 for a Rays bleachers ticket. You can use their panoramic seat view option to see the view from your seat, which helps make the decision easier.

Most importantly, you can toggle “all-in pricing” so you can see the full cost of the ticket…which is a big factor in the price as we all know.

You can stop here for your tickets. Or just use the Gametime app!

One more selling point for me was that as I write this, Gametime has an A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau website. (I don’t care about 1-star ratings or lack of accreditation. No one goes to BBB to talk about the great experience they had.) It may ultimately not be that significant…SeatGeek gets an F on BBB and I’ve never had a problem with them…but the A+ looks better, especially in a field where there is a lot of mistrust.

Gametime specializes in last minute tickets, which is something I frequently recommend people do. As they told me, planning is overrated! (I respectfully disagree, but I like their spirit.) They guarantee their tickets of course, and even offer a low price guarantee as well.

So as of April 2024, Gametime is the Official Third Party Ticket Provider of Ballpark E-Guides. As a guy who writes plenty about finding deals on MLB tickets, I definitely like Gametime.

So check them out!

And needless to say, since they are an affiliate, if you use that link and make a purchase, Ballpark E-Guides receives a percentage of the sale, at no extra cost to you. As always, I really appreciate your support. If you have any questions about this or anything else, feel free to contact me.

Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you at the Yard!

(Note: this article contains affiliate links. If you use an affiliate link to make a purchase, Ballpark E-Guides earns a commission, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!)

Here it is my friends…all of my best tips for how to score cheap New York Yankees tickets. I’ve listed everything I’ve found in my extensive research on finding discounts, specials, and more, and helping you save money for your next baseball game at Yankee Stadium.

(Need more Yankee Stadium help? Check out my detailed primers on seating including the cheap seats, worthwhile parking lots, best ways to get there, and the food menu at the home of the New York Yankees!)

There’s lots of useful information here and plenty of options to save money, so I’m breaking it down for you:

My Best Tip For Cheap Yankees Tickets
Yankees Website Deals (MasterCard!)
Buying From Gametime And Other Third Parties
Choosing The Right Game
The Yankees Box Office + Buying On Game Day
The Yankees Universe Fan Club
The Pinstripe Pass
Discounts For Groups + Beloved Folks
Helping The Community
A Few Extra Notes

Okay, ready? Here we go, after this quick word from our sponsor…

Gametime has your cheap Yankees tickets…with a lowest price guarantee, panoramic seat view photos, and great last minute deals…even after the game starts!

(See why Ballpark E-Guides loves Gametime here!)

People still come to Yankee Stadium to see pictures of Babe Ruth.

Cheap Yankees Tickets Tip #1) Subscribe To The E-Mail Newsletter. If you’re looking to find deals on Yankees tickets, do this now: click here and subscribe to team ticket alerts.

When you sign up, the Yankees will tell you about great deals offered on various seating areas through the season. You’ll want to take advantage of these, because they go very fast. Ticket offers include $5 games, half-price tickets in the Terrace, Grandstand and Bleachers; $10 Grandstand tickets; and a variety of other specials that you will like.

The Yankees’ ticket alert e-mail newsletter will also inform you of the day regular season tickets will go on sale, be they season tickets, group tickets, or single game tickets. This is your best opportunity to get high demand games at face value, which is often the cheapest that you’ll find them.

If you’re looking to save on premium seating, this could help too. Since high end tickets are priced at a premium, the Yankees will offer deals on them if they’re not able to move such seats. Always check the newsletter before paying face price for premium seats especially.

You can also text the Yankees at (917) 809-4227 and get offers on your phone. It also doesn’t hurt to follow the Yankees on Facebook and Twitter; sometimes there are exclusive deals to be had there.

Yeah, I suppose you could still order tickets by phone, but that’s just weird.

Cheap Yankees Tickets Tip #2) Buying From The New York Yankees Website. When you’re buying tickets, the Yankees have a seating map that actually gives the locations of the available seats, for an even more detailed picture than on most third party sites. They will even let you select a price range for tickets before they snicker at the number you give them.

Yankees tickets are completely paperless now, so you’ll need the MLB Ballpark app on your mobile device. It also means there’s no point in going to the box office, although I have emailed the Yankees to ask if there’s a way to avoid the ticket fees.

It helps greatly to plan ahead. Cheaper seats move much more quickly, so if you buy tickets through the Yankees you must get online early in the year and buy then, or use a third party seller. This is another reason to get the email alerts…so you know exactly when tickets go on sale.

The Yankees employ “dynamic pricing”; as of this writing “prime” games are Opening Day, Old Timer’s Day and Red Sox or Mets games. These games are more expensive but still likely less than the usual third-party markup, so get them in advance if you can.

If people knew how good the MasterCard deals were, she’d be a lot busier!

The Yankees love MasterCard…if you’re a Yankees fan especially you should own one. (Bonus tip! Make it a Citi MasterCard and you’ll get deals with the Mets at Citi Field too. That’s what Kurt does!)

MasterCard specials include $5 games (for Terrace and Grandstand seats even), Monday game discounts, half-price games and savings in general on most tickets. This in addition to deals on food and merchandise, and pre-sale opportunities. Get one…it’s well worth it.

So because you’re reading this, I just helped you get into Yankee Stadium for a finski. At Ballpark E-Guides, we’ve got your back!

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Cheap Yankees Tickets Tip #3) Buying From Third Parties. SeatGeek is the official third party ticket provider for the Yankees, and I’ve got no beef with them, but Gametime is my favorite reseller (full disclosure, they are also an affiliate), because they offer better deals than most and are great for last minute tickets especially.

Know that really good seats are much cheaper from the Yankees through a full season ticket plan, and discounted as part of partial season ticket plans. Chances are that season ticket holders will be selling their unsold tickets on Gametime cheaper than the advance ticket price, especially for non-premium games. For low demand games, you could score a very nice deal over face price for high end seats on Gametime.

Most of the time on the secondary market, ticket prices drop as you get closer to the event. If the game is a must for you, though, I would start looking for deals about a week out from game day. If not, go ahead and wait until the last minute and you could save a lot.

If you want the dark blue seats cheap, timing is the key.

Good deals don’t last long; if you see something you like, grab it. If you’re driving to the ballpark, check if tickets include a parking pass.

If you’re looking to save money (and you obviously are if you’re here) compare prices with the Yankees website and other third party sites for the best deal. But remember the fees! To compare prices, be sure to go all the way to the checkout screen to know what you’re really paying.

The best way to find a deal on Gametime for cheaper Yankees tickets, of course, is choosing the right contest. If you can be picky, check my next tip.

The Yankees don’t admit it, but there are other baseball teams. They have to play somebody after all.

Cheap Yankees Tickets Tip #4) Choosing The Right Game + Opponent. You can score a much better deal on Yankees tickets, especially on the secondary market, by selecting a low demand game.

The biggest crowds are almost always games against the Boston Red Sox; interleague New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies games are also big draws. The Chicago Cubs and Baltimore Orioles are also bringing in more fans these days. Opening Day and Old Timer’s games honoring Yankee greats also draw large numbers.

Games against weaker west coast opponents often have the smallest crowds.

Saturday is the biggest day of the week for attendance, followed by Sunday and Friday, with Tuesday and Wednesday being the smallest. Tuesdays can still bring in decent crowds though, possibly because of the deals the Yankees offer on Tuesday nights (see the MasterCard bit).

No one month stands out much as far as crowd size; but April and September tend to have the smallest crowds, and if the Bronx Bombers aren’t contending in September, their fans ain’t showing up, and you can often find very cheap tickets on Gametime.

So to sum this up, if you just want to visit Yankee Stadium, pick a weekday game in April against Colorado or similar opponent. If you want to see the Red Sox, try for a weekday game. You get the idea.

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The good news is, this line is probably shorter now.

Cheap Yankees Tickets Tip #5) Buying From The Box Office. In the past buying tickets at the box office was a way to avoid the sometimes considerable ticket fees, although the Yankees did charge more on game day and lines could be long.

Nowadays with tickets being paperless, the Yankees only say that they’ll help you get mobile tickets on your phone if you show up at the box office. (Which, of course, begs the question…what are those <expletive> “convenience” fees for then?)

I’ve contacted the Yankees to ask if there’s a benefit to going to the box office, when they basically just offer technical help that any baseball fan who’s been to a game in the last five years can do for you. I’ll update this if I hear back from them, but for now I doubt it.

They even help you with how to join!

Cheap Yankees Tickets Tip #6) Join The Yankees Universe. Before you shell out big bucks for better seats, check out the Yankees Universe fan club. There are three levels of membership; from most to least expensive they are MVP, Rookie and Explorer.

All memberships include discounts on merchandise and food, a separate entrance (which is no small thing here, believe me), tickets to a game, and most importantly an occasional promotional offer to buy discounted premium tickets. They still may be overpriced, but if you plan on getting higher level tickets you should definitely fork over the bucks for membership. It pays for itself with just the included tickets.

The MVP membership is miles ahead of the rest in price but is well worth it; it includes Field Level tickets to a Yankees game; and at Field Level ticket prices that’s definitely a bargain. There are limited quantities of this level of membership and they sell out fast, so grab them while you can.

Counters aren’t technically included, but they’re there!

Cheap Yankees Tickets Tip #7) The Pinstripe Pass. The Yankees offer a Pinstripe Pass for nearly every home game, which is a standing room ticket with a beer or Pepsi product thrown in for a very reasonable price. At ballpark beer prices, it’s almost like you’re getting in for free.

I talk a bit more about Yankee Stadium standing room here; there’s a lot of areas in the outfield especially where you can hang out and perhaps even find a stool. You might even be able to snag a seat in the bleachers, even though the Yankees say that’s not allowed.

These Yankees fans know where to party…well out of the range of foul balls.

Cheap Yankees Tickets Tip #8) Groups + Beloved Folks. People bringing a bunch of friends to a Yankees game get discounts for non-premium weekday games, and you only need to bring nine friends.

Group tickets are available for almost all of the new standing room areas, and you can have your gathering there. Some schools and organizations can buy tickets at a group discount; it doesn’t hurt to email the Yankees and ask.

There are quite a few games where you can get group tickets in the Grandstand or Terrace level for half price. Have a look at the Group Ticket Specials section of the Yankees website; you might find a really sweet deal if you can find just nine people to go to a game.

The Yankees, like most teams, partnered with GovX.com to offer discounted tickets to members of the military. Active military members with ID can get free low end tickets or discounted high end tickets through the site.

The Yankees also offer specials for college students, first responders, etc. Check their Ticket Specials page to see if you qualify as someone the Yankees like.

Help New York, and the Yankees just might help you.

Cheap Yankees Tickets Tip #9) Helping The Community. The Yankees in the past have offered tickets to people who donate blood at the New York Blood Centers; you can check the “Community” page of the Yankees website to see if you can help save lives and get a couple of tickets for your sacrifice. (These opportunities may also show up in your newsletter.)

The Yankees also provide tickets as incentives to other charitable efforts, like back-to-school immunizations, food drives and such. If you’re thinking about it, give it a look, there might be something you’d like to be involved in that the Yankees offer tickets for.

“You’re doing an excellent job keeping me away from scalpers.”

Cheap Yankees Tickets Tip #10) Other Stuff. Children three years old and younger, or under 30 inches tall, get in for free…so don’t put a cap on your little guy until he’s safely in. They won’t supply a seat though, so you’ll have to have the little one in your lap.

With paperless tickets, I’m guessing there probably aren’t scalpers like there used to be all over Macombs Dam Park and near Stan’s Sports Bar. You could sometimes score a good deal that way; if I hear anything I’ll update this. It’s a pain to check the conditions of your ticket anyway, and you have better choices these days.

That said, some folks do still try to unload their extras on Craigslist despite the paperless handicap, and again you have to deal with the trust issues before you Venmo someone your hard earned money and hope they’ll transfer the barcodes properly (and share your e-mail address). That’s up to you, but if you’re willing to risk it (and the large majority of sellers are legit), you might find a nice price without a fee.

“Get your Yankees barcodes here!!”

There you go folks…lots of useful information for finding the best deals on Yankees tickets. The Yankees are the most successful team in major league baseball history, with 27 World Series championships, so they have a lot of fans and home games almost always draw large crowds.

Lots more Yankee Stadium info where that came from…click here to read my complete guide to Yankee Stadium! And if you’ve got any questions, feel free to reach out to me!

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So you’re planning a baseball game to the home of the Detroit Tigers? I’m here to help…below is your complete and detailed Comerica Park seating guide! I’ve thoroughly researched the place for you, and listed my best tips for every seating area in the place below.

There’s a lot to cover here Tigers fans and Comerica visitors, so I’ve broken it down for you…feel free to skip the suite parts.

Comerica Park Luxury Suites
Comerica Park Party Suites + Group Areas
Tiger Den Seats
Terrace Seats
Lower Level Seating
Upper Level + Club Seating
Mezzanine Seating
Outfield Seating (+ Kaline’s Corner)
Right Field Balcony
Standing Room
Shade Spots and Other Comerica Seating Tips

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So, now, here is the lowdown on different seating areas for Detroit Tigers games, from most to least expensive. If you need to see where these spots are on the Comerica Park seating chart, here’s the official layout. Comerica Park’s seating capacity is 41,083 for Tigers home games.

They wouldn’t let me in, even on the tour, but I hear they’re nice.

Comerica Park Seating Tips, #1) Suites. Suites at Comerica are mostly located on two levels behind home plate and on the third base side. Nothing unique compared to most ballparks but it’s a nice spot: there is indoor and outdoor seating, a comfortable leather couch, TVs and private restrooms inside, and a food credit is included.

The Comerica Park suite menu is quite extensive; you might find some nice items like Polish sausages, Italian subs, lobster mac and cheese etc. The Tigers boast about a “decadent dessert cart” too.

Parking passes are included for the Tigers garage next to the ballpark, which shaves a few bucks from the total cost (it’s also the best parking spot, no small thing here). The suites, as with the Champions Club, Tiger Club and Tiger Den, have their own private entrance. The suite entrance is through the walkway on the third floor of the Tigers garage on Montcalm Street.

Detroit weather can definitely make you want to be indoors.

Comerica Park Seating Tips, #2) Party Suites + Group Areas. The Tigers have climate-controlled indoor party suites for small to large groups with extra cash, or a group can be mostly outdoors in one of the party deck areas on the mezzanine concourse. The suites are about twice the cost as the decks per person.

Most all of them include buffets—the party suite buffet includes dogs, burgers, chicken tenders and a few other ballpark favorites until the 7th inning. Party suites are down the left field line and behind home plate.

The price is more per person than seats behind home plate, but for food and heat in April, it’s still pretty reasonable.

Sure, it’s half a mile from home plate. But there’s potato chips!

If you’re planning a big get together at Comerica, they have an impressive menu of breakfasts, lunches, snacks, dinners and desserts. You can rent a chef to serve from a carvery or pasta or seafood and other stations, and get well or top-shelf liquor. They do tack on the Michigan sales tax and an 18% gratuity to the price, because they can.

The Tigers offer nice deals on party suites and decks for low demand April games (and there’s a fire pit, I’ll get to that); if you can get a group together it includes some nice bonuses, like parking passes and Tiger Club access for the entire season.

If you really want to be high up and far away, you can have your get together at the Vizzy Hard Seltzer View…this is above the Pitcher’s Pub in right center field, and trust me, it’s up there and out there. They do have gazebos for shade, drink rails and counters, and a menu of food included, so it’s not all bad, but for a decent view of the game I’d pick a better spot.

Even though they’re made of wood and would float anyway, they’re covered from the rain.

Comerica Park Seating Tips, #3) Tiger Den Seats. The Tiger Den seats are located behind the lower level sections in the infield. They are luxury boxes of sorts; wide, cushioned, wooden chairs with tables in front of them and lots of leg room.

These seats include wait service and access to exclusive clubs, like the Tiger Den Club and Lounge (including the private entrance), in case you’d like to duck out of the heat or use a less crowded restroom. Tiger Den seats are slightly less in price than the “On Deck Circle” seats behind home plate, so it’s a pretty good value for everything thrown in.

They’re good for people wanting to relax and have a good time (not that they don’t enthusiastically cheer on the Tigers, of course), but they aren’t quite the best seats view-wise. Not only are they 35-plus rows from home plate, the higher rows are covered and the overhang can block the view of the impressive video board (henceforth called the Big Board here) on the third base side especially. I love the Big Board here, it’s definitely a distinguishing feature, so I’d want a view of it.

That said, Tiger Den seats are great in the rain or a hot day, and for mobility in your seat. A padded seat with ample space in the shade isn’t a bad fan experience. Occasionally there is a complaint about the proximity to the speakers, but it’s nice to be able to hear all of the announcements, like if your car has its lights on.

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Just put a lid on your drink in case the person in front of you has a pony tail.

Comerica Park Seating Tips, #4) Terrace Seats. Past the bases the seating at the Tiger Den level become the Terrace seats. They are much cheaper than the Tiger Den seats and do not feature wait service, but they are still larger and comfortable and include little tables, and they’re also protected from the elements. That’s a lot of bonuses, especially since you’ll probably be eating and drinking something.

The same view rules for the Tiger Den seats generally apply to Terrace seats, so you should avoid third base side seating if you like looking at the Big Board.

No, you can’t actually go out onto the field, but you can talk with people who can!

Comerica Park Seating Tips, #5) Lower Level. The first 13 rows of the lower deck behind home plate and the dugouts are called the “On Deck Circle” seats and are the most expensive in the ballpark aside of the suites.

They aren’t padded like the second mortgage price seats in many ballparks these days, but they are a bit wider, and they include in-seat wait service and access to the Tiger Den Lounge and Tiger Club restaurant. That might be worth a few extra bucks on cold April days.

The rest of the lower level seating does not include any such access to clubs. Just behind the On Deck Circle is now called the “Lower Infield Box”, which are more pricey.

It’s much cheaper to make fun of the right fielder.

The lower level seats decrease in price significantly as they move toward the outfield, with Outfield and then Baseline Box near the foul lines being the cheapest. Like in most ballparks, as the seats get past the bases they are angled more towards home plate (actually more towards second base, but you get the idea).

The seats in the outermost sections may lose a bit of the outfield, but probably not enough to make you unhappy about it. The first row behind the dugouts is Row 7, and the Tigers dugout is on the third base side.

Since the Tiger Den and Terrace sections are under the overhang of the second level, you shouldn’t have any overhang view problems in lower level sections, but you also won’t likely have much protection from the elements in a day game.

Unfortunately the seats aren’t color-coded, but they are numbered for your convenience.

Comerica Park Seating Tips, #6) Upper Level. The upper deck (300 level) at Comerica Park doesn’t have the steep slope that some of the newer ballparks do; so the angle is less frightening, but you will be a bit further from the action. Still, there’s nothing wrong with an upper deck seat here…sweet view of the Detroit skyline anyway.

If the steps and ramps are too much to handle, there is an escalator to get to them near the Big Cat Court on the first base side, and elevators behind Section 109 and 130. Rows 17 and up are covered by the small roof.

The upper deck is divided into two tiers, with the upper tier raised over foot traffic. When you enter the upper level from the concourse, you’ll be moving downstairs to get to the “Club” rows.

This wouldn’t be a good spot to say, “I worked my tail off to get where I am today!”

Sections 344 and 345…called the “Skyline” seats…used to be the cheapest seats in Comerica Park; not sure if standing room is cheaper nowadays. It’s still budget-friendly, but nowadays it’s worth a few extra bucks to get a better ticket, since the left field foul pole will be in your view. You might be able to move to a better seat at least in the upper level; the Tigers’ ushers patrol the lower level more strongly.

Given the choice, if I were looking for cheap seats at Comerica Park, I’d go with Kaline’s Corner or the bleachers over the skyline seats. Remember the Big Board!

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These folks are Ballpark E-Guides certified Smart Fans!

The first 3-5 rows of the upper level sections between the bases are the Club seats, a misnomer since they don’t include any club access. Still, these seats are padded and a bit wider, and the view is certainly nice for the price. In fact Club seats be the best overall value seats in Comerica Park…I recommend the first base side for the view of the Big Board.

Past first base (and a few sections past third base), club level seats become Upper Box, which cost about the same as the Upper Reserved seats behind home plate.

Club and upper box rows start with the letter A. In front of Row A (and Row 6 of Upper Box) there is a slightly annoying railing obstruction. I would avoid that if you can. As with the lower level, the seats in the outermost sections are angled towards home.

On the upper level concourse is the Blue Moon Brewhouse/Upper Deck Lounge, which is open to all ticket holders. The Lounge is climate-controlled, with a bar and restrooms for a place to wait out a rain delay or escape the heat.

This section has been specially built to reduce nosebleeds at the game!

Comerica Park Seating Tips, #7) Mezzanine. On the first base side of the upper level, there is a gap just past first, created to lower the seating of outer sections. After the first few upper box sections is the Tiger Club restaurant, and some more box seating.

The upper section past the gap is called the Mezzanine; tickets here are among the cheapest and the view is a bit better here than in the left field upper level (now called “Upper Grandstand”), with a much better view of the Big Board and downtown Detroit. (I know I keep harping on the Big Board, but trust me, it’s great here.) These are the only 200-level seats in Comerica.

The mezzanine concourse area leads to the party areas in the outfield, and there are three separate areas with picnic tables that can be rented depending on the size of your party. The picnic deck parties include a buffet and mezzanine seats; the price isn’t high at all, if you don’t mind the distance from home plate.

It’s like they’re still wondering what number to give Cobb.

Comerica Park Seating Tips, #8) Outfield Seats. There are four types of outfield seating in Comerica: Pavilion in left field under the big scoreboard, Bleachers in right field; the Right Field Grandstand below the bleachers, and Kaline’s Corner near the right field foul pole.

Like in most sections in the lower level, there can be 35-40 rows in each. Those back rows are really far away, but one nice thing about it is the proximity to the picnic areas, fountains and statues of Tigers greats, and also to the covered walkway in right center lest you need to duck out of the rain. (Nothing to see there though.)

The Pavilion seats are behind both teams’ bullpens, which were placed there to move the once ridiculously far left field fences in to encourage home runs. This makes for a fine view of pitchers warming up for the people in lower seats, but the Big Board is directly behind you and requires a painful neck twist to see, and these seats are far from home plate.

Because there’s never too much sunlight to keep score.

The Bleacher seats in right field are benches with no armrests, but they do have backs and are numbered for less of that uncomfortable cheek-sharing. The lower bleachers in right center field can be right up on the action with no bullpens in the way. Keep in mind that in Section 101 you can lose a portion of the outfield.

The Right Field Grandstand seats are closer to the foul pole and are actual seats. For some reason, perhaps the chance of catching a home run ball, Right Field Grandstand is somewhat pricier than the rest of the outfield seats.

If you want to impress your date, tell her the whole story about where alkaline batteries got their name.

Kaline’s Corner, named for Tigers great Al Kaline of course, is located behind the foul pole down the right field line. The seats directly face home plate unlike the lower level section next to it, making them a much better value. They are priced about the same as Bleacher and Pavilion seats.

You may have the foul pole in your way, which isn’t usually a big deal, but avoid the first few rows. Kaline’s Corner is a bargain section, and is far from the ferris wheel and all that, so it might not be the best place to bring the kids.

Most outfield sections start with Row A, with Row AA being the 26th row. There is no Row I.

Enjoy Tigers baseball AND play cards between innings!

Comerica Park Seating Tips, #9) Right Field Balcony. The Right Field Balcony is located directly beneath the “Pepsi Porch” sign in right field. There’s 426 seats, a 50-foot long stone fire pit (!), and a bar with a full selection of beers and spirits that’s better than at most spots at the ballpark.

The seats with counters require tickets, but anyone with a ticket to the ballpark can hang out in the area. You can’t see the game from behind the bar, but they have TVs. There are even tables with four seats facing the field.

The balcony is very popular and the Tigers actually sell a lot of season tickets here, so if you want to experience it your best bet is to look for a low-demand game on Gametime.

It won’t keep your beer cold, but it’s relaxing.

The area may be great for parties and the fire pit is great on cold nights, but it’s not the greatest place to watch a game (keep in mind the outfield fence distances), and it takes some walking up stairways to get to it if you’re not using an elevator.

There is a great view of the fountains in center field from here, and people-watching from above the center field walkway. There is also often entertainment here before the game. It can be an enjoyable experience.

There’s a nice view of the scoreboard and Ford Field here. Plus you can lock your bicycle up.

Comerica Park Seating Tips, #10) Standing Room. The Tigers will make some standing room available for sold out games, but ticket prices are higher than standing room should be. They have designated areas for standing room ticket holders, behind the handicapped seating or in the outfield. Obviously for a sold out game, you won’t likely be able to move to a seat in the early innings.

People seem to prefer the right field area and aforementioned balcony for standing room; it’s got an unblocked view and is near several concessions. The left field standing area is closer to the statues if you’d like to stand next to Hank Greenberg’s likeness, and the view is about equally good. If you like a bird’s eye view, head up to the balcony where there are drink rails to lean on.

There is a pavilion in left field with a bar and some seats with tables and drink rails; it’s not a bad place to stand and watch, but I presume if you were sitting the view would be blocked by people standing at the drink rails.

In July and August, you want to sit on the “cool” side.

Comerica Park Seating Tips, #11) Other Notes. Get all that? It’s a lot, I know. Hang with me though, we’re almost done. Here are a few general notes about Comerica Park seating:

Seat 1 is always on the right end of a row when facing the playing field, a key thing to remember in certain sections, like in Kaline’s Corner where the foul pole can get in your way.

Comerica’s home plate is located in the northeast corner, so unlike in most parks, the sun sets on the first base side and the left field area gets the most sun; people sitting there often complain about the sun being directly in their eyes early in a night game. It’s a good idea to bring sunscreen and sunglasses for a day game if you’re sitting in the left field area or in the upper deck.

Comerica’s seating slopes are lesser than in most ballparks, so if you’re not a particularly tall person you may have trouble seeing over the person in front of you.

If you like having a varied food selection, the Big Cat food court is on the first base side in the lower level, and it’s where you’ll usually find most any kind of cuisine you’re looking for.

Even the really cheap seats have a nice view of downtown Detroit. The tiger on the scoreboard might make you nervous though.

The excellent view of the Detroit skyline is visible from just about all locations except for the right field and Kaline’s Corner seats. The Big Board can be seen from just about anywhere that isn’t covered, but the first base side definitely has a better view.

Season ticket holders can use a private entrance, something to keep in mind should someone sell you or give you their extras. This can save you a lot of time.

Finally, if you completely strike out getting tickets, you can see much of the game from behind the fence on Adams Street. You may have to climb up onto a ledge, but it’s free and you can stay provided you don’t cause any trouble.

You’re not so intimidated in choosing a seat now, are you? Glad to help.

There you go my friends, all of the knowledge you need to choose a great seat at your next game at Comerica Park, the beautiful home of the Detroit Tigers. Be sure to check out some more great Comerica tips here, like how to get cheap Tigers tickets and choose a great parking spot, and how to get there without paying parking prices. Thanks for reading!

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Going to a White Sox game? Below is your complete Guaranteed Rate Field seating guide, where I share everything you need to know to choose a great seat for your taste and budget at the home of the Chicago White Sox. Stick with me, kid…I’ll help you get the most of your visit.

There’s a lot to cover here, so I’m breaking it down by section and price level.

Guaranteed Rate Field Seating Guide Contents

Guaranteed Rate Field Layout
Wintrust Scout Seats
Premium Seating – Diamond Suites, Other Suites and Guaranteed Rate Club
Club Level Seating
Lower Level Seating
Outfield Seats and Bleachers (+ Obstructed Views)
Upper Level Seating (+ More Obstructed Views)
Group and Party Areas
Standing Room

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I took this pic in 2015, but the ballpark’s shape is the same.

Guaranteed Rate Field Seating Tips, Part 1) Ballpark Layout. The layout of Guaranteed Rate Field is simple enough, especially with its (now unusual) symmetry. Here is the Guaranteed Rate Field seating chart from the White Sox website.

The lower deck seats are on the 100 level, and the upper deck is the 500 level. The luxury seating levels and suites are the 200, 300, and 400 level sections, between the upper and lower decks.

Do not purchase tickets in Section 532…you will find yourself in the Invalid Ticket Vortex!

The upper deck section numbering is a bit weird. Every so often it skips a number in the sections, so there’s no Section 532, for example. This was done to even it up with the lower sections, which were cut in half to reduce butts (or worse) in seated people’s faces and thus cover smaller space per section.

If you’re concerned about shade on a hot day (or a cold one…it is Chicago), the sun shines brightest and latest on the left field bleachers, as opposed to the right field seating in most ballparks.

Facing the field, Seat 1 in any section is always closest to home plate. Guaranteed Rate Field’s seating capacity is 40,615.

Here’s the lowdown on the seating sections, starting with the most expensive:

Nothing says “you’ve made it” like cushioned seats and cup holders at the ballgame.

Guaranteed Rate Field Seating Tips, Part 2) Wintrust Scout Seats. The Wintrust Scout Seats are the best seats at Guaranteed Rate Field, for many reasons, and are priced as such. These are padded and wide leather seats directly behind home plate, and they include waitresses bringing you food items from a small menu. If you’re willing to get up, you may help yourself to more lavish buffet and open bar. There’s even a little desk on the side of the seat in case you need to work on that proposal at the game.

The Scout Seats have their own private entrance, a nice thing here. The buffet includes all of those high-quality food items from Levy Restaurants…carved meats, gourmet desserts, all the high end food items that baseball is all about.

Just a small fence separating the well-to-do from the riffraff!

For the price, though, most times you can just get a Platinum Box seat and buy enough food to split your pants with the money left over. But there’s probably something to be said for a cushioned seat with a great view and access to a climate controlled lounge.

If you want to score Scout Seats for a lesser demand game, try the Gametime or third party route and wait until game time draws closer. Chances are you’ll pay less than face price on a slow night (and the Sox have a lot of those), and face value is pretty darn high for these.

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Be sure to ask about our climate-controlled buffet!

Guaranteed Rate Field Seating Tips, Part 3) Premium Seating. One thing White Sox ownership got out of their new Comiskey Park is plenty of luxury suites and seating, as anyone can see looking at the mezzanine levels of the ballpark.

Still, there are lots of seats that aren’t out of the price range of the everyday fan. Most Club level seats, for example, are available at the same pricing levels as other seats. You can get them for a lower price when the Sox aren’t playing a popular opponent, in which case the cost isn’t bad at all.

If you’re going to a game in April or May, you may be glad you got a premium seat and access to a climate controlled concourse. Chicago is not baseball friendly in early spring.

The real bonus is that if no one in your group cares about the actual game, there’s plenty of empty seats!

White Sox Premium Seating: Diamond Suites. The Diamond Suites surrounding the ballpark hold 20 to 60 people, and include their own bar, comfortable seating, in-seat wait service, a private entrance with an elevator, and premium parking. Diamond Suites are at the highest part of the Club Level (400), so the view isn’t as great as you might think it should be for the price.

Like with most premium seating, there is a basic food menu that includes wings, roast beef and turkey sandwiches with the hot dogs, peanuts and beer; you can upgrade the food or the bar and have baby back ribs and Tanqueray, etc. for an additional fee. Suites have private restrooms, a benefit not truly appreciated until you’re sharing with a bunch of others after a game.

Most of the Diamond Suites are reserved for full or partial season packages to corporate types, but they occasionally are available for individual games. In 2017 the Sox added a suite on the field level behind home plate called Suite 134; good for 25 fans who have the considerable means (somewhere in the neighborhood of $200 a ticket).

The naming rights change frequently, but the amenities and views remain constant.

White Sox Premium Seating: Guaranteed Rate Club. The Guaranteed Rate Club (formerly the Home Plate Club and Gold Coast Tickets Club) is the outdoor but covered section of seats behind home plate on the 200 level. There are just four rows of seats here, which is nice. The seats are padded and wide like the Scout Seats, with a nice bird’s eye view of the field. You can only access this level by a private elevator.

Fans (or their rich uncles) can access the private lounge with a view of the field and its high class buffet and open bar, even after the game. The prices for drinks go up after the game, reportedly. Season ticket holders get free parking in Lot D next to the ballpark, no small thing.

They even supply a concierge, in case you need to have a pizza delivered.

Because you belong above it all!

White Sox Premium Seating: Terrace Suites. The Terrace Suites are located down near the left field foul pole at the top of the club level. These are for group outings and can hold up to 400 people. Not the best view from here, the suites and clubs behind home plate might be better if your group cares. But you do get the full bar, and with a climate controlled area the price isn’t terrible at all.

The Upper Terrace does feature a nice view of the city of Chicago, but you can get that on the upper concourse.

Okay, so maybe you can’t put your feet up. But the view is almost as good here.

White Sox Premium Seating: All-Star Suite. The 22-person All-Star Suite is located at Section 439 on the third base side. It appears to be similar to a Diamond Suite, although the White Sox tout its new furniture and refurbished private area. Not sure exactly what the improvement is, unless you’re looking to sit over the home team dugout. It is reasonable as suites go.

Like with the other suites, you can get a food upgrade with fancier items than the chicken wings and sandwiches usually served, and the bar is upgrade-able too. It also includes four parking passes.

Okay, whew! Now about the seating for us actual baseball fans…

Fewer rows and steps to reduce your nachos spilling risk.

Guaranteed Rate Field Seating Tips, Part 4) Club Level. The Club area, in the middle (300) tier of the mezzanine level between the bases, features outside seats in front of the climate-controlled lounge area, with a full bar and a premium menu with fancy extras.

If you plan to eat in the Club concourse, you should order as soon as possible, because it does tend to get crowded. The food isn’t complimentary here, but there is a better selection of it than in the lower or upper concourses.

Tickets for this level are reasonable by club seat standards in baseball. The Club sections increase in price as they get closer to home plate, costing almost double the price behind home as they do closer to the foul lines. The Premium Club seats do sport a much better view; and the White Sox ballpark is one place where that is worth springing for. You might find a good deal on Gametime.

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You could just sit lower than all of those premium seating types. Works just fine.

Guaranteed Rate Field Seating Tips, Part 5) Lower Level. The lower level at Guaranteed Rate in foul territory consists of the aforementioned Scout Seats, Gold and Silver Box, Premium Lower Box, and Lower Reserved. In that order.

The White Sox now rate types of seats by rows, so Rows 26 and higher of Sections 119 and 120 are cheaper than the rows in front of them, for example. In Section 111 there are three different price levels. So presumably, you can save a few bucks in the front row of a “tier”. When you’re buying tickets through the Sox, check the price of the different rows. No point in paying more for Row 14 when Row 15 is just two more feet away from the field.

Since the ballpark is symmetrical, there isn’t much difference whether you’re on the first or third base side, except for the fact that the sun sets behind the first base side and third base is in the shade last. The White Sox also adjusted the seats in the outer Lower Box sections to face closer to the home plate, making for a better viewing angle.

You can tell people to just go around to the other side now!

One very nice thing in the lower level is that sections have fewer seats in each row (usually eight) than in most ballparks, so you won’t have as much of a problem of folks getting up in front of you.

Remember that lower level seating obviously includes access to the lower concourse, and the rest of the ballpark for that matter, something upper level seats do not include. More on that in a bit.

There are usually 30-35 rows in lower level sections, and the upper deck overhang covers the seats from about Row 26 up, so don’t expect much protection from the sun especially for day games.

Proximity to a bullpen allows for fun encouragement for pitchers.

Guaranteed Rate Field Seating Tips, Part 6) Outfield Seats + Bleachers. The Lower Reserved seats in the outfield are in left field near the foul pole and in all of right field. These are actual seats as opposed to the bleacher-style benches in left center, which are cheaper. Surprisingly, bleacher seats are often more expensive than most of the seating in the upper level.

The bleachers in left center field are bench-style seats, but they have backs on them with numbers, so you still have an assigned seat as opposed to most ballpark bleachers. You still might have to share with a neighbor’s cheek a little bit, but at least they are easier on your back.

Lots of sun-baked metal, but in April in Chicago that might not be a bad thing.

Remember that the sun sets behind first base and it can be particularly blinding and hot in the left field seats. (Incidentally that’s why they call them “bleachers”, since they get bleached by the sun.) I highly recommend sunscreen and sunglasses sitting here.

The visiting team’s bullpen is in right field, all the better for heckling. If you get seats in front of either bullpen, the row numbers start with 8 in left and 9 in right. The bleachers in left are a good spot to catch batting practice home runs.

If your girlfriend has a crush on a right fielder, maybe this isn’t a bad thing.

Obstructed View Alert #1: In the small section to the right of the batter’s eye is Section 100, which, along with the benches in Section 164 on the left field side, may have an obstructed view with the batter’s eye blocking a portion of the opposite field. It can also affect Sections 101 and 163 if you’re sitting high enough. With White Sox attendance you probably won’t have to deal with this, but just saying.

Be sure to get a low row if you get seats in these sections, from high up a good portion of the opposite field could be blocked from view, and you won’t like that. (The Sox will alert you about this before you buy the ticket, but I’m not sure that third party sellers will.)

It’s kind of like Eutaw Street in Baltimore, except without the warehouse, BBQ stand, restaurant…okay maybe it’s not.

The outfield seats have a nice and wide concourse area to roam around in, and they’re also close to the ballpark’s extra amenities, like the kids’ play area, the Plumbing Council shower, and the Craft Lodge in right field. They’re not the best or cheapest outfield seats in major league baseball, but they do have some things going for them.

By the way, this isn’t Wrigley Field—if you catch a home run here, you can be ejected for throwing it back on the field.

If you can handle the vertigo, these seats are a bargain.

Guaranteed Rate Field Seating Tips, Part 7) Upper Level. The upper deck seats at Guaranteed Rate are better than they once were. Before the top eight rows were eliminated, the height and angle of upper level seats could be terrifying. Much was made of how the first row of seats in the upper level are further from home plate than the last rows at the old Comiskey.

Fortunately, the situation has improved. You can only go so high now, and while the angle is still dizzyingly steep, now it’s just “unnerving”. There is a flat iron roof covering the top two-thirds of the highest seats. There are 21 rows of seats in most upper level sections; like in the lower level, the lower rows are more expensive.

The Upper Corner sections are now the cheapest tickets in Guaranteed Rate Field (and most of baseball, for that matter). There’s a good reason for it though, as a Chicago native friend put it to me: “The Waveland rooftops are closer!”

For what it’s worth though, the upper concourse here is one of the nicer ones in baseball; it’s got murals of White Sox greatness and is covered with panels that let the sun in but not the rain. There is a decent food and drink selection too.

OK, but do you really need to see home plate?

Obstructed View Alert #2: There are support poles holding up the new roof on this level; from Row 17 up at this level you could have a pole blocking a good portion of your view. Behind home plate and in the outfield it’s not much of a problem, but down the lines it can be annoying. Again, you probably won’t likely have to deal with it given current White Sox attendance numbers, but just so you know.

Remember, Seat 1 in any section is closest to home plate. So in the high rows down either line, seats 1-5 are likely to be the most problematic with the views. I would go for outfield seats rather than the sections down the line given the choice.

This kind of sucks, so you should be aware of it before you go.

Pay attention, this is important: Upper deck ticket holders are not allowed in the lower level concourse, and the Sox enforce this–a matter of great irritation to some fans. So upper deck seats preclude shopping at the best gift shop, enjoying the more interesting food offerings, seeking autographs, and a number of photo-ops like posing with player statues.

So if you want the entire Guaranteed Rate Field experience, avoid upper level tickets, or use your Ballpark app to get an upgrade. Remember you can’t do standing room in the closed upper concourse here either.

If you want to be a cheapskate…and upper level tickets can be super cheap…you can get someone with a lower level ticket to give you a copy of their ticket, which you can then show to ushers, although you then risk using the wrong ticket to get in and a well deserved whupping. Or you can nicely complain to an usher or Guest Services and tell them you’re a tourist. They may let you down in later innings.

Heading up to the top level on the outside ramps does give one a striking view of the south side of Chicago, so you’re not missing everything. There’s a nice view at the top of the stands too, although it does get windy.

When the beer is complimentary, upper outfield seats are A-OK.

Guaranteed Rate Field Seating Tips, Part 8) Group and Party Areas. Finally, the recent renovation created some sparkling new party areas at Guaranteed Rate Field, for those looking to entertain at a reasonable price:

They’ve upgraded this, but this is the general gist of it.

White Sox Party Areas: Miller Lite Landing. The Miller Lite Landing (formerly the Goose Island) is the outfield lounge and seating area at the foul pole in right field. The seating area includes cushioned seats, food and drinks, and drink rails which are always useful. The back rows are standing room, but still include the counters to lean on. The landing is in front of a bar with Miller products.

The lower rows of the Miller Lite Landing feature large and comfortable leather chairs, TVs since you’re pretty far from the action, charging ports, cup holders, and an extra $20 of concessions value in your ticket. All of the rows except for standing room include wait staff.

The lower seating area is at field level and you can watch the game through the fence, while sitting next to the visitors’ bullpen presumably to give opposing pitchers a hard time. Watching a game through a fence isn’t fun though, so I would go for higher row seats here.

Under the landing seats is the Leinenkugel’s Craft Lodge, where you can duck out of the elements and try any number of great craft brews…and since you’re paying what you’re paying for beer at the ballgame, you might as well drink something good.

Note that these tables in particular do not offer an optimal view.

White Sox Party Areas: CIBC Fan Deck. The CIBC Fan Deck is the two-tiered patio in center field, which is available for group outings of up to 150, at about $100 a person. The plan includes the barstool seating with drink rails and picnic tables in front of the scoreboard, and a low-level pregame buffet of normal ballpark fare; beer is included which is certainly worth a few bucks. Service starts when the park opens and ends as the game starts.

The Fan Deck is good fun for parties, but they definitely aren’t the best seats in the ballpark, being in straightaway center and elevated. The back rows especially lose quite a bit of the field, and the seating as it slopes off to the side isn’t good at all. You also can’t see much of the game when you are partaking of the burgers and bratwurst, obviously.

It also gets windy up there, so the Fan Deck might be better for hot summer days, so long as you have sunscreen.

Not a great view. I will say the buffet is impressive though.

White Sox Party Areas: Party Patio. Underneath the stands on the other side of the visiting team’s bullpen in right center field is the Party Patio; this is available for pregame and during-game parties of as many as 1,300 fans (the overwhelming majority of which will not be able to see the game until they head to their seats). In addition to a buffet of fried chicken, dogs and burgers (and beer), fans are treated to a great view of batting practice.

Seeing the game itself from the warning track area costs extra (you need a game ticket to attend the Party anyway), and they’ll kick you out if you haven’t paid for it. Honestly you’re not missing much; it’s a field level view behind a fence, and you can’t see any of the scoreboards–not worth wait staff in my humble opinion.

You can sometimes get a pass for the Party Patio from eBay or third party sellers. Or sign up for the White Sox newsletter; they will offer decent deals on a Patio pass that would be well worth the money at ballpark prices.

Currently, the answer is “no”.

Guaranteed Rate Field Seating Tips, Part 9) Standing Room. The White Sox make standing room tickets available for big games like Opening Day and Cubs games, but since they don’t sell out a lot, standing room tickets aren’t offered too often. The White Sox did offer a FanPass with standing room access for a month’s worth of games in the past, but as of 2023 they’re not doing this.

Should the Sox be playing in the World Series or something and you find SRO tickets, there’s plenty of space in the large outfield concourse to stand and watch the game. The lower level concourse is open, so you could watch the action from there, but with the overhang of the upper level you won’t have much of a view of the scoreboard.

Lots of people roam around the ballpark through the game, so you might be able to find a seat no one is using somewhere in the outfield or the corners.

Now you can choose which one of these is right for you!

There you are my friend, your comprehensive guide to the seating at the home of the White Sox. I hope you’ve enjoyed the read and found it helpful…be sure to check out more Guaranteed Rate Field tips here, including how to choose a great parking spot and what to eat at a White Sox game.

And if you’re visiting Chicago for a baseball trip, be sure to carefully read my Wrigley Field Guide!

Thanks for reading and supporting our sponsors, and feel free to drop me a line with any questions!

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Planning a visit to Oriole Park this summer? I’m here to help my friend! This complete Oriole Park at Camden Yards seating guide offers a bunch of valuable tips and advice you need to know about every seating section in the Baltimore Orioles ballpark. I’ll help you get the best seats at Camden Yards, both for your taste and your budget.

I’m covering it all here…including the cheap seats at Camden Yards, your standing room options, and how to best find shade. Whether you’re a first timer at the Yard or a regular, there’s info here that you can use.

If you need more Camden Yards help, be sure to check out my complete guide to the Baltimore Orioles’ ballpark here, and I’ve also added some tips about my favorite way to get there and a few things to know about your food options. (More coming, stay tuned!)

I’ve broken all of this down for easy access:

Camden Yards Layout
Luxury Suites
Camden Club Level
Field Level Seating
Upper Level Seating
Eutaw Street Bleachers
Oriole Park Standing Room
A Few More Camden Yards Seating Tips

Plenty of seats left, so choose one now!

Okay, there’s a lot here, so after this quick word from our sponsor, we’ll get started. (Thank you for supporting our sponsors!)

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It’s not as complicated as it looks, I promise.

Camden Yards Seating, Part 1: Ballpark Seating Chart + Basic Layout

There are three levels of seating at Oriole Park. The lower level includes Field and Terrace seating (the Bleachers are also field level); the Club Level circles the entire seating bowl on the mezzanine; and the upper level includes Upper Box and Reserve seating. Here is the Orioles’ map of the seating.

There are two separate levels of seating in the lower and upper levels. Field and Box seating is in front of Terrace and Reserved on the lower level; Upper Box is in front of Upper Reserved in the upper level. In the lower level, a walkway divides the front and rear sections. Facing the field, Seat 1 is always on your right.

There aren’t a lot of bad seats in Camden Yards, but some are definitely better than others, and there are a few you should avoid, so read on.

I think the stool here is free, but there isn’t much of a view.

Camden Yards Seating, Part 2: Luxury Suites

Believe it or not, some of the suites at Camden Yards might be even within my price range…

The suites are on the Club Level (mezzanine), and have glass doors, refrigerators, a bar and hi-def TVs, and they open out to some very comfortable and mobile black leather chairs to view the game in. The suites are climate controlled, which can be very nice in Baltimore in August.

From the seats you can watch replays on TVs placed above you. People who book a suite for a group get extras like parking passes and opportunities to buy seats in the first two rows.

Padded seats in the shade? Sweet!

There are also party suites that can accommodate up to 75 people in left field, where sliding glass doors lead out onto a two-tiered porch; the Orioles website lists them and their capacities. Several are named for Orioles greats like Brooks Robinson and decorated accordingly; the O’s redesigned suites for use as party facilities, giving them apt names like the Hot Corner at third base, or the Legacy at Suite 54 (1954 being the current team’s first year in Baltimore).

The O’s offer a five game suite package; you can rent a suite for five games including two games against the Yankees or Red Sox. The price works out to about $200+ per person per game, but hey, you can’t take it with you.

No free drinks, but there’s a nice lounge.

If you want to get a single game suite, it can actually be fairly affordable for low demand games, but you’d have to pay extra for food and booze, so I don’t know if all that is worth it just to have heat in April. You can’t bring your own food or drink into the suites.

The Orioles have joined many other teams in providing a suite for fans allergic to peanuts for some games; it’s the cheapest you’ll ever see a suite seat (and honestly, if you’re allergic to peanuts, you deserve a suite at a baseball game). Parents have to sign a release form.

The umpire won’t hear you from the barstool tables, but it’s a good leaning spot.

Then there’s the Miller Lite Flite Deck, a triple-decked party area recently added to the Club Level down the right field line. The Flite Deck has drink rails and bar-style tables and seating. Groups can reserve the area and get a food voucher for the game, and there are three 30-person spaces that can be combined into one big Orioles party.

The Flite Deck is about as far away as foul territory seats get, but they’re not expensive at all as party areas at ballparks go. You’ll need to get there early for the best seating. And you can do some great people-watching with a killer view from above Eutaw Street.

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How many ballparks let you heckle the camera guy for just a few extra bucks?

Camden Yards Seating, Part 3: The Camden Club Level

The club level at Oriole Park has climate controlled concourses (again, that’s a very nice perk in Baltimore) with glass windows to watch the game from, some outdoor concourse areas with a sweet view of the city, six bar/lounges that serve fancy drinks that chicks dig and local microbrews like Flying Dog. You even get waiter service with club level seats, and can order food on a touch pad from your seat.

A special escalator takes you to the club area, with ushers showing the way and blocking everyone else.

Closer to the field than the suites, at half the price!

Some fans complain about the legroom (I’m tall and have had worse), but otherwise the club level gets rave reviews. Anyone with a club seat ticket has access to all of the lounges. It’s a sweet place to duck out of the elements.

Club level seats at Camden Yards are relatively inexpensive compared to most ballparks; if you can swing it, give them a try, especially in hot Baltimore summer months. If nothing else, the food and bathroom lines are shorter. You can very often find a good deal on Gametime for a low demand game.

I’ll take this view if you throw in some hot dogs and club access.

The club seats in straightaway left field are called the “Pepsi All-Inclusive Picnic Perch” and are “all you can eat” seats; where for a slightly inflated ticket price you can get your hand stamped and gorge on all the hot dogs, peanuts, popcorn, nachos, ice cream and soda (no free alcohol) you can handle until the seventh inning. Lines can get long at food stations.

The ticket also includes club level access, which again is great on sweltering Baltimore summer days, but these aren’t the best seats in Camden Yards view-wise…they’re fairly far away from the action. Still, it’s a fun time and complimentary food at a ballgame is a nice plus.

These fans decided to make “under the WGL Energy sign” their meeting spot, since no one could pronounce “Nyquist”.

The O’s added two party areas to the Club Level in a recent renovation (I’ve already talked about the Flite Deck)…

On the left field side of the Club Level is the Drink Rail area; the Orioles added stools with backs to the left field club area, adding to the festive atmosphere, and there are now “Bistro Tables” in straightaway left field. If you can get a ticket early enough you can land a swivel chair with a counter next to you making you feel right at home with a beer.

It’s time for a serious baseball discussion about whether a counter is better than being close to the field.

For the Bistro Tables, you must buy all four seats, but it’s not terribly expensive.

With only a few sections in front of you and no crowd behind you, it might be a little quieter than usual here…not with people cheering but with people talking. With a rail in front of you to rest your scorecard, the Drink Rail section is a nice spot to stay into the action on the field, although like the Picnic Perch it’s fairly far away from it.

More about the seats for the rest of us, when we come back after this:

Just feel those cushions. You have arrived.

Camden Yards Seating, Part 4: Field Level Seating

The premium seating at Camden Yards…lower level seats between the bases…have comfortable padding added; they aren’t the huge airplane seats you find at many premium seats in ballparks, but they aren’t nearly as expensive either. These are, in my opinion, the best seats at Camden Yards even for the price. If you want to splurge on great seats for your ballpark trip, this is the place to do it.

Should you cough up the cash for lower level seats, in most cases the lower box seats are better on the third base side than the first base side. You have a better view of the scoreboard and warehouse (a key feature of the Oriole Park backdrop) for one, and the right field seats also miss a portion of the foul line.

Note the angled section in the left field corner. That’s a good thing.

In the lower level as you get down the third base line, seats are angled towards the infield. It’s not quite perfect, though. On the lower level, the worst sections for seat angles are past the bases just before the angling, i.e. Sections 60-71 past third base and Sections 9-11 past first base. Better to take Section 1-8 over 9-13, or 72-75 over 67-71 if you don’t want to crane your neck all night. (Have a look at the seating chart again to see what I mean here.)

In the lower level, remember that the first three rows are AAA-CCC, and then the next row is AA, so if you’re in Row A you’re not quite near the field. Kind of a rip, but that’s baseball.

There are a couple of Field Box sections beyond the bases that cost a few bucks less than Field Box; beyond these are Lower Box sections that are a few bucks less than that. Section 14 is a better deal than Section 16, and Section 66 is a better deal than Section 64.

There’s a lot of people sitting in the back here for a good reason…

The Terrace Box seats past the bases, particularly in Sections 17 at first base and 55 at third, may be the best seats at Camden Yards for tightwads…IF you get a low enough row. These are near field level seats that are slightly more expensive than upper box, and most rows shouldn’t have an overhang problem. It’s also a good spot for shade in most cases.

These sections are raised so that there is no walkway traffic obstruction in front of them. If you can land these in a low enough row (like Row 5 or lower), score.

It’s just not as fun.

The drawback of the Terrace seats is the upper level overhang. If your row is high enough, you will be covered by the upper tier, good on rainy or hot days but not if you want to see the scoreboard and skyline. There are TVs to catch anything you missed and to see the score, but not being able to view the nice scoreboard (or the city and warehouse) is a bummer.

The Orioles charge significantly less for the upper rows of Terrace sections just past the bases,  here the overhang blocks the view, so you should be okay if you get a Terrace Box seat. You could still have an overhang problem in the Lower Reserved seats in the infield, but it’s not likely to be as pronounced there.

You would expect people who wear blue shirts to an Orioles game to not choose the best section.

The seats ranging from well past third base out to the bullpens are okay if you don’t mind sitting at or near the outfield. I personally like left field corner seats here for the angle reasons I’ve just explained. These seats cost significantly less than those in the infield, but they’re still about twice as much as seats in the upper deck.

The Orioles recently moved the left field fence back to avoid paying more for pitchers who don’t give up dingers, and the rows behind the fence is elevated more, which I think is a better for views.

Your chance to chat with a real-life Orioles pitcher!

Section 86 is next to the bullpens, and if you’re close enough you can watch pitchers warm up, which is actually pretty neat if you’ve never been so close to a 95 MPH fastball. (The placement of the bullpens is an underrated feature of Oriole Park, in my opinion.) You can even  talk to the pitchers, if they’re friendly enough.

“Maybe I don’t WANT to know how the Yankees and Red Sox are doing tonight!”

In the right field corner, again, seats are better angled towards the field, but right field corner seats are elevated and fairly far away. This spot is close to Eutaw Street, but there’s the drawback of not seeing the pretty cool out of town scoreboard. These seats also get the most sun; bring a hat and sunglasses.

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Looks like a Tuesday night.

Camden Yards Seating, Part 5: Upper Level Seating

Most fans (including me) will tell you that there is nothing wrong at all with an upper deck seat at Camden Yards. Not only are the seats steep (but not terribly high) and thus closer to the field, but there is a fine view of the Baltimore skyline (and the Hilton that blocks the view of the Bromo-Seltzer tower, much to locals’ chagrin), except for seats that are past third base and into left field.

If you can get a low row Upper Reserved seat, don’t shell out twice as much for an Upper Box seat that won’t be that much better. Similarly, since most games don’t sell out (although that could change as the Orioles improve), you might as well buy an Upper Reserved ticket at the box office when you arrive, which will be cheaper than buying from the team website. Or shop around with third party sites like Gametime.

Get Row 25 for that nice breeze action!

Because the concourses aren’t open like at most new ballparks (and this was deliberate), the view from these seats is better than most, placing you almost on top of the action for a nice price. There are about 25 rows in most of the upper level sections, and even from the top the view is acceptable, with a roof for the rain.

It’s easier to get to the upper deck here than in most parks; there is a convenient escalator in the concourse, right off the south end of Eutaw Street. The stairwells offer fine views of downtown Baltimore on each landing, and the view of the city from the concourse is pretty nice too.

You do get to sit near retired numbers. That probably counts for something.

No seat here is totally horrible, but upper deck seats in left field are probably the worst seats in Oriole Park (the Orioles sell standing room at a similar price). Seats in the corners on the upper level are the biggest problem; they’re angled such that you will have to turn your head to watch the game, and someone getting up in your section may block your view. The right field corner is better for its views of Eutaw, but neither side is much better for viewing the game.

Plus it’s dark up here.

The worst sections for this are sections that end in 64-72 in left field and 04-12 in right. The problem is at its worst in Section 372 down the left field line; just get outfield seats if you have a choice.

Again, remember that Row A is not in the front; the first row is AA. Rows from about D and up are underneath the roof overhang at the top of the park and have the advantage of more shade. There is also a nice breeze up here at times, good on a hot day.

They’re not true bleachers unless you can’t see the scoreboard!

Camden Yards Seating, Part 6: Eutaw Street Bleachers

The center field bleacher seats at Camden Yards are among the cheapest in the park and known for loud, boisterous fans of both teams that are playing. The bleachers are underneath the scoreboard, so you cannot see the Jumbotron unless you sit in Section 98 and crane your neck. You won’t see the out-of-town scoreboard from here either.

Another slight issue is that if you’re about halfway up or higher in Section 98, you may lose some of right field to the out-of-town scoreboard. Not a big deal, but it can be somewhat irritating.

You look just as far away to them, and you can see what time it is.

The bleachers are close to Eutaw and its food selection and entertainments, but deep in center field, you’re pretty far from the action on the field. It can get very hot here in the summertime and this is the last section of seats to be in the shade for night games, so you’d do well to bring sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses. You also won’t enjoy the splendid view of downtown Baltimore here.

One nice thing is that these are actual seats as opposed to the hard benches in Wrigley Field or Yankee Stadium, so you’re less likely to want a cushion. The bleachers are also a staircase away from the soon-to-be-discussed Roof Deck, a popular spot for ballgame socializing.

I’d rather be able to see Eutaw Street than be close to it!

I’ve sat in the bleachers at Oriole Park and it’s my least favorite spot; a big part of the charm here is the view of the Baltimore skyline and B&O warehouse, and feeling how the ballpark blends in with its surroundings. It’s fine if you just want to see a ballgame and grab a bite at Boog’s whenever you want, but if you’re going cheap, go for the upper level.

Be smart and stand in front of the poles!

Camden Yards Seating, Part 7: Standing Room

The Orioles sell standing room tickets on sold out game days, which aren’t all that common, but you can also just buy a cheap ticket and find a better view than from your seat. If you don’t mind standing and love Orioles baseball, check and see if the O’s are offering an unlimited ballpark pass…it’s a fantastic deal if you go to enough games.

Standing room at Camden Yards is decent; the left field area is behind the bullpens (which offers a nice view of pitchers warming up in the bullpens and a picnic area) and right field is the flag court behind the out-of-town scoreboard that occasionally sees home run balls and is right there at Boog’s when you get hungry.

Don’t lean too far to see the out of town scores. We have phones for that now.

The high wall in right field has been replaced with a railing, which has greatly improved the view, but left field is still an adequate option if there’s a large crowd on the patio in right. The MASN pregame show is held in the left field area.

Remember that there aren’t open concourses at Oriole Park, so you won’t be able to watch from behind home plate.

These people standing are missing a perfectly good opportunity to sit just steps away.

By most accounts, the Orioles are not hard on seat poaching, and for the low attendance games there are probably quite a few better seats available than where you are. Your best bet is to wait until after the third inning and stay outside the baselines, where the ushers aren’t quite as strict.

In addition to the club seating party areas, you can rent out the picnic areas beyond center field or on the upper level, and enjoy a pre-game party with unlimited food and beer for a group price that is reasonable by ballpark standards.

Even the cameraman doesn’t get a counter for his drink!

The latest cool standing room hangout spot in the recent upgrade of Oriole Park is the Roof Deck, a new covered full bar with craft beers and a seating section raised above the batter’s eye in center field. There are two rows of barstool seating with counters in the front with a terrific view of the field, at least for a seat with a place to rest a drink. You can also sit at the bar or in comfortable lounge seats, although neither have a view of the game.

The Roof Deck originally was open to everyone with a ticket and seats were first come first serve, but with its instant popularity the Orioles began selling the seats in the front rows, so you’ll need to get them in advance. For the moment you can get tickets at the box office on game day. Tickets aren’t as cheap as you might think they should be, but the price isn’t awful and it’s a fun spot.

Lots of premium seats still available!

Camden Yards Seating, Part 8: A Few More Tips

If you’re bringing the kids to an O’s game, go for the first base/right field side. The bouncy houses, play stuff and photo ops for the kids are almost all in the concourse in the right field corner. The play areas are mostly shaded, but the first base side does get less shade, so you should still have sunscreen and hats for the little ones, and try for seats in a higher row under the overhang if you’re concerned about it.

Here’s where the shade is. You’ll thank me.

The sun sets on the third base side at Oriole Park, so the first base and right field side sees shade last, including the bleachers. In the upper level, the roof offers significant shade, and you may decide to move up a few rows to get under it on a Baltimore July afternoon. Most games don’t sell out, so this isn’t difficult, but you may want to consider getting seats in a higher row (D or higher) if you’re seeing the O’s play the Yankees on a weekend.

“Dang it! I forgot to get my Old Bay egg roll!”

Eutaw Street is where many of the best food items and attractions are, including Dempsey’s craft brews and Boog’s Barbecue, and the seats on the third base side are farthest from it. If you’re in the upper level especially, it’s a lot of walking to Eutaw and the escalator only goes up until the end of the game. I highly recommend partaking of any grub and souvenirs before going to your seat.

Featuring the helpful classic Orioles logo for those who recognize it…

The Orioles dugout is on the third base side, if such things matter to you.

Finally, as I’ve said earlier, Oriole Park at Camden Yards offers among the best deals in baseball, especially for premium seating. If you’re on a baseball trip that includes, say, Baltimore, Washington, and Philadelphia, Baltimore is the place to try for the best seats.

Wow…what a deliberate snub to all the visiting team fans!

Get all that? I hope that you’ve found some useful Oriole Park at Camden Yards seating info here, and can better plan your next trip…or ten trips!…to Camden Yards for Orioles games. Be sure to check out more Camden Yards tips here.

If this has been helpful to you, please support this site’s sponsors! I’ll see you at the Yard!

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Here you go baseball fans – your complete Rogers Centre seating guide, full of tips to help you find the best seats at the Blue Jays ballpark for your taste and budget. Whether you’re visiting Rogers Centre for the first time, or you’re a regular, there’s plenty of info here to help you get the most bang for your buck.

(Hey fans…this was written in 2023, before the 2024 renovations. I haven’t had a chance to review that yet, but I promise I will when I can! You can read about the renovations on the Blue Jays website. That said, much of this should still be accurate.)

There’s a lot of good seats in Rogers Centre, there are some really bad seats, and there’s things to know about the cheap seats and standing room. I recommend you stay with me here, it’s all valuable and I hope you enjoy it. (I even put the links in Blue Jays blue for you.)

This is long, so I’ve broken down my best Rogers Centre seating tips:

Rogers Centre Seating Chart + Layout
Luxury + Party Suites
In The Action Seats
TD Comfort Clubhouse
Lower (100) Level
Mezzanine (200) Level
Upper (500) Level
Outfield Seats + The Worst Seats at Rogers Centre
Standing Room
WestJet Flight Deck
Restaurants + Hotel
A Few More Rogers Centre Seating Tips

So after this short word, we’ll get started…thanks so much for supporting my sponsors!

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“But they’re all blue! How am I supposed to pick one?”

Rogers Centre Seating Tips, #1) Seating Chart + Ballpark Layout.

The Blue Jays kindly provide a virtual venue seating map on their website, and it does offer views from each section. I’m not being critical of it, it’s definitely helpful, but there are some extra things to know.

Rogers Centre has five levels of seating, each with its own concourse that circles the ballpark. The 300 and 400 levels are luxury suite levels and the 100, 200, and 500 levels are for the rest of us. The 100 level is the field level seating; the 200 level is the mezzanine and is further back from the 100 seats. The 500 level is the upper deck – or the “SkyDeck” as it was once aptly called.

Hmmm…my Spidey sense tells me that Section 235 could be on either side!

Unlike most ballparks, Rogers numbers aisles rather than sections, and an L or R is added to the aisle number on the ticket to denote which side of the aisle the seat is. Lower numbered aisles are on the first base/right field side.

Facing home plate, seats in each row start with seat 1 on the left side, and seat 101 on the right side, so any seat that ends with a 1 is an aisle seat. Seats 10 and 110 could be next to each other.

Juuuust so you know where it is, they’ve helpfully labeled the WestJet Flight Deck for you.

The WestJet Flight Deck patio is on the 200 level underneath the big scoreboard; the Marriott Hotel rooms are on the 300, 400, and 500 levels.

Here is the lowdown on the different seating areas of Rogers Centre, starting with the most expensive and working down to cheap seats the rest of us riffraff can afford:

Rolling chairs and a counter with outlets, for that “watch a ballgame while at work” feel!

Rogers Centre Seating, Tip #2) Luxury Suites.

There are 95 luxury suites at Rogers Centre on the 300 and 400 levels; they are available for a season, a multi-game plan, or for a single game; they have a considerably lower rate for season tickets, so you might be able to swing a deal on a third party site like Gametime.

The suites include interior leather seats and two rows of cushioned exterior seating, with counters, barstools and drink rails behind the glass inside, private bathrooms, customized catering from a menu with a wide selection (costs extra), and of course TVs both inside and outside to watch the game you’re paying hundreds of dollars to see in person.

Plenty of space for a game of pool with your baseball!

For the big groups there is the Summit Suite, along the third base line in the 400 level. These include TVs and pool tables for the full baseball experience. The Summit has north and south sides that can be combined for one big and expensive party.

If you want to throw a party for folks who don’t mind paying a nice chunk of change, there are party rooms on the 400 level in the outfield that include food in the cost. The price isn’t too awful for this, but the view of the game isn’t great.

Baseball loves sick kids.

When the late Roy Halladay was a Blue Jay he offered the Jays Care Community Clubhouse suite to disadvantaged children for games; the Jays continued this policy, so if you are running an organization for kids you can have a look at giving them the suite treatment for a game.

“Ooh…I think I see Geddy!”

Rogers Centre Seating, Tip #3) In The Action Seats.

The “In The Action” seats are comfortable, padded and large, and the Jays mean it; these seats are literally on the field of play, with two rows behind home plate and one each past the dugouts, separated from the other seating. Definitely watch out for foul balls (and fielders going for them, for that matter) in the dugout seats—it’s almost like you’re another infielder. Don’t do a Bartman.

The best seats in Rogers Centre, of course, include an in-seat waitress along with food and non-alcoholic beverages, and there’s an outside chance you could be sitting near a Toronto celebrity like Geddy Lee. (I hear Geddy signs autographs before the game, but he requests being left alone once it starts, in case you’re wondering.)

For an extra couple of bucks, they’ll even move the ladder for you.

In The Action seats are sold on a season ticket basis for over $200 a game (which truthfully isn’t bad compared to similar seats in some parks). You can sometimes score a deal for these on Gametime, so have a look a few hours before the game.

Ticket holders are allowed access to the TD Comfort Clubhouse and its gourmet buffet. Speaking of that…

It’s not the cushions you pay more for, it’s the considerably larger than ballpark size armrests!

Rogers Centre Seating, Tip #4) The TD Comfort Clubhouse.

The TD Comfort Clubhouse area is in the 200 level mezzanine behind home plate. This lounge features several booths and tables to enable folks to sit with a meal and watch the game, and there are also barstools with counters and leather sofas with a nice view of the action.

There are several TVs in the area to help you see what’s going on in front of you. If you are having dinner in one of the booths, they recommend reservations.

Please don’t spill your drink on the person in front of you with a smaller salary.

The padded seats in front of the Clubhouse are also for season ticket holders only, but the per game price surprisingly isn’t too bad, especially when a gourmet buffet, full bar, private bathroom and in-seat wait service is thrown in with access to the club. There’s even a wine list and a sommelier (someday I hope to have a need for a “sommelier”) to help you choose the best wine.

You can sometimes score these for a low demand game on Gametime for under $100 CAD, a great price.

The seats come in different colors, but they all work equally well.

Rogers Centre Seating, Tip #5) The Lower (100) Level.

Between the foul poles on the lower level are three pricing levels. Premium Dugout is the first 20 rows of sections between the dugouts; Field Level Infield is behind the Premium Dugout and one extra section on either side, and Field Level Bases extend from the bases to the foul poles. There are about 40 rows in most sections.

Field Level Bases are significantly cheaper than Infield, so you can save some bucks by moving one section over.

The slightly padded Premium Dugout seats cost only a couple of bucks more than the Field Level seats behind them, so if you’re handing out that much money you might as well fork over a little extra for a closer, padded seat with a cup holder if you can.

If you’re having a hard time finding something close to the field behind home plate, start looking further down at the Bases seats, because the price for Row 1 in these sections is the same as the last row.

Note the increased level of caution while finding a seat.

The angle of seating is steep enough in the lower level that you shouldn’t have a problem seeing over anyone, but the steps are a little higher too, so smaller people especially should be a bit careful. Thankfully, even the last rows don’t lose the scoreboard to the overhang, so no need to worry about that in Row 40.

Wide open for seat poaching!

In the corners near the foul pole, the seating is lowered and you need to use a walkway behind the seats to get to them. This is apparently is too much of a hassle for many fans, because these sections can be fairly empty on low attendance nights…and are a good place to improve your view if you have lesser seats.

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Good for shade too, which might be a good thing. Or not.

Rogers Centre Seating, Tip #6) The Mezzanine (200) Level.

The 200 level seats in the infield are no longer cushioned unfortunately, but the view is fairly nice even though your seats are further back from the field level seating. They cost about the same as 100 level seats, so your choice is between a closer seat or a slightly wider one with a cup holder (cup holders to me are worth about $8—or the cost of a soda and the peanuts whose shells will end up in the cup).

And the star second baseman was kind enough to autograph the wall.

The 200 level has its own concourse and concession areas, including the 12 Bar named for Roberto Alomar’s number. You can enjoy a drink at a table with a view at the 12 Bar, if you get tired of your seat. Unfortunately, the concession lines aren’t shorter on this level like you would think…long lines are unfortunately a part of life here.

Like with the 100 level, sections are divided into “Infield” and “Bases”, and again, the difference in price is significant, so it might be worth moving a section over.

For day games most of the upper rows of the 200 sections are usually covered in shade.

They may not have the best view of the game, but they’re happy.

Rogers Centre Seating, Tip #7) Outfield Seating (and the worst seats).

Outfield seats are cheaper than most here, but know that once you get about eight rows up you’re under the mezzanine overhang, and unless you’re in the front of the outer sections, you’ll lose sight of the big scoreboard, although there are TVs there to see any missed action.

The outfield sections are behind both bullpens, so you have a neat view of pitchers warming up, but your chances of catching a home run ball are slim, even during batting practice. If you want to do your part for the Jays and heckle the opposing team’s pitchers, the visitors’ bullpen is in right field.

There are about 12 rows in the outfield sections; the last couple of rows on both levels feel more like part of the concourse than the game.

This is just me. Your mileage may vary.

In the 100 level outfield seats, for some reason, there is a shortage of leg room. I don’t know why this is the case, but I would avoid it if you’re over six feet long like me.

In the 200 level in the outfield, the higher rows are next to pillars, and if you’re in the wrong spot you could lose a good portion of the field. Some seats are single seats with a wall on one side and the aisle on the other; avoid these at all costs.

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In championship years, fans were actually willing to sit in the concourse.

You should also stay away from higher rows; if you must have a higher row than 6, try to get something in the middle of a section, e.g. something that doesn’t end in 1-3.

There aren’t a lot of concession stands on either of the outfield areas of the concourse, although the patio in the outfield has a couple of bars with snacks. There is a stairway to get there from the lower level.

As you can see I’m not a big fan of outfield seats in Rogers Centre. Given the choice I might just get standing room and maybe poach a seat somewhere.

Yes, they’re high up, but clearly many fans don’t mind.

Rogers Centre Seating, Tip #7) Upper (500) Level – Cheap Seats!

The upper 500 level was called the SkyDeck in the SkyDome years, and you’ll see why when you’re up there. The SkyDeck seats take a long walk on dark, boring ramps to get to if you’re not using an elevator, the seats are very high and the angle is one of the steepest I’ve experienced.

If you don’t mind all of this, the panoramic view of everything is definitely better behind home plate than in the outfield, and these are easily the cheapest seats; the best part is that ticket prices are nearly the same throughout the entire level. If you get a lower row (which is a bit tougher to do), the view of the action isn’t bad at all.

The good news is, there’s no one standing in front of you.

There are a couple of obstructed view problems: the first is that seats ending in 1 could lose some of the field to the stairway railing, which usually isn’t a big deal (the Blue Jays will alert you to this if you are selecting seats from their site); the other is with the scary high seats down the right field line behind light fixtures, where there are often more birds than fans anyway.

It’s the trip down those steps that’s nerve wracking. You should really want to be here for these seats.

There are 25-27 rows in most of the 500 level sections, and the right field sections can have as many as 37. To put it mildly, yikes. If you do end up with seats this high, prepare for a nerve-wracking trip down the steps…I found that to be the scariest part of it.

The only other problem with the upper level seating, other than the acrophobia, is that the food selection isn’t quite as great, and for low attendance games some stands will be closed. If you’re up here and looking for something beyond hot dogs or pizza, you’re better off getting something downstairs first.

Yes, it may take two seconds to actually hear the crack of the bat. But there is shade.

Upper level sections in the outfield obviously have a poor view, but for most games you won’t likely be relegated out there. If it’s a high demand game and you have a choice, though, these are better than 200 level outfield seats, IMHO.

Nice open place to stand, with TVs yet!

Rogers Centre Seating, Tip #8) Standing Room.

For most games you should be able to find some place to sit, but should no seat be adequate, the 100 level has an open concourse (the 200 and 500 levels do not), so you can stand most anywhere and be able to see the game, although the overhang blocks the view of the Big Board. There are TVs on the concourses as well.

You might find folding chairs in the handicapped areas behind sections, but the Blue Jays usually lock them up.

Yes, they once designated standing room spots here.

Other than the 12 Bar and the Bacardi Bar, which have some seats to sit in if you’re early enough, there is other standing room space in the 200 level in the outfield behind the seats, which is even marked as such, humorously reminding you that people would have done anything to get in during the World Series years. This is a lousy standing spot; just stay on the 100 concourse.

Truly, you do not have to stand behind the Budweiser sign.

Rogers Centre Seating, Tip #9) The WestJet Flight Deck.

The Blue Jays knocked out the Windows restaurant in center field, and replaced it with a standing room party area. Anyone with a ticket can hang out on the WestJet Flight Deck.

The outfield bar has three levels. There is a drink rail to lean on and bar tables to sit drinks on behind them. It gets crowded quickly, so stake a good spot and have someone large with you to guard it for bathroom trips. There are bars serving drinks and snacks on either side in the concourse area and a souvenir shop. There’s also a kids play area behind the standing area.

Your date will be duly impressed with having your own table at the Blue Jays game!

In my own humble opinion, the view is slightly better higher up for some reason. People can meet under the Rogers or Budweiser signs in the outfield patio, but the view behind the signs is not good for obvious reasons.

Someone paid the very high price for a room with a view of a ballgame, and closed their shades.

Rogers Centre Seating, Tip #10) The Restaurants + Hotel.

If you’re looking for a unique experience at a Blue Jays game and have the means, you can order a room with a field view in the attached Marriott Hotel, or reserve a table next to the window at the Sportsnet Grill restaurant in the outfield and hear the radio broadcast. (Unfortunately the Sightlines restaurant is no more.)

I could talk a lot more about this, but or seating perspective purposes, it is a neat experience but you will be high up and in the outfield…and far away. So while the view is spectacular in general it isn’t the best from the fan’s perspective, and none of these options enable you to access the rest of the ballpark.

Note that even the light fixtures can provide some shade here.

Rogers Centre Seating – A Few More Tips.

The sun goes down on the third base side at Rogers, so if you want to be in the sun the first base side is better, and if you want to be out of the sun third is best. In Toronto, both options can be preferable given the Ontario climate. Because of the roof, all of the outfield seats are in the shade. The 200 level seats are far more likely to be in the shade than 100 level.

It’s not THAT much further than the hotel rooms…

On the third base side you will have a splendid view of the CN Tower, the 1,800 foot “world’s tallest tower” next door, which is extra cool when it’s illuminated at night. But the view from the first base side isn’t bad either, with high rise buildings overlooking the field, and sometimes people do watch from there like a very wealthy person’s version of the Wrigley rooftops. Obviously you need the dome open for this view.

Not only can you bring the kids, you’ll have the whole alcohol-free section to yourself!

There are alcohol-free sections at Blue Jays games; they are Sections 141-142 on the lower level, 237-238 on the mezzanine, and the first 14 rows of 520-521. (Anyone who makes it to the 15th row of the 500 level deserves a beer.) These sections tend to be empty on low demand nights, so if you go alcohol-free you can have them almost to yourself.

I don’t know why Blue Jays fans won’t use this walkway, but maybe it’s eerily lonesome.

When the Blue Jays aren’t having a playoff-bound season, you can usually move to a better seat with little trouble, so long as you don’t try to get into the lower sections behind home plate. The upper level and the outermost sections of the lower level often have plenty of empty seats, so you can usually grab one. I’ve never read any stories of people being ejected for poaching seats, so it’s not a big risk.

Now you know what to do!

Get all that? Sorry if I went a little long, but I wanted to cover all of the details. Rogers Centre was built in an era where teams wanted to maximize the number of seats, and as a result there’s quite a few to avoid.

Hope I was able to help and you enjoyed the read. If you need more Rogers Centre help, check out my posts about the best ways to get there, parking at the Green P spots, bringing food into Rogers Centre, and some things to know if you’re visiting Canada.

Thanks for reading; please support my sponsors and this website!

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Here it is Guardians fans and Progressive Field visitors…your complete and handy Progressive Field seating guide! I’ve included all the tips I could find for choosing the best seats at Progressive Field for your budget and taste…including cheap seats, great standing room spots, shaded sections and more.

(If you’d like to know about getting tickets, parking and food at the Cleveland Guardians ballpark, be sure to check out my complete Progressive Field guide here!)

Yes, there are many thousands. I’m here to help.

I’ve broken this down into parts so you can skip stuff if need be (but don’t, it’s all good…):

Your Key Progressive Field Seating Tips

Progressive Field Layout
The Dugout Suites
Lexus Home Plate Boxes
Kaulig Companies Club
Drug Mart Club Seats
Lower Level Seating
Field and Lower Box Seats
Lower Reserved
Family Deck
Upper Level
Bleachers
Standing Room
The Corner

As you can see, there’s a lot to cover here to help you find the best seats in the Cleveland Guardians’ ballpark…so after this quick word from our sponsor, we’ll get started. (Please use the links, and thanks for your support!)

Gametime has your cheap Guardians tickets…with a lowest price guarantee, panoramic seat view photos, and great last minute deals…even after the game starts!

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Featuring color-coded sections to show you just how well off you really are!

Progressive Field Seating, Part 1: Ballpark Layout

Progressive Field has three tiers; all three levels extend from the left field foul pole around to about right center field and Gate C; the bleachers in left field are somewhat elevated above the high left field fence.

The second tier is mostly club level and several levels of suites; this is where the Terrace Club, Club Lounge, kids play area and mezzanine are. The upper tier is upper box and reserved seating; this level is pretty high up, something to be wary of if you’re acrophobic.

Like most ballparks, the right field corner is the last to see shade; this can make it a desirable spot on those Cleveland April days.

Rows are lettered and start with A, so Row AA is Row 27. Facing the field, Seat 1 is always on the right. The home team dugout is on the third base side.

Progressive Field has a lot of premium seating, so we’ll start there.

I’m sure they’ll move the wagon and the hose before the game starts.

Progressive Field Seating, Part 2: Dugout Suites

Yes, those really are fans that you see on TV sitting inside what is normally the fence behind home plate, not scouts with radar guns. Those seats are the Dugout Suites, which are among the most popular premium seats in the ballpark.

These seats are in high demand and expensive, and presently only available for groups. If you have to ask the price you probably can’t afford it. But they do include all of the suite amenities, and the literally field level view is pretty amazing. You’ll be closer to home plate than the pitcher, and can see facial expressions on the players and everything. And you’re covered from the rain, although these seats are in the shade.

Progressive Field Seating, Part 3: Lexus Home Plate Boxes

The Guardians decided to greatly improve the box seats they had behind the lower sections at home plate and turn them into exclusive box seats behind home plate. I’m presuming you still have a view of the scoreboard back there.

The package for these seats includes eight tickets, two parking passes, and an all-inclusive menu that includes beer and wine (you pay for cocktails). Better yet, there are balcony heaters here, and access to the Home Plate Club, two very welcome amenities in Cleveland. You also get a team store discount, so you can more cheaply replace all of your Indians gear.

Again, these are sold on a season ticket basis, but if I find anything cheaper on Gametime I’ll let you know. (Feel free to have a look!)

It used to be the Infiniti Club. They apparently liked companies that sponsor racecars more.

Progressive Field Seating, Part 4: Kaulig Companies Club

The then-Indians tore out a bunch of suites in 2013, and installed a huge high-end lounge next to the press box on the first base side, for a straight ahead view of the most impressive Prog scoreboard.

The Kaulig Companies Club features an all-inclusive menu with top shelf drinks, extra wide leather high-backed seating with drink rails, 20 hi-def TVs, and live access to the pre- and post-game shows, if any of that tickles your fancy. The Club also has indoor seating with a view of the game, something that the Club Lounge seats lack.

Seats are sold on a season ticket basis only and this spot is popular; the Guardians usually sell almost all of the 100 or so available seats for each event. Thus far I haven’t seen anything available on third party sites.

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It’s almost like it’s sticking its tongue out.

Progressive Field Seating, Part 5: Club Seats

You see that big mezzanine section on the first base line, covering a good portion of the lower section? Those are the Club Seats, placed in front of the climate controlled and very large Club Lounge on the suite level. They are padded and comfortable, and you can escape the Cleveland weather in the huge Club Lounge.

Inside the Lounge are comfortable leather chairs, full bars and TVs to watch the game. If you’d rather stay in your seat, you get in-seat wait service as well.

Plenty of seats in the Lounge too.

Included with Club tickets are access to the impressive Lounge menu, from which you can gorge on plates from a pasta bar, a meat carving station, salads, nachos, pizza and whatever the chef’s special that day might be. They’ll even prepare the stuff right in front of you. Unlimited non-alcoholic beverages are also included in the price.

Seats at this level aren’t high up at all; they almost seem like field level, and being on the first base side there’s a great view of the Big Board and Cleveland skyline. In cold weather especially these seats may be worth the extra price for the perks.

The Guardians separated the Club seats into three sections, with the most expensive seats being closest to home plate. You can find some seats for a real bargain on non-prime nights. Remember that would include April games, and you’ll have access to the heated lounge. (Don’t let weather stop you from enjoying Guardians baseball!)

And the best part is, you don’t have to clean up!

Progressive Field Seating, Part 6: Lower Level Seating

The seats between the bases on the lower level are the Field Box seats, and this includes the first few rows of sections past the dugout. The first few rows of infield sections are premium Diamond seats and generally go to season ticket holders; if you’re looking for one of these, try Gametime sometime in April and you may get a great deal. For certain opponents, they’re not expensive at all.

The nice thing about lower seats is that there aren’t too many seats to a row, so you’ll have less of a problem with people getting up and walking by to get their Barrio nachos.

Low incline + small number of seats in a row = worth a few extra bucks.

Progressive Field Seating, Part 7: Field/Lower Box Seats

Field and Lower Box rows start with A-Z and then AA, BB, etc. and generally extend to Row HH. Just past the bases there are two sections where the Field Box seats are closest to the field. The Guardians charge different prices for front, middle and back seating in Field Box sections, but the difference is slight.

The sections past the dugouts are the Lower Box sections—these are significantly lower in price, and in most sections the seats are angled towards home plate. Well, towards second base would be more accurate. If you can land a low row in Section 138, you’re not doing badly.

Well, there’s plenty of shade, anyway.

The only problem with some of the Field and Lower Box seats is on the first base side, where that big Club section of seating juts out over everything, providing some nice cool shade for those scorching April days in Cleveland (the Guardians are one of the few teams that don’t hide obstructions on their interactive seating map).

From about row AA up in the lower level, which isn’t far, your view of the Big Board may be blocked. If you’re getting anything in Sections 129-150 on the first base side (“Field Box Back”), try to get a lower row if you can.

Swanky! (And warm.)

Field and Diamond Box season ticket holders also have access to the swanky Home Plate Club; the Guardians inserted an indoor club with a full bar, some of the better food items, and a glass enclosure to view the game. Great in cold months but nice anytime.

I’m not sure yet if you can get Home Plate Club access buying a third party stub from a season ticket holder, but if you can it’s a sweet deal. You can even hang out there after the game for a while to let the traffic clear out.

Never drive to Progressive Field without a plan…

Book your parking spot now with my friends at SpotHero!

If you decide to sit in the outfield, Cleveland fans will stand behind you. (snort)

Progressive Field Seating, Part 8: Lower Reserved

In the corners and the lower level seats in right field are the Lower Reserved sections. They’re even less in price yet, about half the price of Field Box. Most of the upper seats in these sections have been replaced by drink rail and patio areas, so you don’t need to worry about upper rows having a blocked view anymore, and you can land a good spot close to the field fairly cheaply.

Sections 125 and 175 are tucked into the corner and may require you to crane your neck a bit; better to move a section over to the outfield if you can.

Just steps away from honest-to-goodness relief pitcher heckling!

Section 103 is next to the newly relocated bullpens, and it’s a prime spot to watch pitchers from both teams warm up. It’s extra cool to watch on the stairs behind the catcher. This section misses a bit of left field if you’re close to the bullpens, but it’s not a big deal.

It’s the section in the middle with surprisingly few occupants.

Progressive Field Seating, Part 9: Family Deck

The mezzanine in right field is laid out over the lower seats in the same manner as the Club seats in the infield, but there’s no club here and the seats are much cheaper. The view isn’t great, but it’s better than the upper right field boxes and doesn’t cost too much. There are about 20 rows in most sections.

These seats have been renamed the Family Deck to remind people of their proximity to the Kids Clubhouse on the mezzanine level, making it a prime spot if you’re bringing the kids. There are also interactive games in the concourse behind these sections.

Not so secret after all now!

Progressive Field Seating Pro Tip! The outfield mezzanine section has its own secret and exclusive escalator to reach it; it is located in the right field concourse.

So now onward to the cheap seats at Progressive Field and their respective merits…

The height doesn’t stop Cleveland fans. Nor should it.

Progressive Field Seating, Part 10: Upper Level (Cheap Seats!)

The upper deck at Progressive Field is divided into three tiers around the bases; from low to high they are View Box, Upper Box and Upper Reserved. Past the bases, View Box (the first five rows in the infield) becomes Upper Box. Rows are lettered, and usually Row X is the breezy top of the ballpark. The View Box and lower Upper Box seats are the 400 level; Upper Reserved is the 500 level.

The upper level is pushed up fairly high by the three levels of suite seating and is steeper than acrophobic sorts probably like. Even View Box seats are high up. It can be considerably breezy and cooler up there, so dress warmly for colder nights.

“We’ve got all these buildings, let’s put the ballpark here.”

The upper level does provide an outstanding view of the Cleveland skyline and the Big Board, especially from the first base side, but in right field the very distant Upper Reserved seats were at one time the worst seats in the ballpark. The Indians recognized this, and they have replaced the seats in the entire upper deck around the foul pole (all sections numbered lower than 528), and turned it into the Right Field Terraces, closed off with tables and bar stools.

Looks cool at sunset, although I don’t know if I’d stand up there.

The tributes to team greats look cool, but it looks like an odd way to watch a ballgame. Thus far I haven’t seen anyone there, but I’ve read that it can be a popular spot for people who want to get away from the standing room crowds and long bathroom lines. The view isn’t great in my opinion, and it would be the last place to see shade on a hot summer evening, but suit yourself.

With the deals to be had on tickets, you’re probably better off seeking View Box or Upper Box than Upper Reserved. Between Upper Box and Upper Reserved isn’t much of a price difference, although View Box can cost a chunk more (and it’s worth it for the ease of getting to the concourse). You may find a better deal on Gametime for View Box depending on demand.

NO, the Big Board won’t fall on you, but it’s nice to have a view of it. Just saying.

Progressive Field Seating, Part 11: Bleachers

There is a large amount of bleacher seats at Progressive Field; they are the green benches in front of the Big Board in left field. These seats are among the dirt cheapest in the Cleveland ballpark, and they’re fairly popular, drawing those dedicated Guardians fan crowds, and are a prime spot to catch home run balls in batting practice. You’ll have to move for fireworks nights though.

The bleacher sections are divided into three price levels now, with the lower bleachers sections considerably more expensive than the upper sections, especially for premium games. Row L is probably the best bang for the buck here.

Just bring a cushion is all I’m saying.

The benches have backs and aren’t too uncomfortable, and the view isn’t bad save for missing a portion of left field. You are facing away from the Big Board, though, and that’s one of the ballpark’s more striking visual features, especially nowadays with its improved resolution. There are about 25 rows in the bleachers, which are designated by letter.

The Guardians even sell some season tickets to this spot. But I’d say if you’re going to sit on these benches 81 nights a year, you should probably bring a cushion.

I don’t know if it’s because I’m a prominent blogger, but he did let me hold his drumstick!

I don’t currently know the status of John Adams, who attended thousands of Indians games at the top of the bleachers where he pounded on his drum. He hasn’t been there since 2019 as he’s struggled with health problems, and he’s definitely missed. I met him once and he’s a super nice fellow. We wish him Godspeed and a safe return to his bleachers spot.

Drink rails for standing room patrons. Someone is thinking in this team’s front office.

Progressive Field Seating, Part 12: Standing Room

There is more demand for standing room these days, with the new Right Field District and Corner Bar added for 2015; the Guardians are even selling very affordable standing room District Tickets that include a free drink. Nowadays there is much more space to rest your drink or Momocho nachos, and there is standing room space directly behind the visitors’ bullpen. Great for heckling if you’re into that kind of thing.

If you’re interested in such a view, the Guardians now let people sit behind the right field fence for an inning; if no one’s waiting they’ll let you stick around. It’s a bullpen pitchers’ perspective, and you’ll realize that you usually have better seats than relief pitchers do. But it’s a neat thing to check out.

Lots of space to grab a batting practice shot.

The Home Run Porch in left field has been improved for the standing room ticket holders, and many fans just buy a cheap seat and stand there, even on top of the sign itself. A bunch of left field corner seats have been pulled out…not a bad idea in a spot where the foul pole can get in the view…and replaced with drink rails, making it similar to the Corner in right field. There isn’t an indoor bar there, which makes it less crowded, but you’re closer to the impressive food options on the third base side.

The area can still get crowded, but home run balls do land there, and as one observer put it “it gets like Waveland Avenue at Wrigley” at batting practice with people scrambling for a souvenir.

By most accounts ushers are very tough on seat poaching in the lower level, so if you decide you want to sit, take the escalator to the upper deck. There will likely be plenty of available seats there, and the ushers are nowhere near as strict.

Who needs a seat when there’s craft beer behind you?

Progressive Field Seating, Part 13: The Corner

The right field corner features the aforementioned and millennial-friendly Corner Bar, named for Tom Hamilton’s radio broadcast introduction: “We’re underway at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario!” The two-story bar is pretty cool; its walls are made from remnants of the Columbus Road Bridge, and the furniture is from an old Cleveland foundry. There are also sofas and a fire pit on the upper level, no small thing on those September nights.

The Corner has plenty of standing room space in front of it, with an abundance of drink rails, and you can go inside the bar if it gets too hot or cold. The glass doors are floor-to-ceiling, and the upper level has a fine view of the field. At dusk, though, the sun is going to be directly in your eyes; you’ll definitely want shades for that.

Ah, that pesky sun. Forgot about that.

It undoubtedly is a great standing room spot whatever the weather forecast, and the Guardians feed into that with the aforementioned District Ticket. It’s also popular, so stake a spot early.

If partying in the outfield isn’t your thing for standing room, there are open concourses throughout most of the lower level, but in most spots you won’t be able to see the Big Board with the overhang. You can also find some picnic areas with a view in the outfield. There are no open concourses on the upper level, except in right field, which is pretty far.

As stated, remember that the third base side is the last to see shade for night games. Something to consider on a hot day. Or a cold one, for that matter.

Now, unlike these mystified people, you know where to go!

Get all that? You’re now educated on how to choose a great seat at Progressive Field for your taste and budget. I’ve written plenty more helpful money-saving tips for Progressive Field if you need more help, whether you’re a first time visitor or a regular…have a look at my complete Progressive Field guide here!

Thanks for reading, and please support Ballpark E-Guides sponsors using the links in this article. Your support is greatly appreciated!!

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So you want to visit Nationals Park? You came to the right place my friend…this complete Nationals Park guide will tell you everything you need to know, especially about how to save money at Nationals games, on everything from tickets to transportation to food. These are my best Nationals Park tips, both for newbies and regulars at the Washington ballpark.

The home of the 2019 World Champions, in all its glory.

Nationals Park Guide Sections

I’ve broken this extensive Nationals Park guide down into parts, so you won’t want to break me into parts:

Finding Cheap Nationals Tickets
Choosing A Seat At Nationals Park
The Best And Other Ways To Get To Nationals Park
Nationals Park Food
Bringing The Kids
Nationals Park Accessibility
The President’s Race and Other Stuff

Gametime has your cheap Nationals tickets…with a lowest price guarantee, panoramic seat view photos, and great last minute deals…even after the game starts!

(See why Ballpark E-Guides loves Gametime here!)

OK then, let’s get you started with some killer Nationals Park tips!

I’ll bet you would surprise the crap out of an operator by actually calling and asking about tickets.

Nationals Park Guide, Part 1 – Finding Cheap Nationals Tickets

Finding cheap Nationals tickets – or at least finding the best deal – is all about choosing the right avenue for buying them.

Say you’re looking for a high demand game…such as Opening Day, July 4th, or when the Yankees, Phillies, or Orioles are in town on a weekend. Your best bet is usually to pay face value for tickets, either through the Nationals website or their box office.

So do this right now: subscribe to the Nationals e-mail newsletter here.

The Nats will make you aware of ticket deals, pre-sales, fan club memberships, giveaway nights, etc. It’s a very easy way to score much better deals on Nationals tickets.

Well worth the effort to park a bus in D.C.

Here’s just a few things the newsletter has informed me about: free tickets for military members; the very cool NatsPass; Value Days with discounts on everything for families; sweet deals for group tickets; you get it. It never hurts to check your newsletter.

If you’re confident the game won’t sell out, visit the box office on game day and save considerable cash avoiding online fees.

For low demand games – weeknight games, April games, etc. – you can often save on face price through a third party, like StubHub or TickPick.

One caveat though. Don’t buy from third parties before tickets go on sale to the public. The only seats available will be from people that have bought from pre-sales, and prices could be ridiculously inflated. Your best bet with third parties is to generally wait until game day a few hours before the game.

Counterfeit merchandise? You mean the peanuts aren’t real?

As for scalpers, you can usually find quite a few of them, especially on Half Street leading to the ballpark from the Metro station. Treat scalpers with common sense, especially for high demand games…check the date and opponent and look for anything amateurish.

And if you’re considering trying Craigslist for tickets, check out my advice here about that.

Never mind the view from the seat. Check out that price!

Here’s a great Tightwad Tip…as of this writing, the Nats still offer a limited amount of $5 tickets at the box office, on game day, for almost every game. The seating is in Sections 401-402, among the worst seats, but you should be able to move to a better upper level seat. Nationals Park also has some of the better standing room in baseball. (More about that in a minute.)

Five dollar tickets can’t be beat, especially in an expensive town like D.C.!

So remember, subscribe to the newsletter, check TickPick, and use the box office instead of the website if you can.

The Nationals apparently forget about the demographic that just wants to know where Ben’s Chili dog is.

Nationals Park Guide, Part 2 – Choosing A Great Seat

There’s a wide variety of seating sections and prices at Nationals Park. I have provided helpful advice elsewhere on this site…check out this about the cheap seats, or this post about expensive seats, or this post about what to avoid and the great standing room.

But for here and now, I’ll just break it down into budget levels.

You wouldn’t pay more for seats this size on an airplane, but in a ballpark? Heck yes!

Really expensive seats at Nats Park include the Delta Club seats behind home plate, PNC Club seats behind them, and the recliners in the Dugout Club that you need to lose a lot of money in a casino to get.

All of these include access to really fancy clubs and great food, in-seat wait service, all of which is nice. In my opinion, though, they’re overpriced for any team, and if you’re looking to score a seat in these sections try looking elsewhere, even though technically the Nats don’t allow resales of premium seats. If you can score a deal, it’s worth it, especially with parking thrown in.

Unfortunately this nifty scoreboard is gone, but the Infield Club still has made-to-order nachos AND carpeting!

The mid-range priced seats at Nationals Park include Infield Club on the mezzanine level, and most of the field level seating, especially in the infield.

Given D.C. weather in the summer, I would choose having access to a climate-controlled club to field level seats if you’re comparing similar costs. It gets very hot in this place. Plus the Infield Club features great eats with shorter lines, such as brick oven Enzo’s pizza, sushi, a carvery etc., all with places to sit and enjoy.

Field level tickets do offer proximity to NatPack girls. And Screech.

But seating on the field level does offer some fine views, and this is a place where you’ll want to stay low. If you can score tickets in, say, Sections 118 or 127, you can almost reach into a premium seat holder’s lap and grab a hunk of “complimentary” grub that they paid twice the price for. (Don’t actually do this. I’m just saying.)

Low budget seating includes outer mezzanine seats, upper deck (Gallery) seats, scoreboard porch seats, etc. There’s a large number of cheap seats here, but most of them aren’t great.

The outer mezzanine seats aren’t bad for the price and offer decent shade for afternoon games, but you need to make a trek up or down to find any concessions, so just be aware of that and grab your grub before you sit.

At least they make sportswriters sit further back.

In the upper deck, the 300 level seats cost significantly more than the 400 seats, but they’re worth it. The 400 level here is sky high, and it also involves much more climbing of steps. It’s not for the acrophobic.

That said, if you’re on a budget, I prefer 400 level seating in the infield to outfield seating…especially the Right Field Terrace and sections in front of the scoreboard, both of which are very far from the action. The lower level outfield seats under the right field overhang are probably the worst seats in the ballpark, except in the rain…you will have no view of the scoreboard or fly balls.

And in mere seconds after finishing your beer, you can be back at your seat!

One cool thing about upper outfield seating, though, is that it’s close to the upper level outfield concourse that is among the best in baseball…there’s a couple of bars (with drink specials even), and eateries like the Shake Shack and a BBQ joint that shouldn’t be missed. If you’re a ballgame socializer, it’s not a bad spot.

Finally, there’s lots of quality standing room at Nationals Park, should your seat not meet your dreams. In the upper outfield level especially, there are counters to rest your elbows and your grub, mist spraying fans, even some stools if you’re early enough.

If you’re on a strict budget, try the aforementioned $5 ticket and stake out a spot.

It’s what Nats fans do.

Nationals Park Guide, Part 3 – Fastest, Cheapest, and Some Unusual Ways to Get to Nationals Park

Driving to Nationals Park isn’t the worst as big city ballparks go, but it’s expensive, and chances are you’ll be sitting in traffic if you don’t arrive early. Most people recommend the Metro, but we’ll cover all the bases here. (Check out this post if you’re coming from Baltimore.)

The Navy Yard – Ballpark station on the Green Line of the Metro (officially the WMATA, but it’s called the Metro by everyone here) is just steps away from the ballpark. It’s also a neat approach, probably by design, with the inside of the ballpark in full view from Half Street and a plethora of cheap peanuts and non-alcoholic drinks vendors lining the path to the entrance. It’s baseball as it should be.

Wait! You forgot your cheap peanuts!

You’ll need a “SmarTrip” card both to ride the trains and pay for parking at a station. Needless to say, have enough value on it for the trip back, rather than wait in line behind folks who can’t figure out the machine. (There’s always one, take it from me.) Parking at Metro stations is relatively inexpensive and free on weekends.

If you’re planning to drive to the game, let me start with this extremely key suggestion: book your parking beforehand. (Check out the coming widget for using my friends at SpotHero.)

OK, now then. The Nationals provide directions from every direction on their website, along with this nice interactive map to help you get to the game easily.

“Keep driving. I know there’s an R lot somewhere.”

Currently the Nats run seven official lots: the Geico (formerly the “B” lot before the B people pulled out) and C lots attached to the ballpark, which are ultra-convenient and ultra-expensive; Lots L and H a block away on Half Street which cost almost as much; and the more distant T, U, and W lots east of the ballpark. You can buy parking passes through the Nats, but you’ll pay a fee for that. Check your third parties; you might find a deal.

The W lot is the cheapest, most tailgate friendly, and one of the easiest to exit back onto the highway, but it’s a good hike away.

“Yeah, pay Marc. He’s that guy in the phone booth with the funny mask on.”

There are a few independent lots too. The former HH lot some blocks north on South Capitol is still there last I checked, and it’s among the cheapest you’ll find. Long walk, though…longer than the W Lot even.

The best deal for something less than a half mile away is probably off of Tingey Street east of the ballpark. Just east of Lot W are more and cheaper lots, but again, they’re also a lengthy walk.

Want to try free street parking? Don’t. Or at least, I highly recommend against it. The city of Washington works hard to ensure you pay out the wazoo for meters during games.

Again, Nationals Park is a place where I would seriously recommend booking your parking beforehand.

This website, by the way, is all about what you didn’t think of – Here’s a few cool and unusual ways to get to a Nats game:

Less crowded than a subway car, cheaper, and a better view. But slower.

The D.C. Circulator bus is a cheaper way to travel around the city; great if you’re making a day around town. The Circulator’s Blue Route stops at the Navy Yard/Ballpark Station entrance. The Blue Route (but only the Blue Route) extends service on game days.

It doesn’t look like much, but they’ve cornered the market on Nationals Park shuttles!

The Ugly Mug is a tavern on 8th Street about a mile from the ballpark. They will run you to the game in a golf cart with a proof of purchase, and they have game day specials. Parking is not free or easy to come by, though, so this is best for folks wanting a meal and a drink before or after the game.

There is a specific location for Lyft and Uber riders, on the west curb of New Jersey Avenue between M and N Street. Ride sharing is expensive here, especially with surge pricing. If you can get someone to go in with you on the cost, though, it might work for you, and you won’t have to worry about service being available after the game…like you sometimes will with Metro.

You can even take a water taxi from Alexandria or nearby docks, courtesy of the Potomac Riverboat Company. The price for two is reasonable…about what it costs to park at the game. If you print out the ticket online, parking at the Chadwicks Restaurant is free.

A bicycle valet may be nice, but a rented bike allows for a quick escape without tipping!

Should you decide to bicycle to Nationals Park, the Nationals actually have a bicycle valet in Garage C. It starts two hours before gametime and closes one hour after the last pitch. The Riverwalk along both banks of the Anacostia makes for a swell bike ride, but I have read about some incidents, so keep your wits about you. I’m told it’s very cool lit up at night, if you’re comfortable cycling then.

Finally, you can borrow a bicycle from Capital Bikeshare; there are several stations near the ballpark, including right across the street.

Finally, I’ve gone into much more detail about the Metro and other ways to get to a Nats game in this post…well worth a read for important tips!
 

Never Drive To Nationals Park Without A Plan…

Book Your Parking Spot NOW With My Friends at SpotHero!

I’ll take the table by the window, and watch the grounds crew.

Nationals Park Guide, Part 4: Food + Drink

Since the Nationals Park food menu changes so frequently, I’m just going to cover my favorite mainstays here. Here’s the truly good stuff…if you want some more options, check out this Nationals Park food post:

The Budweiser Brewhouse is the restaurant behind the red seats in left center field. It has indoor and outdoor seating, and it’s best to go either just after the gates open or around the fifth inning if you want a seat.

The Brewhouse sells quality food like steak salad or jerk chicken at ballpark prices. The menu changes a lot, and there’s usually something unusual. It all can be washed down with Bud-owned microbrews like Goose Island and Shock Top. Upstairs is the Bud Light Loft, with a full bar, misting fans, and a bird’s eye view of the game from left center.

This chili dog will escalate your opinion of Nationals Park.

The Chili Half-Smoke from Ben’s Chili Bowl is a spicy sausage, with Ben’s special recipe chili piled on, along with cheese, chopped onions and yellow mustard. It’s a truly amazeballs chili dog, just grab some napkins and maybe a spoon for the abundant chili. Ben’s also has chili cheese fries, and they don’t skimp on the chili or cheese.

While we’re talking encased meat, Haute Dogs & Fries has some truly innovative offerings of gourmet beef dogs on New England rolls, including the Haute dog with brown onion relish, mayonnaise and celery salt, and a Banh Mi dog with jalapeno, carrots, cucumber slaw, cilantro and sriracha mayo. That’s just some examples…they might be different when you visit.

And you thought Max Scherzer was a good acquisition.

I’ve loved me some smothered tater tots at See. You. Tater., named for Bob Carpenter’s signature home run call. Get a bowl of tots covered with Buffalo chicken and blue cheese, crab meat and crab queso, or whatever else they may be offering.

Steak Of The Union stands still manage to hang around Nats Park, selling the classic Philly cheesesteaks, and they keep it simple: just beef, onions, peppers and Cheez Whiz. Or get some cheesesteak nachos. I would get a fork for the spillage either way.

This dude knows good pizza.

For pizza, Enzo’s serves up decent pizza in my opinion, at least by ballpark standards, with thin crust and ample pepperoni. It’s greasy stuff though…pat it with a napkin if you care about that.

The Scoreboard Pavilion in right field is home to some cool spots:

The Shake Shack is a Citi Field staple (there’s one in Philly now too) but it is equally popular here; lines get very long for the Shackburger, a fresh beef patty topped with lettuce, cheese, tomato and Shack Sauce on a potato roll. There’s also milkshakes excellent enough to have a separate line, and I can vouch for the quality of the fries too.

Even the sign looks appetizing.

But if you like fries, Box Frites (another Citi Field delicacy, SMH) is it…crispy boardwalk-style fries with several dipping sauces that change periodically. You might find smoky bacon or black pepper parm sauce or something like that. Try the garlic parmesan fries…you’ll thank me.

The Old Hickory BBQ Grill is fairly new, but Nationals Park’s BBQ has always rocked it. Old Hickory has smoked hot sausage with slaw and BBQ sauce, pulled pork and brisket sandwiches, and pulled pork nachos with house made chips.

You also have some healthy choices of course:

Featuring Kevin Costner as Ray Kinshallot. (Admit it, you laughed a little bit at that.)

There’s a Field of Greens stand with mushroom burgers, salads, wraps, and hummus; it’s a good spot for vegan sorts. They also have a Gluten Free Grill in the center field plaza, featuring hot dogs with gluten-free rolls, burritos and pizza; Nats Park has a larger selection than most ballparks with GF stuff.

Is it appropriate to have gelato at a ballgame?

Finally, if you want something different for dessert, try Leilani’s Shaved Ice or Dolci Gelati…Dolci has gelato in multiple cool flavors like “Stracciatella”.

I’m really just scratching the surface here; Nationals Park has a seriously long menu. But I still want to talk about beer and drinks very briefly.

You can find some excellent brews at District Drafts from local breweries like Atlas, DC Brau, Mad Fox and others. Atlas created a special brew sold only at the ballpark called 1500 South Cap Lager, named for the address of Nationals Park.

This is right there at the $5 section…so your craft brew could cost twice as much as your ticket. Baseball’s weird.

Or try the Devil’s Backbone offerings at their lodge in the upper left field corner. They’ve developed a brew exclusively for Nats Park called “Earned Run Ale”…a light IPA with a lemon and grapefruit taste to it.

For other mixed drinks, there’s some cool offerings at Distilleries of the DMV and District Coolers spots. Or at any of the bars around the concourse and in the clubs.

Thanks for sticking with me; here’s some Tightwad Tips for Nationals Park food…

Notice the people walking past the vendors? You’re about to be smarter.

$ – You can bring your own food into Nationals Park; they allow a 16*16*8 bag (no backpacks). Coming from the train station, there’s a bunch of vendors with hot dogs, peanuts, bottled water etc. I always fill up a goody bag with a big bag of peanuts and a few big waters for less than $10. Well worth it.

$ – If you’re ordering tickets through the Nationals website, you can add concession credit to your ticket, and they’ll give you a few extra bucks’ worth. Not big savings, but there’s no reason not to use it.

Not even the Budweiser sign scared off these gentlemen from an ice cold $5 ballpark beer.

$ – In the upper outfield concourse behind the Big Board, the bar features a Happy Hour with discounted beers ($5 as of this writing) that ends 45 minutes before game time. Well worth getting to the ballpark early, even if it’s Budweiser products.

The real Nats Park “Rookies” are the adult fans that paid more than $5 for beer!

Nationals Park Guide, Part 5: Bringing The Kids

I’ve dedicated a separate post to bringing the kids to a Nats game, but here’s a few things worth knowing.

The Family Fun Area has simulated pitching and batting cages, a nice kids’ playground area with a jungle gym, a picnic area, photo booths and penny press machines. The racing presidents greet fans here and pose for photos.

Kids can run the bases after Sunday games, and if you enter the kids in the Jr. Nats MVP Club, they’ll get front of the line privileges for this (and believe me, that’s worth the price). Kids club membership also includes team store discounts, a lanyard, and lots of other cool stuff. Definitely look into it for your offspring.

You can get your kid tagged at Guest Services just inside the center field gate, in case he decides to migrate. If it’s the kid’s first game, ask for a certificate.

Now featuring the seal of approval from Mrs. Ballpark E-Guides.

Recently the Nats added a nursing lounge on the first base side, a private area with comfy chairs, a play area for toddlers, and TVs for busy moms to watch the game. My wife tested it out some years ago (she was legitimate) and had nothing but nice things to say about it.

Thankfully, they placed the disabled seats in front of the counter.

Nationals Park Guide, Part 6: Accessibility

There are handicapped seating areas all over the park, with folding chairs included. There are also plenty of elevators to get to the upper level, and you’ll need them. You can also borrow a wheelchair at the Guest Services locations.

The Ballpark Metro Station is fully accessible, with a brand new elevator. Should you require the elevators elsewhere on the Metro, check WMATA’s website before you go, since they do have occasional issues with them.

You can drop off people by car at most entrances, but after the game, they can only be picked up from South Capitol Street on the first-base side. There are no curbs between O and P Streets on South Capitol, but there is a walkway on South Capitol to ease crossing the street.

He may not win much, but Teddy is clearly the most jovial of the Racing Presidents.

Nationals Park Guide, Part 7: The President’s Race And Other Stuff

The President’s Race in the middle of the fourth inning (and the 13th, if the game goes that long) is always entertaining, although it was a little more fun when Teddy Roosevelt never won for various reasons. Teddy’s long losing streak finally ended in 2012, not coincidentally the first year the Nationals won the NL East.

Remember, once the visiting team is finished batting in the top of the fourth, get your camera/phone out to video the event.

Throughout the season the Nationals have theme nights, like “Pups In The Park”, “Stitch N’ Pitch”, LGBTQ “Nats Night OUT”, or Georgetown cupcake night among many others. Special nights are listed on the Nats website, and they’ll be in your newsletter.

Before Sunday games, two Nationals players will sign autographs for about 20 minutes, so get a voucher at Section 103 (free) and arrive early.

Just in case anyone forgets the words.

There is a cool cheer for when the Nats score: a group behind home plate in the upper level chants “N-A-T-S Nats Nats Nats Woo!”, and repeats it twice for two runs, three times for three runs, etc. The words are now displayed behind Section 313, but it’s grown to other parts of the ballpark and it’s unique to D.C.

Finally, I can’t think of a ballpark I’ve been to with nicer staff than at Nationals Park, and I expect it’s part of their training. Everyone is extremely courteous and friendly and willing to help with any sort of need; and they’re plentiful to boot. Kudos to the Nats for this.

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There you are my friend…your complete, detailed Nationals Park guide, for fans who do live baseball right. I hope this helps you save some money and enjoy a much better experience; thanks for reading and supporting my sponsors!

You’re welcome…see you at the yard!

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Here you are my baseball fan friends, your complete, detailed, and extremely helpful Oriole Park at Camden Yards guide! I’m here to help you save money on Orioles tickets, find the best seats at Oriole Park for your budget, learn how to get to Camden Yards and what to eat at the Baltimore Orioles ballpark.

Whether you’re taking a trip, bringing the kids, or are a visiting fan…heck, even if you’re a regular…this Camden Yards guide is full of useful tips for you.

Oriole Park at Camden Yards Guide – List of Tips

Finding Cheap Orioles Tickets
Choosing A Great Seat
Best Ways To Get To Camden Yards
What To Eat At Camden Yards
Camden Yards With Kids
Photo-Ops + Other Tips

You’ve arrived.

So now after this quick word from our sponsor, we’ll get started! (+ thanks for your support!)

Gametime has your cheap Orioles tickets…with a lowest price guarantee, panoramic seat view photos, and great last minute deals…even after the game starts!

(See why Ballpark E-Guides loves Gametime here!)

Unfortunately the Orioles still have people checking to see if you have a ticket.

Camden Yards Guide, Part 1: Finding Cheap Orioles Tickets

So your first task is, of course, to find your cheap Orioles tickets.

The most common route to buying Orioles tickets is on the team website or through the MLB Ballpark app. This is perfectly fine, although you can often find better deals through a third party like Gametime. We’ll get to that.

If you’re planning a trip to Camden Yards, or even if you go regularly, sign up for the Orioles’ ticket alert newsletter. The Orioles will inform you about pre-sales and when tickets go on sale, and you’ll want to know about this. Face price when tickets go on sale is often the best price for games against the Yankees or Red Sox (and sometimes the Nationals, Mets and Phillies too).

Just in case you didn’t know, the Orioles have a website.

The newsletter will also inform you about discount and giveaway nights, and the O’s offer some cool swag like Hawaiian shirts. It’s well worth the couple of minutes to sign up.

If the Orioles are contending, September games can be in high demand, but normally July and August weekends and Yankees and Red Sox games are the most expensive tickets. So if all you want is to visit Camden Yards, try for a weekday game in April or May if you can. You might score a great deal then.

Yes, believe it or not, they still sell paper tickets. Which make great souvenirs, incidentally.

There’s also the Orioles box office, which I usually prefer because a) there’s no “convenience” fees, which are significant, and b) I like having a ticket for a souvenir.

For most games you should be able to walk up to the box office on game day and pick up whatever seats suit your taste, and again, it’s cheaper without the fees. You might have to stand in line a bit, but the wait isn’t usually long.

Then there’s the third party market, and you should always shop around if you’re buying tickets online. Gametime is my favorite outlet (and an affiliate of mine); they usually have deals as good or better than others, especially when fees are added.

Speaking of fees, if you’re comparing prices between third parties (and the team website, for that matter), go all the way to the checkout screen to know what you’re actually paying.

You sometimes might find a broker hiding behind this sign.

If you’re looking for scalpers or people with extras at Oriole Park, you might find stragglers north of the Eutaw Street entrance, in the retired numbers plaza (where the Babe Ruth statue is). The sign says it’s illegal to resell tickets on “Stadium Controlled Property”, which I suppose means you can simply walk across the street and sell your extras.

People with extras can also sometimes be found at Pickles Pub or Sliders near Gate F (left field) before the game. There’s always a crowd there and you can ask around.

For non-prime games like a weekday game against Oakland, this is a buyer’s market, and you can wait until just before game time and make an offer that suits you.

The Orioles consider this a high demand game. Plan accordingly.

Finally, if you’re considering Craigslist for Orioles tickets, I’ve written about that here, but quickly, treat Craigslist sellers like scalpers…check the tickets carefully, especially the date and opponent, and if something doesn’t feel right don’t buy them. Sometimes you can find a great deal, but remember that there’s no protection from you being scammed. If the deal seems too good to be true…you know the rest.

So now you have some idea how to save money on Orioles tickets…there’s a different avenue for getting tickets that works best for demand. Just plan ahead and compare. With a little effort, you can score a great deal for a game at one of baseball’s best ballparks.

Incidentally, the Orioles offer some of the better prices on the high end seats in baseball; if you want to splurge on Club seats or Field Box behind home plate on your ballpark trip, Camden Yards is the place to do it.

It looks a whole lot more complicated than it is.

Camden Yards Guide, Part 2: Choosing The Best Seats

Camden Yards truly doesn’t have many poor seats, but there are a few you should probably avoid, and some sections are better than others. (If you really want the knowledge on landing a great seat here, check out this complete Oriole Park seating guide!)

Here’s a bit about what the best seats are for each budget level:

For just an extra $100, sit in the shade behind these folks!

Money Is No Object Budget: Believe it or not, if you have the means you can get a suite at Camden Yards for a single game for you and your buddies; and it’s actually not a bad price. Food isn’t included, but you can have things catered for a fee.

If I were going to try this, I would do it in April or July when a climate controlled room behind your seat is a very welcome feature. There’s TVs and couches inside to watch the game on TV if you need a break from the weather.

This is why you put in the overtime.

Large Budget: The Field Level seats between the bases are cushioned and comfortable, and they’re reasonable by ballpark standards. All of these seats are good; whether you want something closer to Eutaw (first base side) or a straight ahead view of the warehouse (third base side) is your call; either is great.

“Relaxing here isn’t it? How about a crab cake sand…oh crap! I forgot there’s a game here!”

The club level seats are among the most expensive, but they include access to the spacious climate-controlled Camden Club, with excellent food choices, a full bar and a lot of cool Orioles memorabilia. If you’re interested in club access but don’t have endless cash, try to find a deal on the All You Can Eat seats in left field, which also includes access.

Club seats here are worth splurging for, but check and see if you can score a deal on a third party site first of course, especially for low demand games.

Okay, it’s not technically an obstructed view, but by Ballpark E-Guides standards, it counts.

Medium Budget: Terrace Box and Lower Reserved are more affordable seating, but there are a couple things to be mindful of. Terrace Box can be a great deal for the money if your row is low enough, but in the higher rows the overhang blocks your view of the scoreboard and such, and part of the appeal of Camden Yards is the great views.

The lower level seating past the bases is noticeably cheaper than seating between the bases, but it’s still more expensive than the upper level, so if you like being behind home plate (as I do), you’ll probably prefer upper level seats.

The Orioles usually draw better than this. Well, okay, maybe they don’t. But the view is still very good here.

Cheap Seats: The upper level at Camden Yards is as good as any deal in baseball; they’re not as high as in many ballparks, and they offer a sweet view of the warehouse, skyline and city for your baseball backdrop. Interestingly, only the upper box (lower rows between the bases) cost more than the bleachers, and they’re significantly better seats IMHO.

As you get past the bases, though, especially in left field, upper level seats get less appealing…outer sections are farthest away and don’t have angled seats…although in right field there’s great people watching on Eutaw Street if the game bores you.

Proximity to Boog’s is never a bad thing.

The Eutaw Street Bleachers are among the cheapest seats in the ballpark, and usually feature loud fans of both teams on the field. They’re close to Boog’s BBQ and other Eutaw Street attractions, but there’s no view of the big scoreboard or the out-of-town scoreboard, which is a bummer. One plus is that they’re real seats, not benches like in many ballparks.

Prime home run territory, even since the departure of Esskay.

Standing Room: If you’re trying standing room at Camden Yards, behind the right field scoreboard is a popular location, but left field has some okay spots behind the bullpen too. You can watch pitchers warm up there and there’s a picnic area. The concourses aren’t open here, so unfortunately you can’t watch from behind home plate.

See the game the way the center field camera operator does!

If you’re a socializing sort, the Roof Deck above center field is a happening spot too. There’s a full bar (no view of the game there, however), and some seating with counters along the wall that is reserved these days. It’s a decent standing spot, but I don’t know if I’d pay the price for seats that far away.

It might be miserably hot and blinding, but it looks nice.

Finally, as far as shade, the sun sets on the third base side, so the bleachers and right field seats are the last to see shade on a summer day. Baltimore can get very hot in July and August especially; be prepared with water, shades, UV protection, all that noise.

That said, there aren’t many sights on the planet more beautiful than Oriole Park at sunset.

Featuring a helpful photo of the ballpark!

Camden Yards Guide, Part 3: Best Way(s) to Get to Oriole Park

There’s a few ways to get to Camden Yards; which one is best for you depends on where you’re coming from, and whether you’re a tightwad like me. We’ll cover as much as we can here.

Despite its location in the heart of downtown, Camden Yards is actually surprisingly easy to get to by car. Well, most of the time. It’s right off of I-95 and not far from I-83, and there is sufficient parking in most cases.

You’ll see these when you get close.

Coming from I-95 it’s simple; exit onto I-395, which becomes Cal Ripken Way heading to the ballpark. It’s a little tricky getting to the Orioles lots and neighboring lots at the Ravens’ stadium (lots you should probably use from this direction); just after getting on I-395, get off at MLK Boulevard and use the ramp towards Lee Street; there’s plenty of parking there.

I-83 is best coming from north and west of the ballpark, but traffic can get very heavy heading downtown at rush hour, especially on Friday nights when the Inner Harbor becomes a destination. You might want to exit a few stops before the end of the highway; on Friday I might consider the Light Rail instead, which follows basically the same path.

You basically can’t miss at this point.

There’s plenty of parking lots and garages in the ballpark area, and the Orioles offer helpful links with directions to get to each one on their site. In addition to the Orioles-owned lots, there’s a bunch of garages north and east of the ballpark a short walk away, and in some of these you can find a really good deal, especially if you’d like to enjoy the Inner Harbor before a game. The Orioles’ lots don’t open until an hour before the ballpark gates do, so you’ll need to use a garage to enjoy other stuff in the area.

A great spot to visit Camden Yards and/or the Inner Harbor.

So now for my most important tip for Oriole Park at Camden Yards parking: book your space ahead of time. You can save yourself some money and a LOT of time, putting a pre-paid address in your maps app.

Seriously, definitely do this…I speak from some highly annoying experience of looking for an affordable parking garage in the agonizingly slow traffic of downtown Baltimore.

The Orioles offer pre-paid passes as well, and I would definitely go for lots B or C if you can (plan ahead), since for the price and proximity it’s a great deal. There’s also ample parking at the Ravens’ stadium that is affordable, especially south of the stadium, although this can be a bit of a hike from the ballpark.

The Inner Harbor area east of the warehouse is heavily traveled and parking is more expensive in that direction, and west and further north of the ballpark can be a less neighborly area, so avoid them if you can.

I highly recommend you check this view out for yourself.

There are a few lots on Eutaw Street, most prominently the Marriott or Redwood Street lots. Walking south from a Eutaw Street lot offers arguably the best incoming view of a ballpark you’ve seen. You’ll also pass by some outside vendors with cheap grub coming from this direction…more about that in the food section.

You might find street parking where you could feed the meter cheaply until 6:00 PM, and there is a Horseshoe casino about a 15-minute walk away where I believe parking is free, but this being Baltimore, it’s not something I would do especially for a night game. Better to just book something ahead of time fairly close to the ballpark. Parking isn’t super expensive here.

Whoops…forgot they play football here too.

One last thing about driving to Camden Yards by car: if something is going on at M&T Bank Stadium or the Royal Farms Arena on game day, get to your pre-paid spot VERY early, or use the soon to be discussed Light Rail. I speak from hard experience on that too.

Don’t want to drive? Baltimore’s got your back.

OK, about this Light Rail. The MTA Light Rail Line has only one route that travels north and west along the I-83 path, but it’s got a lot going for it. The Light Rail is cheap to ride, parking is free at many of the stations, and it drops you off literally at the ballpark.

There’s even a couple of stations a short walking distance away, which you can use after the game for a better chance of having a seat on the train. Try getting on at the Convention Center if you’re heading south or the Hamburg Station if you’re going north.

No, there’s no one hiding in the machine, although that would be pretty cool.

The Light Rail can get crowded on game days especially after the game, and locals refer to it as the “White Snail”, which should give you an idea how long it can take to trudge through red lights in Baltimore at street level. Still, most people consider Light Rail to Camden Yards worthwhile and once you get to wherever you parked, you won’t be dealing with traffic hassles…which can be significant here, especially north of the ballpark.

No, I’m not washing D.C.

There is also a MARC train station right there at the ballpark; the MARC’s Camden Line starts there and goes all the way to Union Station in D.C. Unfortunately this is a commuter train and is only good for weekday games, but if you can use it it’s a great deal coming from D.C.

Baltimore also offers a free-of-charge Charm City Circulator bus that goes to popular destinations…including the Penn Station and Amtrak trains…but these buses get very crowded and you probably won’t be sitting. You can also use Light Rail to get to and from Penn Station, and it’s probably worth the few bucks by comparison.

Get here early to grab a prime spot!

The Orioles have a bunch of bicycle parking; there are bike racks near the Babe Ruth statue off of Howard Street, and there are also corrals near the east side warehouse entrance of Dempsey’s. There isn’t a bicycle share program as I write this, though, and I don’t know if I’d ride through parts of town.

The O’s list Pratt Street between Eutaw and Greene Street north of the ballpark as their Uber pick up location…personally I don’t know if I would use a rideshare, since that spot is in the heart of Baltimore and again, traffic is very slow there. It would be expensive with the meter running.

Ah, there it is! Just need to look through the trees.

So to sum this up, if you’re coming from I-95, driving and parking is generally easy enough, but definitely book your parking beforehand, and check to see if other events are happening in nearby venues. The Light Rail is also a viable and inexpensive option, and I prefer it to driving in on I-83 and dealing with downtown traffic. Either way works fine; just plan ahead.

Never Drive To Camden Yards Without A Plan…

Book A Great Parking Spot NOW With My Friends at SpotHero!

Plus you get to meet Boog and all that.

Camden Yards Guide, Part 4: What To Eat at Camden Yards

Like most ballparks these days, Oriole Park at Camden Yards food offers several local favorites…which here means crabs just like Philly means cheesesteaks.

Since some things have changed since I first published this, I’ve dedicated a separate page to some of the best food choices at Camden Yards. You can read that here, but I’ll cover some other things you should know.

Named for the World Series MVP…oh wait…

Sadly, Dempsey’s is no longer a fixture on Eutaw Street. It’s been replaced by the Superbook restaurant.

Inside the atmosphere hasn’t changed much; it’s an air conditioned sit down meal spot that features a lounge with big TVs and odds boards for people who are into betting on baseball (insert Pete Rose joke here). The menu includes what Levy Restaurants calls “elevated gameday fare“, like tater tot nachos, crab dip pretzel rolls, burgers, sandwiches, and craft brews among other things.

Superbook’s prices are about what you’d expect at a ballpark restaurant; but it’s popular for the food and craft beers and TVs, and you should get here as early as you can if you want to try it. Lines get very long, especially on high attendance nights.

Sometimes, a dog or two is all you need.

The Orioles offer an all you can eat deal with club access, that includes all the dogs, popcorn, peanuts and even salads that you can handle. The seats aren’t great, but it’s a great deal considering that you can duck out of the Baltimore heat.

Another cheap deal the Orioles offer is the $4.10 stand, so named for the Baltimore area code. This stand features inexpensive items like hot dogs and popcorn and peanuts. Good for saving money with the kids, and they won’t care about the size. You can always get more.

Good thing the Ampersands don’t play baseball in Baltimore.

Around the rest of the concourses you can find a few other decent food items…chicken tenders at the Charm City Chicken Shack, Buffalo tenders at the Hot Corner, and of course, O-shaped soft pretzels.

For healthier and vegan/vegetarian choices, there’s the Birdland Market on Eutaw Street, and a Birdland Fresh stand near home plate, with turkey burgers, Impossible burgers, vegan hot dogs and Beyond sausages. And Greek salads.

Again, for the best choices of food at Oriole Park, read this post. (It’s worth the time, trust me!)

This is what baseball food should cost.

Finally (whew!) you can bring your own food into Camden Yards;unfortunately they’ve gotten more restrictive with their policy. You’re allowed a clear plastic bag no larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″, so you can’t squeeze as much grub as you could in the past.

That said, this is a great ballpark to fill up a goody bag beforehand; there are vendors surrounding the ballpark selling hot dogs, sausages, peanuts, even crab cake sandwiches if you search. That kind of stuff makes baseball great.

My favorite spot for cheap eats is across the street from the left field entrance, where you can find Pickles Pub and Sliders; they set up grills and offer everything from dogs to peanuts much cheaper than in the ballpark. You can also have a couple of inexpensive Natty Bohs there before the game…all part of the Baltimore baseball experience.

And O’s employees even come out on cold days.

Camden Yards Guide, Part 5: Bringing the Kids to Oriole Park

If you’re visiting Camden Yards with kids, you have some advantages – cheap tickets, for one, with the O’s struggling at the gate even in winning times. And plenty of inexpensive parking and outside food vendors.

Here are three things parents should know when bringing the kids to Oriole Park…

I only wish it was free from ’72 through ’79 when I was a kid.

Camden Yards With Kids, Tip #1) Bring The Kids For Free! Yes, you read that right…for each upper level ticket you buy as an adult, you can order two more tickets for kids nine and under absolutely free of charge. This includes every game except Opening Day…including “Kids Opening Day”, which is sometime in April.

Not while the game is going, of course.

Camden Yards With Kids, Tip #2) Go on Sunday. On Sundays the Orioles offer cool activities for the kids, like face painting and autographs. And kids love to run the bases after the game…but get in line early if you can, because it’s a very popular promotion. There are a LOT of kids in the play area on Sundays, but it helps them burn up energy.

And if the kids are into play areas at the ballpark…and they always are…

Because noting gets a little one into Orioles baseball like a birdhouse play gym.

Camden Yards With Kids, Tip #3) Sit In The Right Field Corner. The kids play area at Camden Yards with the moon bounce, pitching and batting cages…and now a “Bird House”, a treehouse-shaped gym…keeps them occupied for a while. It’s at the south end of Eutaw Street, near Gate H. The Bird House is in the shade, while the moon bounce and other activities are in the sun, so you can imagine which is more popular.

They have food stands with smaller portions and prices for the kid in the Kids’ Corner, but you can find the kids’ portions anywhere in the ballpark now.

Watch the kids race up the steps…and then back down the ladder!

One more thing…don’t forget the little one’s “first game” certificate, which you can pick up at Guest Services on Eutaw Street. The Orioles can also tag your kid here for you so that the little one doesn’t get lost.

Family restrooms all have diaper changing tables. You can check in strollers at the Guest Services locations, and the Orioles will let nursing moms use a private room on the Club level.

The one ballpark that was built exactly right.

Camden Yards Guide, Part 6: Photo-Ops and Other Tips

As you probably know, Camden Yards started it all…the modern sports venue boom that is arguably out of control these days. Here are a few of my favorite photo-ops at the classic and beautiful downtown Baltimore ballpark:

The Warehouse, the Bromo Seltzer tower, Eutaw Street, capture it all in one shot.

Camden Yards Photo-Op #1) Eutaw Street From Above. If you go to the upper level and stand at the end in the right field corner, you can capture the amazing shot you see here, and see happy baseball fans walking in wonderment along Eutaw Street next to the warehouse.

The Gold Glove is so obvious, but I still love it.

Camden Yards Photo-Op #2) Player Statues. It’s difficult to imagine it even for thirty-somethings these days, but the Orioles were indeed once a very good team. There’s Eddie Murray, Jim Palmer, Frank Robinson, Earl Weaver and of course, Cal Ripken Jr.

You have to go outside the ballpark to see Brooks Robinson and his Gold Glove along West Paca Street, but it’s worth it.

Imagine a time when antacids were a popular enough commodity that they could put their name on a city building.

Camden Yards Photo-Op #3) The Bromo-Seltzer Tower. The view of the vintage Baltimore tower is blocked by the large Hilton these days from much of the seating, which a lot of fans complain about, but you can still capture it from the right spot.

The most durable player in baseball history.

Camden Yards Photo-Op #4) Retired Number Statues. There are large numbers in the plaza at the north Eutaw Street entrance, and if you’re an older O’s fan you can tell people whose numbers they were. Incidentally, there’s a statue of native Baltimorean Babe Ruth here as well.

All is good and right with the world.

Camden Yards Photo-Op #5) The Warehouse at Sunset. Few things I have witnessed are more striking that seeing the sun shine on the huge warehouse in the early evening. Don’t miss that.

That’s just a few, but you’ll probably break your camera out a lot here.

Finally, just a few more Camden Yards tips…but they’re pretty important ones.

Baltimore weather reaches all the extremes, and it can be brutally hot in July and August here. If you’re sitting in the upper level on a hot day, you might find yourself moving to an upper row just to be in the shade of the roof. Shoot for the third base side for a hot night game, where the shade comes in earlier.

They have the same stuff one gate over!

Giveaway nights are popular at Oriole Park, and people arrive early for their swag. If you want the free stuff, enter the ballpark at Gate G, a short walk from Gate A on Eutaw Street (the Light Rail gate)…it will be far less crowded.

If you take a walk on Eutaw Street (and you should), look down: you’ll see small baseball-shaped plaques in the cement where home run balls have landed.

The other reason to visit Baltimore.

The Inner Harbor two blocks west, with its museums, views, restaurants and shopping, is worth a visit. Don’t venture too far from the Inner Harbor or ballpark area though. There are less than ideal parts of downtown just a few blocks north and west, like the strip club littered East Baltimore Street, and it’s not a place you’ll want to be at night.

Baltimore fans are more polite than most to opposing fans, although this may be a by-product of being frequently outnumbered by them. For the most part, Orioles games are a pleasant environment for visiting fans. But if you’re coming from Boston or New York, don’t call the ballpark “Yankee Stadium South” or “Fenway South”, lest you bring bad karma on your team.

You’re most welcome!

Get all that? Seriously, I hope this Camden Yards guide has been helpful to you, and that you can use the tips to save money and have a blast at your next Orioles game. Feel free to contact me with any questions, and if you’re adding a Nationals game to your baseball trip, I’ve written a helpful guide for that place too.

Thanks for reading this complete Oriole Park at Camden Yards guide, and for supporting our sponsors!

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On June 23, 1979, at the age of 11, I experienced what is still today my most memorable night at a ballpark. It was a time when teams still held two games in a day for the price of one on occasion, and a time when the Orioles drew just over a million fans in [...]

Here it is baseball fans, your complete and extremely helpful Progressive Field guide! Your favorite ballpark expert is here to help you save money on Guardians tickets, choose the best seats for your taste and budget, learn the best ways to get to Progressive Field (including great parking options), and choose from the truly amazing menu of Guardians game food. It’s all here, and you’ll be a much smarter fan armed with these tips.

There’s a lot to review here, so I’ve broken it down for you:

Finding Cheap Guardians Tickets
Choosing A Great Seat
Best Ways To Get To Progressive Field
What To Eat At Progressive Field
Progressive Field With Kids
Photo-Ops + Other Tips

I’ll help you get around the place. The food’s really good.

Okay, we’re mostly done with the key phrases to make Google happy (well, almost done: Progressive Field Tips!) so after this quick word from our sponsor, we’ll get started.

Gametime has your cheap Guardians tickets…with a lowest price guarantee, panoramic seat view photos, and great last minute deals…even after the game starts!

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You didn’t get tickets yet? OK, we need to back up a bit.

Progressive Field Guide, Part 1) Scoring Cheap Guardians Tickets

Your first task going to a Guardians game is to order tickets of course, so I’ll talk about each method and its advantages. Pay attention here…this can save you a lot of money.

The first and most expeditious route is to use the Guardians’ website or the MLB Ballpark app to buy tickets from the team; the first thing you should do is sign up for the Guardians’ ticket alert newsletter. The newsletter will alert you to pre-sales, giveaway nights, discounts, and other worthwhile deals. Sometimes they do cool stuff like waiving ticket fees.

Just in case you happened to have brought a few bucks.

The Guardians use “dynamic pricing”, meaning ticket prices go up and down according to demand, but they claim that tickets are cheapest when they first go on sale. If you’re looking to go to a high demand game such as Opening Day or a weekend game against the Yankees or Cubs, it’s best to get tickets as soon as they go on sale, since there will likely be a markup on these later.

If all you want is to visit the ballpark, the lowest demand games are easily in April (you’ll see why), but if you’re coming in the summer, try to get a weekday game if you can. Choice of opponent doesn’t matter too much, but the Cubs draw pretty big crowds so plan ahead for that.

Four windows open? Must be April.

If you don’t want to pay the online fees, which are considerable, you can get tickets at the box office at the ballpark; you can also pick up tickets at the team store if you want to avoid lines. There are ticket kiosks at the ballpark, but they do charge convenience fees for using them.

On non-game days the box office is only open from 10:00-2:00 on weekdays, and it’s closed on weekends, so you need to time it to save on the fees. They also charge a small day-of-game fee too, but it’s not as much as the convenience fee.

In case you didn’t bring your smartphone.

Then there’s the third party route, which can save you significant cash if you plan it right. The lower the demand for the game, the cheaper tickets will be, especially since the Guardians offer a lot of multi-game deals that leave people with extras. Closer to game time on a mid-week April game, you could find a steal on good seats.

I love Gametime for Guardians tickets, but if you’re comparing, just be sure to go all the way to the checkout page to see what your tickets really cost. Those fees are a b***. Generally, Gametime seems to offer better deals than most, just saying.

Remember that for high demand games, it’s usually cheaper to buy from the team when tickets go on sale; but if you haven’t planned ahead, try waiting till the last minute when prices can drop. Just don’t wait too long; typically sites shut down sales around two hours before the game.

If they don’t know the name of the team, that’s probably a red flag.

The Guardians prohibit re-sale of tickets at any price, but of course you will see scalpers and people with extras on occasion, especially on the E. 9th Street and Ontario Street sides of the ballpark where most people enter.

I’m not sure if it’s just that I’ve gone on low attendance nights, but I don’t recall being pursued by brokers too much in my visits to Cleveland. Maybe it’s my “I’ve already got tickets” look.

Finally, I’ve written more about buying tickets on Craigslist here…but the short version is that while you might score a great deal on tickets, there’s no checks in place, so treat a Craigslist seller like you would a scalper. Check the date and opponent on the ticket and look for smudge marks or uneven scissor cuts. If your gut tells you not to buy the tickets, don’t.

There are many thousands. You should be able to find a good one.

Progressive Field Guide, Part 2: The Best Seats You Can Afford

OK, so you’ve found a route to get Guardians tickets; so choose your seats carefully.

I’ll talk about seats for every budget level here and what you should know. I’m skipping the suites, including the Dugout Suites, since they’re mostly for corporate types, but here’s the skinny for the rest of us. (If you really want to get in depth, check out this much more detailed post…)

If you pay enough for your seat, you won’t have to sit in it.

Money Is No Object Budget. The Guardians’ premium-priced seating includes the Diamond Box seats and the Field Box Front seats behind home plate; the Field Box Front seats are slightly more expensive than the Field Box seats behind them.

Field and Diamond Box season ticket holders have access to the swanky Lexus Home Plate Club; an indoor club with a full bar, some of the great new food items (more about that in a bit), and a glass enclosure to view the game.

Don’t let the empty seats fool you, they’re good seats too.

That big mezzanine section that juts out on the first base side is the Club section, with padded seats, drink rails, and access to the Discount Drug Mart Club, which is climate-controlled…no small thing here. Club seats include food from multiple stations, including build your own burgers, a meat carving station, nachos, pizza, etc.

Food and non-alcoholic drinks are all included with your ticket, and the seats offer a terrific view of the field and the Big Board. These seats come in three price ranges, and you can definitely save a few bucks with the “outfield” club seats without sacrificing much in view.

Just sit somewhere on this side. Not under that overhang.

Large Budget. If you care at least a little bit about what you’re spending, you can sit in the back rows of sections between the dugouts, or in closer seats past the bases and out to the foul pole. They’re still very good seats, but don’t include Club access.

If you’re sitting in the lower level, I prefer the first base side for its straight ahead view of the left field scoreboard, one of the most striking features of this ballpark, and the Cleveland skyline beyond it. However, you need to get a low row…with the Club section creating a big overhang, anything from Row AA up could lose the view.

You can even sit in front of the bullpens and let pitchers heckle you!

Medium Budget. The Guardians don’t start calling lower level seats “Lower Reserved” until you get into right field. These seats are about half the price of Field Box seating, and they do have some advantages despite being outfield seats…for one, they’re close to the Right Field District, and some amazing food offerings, and Section 103 is close to the bullpens; watching pitchers warm up and offering encouragement is always fun.

Stay warm in the lower seats!

The upper level seats at the Prog are divided into three price levels, four if you count the “front row” increase…View + Upper Box (400), and Upper Reserved (500). With the open concourses and suite levels, the upper tier is pretty high up, which is likely why these seats are cheaper than most lower level seating. It can also be cooler up here, so bring a jacket for the cooler nights.

Despite the height, I’ve sat on the first base side in the upper level a number of times and have always enjoyed it…the view of the scoreboard and skyline are superb, even if you’re not very close to the action. Not bad at all for inexpensive seats.

There is a secret escalator to get to the mezzanine, in case you don’t want someone to find you.

Cheap Seats and Standing Room. If you’re going as cheap as possible or want to bring the family without breaking the Venmo account, there’s several ways to do it.

The Family Deck is a similar level of seating to the Club area, but it’s in right field and doesn’t offer Club access. It’s great for families though…tickets are cheap and there’s a great indoor-outdoor play area that I’ll talk about in a bit. If you choose this spot, use the escalator in the right field concourse, and bring sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat.

“Too high? What does that mean, too high?”

The bleachers in front of the scoreboard are among the cheapest of Guardians tickets, but the team actually sells season tickets to this spot, so it’s popular among fans. The bleacher seats have backs, so they’re more comfortable than at Wrigley, but I would still bring a cushion to sit here. The closer rows cost more than the back rows, so shoot for Row L if you’re going cheap.

Unfortunately, John Adams, the team’s drummer, has passed away. RIP John.

Underway at the Corner of Carnegie and Ontario.

More so than most teams these days, the Guardians offer some really sweet standing room options, and they sell a District Ticket that includes a beer for a very nice price. Both outfield corners feature standing spots with counters, and there’s a good spot behind the bullpens too if you’re into heckling.

In the right field corner is the two-level Corner Bar, a nice spot to duck out of the cold even if drinks are pricey. Visit the very cool fire pit upstairs to warm up; it’s a pretty happening spot on cold nights. (I’ve even almost had conversations with women there!)

Cleveland’s got you covered if you like some haze with your baseball.

Finally and probably most importantly, the first base and right field sides are the last to see shade for night games, something to be mindful of on a hot day…or a cold one.

See Guardians baseball, with both right and left handed hitters!

Progressive Field Guide, Part 3: The Best Way(s) To Get To Progressive Field

It’s easy enough to take your car to the Prog for a game, and you can usually find a good spot for parking. (More about your best Guardians game parking options here.) But there’s public transit options and shuttles too, and we’ll talk about all of that.

But first, driving to the ballpark and parking. Progressive Field is easily accessed by I-90/I-71 from the southeast and I-77 from the southwest, but the ballpark exits lead to streets you probably want to avoid if you can, if you’re getting there an hour or less before game time.

Hopefully you’ve programmed your GPS for a parking spot…you can’t park here.

To avoid traffic, try using exits that approach the ballpark from the north or west, like the E. 14th Street exit from I-77 or the E. 22nd Street exit from I-90/I-71. The Shoreway (OH Route 2 from I-90 east of the ballpark and U.S. 6/20 west of the park) is sometimes an easier approach. It might be easier to exit going north and using I-90 to get to I-77 or I-71.

Note the presence of an arena just inches away on the map.

Remember that the Cavaliers play here too. If there is a Cavs game or other event going on in the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse that night (and you should check), either get to the ballpark very early or use the soon-to-be-discussed RTA.

I’ll talk about some popular parking spots here, but my #1 tip for Guardians game parking is to book it ahead of time.

Here are some parking tips, after a highly applicable word from our sponsor:

Never drive to Progressive Field without a plan…

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The bridge to the ballpark is gone, but the parking lot is in the same spot. Much harder to move a garage.

The Gateway East Garage is the closest thing to an “official” garage; it’s right across the street and fairly reasonable by near the ballpark standards. Definitely reserve this one beforehand, though.

$20 parking, but no parking anytime! Hmmm…

The East 9th Street lots east of the ballpark are right off of I-77 and allow for a pretty easy exit, but you’ll pay more for the privilege. You can usually find cheaper lots if you go north a couple blocks.

If you can handle the goofy ramps, it’s not a bad deal.

The Tower City Garage is a bit of a walk and not any cheaper, but the walk is mostly through an indoor covered walkway until you get to the Cavs arena. Not bad on cold nights, and an easier out after the game.

There are plenty of other choices for parking, just consider where you’ll be coming from, and book something ahead of time!

Might not be worth saving a few bucks.

Be warned that as you get north and west of the ballpark in the Prospect/Bolivar/E. 14th St. area, it’s a less safe part of downtown, and you’ll see signs like the one above. If cheap matters to you more than convenience, try going east of the ballpark on Carnegie Avenue.

If you’d like to beat the man and park for free at Progressive Field, there are some streets where meters are inactive on weekends, like Carnegie Avenue east of the ballpark. You’ll need good timing to land one though. Or you could try the numbered streets north of the ballpark; many spots are free after 6:00 PM and weekends; you can feed the meter cheaply if needed.

The city is tougher on street parking for high demand games, so I would avoid trying it then. Like I always say, street parking is at your own risk.

Worth getting up early for on game day.

Finally, here’s my favorite parking tip for Guardians games, if you can pull it off: if you’re making a day of visiting Cleveland (and there are plenty of reasons to), find a lot that offers an “early bird” special…there are a few around the Euclid-Prospect-Huron St. area.

Park your car for $5 for the day, visit the Science Center or Rock and Roll Hall, and easily get back to your car and to your cheap spot after the game. Just be sure they’ll let you stay through the game, some lots might kick cars out before gametime.

Stand here long enough and some sort of transit will take you back to your car.

RTA transit trains are also a perfectly easy way to get to a Guardians game, if you can reach a station easily enough. Parking is free at most stations, the train ride is cheap and comfortable by big city public transit standards, and the train drops you off at Tower City, a ten minute walk to the ballpark. Most of the walk is through a covered walkway.

Clearly labeled to avoid confusion with an “ambleway”.

Some things to know about using the RTA: for one, you pay your fee downtown, getting on or off. Also, if demand isn’t great, which is often, the RTA will sometimes substitute buses for trains to get to the outskirts of the Blue or Green lines.

The RTA is especially useful for high demand midweek games, or when the Cavs are playing and traffic gets heavy. Enough fans ride the RTA that you can follow them back to the station after the game, but you shouldn’t have a problem finding a seat.

No time like the present!

The RTA has some other options you can use for getting to games, like their eco-friendly Healthline buses and the free downtown trolleys that run during the day on weekdays.

I can’t think of an advantage of using the Healthline unless you’d like to enjoy some nightlife on E. 4th Street after the game and need a bus that runs all night. Similarly, there are only a small handful of weekday games, but if you can park for free near a trolley station it’s a nice deal. Try it if you’re going to Opening Day.

Without the logo, you’d almost feel like a secret agent.

You can also use a shuttle to get to the Guardians game. The Flat Iron Café is located on Center Street near U.S. 6/20; there is a very inexpensive lot nearby but you shouldn’t have a problem finding free street parking there, especially after 6:00 PM and on weekends.

At the Flatty, you can enjoy a less expensive Irish pub meal and couple of brews, get a free ride to the game and back, and enjoy an easy exit afterward. I don’t know if I’d say it’s a well-kept secret, but everyone I talked to in my visit to the place loves this option.

I like the picture so I’m including it.

The Great Lakes Brewery used to run their Fatty Wagon to game and back from its location near the West Side Market, but as I write this it isn’t in service. This may change, so it doesn’t hurt to check if you like a quality burger and brew and a ride to the game.

Cleveland’s got a lot of people on it when it comes to bicycling in the city.

Finally, you have some bicycle riding options, believe it or not. There is a “Bike Rack” facility a short walk from the ballpark where you can use the outside racks for free or pay a small fee to secure your bicycle inside. They have showers and everything.

That said, the Prog is in an area heavily trafficked by cars. The Bike Rack people describe it as being for “intermediate” or “experienced” cyclists. It’s pretty heavy traffic around here, and bicycling isn’t something I’d recommend doing with your kid if they’ve just shed the training wheels.

This picture is what I call an “attention getter”. Now let’s talk some Cleveland ballgame grub.

Progressive Field Guide, Part 4: What To Eat At A Guardians Game

Progressive Field has so many fantastic food options that I’ve dedicating a separate post just to the best of the Progressive Field menu. But if you don’t want to go through all of that, I’ll list some of my favorite choices here…including an important bit about Ballpark Mustard.

So first, sit down restaurants.

Fine dining and bar service with a view of the outside world. And nachos.

I’ve already discussed the Club Lounge in the seating section, and it’s a great deal if you have the means. The Club Lounge offers chef-prepared stuff, including from Asian, pasta, and carving stations, and they’ll sometimes offer regional stuff based on who’s in town. (I was there for a game against the Mariners where they had Space Needle Grilled Beef. Sounded good anyway.)

At least no one screams “Down in front!”

There’s also the Terrace Club, on the mezzanine level in the left field corner. It’s a meal with a great view of a ballpark, although the view of the actual action isn’t great. You can order pre-game or during the game reservations, but with pre-game seating you’re only allowed there for 90 minutes.

Still, the Terrace Club is definitely a cool experience, and the Indians have high-end buffets available for an amount of money that you could spend on inferior food around the ballpark. Aside from the buffet there is a high end if somewhat pricey menu with food that by most accounts is very good.

Outside of the restaurants the team has created several “Districts” that showcase some of the iconic eats in Cleveland. I’ll briefly cover the selections here; lots more detail on my Progressive Field food page (coming soon!).

In the Right Field District:

This sandwich barely stayed intact long enough for this photo.

Melt Bar & Grilled has a variety of grilled cheese sandwiches made with Texas Toast; try the chorizo and potato or the mushroom sandwich with grilled onions…that might be the best vegetarian meal I’ve had at a game.

This might have been the best thing I’ve eaten at a ballpark.

Barrio allows you to build your own tacos, or at least suggest to the person behind the counter what to do. Their tacos get high marks but I can tell you their nacho plate is truly awesome. Very salty chips though.

I remember the dark days of only Budweiser available at ballgames. You kids have no clue how good you have it today!

The Great Lakes Brewery is known for their craft beers (as they should be), but they have some cool food offerings too, like brats covered with onions, peppers and Ballpark Mustard.

Enough said.

Cleveland Dogs & Shakes isn’t based on a local eatery, but if you like extra stuff piled on your hot dog, this is the spot; ten inch dogs covered with things like pierogies, bacon, banana peppers or other stuff. Get your dog on a pretzel bun here.

Just getting warmed up here…

In The Infield + Left Field Districts:

Just this description has me planning a trip to Cleveland.

The Brew Kettle is mostly about their craft beers, but they also carry the Wisconsin Brat Burger: a spicy pork burger with Swiss cheese and their homemade kraut relish on a pretzel bun.

Not sure how people are walking by, although it could be the nachos.

If you’re into high end pizza, Dante’s Inferno is a creation of chef Dante Boccuzzi, and at the Prog you can get a hand crafted pizza with spaghetti and meatballs on it, or the spicy Inferno pizza with sausage, pepperoni, olives and hot peppers.

Because great ballpark food goes best with craft beer.

At the appropriately named Fat Head’s Brewery, get your big appetite on with their “Headwiches”…sandwiches the size of your head (almost). Try the Fat Italian or the Southside Slopes – a kielbasa with pierogies, American cheese, grilled onions and horseradish sauce

Get froot loops on your hot dog. Only in Cleveland.

Happy Dog might be my favorite of the fancy food eateries at the Prog…for no other reason than they’re the first outfit I could think of to put Froot Loops on a hot dog. True. They have lost of other unusual options for baseball’s classic food here, so check it out.

Not done yet! The Prog is a great place to get your Mexican food fix on, even if I wouldn’t argue that Barrio is more than good enough for the task:

Now that’s some nachos!

Momocho has nachos and quesadillas; with made to order chips and homemade guac and salsa. Top your chips with chicken, pulled pork or sausage. It’s a great plate of nachos, although I still slightly prefer Barrio’s.

They even made a bigger tray for the street corn. Ohio City Burrito don’t play!

Ohio City Burrito is your destination for baseball’s most underrated food, the burrito. They fill your burritos with beef, pulled pork or chicken and the standard fillings, roll them with outstanding accuracy, and serve them with homemade salsa.

You’d be amazed at how difficult it is to get a charred dog at a ballpark. But not in Cleveland.

As you can see, pardon my French, but the Prog offers a kick ass menu with your baseball, and that’s not including the generic stands that sell very large hot dogs. I’ll just mention a few other things here:

In my last visit there was a Charred Dogs stand; I think it’s behind home plate. If you want your hot dogs blackened on an open fire grill, check this spot out.

At many ballparks, footlong dogs are just stretched. The Guardians, on the other hand, care about their fans.

Speaking of those hot dogs, they’re still made by Sugardale; and at the also aptly named Sausages & Dogs stands, you can get the really hefty half pounders. These are like the footlongs you find at a lot of ballparks, only thicker…and with peppers, onions, and Ballpark Mustard piled on, it can be a great value by ballpark standards.

I don’t know why I don’t just get one of these. I’d use it.

OK, so let me talk about the Bertman’s Mustard briefly. Joe Bertman’s spicy brown mustard served at Guardians games has been part of Cleveland since the 1920s; Bertman’s takes pride in not watering down their Dijon-style mustard and using the vinegar, and you can definitely taste the difference.

Some folks, myself included, have picked up “Stadium Mustard” in Cleveland area markets thinking it was the same thing, and it’s not…it’s a very similar version that I’ve read was created by a former associate of Bertman’s. They’re very similar, but Bertman’s is the real thing if you’re interested in ordering some…and it’s definitely the best mustard I’ve tried in a ballpark.

If you’ve ever witnessed an inane Twitter argument, you might like this…someone who refused to identify himself emailed me about this and angrily accused me of spreading “mustard propaganda”, and who knows, he might be right, even if I laughed MAO at the accusation.

If you happen to be in the West Side Market, pick me up a bag. I’m good for it.

I’m just glossing over the impressive food selection at Progressive Field, but just one more note. You can bring your own food into the ballpark. The Guardians allow a 16*16*8 bag, and they don’t specifically prohibit food, although they do say you can bring in one sealed bottle of water.

You can add some eats to your bag at several shops in Tower City if you’re using the RTA, and there are peanut vendors across E. 9th Street from the ballpark, and Aladdin’s Bakery on Carnegie Avenue has gyros and halal sandwiches. You get the idea.

I got my certificate!!

Progressive Field Guide, Part 5: Bringing The Kids

Few ballparks are as kid-friendly as Progressive Field these days. They’ve added the Kids Clubhouse on the mezzanine level, and this has become a two-story interactive play area with a big slide and everything, and parents can watch the game while kids play. As I’ve said, the Family Deck is a good spot for families, but definitely bring sunscreen.

This pitcher’s pretty good. Nothing hit out of the infield yet.

Also on the mezzanine level, the Rookie Suite and Slugger’s Sandlot are playgrounds for kids of varying ages, including a “Little League Park” wiffle ball field (with a short porch for your young slugger), a climbing wall, video games and batting cages among other fun stuff. You need to sign a waiver for the kids. They’ve even included a nursing room in case Time Magazine’s cover girl shows up.

Is it me or does this mascot not exactly strike fear in opponents?

Most of the play area is in the outfield near the secret escalator (it’s behind the right field seats), with interactive baseball games and a mock-up of Slider, the team mascot, sitting on a bench (sometimes the real Slider or hot dog mascots will make an appearance). This is a very popular place for families (it’s air-conditioned in spots), so be prepared.

The Guardians offer discounted tickets for kids with the purchase of an adult ticket, and the Guardians have a fan club for kids that includes some cool Guardians swag, discounts on gear, and exclusive experiences for a price that makes it worth it.

The cool part is high-fiving a third base coach.

Sundays are Kids Days, with animals or other attractions in the plaza on Eagle Avenue; kids can actually interview players and are allowed to run the bases after the game. The run the bases promotion is very popular, so you may want to bring the kid to the first base side early. They also set up a Kids Play area with bounce houses and such on Kids Days.

Hey, I get excited about Sugardale too.

The Indians run Sugardale Hot Dog Races after the fifth inning of each game. The hot dogs are Guardians employees disguised as franks covered with various condiments. Ketchup wins a lot of races, but is known to cheat. When not racing, the Sugardale dogs will greet fans in the concourse areas.

At Guest Services you can put a tag on your kid with the seat location, and get them a first game certificate they’ll file away forever.

I haven’t been there since they changed the team name, but I’m sure the scoreboard is just as impressive.

Progressive Field Guide, Part 6: Photo-Ops + Other Tips

OK, we’re almost done…thanks for sticking with me this far! Just a few things…starting with a few of my favorite photo-ops here:

Hitters hated facing him almost as much as the Japanese did.

Progressive Field Photo-Op #1) Player Statues. You can find statues of Indians greats Bob Feller, Jim Thome, Larry Doby and Lou Boudreau outside the ballpark in their classic poses, including Feller’s high leg kick windup. Good meeting spot for fans too.

Cleveland has some cool baseball history. Not just the movie “Major League”. Although that counts.

Progressive Field Photo-Op #2) Heritage Park. The Heritage Park area in the outfield commemorates Cleveland baseball greatness, including a statue of Frank Robinson and a dedication to Ray Chapman, an Indian who died from being hit by a pitched baseball. It’s worth a look for baseball history buffs; get there early to avoid the crowds.

Smart move to add a skyline view to a ballpark. Probably have the Orioles to thank for that.

Progressive Field Photo-Op #3) The Big Board + Skyline. I’ve said earlier that the view of the huge scoreboard and Cleveland skyline is worth sitting on the first base side of the field; its especially impressive from the upper level. I haven’t been there since the team’s name change, so this is the latest edition I have of the view.

Wide highways, as far as the eye can see…the vision of Ohio is indeed a grand one!

Progressive Field Photo-Op #4) The Upper Concourse View. Even if you’re not sitting in the upper level, take an escalator up and have a look at the surrounding area from the upper concourse. It’s pretty boffo, especially at sunset.

Chicks dig the blog!

Progressive Field Photo-Op #5) Hot Dog Race Mascots. Before the game you can usually find the hot dog mascots that will be running in the race, and they’re happy to pose with fans as shown with this lanky goofball.

Progressive Field is a beautiful ballpark…there’s a lot of great spots to point your camera.

The obviously not so secret escalator, but secret enough.

Getting around the ballpark, it’s a long way to the top (if you wanna rock ‘n’ roll) of the Prog, so there are several escalators to use; the impressive main escalator is near the team shop on the first base side; the other is the previously alluded to “secret” way to get to the mezzanine in right field. Escalators go up only, but you can use an elevator at Section 559 to get down.

Gate A is the most popular entrance, being near the box office, play areas, and home run porch. If you want to avoid long lines at the gate, you’re better off with Gate D near Broadway Avenue. Or use the redesigned Right Field Gate, with the impressive statue of Bob Feller. This gate is the first to open; for the first hour or so fans are confined to the outfield, but with the food selection there that’s all good.

Don’t mention it. The menu was worth it.

Whew! No idea there was so much to know, right? Anyway, I hope you’ve enjoyed this Progressive Field guide and that the tips I’ve shared here help you save money, time, and aggravation, and enjoy the wonderful experience that is baseball in Cleveland. If you’ve got any questions, by all means drop a line…and there’s more stuff below if you’d like more details, by the way.

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Here it is Phillies fans and visiting ballpark roadtrippers…your complete Citizens Bank Park seating guide! This post is full of great tips for helping find the best seats at Citizens Bank Park, no matter what your budget is…and to help you get the most bang for your buck at the ballpark.

If you’re interested in where to park, what to eat, and how to save money at the Phillies ballpark, be sure to check out my complete Citizens Bank Park Guide, and this more detailed list of great food at the Bank…but this here is to help you truly choose a great seat at every Phillies game.

I know, there are so many! But I’m here to help.

There’s stuff to know about every type of seat, so I’ve broken this down for you:

Citizens Bank Park Seating Chart + Layout
Diamond + Hall of Fame Clubs
Field Level Seats
Upper Level Seats
Outfield Seats + Scoreboard Porch
Rooftop Bleachers + Standing Room

So after this quick word from our sponsor, we’ll get started…

Gametime has your cheap Phillies tickets…with a lowest price guarantee, panoramic seat view photos, and great last minute deals…even after the game starts!

(See why Ballpark E-Guides loves Gametime here!)

It would be nice if the “brokers’ hung out here, but they probably know better.

Citizens Bank Park Seating, Part 1) Seating Chart + Ballpark Layout

There are essentially three levels of seating on the Citizens Bank Park seating chart (here’s the Phillies’ map); the lower field level is slightly sloped and has about 40 rows in each section, but from there the angle is almost straight up.

The Hall of Fame Club Level is the mezzanine and is above the suites; and the upper deck consists of two tiers, the Terrace (300) level and the Terrace Deck (400) level. In right field there is a gap in the upper level, past the gap the Terrace/Pavilion is lowered to bring outfield seating closer to the field.

Facing the field, Seat 1 is always on the right.

Phillies fans surveying the outfield seating.

It is a near-universal sentiment of visitors to Citizens Bank Park that “there isn’t a bad seat in the house”. And while no one can possibly know that, at least not without a great deal of effort, I would agree that most all of the seating at the Bank offers an acceptable view of the action. Even in the outer reaches of the upper level, you still have a decent view with the angle of the seating.

In most all cases, seats are angled towards home plate, and very little of the field is obstructed even in the furthest seats. They even have cup holders!

In right field, fans do have to contend with a bright and hot sun for the longest amount of time, with the sun setting on the third base side. You should bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and water sitting anywhere in right field and on the first base side during the hot summer months, especially in the upper levels.

Nothing says “we get you” like cup holders and a food tray.

Citizens Bank Park Seating, Part 2) The Diamond + Hall of Fame Clubs

If cost is not an issue, the wide and cushioned (although the padding isn’t all that) Diamond Club seats behind home plate especially offer the optimal all-around Phillies game experience. The front row is just 50 feet from home plate. The in-seat wait service in the Diamond Club section brings you unlimited food and non-alcoholic beverages in the first three rows; and up to $30 of concessions in rows 5-9. In row 10 and above it’s on you.

There are 18 rows in most sections, and it’s easy to get to them from the walkway between the Diamond and lower level seating. There are tables and barstools behind the Diamond Club section, for chowing on Club grub with a view.

Enjoy some Phillies baseball with your gourmet meal.

Most importantly, Diamond Club members have access to the Diamond Clubhouse Lounge. You are given a wristband that permits access (with access to the Hall of Fame Club as well). There is sit-down fancy dining prepared by a chef, and a full service bar there (which is not free). Enjoy a pre-game high end buffet with several stations and views of the Phillies batting cages.

The food is excellent…try the burgers…and there is complimentary pasta salads and such, so you shouldn’t be hungry afterward.

These kids were unfortunately born too late to witness Lefty’s curveball.

Inside the Diamond Club is a very cool mural depicting a clubhouse full of Phillies greats; in the picture are Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and of course, Harry Kalas and Richie Ashburn. And the Phanatic. Pete Rose isn’t in the picture…he’s represented by fallen rose petals. (You learn some cool stuff touring ballparks.)

Check third party sites for Diamond Club tickets, especially on a hot day. Tickets go for upwards of three digits for season ticket holders, but you might land a much-better-than-face deal for a low demand game.

No writer who gets paid to be at the ballpark should have a better seat than you. Just saying.

The padded and slightly wider Hall of Fame Club seats with extra leg room are on the 200 press level, just above the suites for a bird’s eye view. It feels good to be in front of the press box and sportswriters, even if it’s fairly high up by premium seating standards. Like the Diamond Club, the best advantage is being able to access a climate-controlled lounge.

Again, you can sometimes find good deals on third party sites; I’ve seen tickets for less than half the face value on low demand nights. With the Hall of Fame Club being climate-controlled, it’s great for ducking out of Philadelphia weather that reaches both temperature extremes.

It looks like you had to really jack one to get one out of Connie Mack at center field.

The spacious Hall of Fame Club Lounge is behind the Hall of Fame seats and takes up almost the entire level. From here you can see the Cooperstown Gallery and its memorabilia, like the Connie Mack Stadium replica and a wall full of baseballs. The food isn’t included in the ticket.

In the Club are food and bar stations with old Philadelphia ballpark names like the “Baker Bowl Bistro”. They have a healthy food stand with turkey burgers and chicken wraps. This privilege allows folks to wait in short(er) lines for exclusive food (including Chickie’s and Pete’s fries), which can come in handy in a rain delay. You might even find a dollar dog station here.

Cushion your Phillies fan rear end!

As premium seats go, the Diamond and Hall of Fame Club seats are fairly reasonable by MLB standards. A full season package in the Hall of Fame Club works out to about $65 a game, a great price for the ability to escape the sometimes oppressive Philly weather, but if you pick the right contest you should be able to get a better deal on Gametime. Try a midweek game against a weak West Coast opponent or the Marlins.

The Phillies include menus on their website for the Club areas; the Diamond Club has a much more impressive selection, at least of the high end stuff. The team also throws in a few extras for the kids of folks that shell out for the premium tickets, like meet-and-greets with former Phillies and the Phanatic, and invitations to special nights like the “Picnic in the Park”.

Enjoying a beautiful if probably hot day at the Yard.

Citizens Bank Park Seating, Part 3) Field Level – Infield/Baseline Seats

The field level seats at the Bank are not cheap, but there isn’t much of an incline and the view is great from just about anywhere. There are about 40 rows in each infield section that doesn’t include Diamond Club seats. Seats in Section 123 about 20 rows behind home plate cost the same as seats in the first six rows of Section 109 near the right field foul pole, so keep that in mind if you have a choice.

The difference in price between Infield and Baseline seats is fairly sizable, so you’ll spring for a few extra bucks for better seats. Section 115 is significantly cheaper than Section 114, for example. All lower level seats are terrific, though, and the Bank is a place where I recommend staying low if you can.

An ideal spot for an umpire to make a fair or foul call.

The Phillies now list the sections behind the foul pole separately, although the price is the same, in order to help people avoid an obstructed view, which is nice of them.

If you’re interested in partying after the game at Pass and Stow, sections ending in the high 20s or low 30s, down the third base line, are closest to the place. It gets crowded especially after a Phillies victory, so this will better your chances of getting a seat there. Proximity to Pass and Stow is also useful for a quick departure from the game with its separate exit.

The closer you’re sitting, the more swings your little slugger can get on the wiffle ball field.

If you’re bringing the kids, the first base side (Sections 108-114) is closer to the Phanatic Phun Zone and the Yard, and also for a better view of the Phanatic dancing on the Phillies dugout. But remember what I said about the sun; be prepared on hot days or nights.

From about Row 33 up in most infield sections, seats are covered by an overhang, and the high rows on the third base side can have a blocked view of the left field scoreboard.

At least one usher is willing to endure the climb for the view.

Citizens Bank Park Seating, Part 4) Upper Level Seats – Terrace/Terrace Deck

The Phillies call the lower 300 level of the upper deck the Terrace; the higher 400 level is the Terrace Deck. The outer sections in right field past the gap are called the Pavilion (200 level) and the Pavilion Deck (300 level).

Pavilion seating is the club level beyond the Hall of Fame seats; they are called “Arcade” down the left field line for some reason but there isn’t any difference in price. In right field fair territory, the seats drop in price a bit. It’s a whole lot cheaper than the club seats, but you’ll be out there.

Well, there’s a nice view of the foul pole.

The Pavilion Deck is the 300 level seating past the “gap” down the right field line where the 400 (Terrace) seating section ends. Like with the Pavilion seating, the price drops a bit past the foul pole into fair territory. Pavilion Deck seating in right field is cheaper than the Terrace seating in left; for some reason the Phillies value left field seating more. (Possibly because of the sun.)

Because there’s an open concourse on the upper level as well, there is some space between the 300 and 400 sections. It takes a dozen-plus steps to get to the 400 seats, so if you have trouble with that go for something in the 300 level. The highest 4-5 rows in the upper level are covered by the roof.

Takes about 300 steps to get here, but it’s worth it for the view.

The upper seats behind home plate especially provide the best panoramic view of the entire ballpark and the skyline beyond, which is boffo at sunset on a clear day. There’s also a sweet view of the city and the Walt Whitman Bridge on the upper concourse, which is worth a walk around.

While the upper level seats have their merits like nice sunset views, I mentioned before staying low if you can at Citizens Bank Park. With the suites, club level, and open concourses pushing everything up, the height and incline of the 400 level seats especially are not for the acrophobic. The slope was designed to bring folks closer to the field, and it works, but just be mindful of this. If you’re fine with it, they’re not bad at all as upper level ballpark seating goes.

No worries…there’s a scoreboard in right field too.

Citizens Bank Park Seating, Part 5) Outfield Seats + Scoreboard Porch

The lower outfield bleachers have the advantage of being close to Ashburn Alley and its amazing food selection, with the right field seats being closer to the kids’ areas in right field and first base. The left field seats are directly in front of the scoreboard (and Harry The K’s restaurant), but there’s a smaller scoreboard in right field to keep you posted. From the outfield seats there can be a slightly limited view of the action, such as when a ball is hit to the wall near where one is sitting.

Knowing Philadelphia, this was probably done on purpose.

Sections 201 and 301 in right field are very close to the opposing team’s bullpen. You can psych out the other team’s relief staff with some South Philly-style heckling. Just keep it reasonably clean, the Phillies are tougher on out-of-bounds behavior than they used to be.

At least you don’t have to go far to get a hot dog.

The Scoreboard Porch is located directly below the Big Board in left field; it’s a tier above the lower level outfield and just out over Harry The K’s restaurant. These seats are pretty far from home plate, and it’s unlikely that even a batting practice homer will land here. You could lose some of left field in the upper seats.

That said, this makes a dinner at Harry The K’s below these seats quite convenient, and there is a small concessions stand with a minimal selection of food and mixed drinks behind it. If you’re interested in the Ashburn Alley eats, I would do that beforehand, because it’s a bunch of steps to get to these seats.

These seats require a 180-degree turn of the neck to see the scoreboard (making the name of the section ironic), but as I said there is now a mini-version of the Big Board in right field. The Porch is popular for less expensive group outings and can be reserved in advance.

“He missed the tag! He missed the tag!”

Citizens Bank Park Seating, Part 6) Cheap Seats – Rooftop Bleachers + Standing Room

The bench-style and backless Rooftop Bleachers are pretty far away, as were the rooftops on 20th Street outside of Connie Mack Stadium, but they are also the cheapest seats in the ballpark, and there can be a raucous atmosphere here if you like that sort of thing. It literally looks like someone set up a stand on top of their roof a la the Wrigley Rooftops, which I believe was the intention.

These seats are directly below the neon Liberty Bell, which you can see swinging back and forth from close up after a Phillies homer, and if the game bores you there’s decent people-watching in Ashburn Alley.

The Bleachers are near (actually on) the Bud Rooftop, the standing area above Ashburn Alley. Dogs, nachos, and beer are available on the Rooftop, and this is now the place that the Phillies have designated for “millennials”, with a phone charging station and all that.

“Hey, good crowd, good crowd!”

Standing room isn’t as cheap as it should be here, but it’s not a bad deal. The concourse area is designed so that people can view the action anywhere in the park, with countertops to rest your chicken sandwich and donuts on behind most of the seating sections.

Standing room fans are permitted to watch the game anywhere, just be aware that Ashburn Alley and areas behind the plate can get crowded. If you’re early enough, you can stake out table or barstool seating either at Harry The K’s, on the Bud Rooftop, or even in Ashburn Alley if you’re lucky. Try visiting Harry’s in the later innings if you’re tired.

A ready made standing room spot – with counter space for your crab fries, and right at the visiting team’s bullpen.

If you’re a local, the Phillies offer a monthly “Ballpark Pass” that puts a barcode on your phone and enables you to attend as many home games you want in a month. It’s a great price even if you only attend three or four games, and it’s a cheap way to get into the ballpark for high demand games like Mets or Yankees games. You can even ask for an upgrade, but that’ll cost extra of course.

Now you know what to do, just like all of these people!

So to sum all of this up…after many games at Citizens Bank Park and having sat in most every level of seating, I can tell you the worst experience that I’ve had was sitting in the right field corner on a sweltering Philadelphia evening. Otherwise, all of the Citizens Bank Park seating offers decent views, even if some are better than others. Use third party sites like Gametime to find deals, especially on very hot or very cold days.

That’s a wrap…hopefully this Citizens Bank Park seating guide can help you choose a great spot that works for your taste and budget at any Phillies game. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me, and don’t forget to check out my complete guide to Citizens Bank Park, including the best parking spots, food, money saving tips and much more.

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Planning a Phillies game? Visiting Philadelphia for some baseball? This highly detailed and useful Citizens Bank Park guide will help you land cheap Phillies tickets, choose the best seat for your budget, find a good parking spot, and choose what to eat from the impressive Phillies game menu. It’s all here…everything you need to know.

I live about 20 minutes away from the Phillies ballpark; I’ve been there many times and know all the tricks. Stick with me; I’ll help you save money at Citizens Bank Park and get the most bang for your buck at your next Phillies game.

Welcome to the first capital of the United States.

I’ve got a lot of great and helpful tips for you, so let’s break this down:

Finding The Best Deals on Phillies Tickets
Choosing A Great Seat
The Best Way(s) To Get To A Phillies Game
What To Eat At Citizens Bank Park
Bringing The Kids To A Phillies Game
Citizens Bank Park Photo-Ops + Other Tips

So after this quick word from our sponsor, we’ll get started!

Gametime has your cheap Phillies tickets…with a lowest price guarantee, panoramic seat view photos, and great last minute deals…even after the game starts!

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It’s almost like they don’t want you to know there’s a box office.

Citizens Bank Park Guide, Part 1: How to Score Cheap Phillies Tickets

You have a number of ways to get Phillies tickets…and finding the best deal on tickets is a function of choosing the right avenue and contest. If all you want is to visit the ballpark, low demand games are in April and May, and September if the Phillies aren’t contending. Friday and Saturday nights are the toughest tickets; midweek games are much easier.

If you really want to see the Mets, Yankees, Red Sox, or fireworks nights, plan ahead and try getting tickets when they first go on sale; it’s a good idea to subscribe to the Phillies ticket alerts. They’ll let you know when tickets go on sale, where face value is often the best price. The newsletter will also alert you to theme nights, giveaway nights, etc., so it’s well worth it.

A World Series game is usually a “premium” game.

But if you just want to visit the ballpark, try a game against a West Coast opponent (other than South Jersey native Mike Trout’s Angels, who always draw a crowd); the Marlins only have about 60 fans so they are almost always a cheap game too.

There are several advantages to gathering a group of folks to go to a Phillies game…certain games are available much more cheaply and the group leader will get tickets to a future contest. If you know a lot of Phillies fans, try looking into this.

Just because she doesn’t look enthusiastic doesn’t mean it’s not a good deal!

The Phillies have a “Fightin’ Phils Fan Club”, where for a small membership fee you get a decal, a hat, discounts on merchandise, and best of all, game tickets and pre-sale opportunities. It’s well worth the price, especially if it can get you into a game against, say, the Red Sox at face value.

So that’s a short primer for buying tickets online.

Go straight ahead, and then make a right, where the old McFadden’s used to be.

The main ticket office is at the third base gate, and there are other ticket windows around the ballpark. You won’t pay fees at the box office, and that’s a considerable chunk of change. If it’s not a high demand game, you shouldn’t have a problem getting tickets.

Neither one is any easier for left handed people.

There are also ticket kiosks at the box office where you can buy and/or print your purchased tickets, and I don’t think you’ll pay the convenience fee using them either. Definitely beats waiting in line for tickets…or paying fees.

You forgot to sign up for the newsletter, didn’t you? Sigh…

If you’re going with a low demand game or failed to plan ahead, include third parties in your search; Gametime is my favorite because they often have the best prices around, and they only show you the better deals. If you want to compare prices with the Phillies website or another third party, be sure to go all the way to the checkout screen to see what you’ll really be paying for tickets. It can be a big difference.

With third party sites, most of the time tickets will become cheaper and more available closer to gametime, so wait until the last minute if you can…remember, though, that ticket sales shut down two hours before game time. If the game is important for you to attend, keep checking for a deal you can live with starting about a week before.

These seats should be very cheap on a hot day.

If you’re flexible and can go to a game on a moment’s notice, and demand being what it is for Phillies tickets when they’re good, try waiting for a hot, muggy day or perhaps a cold day in April, when season ticket holders might decide against coming to the ballpark. You might score a worthwhile deal on Gametime especially then. You can also usually land a great deal on a cold day in September if the Phillies are out of the race.

No, the bar codes do not recycle after 12 years. This ticket is no longer valid.

Even though it is illegal and the Phillies make this clear, I have seen scalpers practically right at the gate of the ballpark. They frequently hang out around the marquee across from the Mike Schmidt statue, and they get desperate to unload their tickets as game time approaches.

When the Phillies are good, scalpers can be tough negotiators, but when the Phillies aren’t performing well brokers are less plentiful and more eager to unload, and you might score a great deal. It’s at your own risk of course, check your tickets for the date and the opponent if you try it.

I’ve written more about buying baseball tickets on Craigslist here. The sellers there aren’t all crooks and you might score something, but treat them the same way you would a scalper…again, check the date and opponent on your ticket, and look for smudges or other irregularities. Trust your gut, especially with a high demand game.

Go ahead, just pick one. They’re all good.

Citizens Bank Park Guide, Part 2: Choosing A Great Seat

There is a general opinion among forum dwellers that most all of the seating at the Bank offers an acceptable view of the action. I don’t disagree; I’ve had what could definitely be called bad seats and have never been terribly unhappy. In most all cases, seats are angled towards home plate, and very little of the field is obstructed even in the furthest seats.

When buying tickets on the Phillies website, you can now choose individual seats on their seating map, which is great for landing aisle seats or two and two in front of each other, whatever works.

I’ve written a much more detailed guide to the seating at Citizens Bank Park here, but I’ll keep it simple and break it down by budget here for you.

Cushioned seats and cup holders say “We care”.

Premium Phillies Game Seats: Diamond + Hall of Fame Club

As premium seats go, the high end club seats at Citizens Bank Park are fairly reasonable by MLB standards. A full season package in the Hall of Fame Club works out to about $65 a game, and if you pick the right contest you should be able to get a great deal on Gametime. Try for a midweek game against Miami or Colorado.

The Diamond Club seats are directly behind home plate; in the front rows you’re closer to home plate than the pitcher. The seats are padded and wider, and you can order food from your seat.

Nothing says “you’ve made it in life” like a meal in a ballpark club.

Diamond Club members have access to the Diamond Clubhouse Lounge, a beautiful climate-controlled spot with gourmet chef-prepared dining (the burgers are all that). Most of the food and drinks aren’t free, but there are some complimentary side dishes like pasta salads. The Clubhouse also features a view of the batting practice cages.

Because we should all have better seats than sportswriters.

The Hall of Fame Club seats are on the 200 press level, just above the suites. In addition to a nice bird’s eye view of the action, these seats are also wide and padded with more leg room. (That matters to big dudes like me.) There’s only a few rows in each section, so it’s easy to get to your seat.

Just in case they run out of baseballs during the game.

The large Club behind the seats is also climate-controlled, and includes food and bar stations. The food isn’t included, but this privilege allows folks to wait in short(er) lines for food items (including Chickie’s and Pete’s fries), which can come in handy in a rain delay.

Again, you can sometimes find good deals on third party sites for Club tickets; remember my “uncomfortable weather” tip; I’ve seen tickets available for less than half the face value on low demand nights.

Popular seats as you can see, even out of the shade.

Large Budget: Field Level Seating

The Infield and Baseline seats at Citizens Bank Park are not cheap, but there isn’t much of an incline and the view is great from just about anywhere. There is a notable price decrease as you move towards the outfield; Section 115 is significantly cheaper than Section 114, for example. The Phillies charge more for the front few rows in the infield sections.

The most important thing I can tell you about the lower level seating here is that the sun beats hard on the first base/right field side late in the day especially. If your timing is wrong it can be fairly miserable on a hot day; I’d go for the third base side.

That aside, most of the lower level seats here are great, and the Bank is a place where lower seating is preferable, for reasons I’ll get to in a minute.

The plentiful ushers might have tissues in the event of a nosebleed.

Medium to Small Budget: Terrace Level Seating

The upper deck seats at Citizens Bank Park are called the Terrace (300 sections) and the Terrace Deck (400 sections). Like in the lower level, the price drops as you get further from home plate.

With the suites, the Hall of Fame level, and open concourses pushing things up, upper levels here are pretty high, and these seats aren’t for the acrophobic. I’m not saying they’re bad seats by any means, though; the Phillies did a nice job of angling upper level seats for a great view of the field.

This is the easy part.

Another thing to keep in mind in the is that the 400 seats (Terrace Deck) require about a dozen steps just to get to your section. Try to get your food and take care of nature’s call beforehand, because this can be a pain. If lots of steps are a problem for you, spend a couple of extra bucks for the 300 sections.

Incidentally, if you need to duck out of the weather (Philadelphia gets both ends of weather extremes), the High & Inside Club on the upper concourse is a good spot. The game is on TV there.

The Scoreboard Porch, so named for its lack of view of the scoreboard.

Small Budget: Outfield Seats + Scoreboard Porch

The outfield seating is typical of any ballpark here, but it does have the advantage of being close to Ashburn Alley and the world class Philly food items that I’ll get to in a bit.

The Scoreboard Porch seats are just below the scoreboard; these are pretty far from the field and obviously don’t offer a view from the scoreboard. (There is a smaller scoreboard in right field that works just fine for needed info, however.) These and the upper seats in right field are my least favorite seats in the ballpark, but the Porch is a popular spot for groups if you’re interested.

“Hey pitcher! Your mom is inconsistent!”

In right field, the outfield seats are also close to the bullpens, where you can offer Philly-brand encouragement to opposing pitchers. Remember what I’ve said about the sunlight; right field is the last place to see shade for night games.

For people ready to catch a 600-foot home run.

Tightwad Budget: Rooftop Bleachers + Standing Room

The Rooftop Bleachers section is a small makeshift-style grandstand above Ashburn Alley in right field, below the neon Liberty Bell; it’s made to look like the stands people built on rooftops across from Connie Mack Stadium. They are, I believe, the cheapest seats in the ballpark, and with good reason…they’re quite a distance from the field. If the game bores you, it does offer people watching in Ashburn Alley.

You know it’s a good spot if it’s where ushers hang out.

Standing room in Citizens Bank Park is a pretty good deal. There are counters around the concourses everywhere in the ballpark to lean on and rest your food, and you might even land some barstool seats in center field if you’re early enough (good luck with that). If you get tired from standing late in the game, the folks at Harry The K’s might let you take a seat.

The Phillies offer a standing room only Ballpark Pass; for a reasonable fee you can attend every home game for a month. Well worth it if you use it a few times.

This is the point where you can shut off your GPS.

Citizens Bank Park Guide, Part 3: The Best Ways To Get To A Phillies Game

In most cases, driving your car is the best and easiest way to get to Citizens Bank Park. There is ample parking in the sports complex, and traffic generally isn’t terrible for a ballpark.

If you’d like to get into some detail about parking at Phillies games, including tailgating, the Taxi Crab and other stuff, check out this much more detailed guide to Citizens Bank Park parking!

The only exception is when there is another event going on, especially an Eagles or Flyers game…if you can’t get to the ballpark very early on such days, you might prefer the Broad Street subway. If there is another event, your best bet is to approach the ballpark from the north on Packer Avenue.

Coming from Penrose Avenue offers advance warning for when you’re about to see some serious parking.

Penrose Avenue from the west, I’ve learned through experience, is a good route to approach the park, since it’s accessible from I-76 and I-95 and you can turn onto Pattison Avenue towards Penrose getting out, away from the frequently used exits that get backed up after the game.

If you find yourself with tickets for a Friday night game during the summer months, don’t even try to use I-76 eastbound. The traffic headed to the Jersey Shore could well make you miss half of the game. Use I-476 and I-95 north to get around it all, or look into using a Regional Rail train and just make sure you can get back.

A helpful and detailed map to help you find parking at the ballpark, once you’ve parked.

The lots owned by the Phillies are all north of Pattison Avenue and mostly west of the ballpark; pre-paid lots for season ticket holders are close but don’t offer any kind of easier out. You can buy a pass ahead of time from the Phillies, but if you’d like something cheaper, easier to exit, or more tailgate friendly, read on.

Don’t let a little rain stop your pre-game party!

Tailgating is not permitted in the Phillies lots; for pre-game partying you can use the lots south of Pattison Avenue. Lincoln Financial Field (Eagles) has sizable lots; the Linc is the most popular of tailgating spots. There are ample port-a-potties, and large solar panels covering rows of parking that provide cover or shade from the weather.

East of Lincoln Financial is the Jetro Warehouse, also a popular tailgate destination. Jetro doesn’t offer the “car ports” that the Linc lot does though, and it isn’t any cheaper except from a good distance away, so if tailgating is your thing and you’re early, try the Linc lot first.

If you use my Penrose suggestion, you won’t be too tired from the traffic to pay someone else to park your car.

The Xfinity Live! complex west of the Linc lot offers valet parking for about the same price as other parking (although you’ll probably tip the valet guys a few bucks). It’s just steps away from the ballpark and good if you want to hang out here for the party afterward.

Colorful shuttle buses are a part of baseball.

Chickie’s and Pete’s on Packer Avenue valet parks your car for a bit less than what Phillies charge, and they run a free shuttle called the “Taxi Crab” that will take you from their restaurant to the game and back. I’m a fan of this option if you’re making a day of it…enjoy a somewhat less expensive meal at a popular local institution, avoid waiting in line for their famous crab fries, catch a ballgame, and generally avoid the traffic leaving. (Please don’t drink and drive, at least not in that order).

Just so you know what it looks like, in case you follow my next suggestion.

There is a church (the Stella Maris Catholic Convent) on 10th Avenue north of the ballpark that is cheaper than the Phillies lots, and it’s also an easier out. Not too long of a walk and a nice view coming towards the ballpark, just use caution crossing Packer Avenue. This spot is just a five minute walk from Oregon Steaks, incidentally, if you want a popular Philly cheesesteak.

Off of Pattison Avenue east of the ballpark, you can often find lots that are a few bucks cheaper and easier to exit.

With bicycle racks at the front entrance for an added level of security.

The lots behind Lincoln Financial Field are further and aren’t any cheaper, but there is also a lot behind the Jetro warehouse that offers a cheaper rate. This one is a hike and dark at night, however, and they claim to prohibit tailgating.

Get any closer and I’ll ticket you, I mean it!

If you love to beat the Man and park for free, your best bet for free street parking might be on the western side of 7th Street north of Packer Avenue; I saw cars parked there and employees of the team coming from that direction. I’ve done this without a problem, but you need to be early and it’s a bit of a hike.

People used to park on South Lawrence Street, but the city started handing out $50+ tickets for this, so I wouldn’t try that one.

You’ll want to be closer than this.

Speaking for myself, in my opinion the cheaper parking at Citizens Bank Park isn’t worth the considerably longer walk, unless you’d like to get out more easily. My favorite lot is Lot G south of Pattison; it’s almost across the street from the ballpark and it’s easy to exit going west on Pattison towards Penrose.

Remember when they called them “stadiums”?

The Distant Second Best Way to Get to Citizens Bank Park: SEPTA

The Broad Street Line is a SEPTA subway line that drops off fans at the NRG Sports Complex Station, a short walk from the ballpark. Because of the crowds, the subway is considered generally safe for games, but I would avoid going north of City Hall.

Gangway! Philly sports fans coming!

SEPTA runs a Sports Express service to and from Citizens Bank Park on game days; these trains make for a much quicker ride. Usually there are 4-5 of them starting about an hour before the game. Coming from the PATCO Line in South Jersey, the Express will take you straight to the ballpark non-stop from Walnut-Locust. If you get a chance to use the Express, do it. You’ll thank me.

The Broad Street Line isn’t the most pleasant train you’ll ever ride (it probably won’t even make your top 20), but it is good for avoiding traffic, which can be very slow. It’s popular especially with people visiting Philadelphia and staying in the heart of the city, but it doesn’t get too packed like NYC or Chicago ballpark trains do.

Well yeah, I guess some Phillies fans live in NJ.

Coming from South Jersey where I live, the Broad Street Line is easily accessible from PATCO. Riders can take PATCO to the 12th/13th Street or the 15th/16th Street station, and from there follow the orange signs to the Broad Street Line, about a five-minute walk. Coming back, exit the SEPTA train at Walnut-Locust.

Here’s a Tightwad Tip for PATCO: You can get a discounted round trip transfer ticket that includes the Broad Street ride at the PATCO station, which is slightly cheaper than two SEPTA tokens and considerably cheaper than driving and parking from NJ.

If you live somewhere on this map, you can take a train or two to the game.

All of SEPTA’s Regional Rail suburban train lines stop at Suburban Station, about a 5-10 minute underground hike to the Broad Street Line. Regional Rail is a much nicer ride from most areas of southeast PA, but check the schedule if you do this and know when the last train leaves.

The tricky part is making that left turn in ballgame traffic.

Citizens Bank Park isn’t in an area that would be a short bike trek for most people, and I don’t recommend bicycling in the area, but should you make the trip on two wheels, there is a bicycle rack on the north side of the ballpark, and Packer Avenue nearby has a bicycle lane.

Philadelphia has a shared bicycle rental service called “Indego”, and there’s a station next to the NRG subway station. It even has some electric bikes, but there isn’t a large quantity there, so I wouldn’t depend on there being one after the game.

This is why you come to Philadelphia.

Citizens Bank Park Guide, Part 4: What to Eat at Citizens Bank Park

If you’re really interested in making a solid food choice at a Phillies game, I go into much more detail about the menu in my Citizens Bank Park food post here, but here’s a shortened version of all of that. I’m not bothering with the Club items, I’ve already talked about that a bit.

If you’ve never had cream of artichoke soup before, here’s your chance!

Harry The K’s is named for the Phillies’ late broadcasting legend Harry Kalas. Harry’s has an outdoor but covered seating area behind the left field seats and serves adequate tavern fare at reasonable prices for a ballpark.

Each season the Phillies introduce new food items to Harry’s menu; they might have unusual hot dogs or different kinds of turkey club or roast pork sandwiches. Harry’s is a good spot to find healthy items; I enjoyed a fairly good vegan cheesesteak there some years ago.

This nation was founded so people could eat good pizza at the ballpark.

Then there’s Pass and Stow and the Shake Shack, sit down eateries that took over the space once occupied by McFadden’s restaurant. Pass and Stow is mostly for outside libations, but they do have a brick oven pizza on their menu, and Shake Shack of course features the ever-popular Shackburger, fries and shakes, all of which I can testify are very good.

This is a Campo’s “Heater” chicken cheesesteak sandwich with the “Works”. Ask for it by name.

If you want to enjoy the taste of Philly stuff at Citizens Bank Park, head out to Ashburn Alley in center field…that’s where you’ll find the two iconic cheesesteak sandwiches: Tony Luke’s and Campo’s. I’m a Campo’s guy, but Tony Luke’s does have a good roast pork and provolone sandwich with broccoli rabe. For a great and spicy cheesesteak, get the “Heater” from Campo’s. (Ask for it with the “Works”!)

No need to get your donuts at the state level.

But don’t pass on the other Philly favorites here…there’s P.J. Whelihan’s and their flavorful boneless wings, amazing Federal Donuts and their chicken sandwich, and of course the popular Philly favorite…

Tell them you want the ones that spilled out too.

Chickie’s and Pete’s crab fries…crinkle-cut fries with crab seasoning, one of the most iconic food items in Philly. I’ve talked about Chickie’s and Pete’s on Packer Avenue earlier…at the restaurant you get two cups of cheese sauce, here you have to pay extra for that. Might be worth using the Taxi Crab, just saying.

Mr. Manco likes to make pizza with his alter ego.

Manco & Manco’s Pizza is new but long overdue; it’s a very popular pizza shop from Ocean City NJ’s boardwalk, and it’s much better than the generic pizza. (Philly area folks don’t excuse bad pizza.) Colbie’s Southern Fried Chicken has chef-inspired fried chicken sandwiches, and they’re part-owned by former Phillies slugger Ryan Howard, so you’re supporting local baseball.

Here’s your tip of the day.

Finally, don’t miss Bull’s BBQ, named for 1970s Phillies slugger Greg Luzinski, who chats and poses with fans most games. The large BBQ area in the left field corner serves up first-class pulled pork, big turkey legs, addictive mac and cheese, and the “Bull Dog”, a huge glazed kielbasa. You can create a nice sampler plate. As ballpark BBQ goes, it’s one of my faves.

Just about everything I’ve tried in Ashburn Alley has been great; it’s worth the few extra bucks to get your Phillies game grub on there. Get there early; it gets crowded.

Hopefully this helps you find the hot dogs at Citizens Bank Park.

The rest of the concourse areas mostly feature generic ballpark items; aside from Hatfield hot dogs (another local legend), the cheesesteaks, fries, wings and other stuff is adequate but unremarkable. The sausage and pepper sandwiches are very good. Of course, you can get Richman’s ice cream in a small Phillies helmet.

The Phillies occasionally have Dollar Dog Nights; it’s a popular promotion but lines can be long.

Nothing gives a deli credibility like a decorated van.

Finally, you can bring your own food into Citizens Bank Park (in a 16*16*8 bag), and there’s some decent selections not far away. I’ve already talked about the Taxi Crab from Chickie’s and Pete’s; bringing takeout crab fries will save you a few bucks.

If you’re using the Taxi Crab, the Chickie’s plaza also has a popular deli called Pastaficio’s, it’s a prime spot to order a high quality and cheaper sandwich you can bring in with you. (You can take my word on that.)

Check them out…they ain’t kiddin’!

My favorite trick as a South Jersey native is to go upstairs after exiting the PATCO train, and stopping at Nuts 2 You, which is in the path to the Broad Street subway. They have an amazing selection of fresh roasted peanuts, snacks, and candy, and the still warm peanuts keep me fed all night for just a few bucks.

Parents aren’t allowed in the habitrail, but it doesn’t stop them from trying.

Citizens Bank Park Guide, Part 5: Bringing The Kids

The home of the Phillies is one of the most kid-friendly ballparks I’ve been to; there are two play areas here that are both great fun for little ones. The Phanatic Phun Zone features a habitrail that makes me jealous when I see my kids running around it, and The Yard in the left field corner has a wiffle ball field shaped like a mini-version of the ballpark.

Kids can also pretend to operate a concession stand, and get started young living the dream of being a ballpark concession worker. The Phillies smartly placed only one entrance at the Phun Zone, so parents can safely wait there.

It’s not actually 401 to straightaway center; unless that’s some metric measurement.

The Yard in the left field corner is an artificial turf (normally frowned upon in baseball, but probably a good idea here) wiffle ball field that’s made to look like a miniature Citizens Bank Park. And it’s got a short porch in left…if you get a hold of one, you can easily reach the scoreboard with it!

You have to wait in line to get your licks at the plate, but the kids can play in the field as much as they like. It’s a great opportunity to teach your child the value of strong defense up the middle. The Yard gets crowded pretty fast, so try to get there when the Left Field gates open (a half hour before the rest of the gates).

Phillies employees can put a curve on a wiffle ball pitch with the best of them.

If you’re bringing the kids, the first base side is usually better, since the Phanatic Phun Zone is near the first base entrance and the Yard is in the right field corner. It’s also a better view of the Phanatic dancing on the Phillies dugout. However, keep in mind that this spot can see some serious sun; if that’s a concern try the third base side, or bring water and sunscreen.

If you want to save a few bucks on tickets for the kids, check out the fan clubs. Membership is relatively cheap and usually includes two game tickets, plus souvenirs like a drawstring bag that you wouldn’t think to buy otherwise; both clubs include discounted ticket opportunities. The Phillies don’t have many “run the bases” days, but the fan club offers front of the line access for it, and that’s well worth it if it’s in your plans.

“Go ahead, swing for the fences kid!”

Kids under two get in free, but they have to sit on the parent’s lap (which is mighty difficult for nine innings), and you can either check in a stroller or fit it under your seat.

There are Phanatic Kids Corner stands selling smaller dogs and PB&J sandwiches at reduced prices for kids, so you can save a few bucks on food that way…and don’t forget about bringing in your own snacks.

Finally, you can bring the kid to the Guest Services booth and get them a First Game Certificate…they’ll treasure that forever.

If you didn’t know who he was, you probably wouldn’t let him in either.

Citizens Bank Park Guide, Part 6: Photo-Ops + Other Tips

I’m listing some of my favorite photo-ops at Citizens Bank Park, you’ll want some shots of these things when you go:

It’s even cooler at night, just saying.

Citizens Bank Park Photo-Ops, #1) The Liberty Bell. Try to get video of this after a Phillie hits a home run or the Phillies win. It’s also cool to get close to it and see how huge it really is.

This statues talks about as much as Lefty did. He let his curveball do the talking.

Citizens Bank Park Photo-Ops, #2) Phillies Statues. Steve Carlton, Mike Schmidt, Richie Ashburn, Robin Roberts, and longtime announcer Harry Kalas are all enshrined at the ballpark; Harry’s statue is inside the ballpark near the restaurant that bears his name. Everyone in Philly loved Harry.

Blending a ballpark in with a bunch of tall buildings is harder than it looks.

Citizens Bank Park Photo-Ops, #3) The City Skyline View. The Phillies got some grief for not placing the ballpark in the heart of the city, but this view works. Check it out from the upper level concourse in left field. (Nice view of the Walt Whitman Bridge there too.) Worth the trek up the ramps.

Does anyone think the Athletics should move back to Philly? I’m in that camp.

Citizens Bank Park Photo-Ops, #4) The Philly Baseball Walk of Fame. Some very good teams played baseball here; not just the Phillies but also Connie Mack’s Athletics. You can find this in Ashburn Alley, on the other side of the batter’s eye wall. It’s a fun timeline to read.

I was these kids’ age when most of these guys were playing.

Citizens Bank Park Photo-Ops, #5) The Diamond Club Mural. You may need to ask permission from an usher if you’re not a ticket holder to see it, but inside the Diamond Club is a very cool mural of a clubhouse full of Phillies greats; in the picture are Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and of course, the Phanatic, Harry Kalas and Richie Ashburn. Pete Rose isn’t in the picture…he’s represented by fallen rose petals.

It would have been a bear writing a fan’s guide for this one.

Citizens Bank Park Photo-Ops, #6) Connie Mack Stadium Replica. Connie Mack Stadium was my father’s favorite ballpark; I unfortunately was born too late to visit it. But they do have a replica in the Hall of Fame Club, again, you might need permission to go in and see it.

And last but most definitely not least…

I think Stallone chose to film Rocky in Philadelphia because he liked the Phanatic.

Citizens Bank Park Video-Ops, #1) The Phanatic. The Phillie Phanatic, the best mascot in sports, drives his ATV out on to the field in the middle of the fifth as the cleaning crew smooths out the bases…he’s always a blast to watch, carrying on and behaving like a Philly fan (check out my interview with original Phanatic Dave Raymond here). He also dances on top of the Phillies dugout in the late innings, and his antics can get R-rated at times. Get some video of him if you can…you’ll laugh.

Feeling smarter about your next Phillies game? Great! Just a couple more things.

Personally I liked the Spectrum better.

Xfinity Live! across the street is kind of a sports mall food court, with Philly sports-themed restaurants like the Spectrum Grille and the Broad Street Bullies Pub, and very large TV screens showing games featuring local teams, anything a fan needs for a post-game party or to gather with other Philly fans.

It’s definitely not the cheapest place for a post-game meal or drinks, but it’s easily the most convenient, and you have choices for whatever grub you’re interested in, including Geno’s Steaks and Lorenzo and Sons Pizza.

Oh, like your city doesn’t do this stuff…

Finally, about those Phillies fans. For half a century now, the story of Eagles fans throwing snowballs at Santa Claus has been cited as proof that Philadelphia is home to the meanest, most hideous sports fans. I’ve written about the Santa Claus story here; give it a read if you’re not familiar with it. The actual story is probably very different than what you imagine, and it’s actually pretty funny. R.I.P. Frank Olivo.

In truth most Phillies fans are perfectly well behaved and can be as passionate as any in the game. Yes, there are some obnoxious ones, like there are in every city, but you probably won’t encounter much more than good-natured heckling if you come here wearing Mets or Nationals gear. (Cowboys or Penguins gear might be a different story.) Don’t poke the bear and you’ll be fine.

Don’t forget the space. You’d be surprised how many fans leave out the space.

If any fans get on your nerves or you have some other problem, you can send a text message to the staff and they’ll come running. The ushers and staff are very nice here, and will make you think Philly is full of nice people after all.

Which it is.

I hope that this Citizens Bank Park guide has been helpful to you and saves you some time, money, and aggravation at your next Phillies game…because after all, this is supposed to be fun! Have a look below at some more tips for the home of the Phillies…and please support our sponsors.

Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you at the yard!

(Note: this article contains affiliate links. If you use an affiliate link to make a purchase, Ballpark E-Guides earns a commission, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!)

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This is your complete, all-inclusive, Amazin’ly helpful Citi Field guide – everything you need to know about getting tickets, seating, getting to the ballpark and food at the beautiful home of the New York Mets!

Citi Field is well worth a visit for any baseball fan…it’s a eye-catching ballpark with terrific sightlines (in most cases), and possibly the best food selection in the major leagues. Oh, and a good team to boot these days. Sure, go to Yankee Stadium if you want to see the history and all that, but don’t make a trip to New York and miss out on the first class ballpark in Flushing.

Here’s a few helpful ground rules for a game at Citi Field.

I’ve gathered plenty of knowledge about the place and am happy to share it with you…there’s a lot to know, especially about getting here and the food, so let’s break this down:

Finding The Best Deals on Mets Tickets
Choosing A Great Seat
The Best Way To Get To Citi Field
What To Eat At Citi Field
Citi Field With Kids
Great Citi Field Photo-Ops + Other Tips

Lots to cover here, so after this quick word from our sponsor, we’ll get started!

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The “secret” spot for getting tickets.

Citi Field Guide, Part 1: Finding Cheap Mets Tickets

OK, so your first job is to get tickets to the game. You have numerous options for getting Mets tickets, and you can save a bunch of money choosing the right one. And that depends on whether you’ve chosen a low or high demand game.

High demand games are Opening Day obviously, as well as any contests against the Yankees, Red Sox, or Phillies, so pick a game against Oakland or other west coast opponent if you want a cheaper ticket. Similarly, Friday and Saturday games sell many more tickets than weeknight games, and July and August games are more populated than April or May games. You could find a steal on tickets for a game against Colorado on an April weeknight.

There’s nothing like free swag to make a ballpark your Friday destination.

As you’re reading this, you should sign up for the Mets’ ticket alert newsletter. The newsletter will alert you to dynamic pricing bargains, pre-sales (where you can often get tickets for Yankees games at face price), and giveaway nights. The Mets offer discounts that you’ll see in the emails, including waiving ticket fees on occasion. You also might score a nice deal on your birthday.

If you order through the website, you’ll probably need the MLB Ballpark app; have the tickets loaded onto your phone and you won’t need to remember to bring them.

Did you know that Mr. Met gets cash rewards with his Citi card? You can too!

Remember the name of the ballpark…if you aren’t a Citi credit card holder, I highly recommend that you sign up and ask for one. In fact I ordered my Citi MasterCard for this very reason. Citi cardholders get deals on tickets, food and merchandise, and you may have access to pre-sales before non-Citi people do.

You can also sign up for the Mets fan club, Club Mets, which includes tickets and other benefits that make it well worth the price. Get the kids into the Mr. Met Kids Club too…although you might have to go to a few games to make that worth it.

Go ahead, try it! Come on, you want to be cool, don’t you?

Aside from the Mets’ website, you can also obviously buy tickets at the box office like we did in the days before electricity. Remember that there’s more than one ticket office at the ballpark, and if the front gate ticket office has long lines you can find another gate and ticket office. Or use the ticket kiosks…you’ll be amazed at how fast they spit out your tickets, and for some reason people don’t use them.

Take a left here.

For a high demand game, you’re best off planning ahead and getting your tickets from the Mets as soon as they go on sale; for low demand games you can choose a third party site like Gametime and wait as late as you can for prices to come down (they usually shut down sales two hours before game time). Try to get tickets from a season ticket holder; these tix include some nice club access, great on hot days or cold nights.

If you choose to go third party, remember the fees and go all the way to the checkout screen to compare. See what you’re really paying; there can be a sizable difference.

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Be smart. Bring a seating chart.

In my Mets game travels I haven’t seen a whole lot of scalpers; you can generally find a few on the way to the ballpark from the 7 or LIRR stations. In those paths, incidentally, you might find someone with extras willing to part with them at a better price. There is a radius around Citi Field where scalping is illegal, and the train stations are within that radius, so be mindful.

If you do use a scalper, check the date and the opponent on the ticket, and look for any type of uneven cuts or anything.

I’ve written more about buying baseball tickets on Craigslist here; but as you probably know, there’s no checks in place on Craigslist. Most people selling tickets are legit, actually, but treat them as you would a scalper and check the tickets carefully, especially for a big game. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t buy it.

Hmmm…so many seats to choose from here.

Citi Field Guide, Part 2: Choosing A Great Seat

OK, so you’ve decided to get tickets, now you have to decide where to sit. This is a big decision, believe me…part of enjoying the Citi Field experience is choosing a good seat. I speak from experience on that.

If you’re interested, and have plenty of time on your hands, I go into much more detail about Citi Field seating here; but for this guide, I’ll try to keep it simple and help you get the best bang for every budget.

This is a good reason to work harder.

If cost is no issue to you (baseball can always find a way to test the meaning of “cost is no issue”), go for the Delta Club seats; they are large, padded, and behind home plate, and they include access to the Delta Club and its chef-prepared food offerings. But if you want club access with good food and don’t quite want to pay that much, the Hyundai Club seats have a sweet birds’ eye view, and a club with food and non-alcoholic beverages included in the ticket.

Because gourmet food just makes baseball better. And vice versa.

The food for both of these clubs is high quality, and you can also order food service and have it brought to your seat. If you get the really high end Clover seats in front of the Deltas, your ticket includes  complimentary food from anywhere in the ballpark, but you’ll pay a price for that.

Where you can easily turn away from an annoying fan on your left.

For medium budgets…again, you’ll be defining “medium”, but just saying…the Field Level seats at first and third base and beyond are a decent deal. For some games, just being one section over from the Delta Clubs can be a triple digit difference in price. The field level seats are angled toward the infield, so you can a comfortable view without turning your neck.

Cookie Crumz cookies with Mets sprinkles, a reason to get Highball Club access.
(photo courtesy of Maggie Wiggin)

If your budget is small to medium, I recommend going for the Promenade Box seats, closer to home plate if you can. It’s a good view for upper level seating, and you’ll have access to the Jim Beam Highball Club, which is worth it just for the outstanding food offerings.

Walk by quickly so people behind the glass can watch the game with their chicken and biscuit sandwich.

The 400 level of seating is considerably pricier than the Promenade Reserved 500 seats in the section above them, but you also have the peace of mind of no obstructed view (more on that in a bit). If you still want the club access without the additional price, you can try to get Promenade Reserved seats from a season ticket holder. (This is one of my favorite Citi Field tricks.) Season ticket holders get access to the Caesars Sportsbook restaurant in left field, the Highball Club, and the Piazza 31 Club. Try ‘em all out for size.

“No Pepsi, Coke.”

The Coca-Cola Corner seats are the sections underneath the big Coca-Cola sign in right field; these are pretty affordable seats. The view isn’t great, and the sun beats down hard on these sections well beyond any other section. But there’s a fun play area and a separate concourse.

Don’t let the dudes wearing suits fool you. They probably got left field landing tickets too.

The Coca-Cola Corner seats, like the Left Field Landing seats also on the Mezzanine (Excelsior) Level, also include access to the Piazza 31 Club behind home plate. This is helpful not just for better food choices, a nice view of 7 trains coming in, and a space to duck out of the climate, but also to avoid having to move to another level just to get to the other side. Useful knowledge if you use the wrong entrance.

Not great seats, but some people buy them. The Mets are appreciated around here.

If you just want as cheap a seat as possible, the Promenade Outfield seats are the cheapest in the ballpark as of this writing, and for good reason…they’re high and far, especially in left field, and on a windy day the upper left field seats can be unnerving.

This can put a damper on your Mets game experience.

You also might have to deal with the obstructed views from glass landings on the Promenade Reserved level. To keep it simple, stay out of the low rows (1-3), or at least look for a high-numbered seat in a row. Seat 1 is always on the home plate side. If all else fails, you can call the Mets Fan Assistance (646-438-5000) and they should help you find a better spot.

It’s not an ideal standing room view, but you can toss some cornhole bags if you get bored.

Finally, for standing room at Citi Field, you have counters to lean on throughout the lower level concourse, so you can usually stake out a relatively comfortable spot. Lots of SRO types get their Amazin’ Mets pass, which includes entry to all of the games in a month for a reasonable price if you use it a lot.

Center field is a popular spot for standing room, probably because of the superb food selection. (I’ll get to that, I promise.)

Didn’t “LIRR” play guitar for Primus?

Citi Field Guide, Part 3: The Best Way(s) To Get To Citi Field

I stated in my guide to Yankee Stadium that it takes skill to drive a car in New York City, and Queens is no different than the Bronx in this regard. If you’re a first time visitor to this ballpark especially, I highly recommend against driving to a game, but if you insist, I’ll help you with that.

But first, the best, easiest, and probably cheapest way to get to Citi Field is by train…either the MTA 7 train, or the Long Island Rail Road.

The purple 7 is synonymous with Mets baseball.

The 7 train is cheaper, but it’s considerably slower and gets much more crowded; it’s elevated most of the way through Queens from Manhattan, and the ride isn’t appealing to the eye unless you like graffiti. It’s 19 stops from Times Square to the Mets-Willets Point station; if you can get on the express (the one with the diamond around the 7), it’s just nine, so use the Express if you can. The MTA usually runs several express trains back to Manhattan after the game…definitely wait for a diamond train if you can.

The nice thing about the 7, other than sharing a ride with lots of Mets fans, is that the train drops you right there at the ballpark, and it’s pretty cool to watch Citi Field come into view, so get a seat on the left side of the train if you can.

The 7 train is nowhere near as bad as Braves reliever John Rocker was once reported as saying (Google it if you want to know). Just be aware that for Mets games it gets packed, especially after the game. You’ll probably be standing after the game unless you wait for a few cars to leave.

The easy-to-find stairway to the Mets ballpark!

All of this is why I prefer the LIRR; the Mets-Willets Point station of the Port Washington Branch is a few more steps away from the ballpark, but the LIRR train is a much more pleasant ride. It’s a couple bucks more than the 7, but you’ll likely have a seat (and a more comfortable one than on the 7), and it’s just two stops from Penn Station in Manhattan and can be used from many points in the other direction.

Believe me when I tell you, the LIRR is worth both the extra few bucks and the extra walk, even if you have to do it on both ends. Standing on a 7 train for 19 stops after a ballgame can be rough. (Done that, and I’m happy to share tips based on hard experience too.)

Wherever you’re coming from, those are basically the two trains you should find your way to. Unless you are indeed taking on the monumentally frustrating task of driving your car to and from Citi Field.

Never Drive To Citi Field Without A Plan…

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Pretty much your main roads to get to Citi, right here.

The first thing you need to know is that traffic backs up considerably within an hour before game time (naw…really?). In my experiences I’ve observed that the worst traffic backups come from the Whitestone Expressway (25A) north of the ballpark; the Van Wyck Expressway (I-678) and Grand Central Parkway both dump traffic onto Whitestone at their Citi Field exits. If you can avoid that junction, do it, or just get here earlier if you can.

See how they’re blocking your way out?

Similarly, after the game the Citi Field parking lot is, of course, a parking lot, and can take a very long time to exit. The Mets’ “A” parking lot north of the ballpark is where the employees park, but you can get a spot there if you’re early enough, and it’s an easier out onto the major roads. You should be able to buy a pre-paid parking pass from the Mets, but jump on that as soon as you can.

Apparently the Mets give themselves a good grade for their parking.

You can also pre-pay for your parking; while you won’t find much in the way of garages close to the ballpark, you should be able to find something in NYC you can use close to a 7 station, and from there take a cheap train ride to the ballpark. You’ll still come out ahead in cost and aggravation if you do it right.

Don’t mind the puddles. It’s cheap and close.

Finally, here’s my favorite Citi Field parking trick…the Southfield commuter lot across the street from the ballpark doesn’t kick in its game rate ($30 as I write this) until 9:00 for day games or noon for night games…so get there early, park for a fin, and take a train somewhere in NYC and enjoy a day in the city and a deli sandwich or something. Come back to the ballpark, enjoy the game, and it’s a short walk back to your car next to the suckers who paid $25 more.

Ballpark in view, just make sure your parking brake is good.

You can find some free street parking west of the ballpark; the side streets along 114th and 114th Street itself usually have some space where you can park with no meters. It requires crossing a freeway exit ramp to get there, but it’s easy enough with basic caution, and this spot is almost as close as the $30 west lots at the ballpark. I’ve read accounts of people having success with this, but this is Queens, so try it at your own risk. I wouldn’t park a Benz there.

They inexplicably don’t yet have Citibikes at Citi Field yet. But here’s a picture of what they look like in case they ever do.

Honestly, Citi Field isn’t a place where I’d ride a bicycle to the game, even though the Mets have bike racks. But if you do try it, there’s plenty of NYC bicycle maps available on the web to plan your route; it’s 9.3 miles and about an hour ride from Grand Central if that’s your starting point.

I also recommend against taxis or rideshares…it will be a long ride with the meter running, especially after the game. Find a way to get to the LIRR if you’re willing to shell out that much.

Citi Field has you covered even for waffles and ice cream. With Mets colored sprinkles again.
(photo courtesy of Maggie Wiggin)

Citi Field Guide, Part 4: What To Eat At Citi Field

I’m happy to help you decide what to eat at Citi Field, but there are so many great options here…the Mets might have the best food selection in baseball. So I’ve devoted an entire blog post to Citi Field food…with appetizing pictures and everything. You can read that here; there’s much more detail about the restaurants and healthier items too.

But for this guide, I’ll go over just a few things you should know to help make the truly challenging decision of what to eat.

Equally impressive without the wax paper.

First, the center field food court…called the Taste of The City…is the spot for the classic NYC eats, and there’s a bunch of them. Most prominent is the Shake Shack and their Shackburgers, which are so popular that people will miss World Series innings waiting in line for one.

Sometimes it’s as simple as keeping the buns warm.

You can also find Pat LaFrieda’s steak sandwich cart here. LaFrieda is one of the prime purveyors of beef in NYC, which is probably saying a lot, and if you like caramelized onions, you’ll like this sandwich.

There’s also the Metropolitan Fry Factory, with crazy editions of loaded fries AND deep fried hot dogs, and the Tater Kegs from Amazin’ Chicken Co.

In the right field corner is the World’s Fare Market, where you can find healthier items. The Lobster Shack with expensive but tasty lobster rolls, and also a market with sushi and gluten free items.

Believe it or not, I am just scratching the surface and haven’t covered a wealth of other items, but this Citi Field guide is already clocking in at 4,000 words and there’s other stuff you need to know. Again, have a look at the full food post here (there’s even pictures of dessert waffles!).

Pat LaFrieda beef and Nathan’s fries…that is a first class meal regardless.

But I will add this…even the basic stuff at Citi Field is pretty good. Nathan’s hot dogs (and their equally iconic fries), Premio sausages and Pat LaFrieda beef burgers are all very good, and the Mets even offer some great condiment stands with things like sauerkraut and NYC onion relish. There is no shame in going for the generic food items here.

So to keep it simple: think center field food court, right field market, and Hudson Club. And generic = just fine.

It’s a train stop away and has good cheap dumplings, but it’s a lot of work to get it to the ballpark.

Finally, you can bring your own food into Citi Field (the Mets allow a 16*16*8 bag and don’t specifically prohibit food), but there isn’t much as far as takeout joints within a stone’s throw from the ballpark. Or a $3 train ride for that matter.

You could find some good ethnic eats on Main Street in Flushing a train station away (it’s actually not a long walk), but this is a lot of hassle just to save a few bucks. Bring a bottle of water since you’ll be thirsty and maybe some peanuts.

Dunk the Cardinals fan! Well, okay, dunk the Mets employee with a Cardinals jersey!

Citi Field Guide, Part 5: Bringing The Kids To A Mets Game

The Mets made their ballpark kid-friendly, with lots of activities both in the Mr. Met area in center field and also in the Coca-Cola Corner concourse. Kids can dunk a Mets employee dressed in the visiting team’s gear, play on a wiffle ball field, and toss cornhole bags in the Corner.

Sunday is by far the best day to take the kids, with a bunch of activities like face painting and a promo item for the little ones. (Arrive early for the swag.) Plus they’re usually day games, so the kids get home at a reasonable hour. Sundays include kids running the bases (the “Mr. Met Dash”), which is always a popular promotion.

You can find these booths at the ballpark, but you’ll already be there then.

If you’re bringing the little ones, have a look at the Mr. Met Kids Club and see if it’s worth your while. With membership your kid gets ticket vouchers, discounts on gear, and front of the line privileges on run-the-bases days…and you’ll want front of the line access for that. You can even take the kids to a Brooklyn Cyclones game with your free vouchers.

You can find discounted food items and kids meals at generic food stands, especially near the kids area in center field. Remember the bag policy; if you need to save money, bring your own bags of snacks for the kids to munch on.

Keep in mind the shade areas as well. If you’re sitting in right field and in the Coca-Cola Corner especially, bring a hat and sunscreen for the kids.

Finally, I wouldn’t take kids onto the 7 train, not because it’s dangerous but because trains get very crowded especially after a game, and it’s tough enough to keep an eye on little ones in NYC. If you can, either drive to the game and get there as early as you can, or use the LIRR.

Wait! There’s still some stuff to see!

Citi Field Guide, Part 6: Citi Field Photo-Ops + Other Tips

If you’re a Mets fan especially, or a baseball fan in general, the Mets Hall of Fame and Museum is worth a visit. It’s got plaques of Mets greats, the 1969 and 1986 World Series trophies, a jersey worn by Tom Seaver and multiple other tributes to great Mets moments.

We miss you, Tom Terrific.

It’s on the right as you enter the Jackie Robinson Rotunda gates, and you should go through as soon as you get in because it can get crowded. Conveniently, after jogging your Mets fan sentiment, the Hall drops you right into the Mets gift shop.

Jackie signs the deal with Branch Rickey’s favorite cigar manufacturer.

Despite the fact that he didn’t play for the Mets, it’s fair to recognize Jackie Robinson, since he broke the color barrier here in New York City, in the National League. The Jackie Robinson Rotunda inside the main entrance gates is indeed impressive and a fitting tribute to one of baseball’s greatest heroes. You can check out the nine values he was committed to and see beautifully arranged large scale photos of the man and his life.

Along with the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, there are some popular photo-ops at Citi Field, and I’m throwing in one most people probably don’t think of, at no extra charge.

Still the Ultimate Answer.

Citi Field Photo-Ops, #1) The 42. Inside the main entrance in the Jackie Robinson Rotunda is the number 42, about six feet high reminding us all of the Ultimate Answer. This is a very popular photo-op, though, so you might want to wait until after the game to pose with this one.

Two world class ballpark enthusiasts at the Shea Stadium home run apple.

Citi Field Photo-Ops, #2) The Shea Stadium Big Apple. The Mets brought over the home run apple from Shea Stadium; it’s on the plaza in the path from the 7 train station to the ballpark, so you can’t miss it. It’s a favorite spot for traveling fans to pose, like I did with my good friend Joe Mock of Baseball Parks here.

Unfortunately you can’t test drive it in the concourse.

Citi Field Photo-Ops, #3) The Mets Hyundaimobile. As far as I know, this car is still inside the ballpark, just outside the Hyundai Club level. If you’re a Mets fan, you’d love driving it.

Preserving the memories of Ebbets Field. Except it’s in Queens. And a different team plays there.

Citi Field Photo-Ops, #4) The View From The 7 Station. Citi Field is a quite impressive on the outside, and approaching it from either the 7 or LIRR gives a sense of both its size and its classic ballpark structure. You get something of a sense of what Ebbets Field was like except for the big parking lots.

Fortunately, they didn’t bring New Coke to Citi Field.

Citi Field Photo-Ops, #5) The Coca-Cola Sign. If you can, you might want to actually get some video of the Coca-Cola sign in the right field corner, especially at night…the sign changes colors, has white suds flowing through it, etc. It can be fun to watch if the Mets aren’t holding your interest.

And don’t miss this one…

As you can see, this modern urban ballpark blends in seamlessly with its surroundings.

Citi Field Photo-Ops, #6) Bonus tip! The View of Queens. Take a trip to the concourse behind the Coca-Cola Corner and take a look at the neighborhood this beautiful ballpark is in…muffler and auto glass shops for blocks. One of my favorite things about Citi Field is this beautiful ballpark in the heart of a hard urban community. It’s classic NYC.

Finally, I’ll concede that Citi Field does have some flaws…like some less than stellar seats and insufficient access by car…but it’s truly a beautiful ballpark to walk around in and the food selection is second to none. It’s a great place to see a game if you know what you’re doing, and it’s an ideal counterpoint to its neighbor in the Bronx. Citi Field has grown on me a lot, and it will on you too.

Now you can do Citi Field right!

I hope that you’ve found this Citi Field guide to be helpful in saving money and avoiding the pitfalls…if you’d like to know more about the Mets ballpark, you can check out this much more detailed seating guide with lots of helpful tips, and this complete guide to the duly impressive food menu at Citi Field. If you’re doing a NYC baseball trip, be sure to read my guide to Yankee Stadium too!

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If you are planning a trip to see the home of the Mets, or even if you’re a regular who would like to improve their view of the game, we’ve got your back. Here is your complete, user-friendly Citi Field seating guide – with everything you need to know to find the best seats at Citi Field, for whatever your budget size!

Citi is a great ballpark, but there are some seats to avoid, and some seats have great advantages, like club access for a lower price than you’d think. (BTW, be sure to check out my complete guide to Citi Field, and learn about the superb Citi Field food menu before your next trip.)

So here we go, broken down for some simplicity (it’s a lot, but for good reason, I promise!):

Citi Field Seating Chart + Layout
Really Cool + Pricey Club Seats
Group + Party Areas
Field Level Seating
Excelsior (Mezzanine) Level
Cheap Seats + Coca-Cola Corner
Promenade Level (+ More Cheap Seats)
Avoiding Obstructed Views
Standing Room at Citi Field

By the way, be sure to check out my complete guide to Citi Field, full of money-saving tips, and definitely know what’s on the superb Citi Field menu before you go!

Yes, there are lots of good ones here. Choose wisely!

There’s a lot to know here, so let’s get started after this quick word from Gametime…thank you for supporting our sponsors!

Gametime has your cheap Mets tickets…with a lowest price guarantee, panoramic seat view photos, and great last minute deals…even after the game starts!

(See why Ballpark E-Guides loves Gametime here!)

Helpful section numbering in case you use a scalp…I mean buy your tickets here!

Citi Field Seating, Part 1: Citi Field Seating Chart + Layout

The Citi Field seating layout is simple enough. The one- and two-digit numbered sections are the low seats behind home plate—club seats that are triple digits in price. The rest of the ballpark’s sections are numbered in three-digits. The lowest level (100) is the Field Level, the mezzanine with the Piazza 31 Club and Box seats is called the Excelsior Level (300), and the upper deck is the Promenade Level (400 and 500).

The numbering starts with 101 and 301 in right field and increases clockwise around the ballpark. The Promenade level starts in the right field corner with 401 and 501. The numbering continues until the Big Apple Reserved seats in center field at 140-142. The Coca-Cola Corner in right field is Sections 301-305.

Seating so nice, they’re telling you twice!

Seat 1 in any row is closest to home plate, and in the Promenade level sections there are 17 rows to the top of the ballpark, where you can wave to pilots in the planes taking off from LaGuardia International. (Incidentally, if you want a better view of the planes, sit on the first base side of the field. It’s actually kind of cool.)

Short of the obstructed view seats (I’ll talk about that), generally most of the seats get high marks for the view of the field. If you’re just a foodie going to the game for the delicacies (and that’s definitely understandable here), you’d do well to sit down the line in right field or in the left field landing seats.

Depending on which types of seats you buy, you’ll have access to certain clubs; which ones will be listed on your ticket and the Mets have a chart on their website to help. It’s way too complicated to explain here – if this matters to you, check out the access chart.

So here is the breakdown, going from most to least expensive (I’m not bothering with the suites):

Cushioned and large seats for that “airplane” feel.

Citi Field Seating, Part 2: Really Cool But Pricey Club Seats

Delta Sky360 Club seats are nine sections of those padded, comfortable monsters directly behind home plate. They can cost as much as a half a grand and like in many sections, the first two Platinum rows of each section are costlier than the rest.

The Mets charge quite a bit for these tickets, and you can often find a better deal for them from Gametime or another third party seller. Delta Silver seats are directly behind the Delta Gold seats and cost about half the price; the markup probably isn’t worth “Lounge” access.

This is worth the price of the Citi Field tour.

These seats come with access to the Delta Sky360 Club directly behind home plate. Two full service bars and chef-prepared dining, since that’s what baseball is about. The low end items like hot dogs and coffee are complimentary, gourmet items are not.

The restaurant has no view of the field, but it does have a view of the Mets batting practice cages. Like in all of the clubs, there are TVs to watch the action. In-seat service is included.

Recently the Mets have turned the first eight rows behind home plate into the Clover Home Plate Club, which they deem as “a perfect fit for companies looking to entertain their current or prospective clients in the best seats at Citi Field.” How can I become a “prospective client”?

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Interested in some baseball with your gourmet offerings?

Everything from Shackburgers to gourmet pizza and non-alcoholic beverages are all included in the Clover Club and can be ordered right from your seat. No small thing given typical Shake Shack lines. You can also use your ticket to get free food anywhere in the ballpark, which is pretty cool, but probably not worth the extra several hundred dollars.

Incidentally, the last rows of Delta sections have seats in front of aisles, making for an awful obstructed views with people walking in front of you. Avoid Row 20.

And you thought the Geek Squad cars were cool.

The Hyundai Club seats are the two lower level areas behind the Delta Club seats at first and third base. There’s a very cool-looking car decorated in Mets colors outside the club if you’re looking for it.

These seats are also usually triple digits in price, but you can get a reasonable deal on a midweek, non-Yankees game in April or May; it’s a better deal than the Deltas and worth it for the club access. Most of these go to season ticket holders, so you may find a better deal on Gametime or elsewhere, just be sure to compare the price to the Mets website.

Floating above the Delta folks even!

This was originally called the “Ebbets Club”; it was renamed in response to Mets fans complaining about the tributes to the Dodgers at Citi, and pictures and memorabilia of the 1969 and 1986 championship teams have been added here.

The Hyundai Club includes a high end buffet with a carvery and pasta bar, and a dessert cart that is rolled out during the 7th inning. All of this, with non-alcoholic drinks and in-seat service, are included with the ticket.

I love sitting in front of sports reporters.

The Piazza 31 Club Infield seats are on the Excelsior (Mezzanine) level between the bases. These tickets are now “Excelsior Gold” or “Excelsior Box”, and cost about half of what the Deltas cost.

Most of these seats are padded and covered by the upper tier, and there aren’t many rows, making getting in and out of your seat easy enough.

Kids and adults enjoy the view of the 7 train.

The Piazza lounge, on the Excelsior (second) level behind home plate, is open to Promenade Gold ticket holders and anyone else that paid more for their tickets. It is on top of the rotunda, and offers fine views of Flushing landmarks like the Unisphere and the Citi Field parking lot, but there is no view of the game. There are leather sofas though.

Inside the Club are food stands with high end grub, soft pretzels and cookies (check out Whole Hog BBQ), and there are a few stands where you can avoid lines. You have to pay for the food here, unfortunately, but there’s plenty of space to sit and eat.

Those are the seating areas for the well-to-do New Yorkers among us; before I tackle the rest of the seating areas, let’s go into the party areas for groups, which are numerous:

Wise Mets fans come to the game in groups…for the food!

Citi Field Seating, Part 3: Group + Party Areas

After moving the Citi Field fences in for 2012 to accommodate whiny sluggers, the Mets discovered they had more party space for groups. Here is a list of spots where you can reserve tickets for a group with some perks included:

Here, you’ll really know when a Met hits a home run.

Big Apple Reserved seats are the field level seats in straightaway center, right next to that Big Apple that pops up whenever a Mets player hits a home run. Directly behind the Big Apple seats are tables where people can stand and watch while eating a gourmet food item; these are the closest seats to the center field concourse with its fancy food and Mr. Met kids area.

These seats used to only be available for groups, but you can get a ticket for a single game these days. For some reason, they’re popular on weekend nights and priced accordingly; but for weeknights they’re among the cheapest tickets in the ballpark.

I’m not sure why, but I’ve always gotten an urge to get a Citibank card when I come here.

The Citi Pavilion at Shea Bridge was formerly the “Shea Bridge Terrace”; apparently the Mets needed a more unwieldy name to help fans with its location. The sets of tables and chairs in this landing are just in front of the Shea Bridge, over the bullpens in right center field.

The Mets have updated this space, and there are now drink rails and tables with comfortable seating and phone chargers. They’ve also added a bar with “light snacks” exclusively for this section.

The Citi Pavilion is a group area and is now a drinks-inclusive ticket, at least if you don’t mind drinking Bud Light throughout the game. The seats go for triple digits in price though, so you’ll need to find a lot of enthusiastic fans.

Yes, people sit there under the Honda sign. See the field the way relief pitchers do!

The Honda Clubhouse is underneath the right field reserved seats, for a true field-level view of both the field and the bullpen. There are windows that can be closed on cold nights. The seating is table seating with padded seats in front.

There aren’t a lot of seats here, so if someone invites you, get to the game early. It has been expanded to accommodate the fences being moved in, but that just means there will be more people at your outing.

The Clubhouse is also for groups only—it includes buffet service and hi-def TVs to watch the parts of the game you miss at the odd vantage point. The Mets actually mentioned as one of the group benefits “Scoreboard Greeting (not visible from area)”. Yes, I laughed too when I read that. This spot can be reasonable for a night out with your friends, and as a group leader you get four tickets to a future game.

Shouldn’t the Ms here be blue and orange? Just saying.

M&M’s Sweet Seats. The high left field wall is still here, but there’s a new and closer to home plate fence in front of it, so the Mets dedicated the space between the two fences to the iconic candy bits. Tickets include food and drinks served to your seat (or stool); before the game fans can chow on Nathan’s dogs among other food items. Nothing high end, unless you consider Nathan’s high end, which it is I suppose. They’ll even give you a cookie late in the game.

Again, tickets to a future game are included for the group leader.

As the Mets state, this is a prime spot to catch a batting practice home run ball in the newly hitter-friendly Citi Field, and it’s exclusive so you won’t have to push those pesky kids out of the way.

OK then, now on to seats for the rest of us, or some of us…again, from most to least expensive:

Work harder to get those closer seats at Mets games!

Citi Field Seating, Part 4: Field Level

The Metropolitan Box seats are on the lower level to the outside of the Delta Club seats. They come in four flavors, Gold, Silver, Bronze and good old Metropolitan Box, and the better ones have better club access that probably isn’t worth the markup of sometimes double the price.

If you’re looking at back row Field Level tickets (31 is the last row in most sections) and have a choice, try the Excelsior Box seats instead. The view is just as good, better even than top rows of field level seats that are covered and lose the scoreboards, club access is the same, and Excelsior seats are cheaper.

Almost close enough for heckling!

Field Level and Baseline Box seats are beyond the bases towards the foul pole. These seats are nicely angled towards the infield, making for less neck-twisting, and if you’re in Section 104, you’re facing directly towards home plate. Like just about everywhere else in the park, the first two rows of Field Box sections are more expensive, and not worth the significant markup in my opinion.

Lower level seats down the lines cost a bit more than even a team with the Mets’ recent success probably should, so this isn’t the place to look for bargains unless you’re using a third party seller, and look for low demand games.

Sounds royal and all that, but Excelsior just means “higher”.

Citi Field Seating, Part 5: Excelsior (Mezzanine) Level

The Excelsior is the Mezzanine (second) level; I’ve already talked about the Excelsior Gold and Box seats that are near to the Piazza 31 Club, but there are specialized outfield sections as well. Like the infield sections, the outfield sections are covered by the overhang of the upper deck, great for the shade, although in the upper rows you may lose some of the big scoreboards.

The rest of the Excelsior seats belong in the “cheap seats” section (including the Coca-Cola Corner):

Clearly designated to make your seats easy to find. If you’re an American, anyway.

Citi Field Seating, Part 6: Cheap Seats + Coca-Cola Corner

The Left Field and Right Field Reserved seats in the lower level have had their pricing lowered and are now the cheaper seats. Most of the seats are covered, especially in the Right Field area that is overlapped by the Coca-Cola Corner–nice on a hot or rainy day but it offers no view of either of the impressive big scoreboards.

These seats are close to both the center field concourse area and the World’s Fare Market, so you have plenty of very good grub choices just a few steps away, but I don’t know that it’s worth the very limited view.

Well, access to the Piazza Club, anyway.

Left Field Landing seats are on the Excelsior level in left field. Like the Piazza 31 Club seats, most of them are covered and there aren’t many rows. Out in left field here, you’re pretty far from home plate, so try to get the first couple of rows if you can.

These seats, like the Coca-Cola Corner seats, include access to the Piazza Club. This is important to know not only for club access (they are the cheapest tickets that include it), but also so that you don’t have to go up or down a floor to get from one side of the Excelsior level to the other. Good to know if you use a farther entrance.

Like with the Piazza Club, the Left Field Landing and Coca-Cola Corner are now available for group packages with food and beverage included.

Kind of cool being close to that Mets orange foul pole though.

Now about that big section under the Coca-Cola sign: The Coca-Cola Corner is that five sections of seats in the Excelsior level in right field, which hang over the Right Field Reserved seats.

These seats are sort of set aside from the rest of the park, and the Coca-Cola Corner has its own concourse area with sofas, cornhole games, a picnic area with Coke bottle top tables, and a landing to view lovely downtown Flushing. It’s a perfect view of Queens…blocks of muffler shops. Enjoy the urban renewal.

Coca-Cola Corner seats cost about the same as Left Field Landing, although they’re very different atmospheres. The Coca-Cola seats used to be about the same price as Promenade Infield, but they are more now, so apparently the Corner is becoming a popular place. Batting practice homers land here, for one. It’s also, with its extra entertainment, a decent spot for kids.

Lots of sunshine, even at dusk.

If you’re sensitive to the sun, though, this definitely isn’t the best choice, since you’ll bake during day games and it’s the last place to see shade for night games. Highly recommended to bring a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses here.

A significant difference between Box and Reserved…including with shade.

Citi Field Seating, Part 7: Promenade Level

The cheapest seats in Citi Field are in the Promenade (400-500 sections) level past the bases. The Promenade Reserved Infield seats are only slightly more expensive than the Promenade Reserved (500 sections past the bases)–nowadays the outfield sections of the Promenade Level are the cheapest seats in the ballpark (and rightly so). They are very far away, and can be downright frightening on a windy day.

The Promenade Gold and Box seats in the upper level (400 section) are considerably pricier–sometimes more than double – than those in the 500 section directly behind them. Twice as good seats? For the peace of mind of avoiding a glass landing being in front of you, maybe–but you can often find a deal with a third party.

The Jacob’s Pickles chicken and biscuit sandwich, a reason to splurge for Highball Club access. (photo courtesy of Maggie Wiggin)