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Wrigley Field Seating Guide – Best Seats, Shade + Obstructed Views
Posted by Kurt Smith
Search no more…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.
Apologies for any dated photos…it’s been a little while since I’ve been to Wrigley. But to the best of my knowledge, all the info here is up to date. BTW, if you need more Wrigley help, check out my complete Wrigley Field guide!
Here it is by section:
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
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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 Cubs have 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.
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.
Wrigley Field Seating, Lower Level – Premium, Club, Field and Terrace
The American Airlines 1914 Club seats are the first three rows in Sections 13-22; the recently added Bullpen Box seats 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 include high end club access. If you have to ask the price…
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 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.
I’m hearing your question. Where’s the Steve Bartman Seat?
Wikipedia says that the “Steve Bartman seat”, with the new seating configuration, is Section 2, Row 8, Seat 108. Except that the new Wrigley section numbering doesn’t have a Section 2, and plugging in the old seat number here doesn’t work either.
So quit wasting your time on Wikipedia, since this site is far more informative. If you want to sit in the Bartman seat, just go to Section 3 and ask. Every usher can point you right to it.
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.
The Terrace is behind the Field Box seats. There is a walkway between the sections, but Terrace seats are elevated to help patrons see over pedestrians. Terrace Box seats are the first five rows; these are in front of the support poles and thusly are safe from obstructed 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.
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 nearly the same).
The press box at Wrigley is behind home plate, so there are no Upper Reserved seats there, but the eight rows of seats in front of them are a primo Wrigley Field seating choice. These are also convenient to the upper deck food court pavilion, although the Cubs have greatly improved the upper concourse situation.
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.
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 your 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 getting to your Upper Reserved seats can still be rough.
There are restrooms on the upper level, despite the horror stories some might tell you about there being none. From the walkway in the stands, if you look up you’ll see directional signs for them.
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.
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 price 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.
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).
Except for down the third base line in Sections 210-215, the poles are at the end of section, so seats that are 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 all of that is too complicated, 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.
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.
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.
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, which is one of the more striking visual aspects of Wrigley Field.
There is a mini scoreboard with vital info, and the Cubs have 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.
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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. There’s a few things you should know:
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.
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 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, 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.
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.
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.)
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.
The ushers will be pretty strict about keeping you in the SRO area. Your best bet, speaking from my own experience, is the pavilion space under the press box, which features as nice a view as the Upper Box, almost.
There is also 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. Or you could try the new party areas in the bleachers (you’ll need a Bleacher ticket for that).
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.
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 some shade earlier on the third base side. To stay out of the sun, avoid the lower level seats down the right field line, and stay away from the bleachers entirely.
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.
For October night games at Wrigley, fans dress extremely warmly, and with good reason. Be prepared…on a cold night you could be sitting on a metal seat for a long time.
There you have it my friends, your complete primer on picking a seat at Wrigley Field…compiled from my own and others experiences. If you want to find the best deals on Cubs tickets, check out this post. Hope it helps you in your next visit…see you at the Yard!
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Best Way To Get To Great American Ball Park For Reds Games
Posted by Kurt Smith
More than likely, you’re going to get to Great American Ball Park by car, since public transit isn’t as prevalent in Cincinnati as it is in, say, Chicago.
This is fine, though, since there are ample parking options. And as ballparks go, it is relatively easy to get to Great American, with several interstates on either side of downtown. You have inexpensive and expensive choices, and you have places to park where you can get in easily and places where you can get out easily.
There are also lots of places to leave your car in the neighboring towns of Newport and Covington, across the Ohio River in Kentucky. They aren’t the closest or the easiest places to walk (there are closer cheap spots), but you do have the option of the Southbank Shuttle.
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The Southbank Shuttle is a trolley service operated by the fine people at the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK). The trolley service runs from either Newport or Covington, and in most cases it passes through Cincinnati and has several stops near the ballpark. It runs frequently enough that you shouldn’t have to wait long, they offer extra service for Reds games, and as of this writing it’s just a buck-fifty per ride.
You can usually find cheap or even free parking in both towns, and the nice thing is that if you plan to take in some pre- or post-game food or entertainment, you have lots of dining options and fun things to do, especially at the Newport-On-The-Levee entertainment center.
You might have reasons to park downtown for a game, and there are some good reasons to do so in certain cases. But if you’re looking for inexpensive parking with minimal walking and less traffic after the game, you could do worse than parking in Kentucky and hopping on a trolley.
My only complaint is it’s a bit of a rickety ride. I wouldn’t recommend it for pregnant women. Then again, if your companion is carrying your offspring, you should be dropping her off at the door anyway.
That’s just one way to get to Great American; there’s also the street parking near the ballpark, the new Cincinnati streetcar, even the river shuttles. Click here to read some cool parking options.
TANK website: http://www.tankbus.org
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Cheap Seats at Great American Ball Park
Posted by Kurt Smith
By baseball standards, none of the seats at the Reds’ home are terribly expensive, at least not compared to ballparks in Chicago or New York. But if you’re looking for the cheap seats at Great American Ball Park, here’s a few sections and my opinion about them.
But first a valuable piece of advice from our sponsor:
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Cheap Seats at Great American Ball Park, Tip #1) Outer View. You can’t beat the price of the Outer View seats in Section 509 in left field…they can often be had for just $5. And you can order them online rather than having to go to the box office, although you’ll pay the online fees.
Sure, the view of the action isn’t great, although the view of the Ohio River and Kentucky is pretty boffo. But for most games, you can usually move to a better spot in the 500 level after the third inning or so. I’ve done this…please don’t tell the Reds.
Since the soon to be discussed “District Ticket” includes a free drink, it’s about the same deal as just buying a $5 ticket and hanging out in the District, where anyone with a ticket can go. Except you have an actual seat for just a finski.
Cheap Seats at Great American Ball Park, Tip #2) Bleachers. The Kroger Bleachers are the sections directly underneath the scoreboard; they are metal benches with backs and are the cheapest seats in the ballpark, save for Outer View seats and standing room.
The first 3-6 rows of the bleachers (Rows A-F) are downstairs from the entrance to the seating area; they cost the same but are closer to the action. There is a walkway separating these from the rows behind them, which makes going for a hot dog much easier from Rows A-F. The bleachers also in front of the impressive Big Board, but for your hi-def information there’s a nice new scoreboard in right field.
One important thing…the bleachers get hot. This is the last place to see shade for a night game, and their being metal doesn’t help. It’s a good idea to bring a hat and sunglasses.
That’s not to say it’s a bad deal; bleachers are affordable and attract a fair number of families. It’s a little more raucous out there, which can be fun.
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Cheap Seats at Great American Ball Park, Tip #3) Upper View Level. If you don’t mind sitting in the highest rows of the upper deck…and behind home plate this isn’t usually a bad thing…the top seven rows or so of the 500 sections go for a pretty nice price…often even less than the bleacher seats. Not bad for actual seats that aren’t hard hot metal, but probably not for the acrophobic.
It’s another way to get into the ballpark cheap, and with seats that aren’t half bad with a nice view of Kentucky and the bridges going across the Ohio. Again, in my experience, the upper level here isn’t tightly patrolled, and in the 500 sections you can usually move to a better spot.
Cheap Seats at Great American Ball Park, Bonus Tip!) The Fioptics District. If you’re not quite into baseball enough to just sit in a seat for nine innings and would like to socialize a bit (and I’m not judging), the Fioptics District is ideal for you.
The District is a lounge area with a full bar, comfy sofa-style seats with a fine view of downtown Cincinnati, and tables and drink rails with a view of the ballgame from left field. These used to be 400 level seats, but too many of them had the foul pole in the way, so the Reds turned it into a standing area.
The best part is that the Reds sell a very inexpensive “District Ticket” that includes added value for a drink or a concessions item, and you can use this credit in the nearby Machine Room restaurant. Great for a nice cheap evening of baseball.
There’s a few choices for the cheap seats at Great American…I checked for a low demand game, but these were all under $20 as I wrote this. But if you have a few extra bucks to spend, try these on for size.
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3 Tips For Great American Ball Park Seating | Cincinnati Reds
Posted by Kurt Smith
Great American Ball Park seating chart has something for everyone, and each seating section has its advantages for every taste, even for tightwads.
Here’s a bit of my opinion on just three noteworthy sections…but first, a quick word from our friendly sponsors at TickPick:
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Great American Ball Park Seating, Tip #1) The Champions Club. Like with their neighbors in Cleveland, the club seats at GABP are on the mezzanine level on the first base side, over the field level seats.
The seats here are wider than most and padded, have a great view of the action and a straight ahead view of the Big Board, and best of all include access to the climate-controlled Champions Club and its buffet.
The buffet with non-alcoholic drinks is included in the ticket price, and features Cincy greats Montgomery Inn BBQ sandwiches and LaRosa’s pizza, along with a carvery and Asian food station. At ballpark prices, you should be able to get your money’s worth on that.
Great American Ball Park Seating, Tip #2) The Sun/Moon Deck. The Sun/Moon Deck area in right field is so named for your ability to see the sun or the moon easily from the section, which isn’t covered anywhere. There’s actually a pretty nice view of the Cincinnati skyline from here as well.
The Sun/Moon Deck is a popular spot for the river breeze and the proximity to great food and the kids’ play area; just make sure that you’re protected from the sun on those blazingly hot Cincinnati summer days. They have misters nearby in center field.
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Great American Ball Park Seating, Tip #3) The Mezzanine. The Mezzanine is what the Reds call the larger 400 level sections that were created as a result of the Gap. Mezzanine seats are almost as close to the field as the Champions Club seats on the first base side, but they are much cheaper, and they have a superb view of the river beyond the outfield.
They don’t include food with your ticket like Club seats do, but you’ll have more than enough money left over with these to enjoy a decent meal in the Machine Room, which is also in the upper level in left field and is also climate controlled. See, I think about this stuff.
That’s just three seating areas of Great American Ball Park; you have a lot more to choose from, like the Scout seats, the Diamond Club or the bleachers. If you’re going cheap, check out this post.
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The
3 Ways To Score Cheap Reds Tickets
Posted by Kurt Smith
The Reds are pretty good about making the majority of seats at Great American Ball Park affordable for fans. But it also helps to save money by planning ahead…so here are three tips for scoring cheap Reds tickets:
Cheap Reds Tickets, Tip #1) Use The Newsletter. The Reds‘ e-mail ticket alerts offer some truly great deals for fans, and I can tell you the Reds put more offers in their newsletter than most teams do, even when they’re competitive on the field.
Deals include half-price tickets for kids on Sundays, added concessions value and discounted tickets for members of the local library or other Cincinnati institutions. The Reds are very generous to newsletter subscribers, so be sure to sign up.
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Cheap Reds Tickets, Tip #2) Join The Club(s). The Reds have three fan clubs for kids of varying age levels; you can find them on the Fans page of the Reds website. Membership includes ticket vouchers that are alone worth the price, but you also get a lot of privileges and gear to go with it.
For adults, if you’re early enough, you can join the Rosie Reds Club, which is a separate entity but also offers ticket deals for members.
Cheap Reds Tickets, Tip #3) Help Your Fellow Cincinnatian. In the Community section of the Reds website are several opportunities to score Reds tickets through being a good citizen. The Reds offer tickets to fans for donating blood, participating in the “Redlegs Run”, or recycling your electronics.
Nothing like getting ballgame tickets for helping your fellow human.
Cheap Reds Tickets, Tip #4) Bonus Tip: Try TickPick! TickPick is my favorite third party website for Reds tickets, and I’m not just saying that because they’re an affiliate of mine. Anytime I’m looking for deals on baseball tickets, I check TickPick first.
There you go, four great tips for finding inexpensive tickets to see the Cincinnati Reds. There are plenty of other ways to save money for a game at Great American Ball Park. Click here for some more great tips for your next Reds game, and Follow Ballpark E-Guides on Facebook for tips, tricks and hacks for your favorite ballpark!
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3 Tips For Great American Ball Park With Kids – Cincinnati Reds
Posted by Kurt Smith
You could come up with worse family outing ideas than visiting Great American Ball Park with kids. Great American is one of the most kid-friendly (and wallet-friendly) ballparks in MLB, and the Reds offer lots of cool deals for fans.
Here are three great reasons to take the children to a Reds game:
#1) The Fan Zone. The Fan Zone in the right field corner of GABP is a multi-level playground featuring a wiffle ball field, interactive games with prizes, and the Reds Heads Clubhouse for Kids Club members. A big slide leads from the upper level to the lower level. Often Reds employees will come out and pitch to the kids.
In addition to all of this, there are fireworks on Friday nights and kids’ giveaways on Sundays.
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#2) Newport-On-The-Levee. If you really want to wear the kids out, you can park cheaply in the Newport-On-The-Levee complex across the river in Kentucky, and make a day of it. There’s an aquarium, a movie theater, a Gameworks arcade, and many more places for the kids to have fun and for parents to spend money. Lots of places to eat and fun for kids of all ages.
When going to the game, park in Newport and use the inexpensive Southbank Shuttle, and get dropped off right at the door of Great American.
#3) The Riverfront. There’s a pretty nice riverfront in Cincinnati, with a beautiful walking and bicycling trail, and a perfectly nice playground for the kids to burn off steam at the foot of the Roebling Bridge. Good if you’re there, say, an hour before the gates open. The kids can burn off enough steam to sleep a couple of innings.
There’s three places to see when visiting Great American Ball Park with kids…and if you want to save money on tickets, check this out.
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5 Great American Ball Park Tips For Newbies | Cincinnati Reds
Posted by Kurt Smith
For you first time visitors to the superb Reds ballpark in Cincinnati, I’m offering some Great American Ball Park tips for newbies that I hope you’ll find helpful. Great American is a terrific, and underrated ballpark experience, so make sure you get the most out of it!
Great American Ball Park Tips, #1: Check for ticket deals. Not just through the Reds website, although they definitely have some great offers and you should sign up for team e-mail alerts. But sites like Groupon and others also offer discounted Reds tickets. You can get that District ticket with the free drink, or get half-price tickets for the kids if you search a little bit.
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Great American Ball Park Tips, #2: Be prepared in the outfield seating. If you’re sitting in the bleachers in left field or the Sun & Moon Deck in right field, you will be completely unprotected from the sun during the day, and when you add the concrete and white steel to the Cincinnati heat, it can be rough.
Have sunglasses and sunscreen, and take advantage of the misters that the Reds set up near the home run towers. Probably a good idea to bring a cushion for those metal bleachers seats too. You’ll thank me.
Great American Ball Park Tips, #3: Try parking in Newport. You can park in the Newport-On-The-Levee entertainment complex very cheaply, especially if you’re early, and from there you have several choices to get to the ballpark…the long but picturesque walk across the Purple People Bridge, the inexpensive Southbank Shuttle, or the ferry boats coming from the Hooters and other restaurants on the pier.
Great for a fun outing, and there’s plenty to do in Newport-On-The-Levee for kids of all ages.
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Great American Ball Park Tips, #4: Enjoy a meal in the Machine Room. There are plenty of great food choices in Great American like the Skyline chili cheese Coney, the Penn Station subs and the Frisch’s Big Boy burgers, but those are all local chains and you can enjoy them more cheaply at the actual restaurants in town.
Instead, try the restaurant in the upper left field corner…you may get a table with a great view, and you can get some crazy and messy loaded fries. Remember what I said about arriving early? The Machine Room is another pretty good reason.
Great American Ball Park Tips, #5: See the Reds Hall of Fame. It’s great to visit any team’s Hall, but the Reds Hall may be the best of them. You can see a short film of the team’s history, where you’ll learn how Cincinnati was the home of the first professional baseball team (which is now technically the Red Sox, but the city still has great baseball roots) and you can see displays like the 4,256 baseballs for Pete Rose hits and a model of old Crosley Field.
Not to mention the Reds Hall itself, which will probably be the only baseball Hall to include Charlie Hustle.
That’s a few essential tips for visiting Great American…if you’re looking for ways to score cheaper tickets, check this out.
Lots More Great American Ball Park Tips Where This Came From!
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Great American Ball Park Seating – The Gap
Posted by Kurt Smith
The Great American Ball Park seating bowl features a pretty neat idea that some newer ballparks have quietly adopted – the Gap.
When Great American was built, budget constraints kept the designers from putting in big riverboats or exploding scoreboards, so they came up with a clever way to introduce a quirk to the ballpark.
The Gap is a section of seating between home and third base that was left open; there is an opening there that is a decent standing room spot on the upper level especially.
I’ve read that the Gap allows people to watch the game from Sycamore Street, but honestly I don’t know how that’s possible, unless there is a spot just outside the ballpark that I missed.
The other stated purpose of the Gap was to bring the upper level seats on the third base side closer to home plate. That isn’t quite the case either, well, not exactly.
What the Gap does do is enable larger sections of 400 level seats. These are called “View Box” seats on the first base side of the Gap, and those sections have about five rows, while on the third base side they are called “Mezzanine” but still are numbered with 400 section numbers. The sections on the third base side have 17-18 rows in them.
So yes, it does bring the seats closer to the action; the Mezzanine seats are about at the same level as the Club seating on the first base side. But it doesn’t actually bring the cheapest seats closer to the field, not noticeably so anyway. The Mezzanine seating costs as much as the View Box, sometimes a couple bucks more or less depending on the Reds’ dynamic pricing.
Not saying that this is a bad thing, not at all. The Gap provides a nice little opening to walk past and it’s actually pretty neat how the designers of the ballpark created larger 400 level sections. Yes, it costs a few dollars more, but they’re mezzanine level seats as opposed to upper box, and the seats have a good perspective of everything.
Great American Ball Park, gap and all, is one of the most functionally fan-friendly ballparks in baseball, in my opinion, and one of the reasons is the view from most of the seats in the ballpark. In most places the upper rows on the third base side wouldn’t be great; at Great American you have some better choices.
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3 American Family Field Seating Tips (Milwaukee Brewers)
Posted by Kurt Smith
American Family Field (home of the Milwaukee Brewers, in case you weren’t aware of the name change from Miller Park) has an impressive seating bowl, with four whole tiers of seating. I talk about cheaper seats elsewhere, but here’s three American Family Field seating tips for the lower levels.
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American Family Field Seating Tips, #1) Field Level. The lowest level seats at American Family Field have a low slope, but the view is just fine. The seats closer to the outfield are angled towards second base for less neck strain. All the seats between the bases cost the same; you have to get close to the corners to see a price drop.
The first five or so rows of each Infield section is considered Diamond Box, and command a significantly higher price. So if you want one of the better seats, try a third party seller like TickPick.
The Field Box seats, like most all seats at Brewers games, are surprisingly reasonable in today’s baseball climate. There are some 25-26 rows in most sections.
American Family Field Seating Tips, #2) Loge Level. The Loge section is the second tier, from foul pole to foul pole, and follows the same pricing pattern as Field Box; infield and outfield seats, and the lower row seats are Diamond seats. The price disparity isn’t as large here though.
Loge seats can be the best value in the ballpark. In many ballparks the second tier is the suite or club level, but at the Brewers’ ballpark they’re for the common folk and are physically only slightly higher than field level. Great view for the price, especially on bargain nights.
The higher rows of Loge Box seats can suffer from view problems with the overhang of the Club Level; generally about the 18th row up might give you problems seeing the scoreboard.
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American Family Field Seating Tips, #3) Club Level. The Club Level is the third tier above the Loge Level and are fairly high up for premium seats. The seats there cost a bit more, but you have access to the climate-controlled, carpeted Club Level concourse, which is nice on a cold (or hot) day. You’ll also have access to the huge SKYY Lounge on the Club Level, overlooking Helfaer Field.
There are plenty of deluxe (for a ballpark) food options—carveries and stations for pasta, burgers and stir-fry foods to choose from. In the infield seats you can request waitress service.
Getting to the Club Level is an adventure; you can use either the escalator that finds its way up through a maze of impressive structure, or use the clock tower elevator next to the front entrance. Should you land a Club Level ticket, it’ll be helpful to have it within easy reach, since the Brewers are big on ushers checking tickets at this level.
The Club probably isn’t the best place for families; they don’t have the playgrounds that the lower concourse has, and the kids might not enjoy it as much. Better to save this one for a client or a date.
There you go folks; three levels of Miller Park seating for those of discriminating tastes. You can always save a few bucks with the cheap seats though…there’s plenty of them here!
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Interested in more American Family Field tips for your next Brewers game? I’ve got ya! Check out Brewers tailgating tips here, some tips for newbies, what to know bringing the kids, and this amazing list of Brewers game shuttles!
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4 Great American Family Field Photo-Ops
Posted by Kurt Smith
Hopefully this site has provided some great American Family Field tips for your next visit to the fine home of the Brewers. If you’re not from Milwaukee, here are some great American Family Field photo-ops for your visit…
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American Family Field Photo-Ops, #1) Sitting With Uecker. Recently the Brewers added a statue of a seated Bob Uecker at the very, very top of the stands behind home plate. It’s based on a Miller Lite commercial from many years ago where Uke gets ejected from the good seats, but he looks very relaxed at the top.
This is a very popular photo-op here, so there will likely be someone available to take the photo for you.
American Family Field Photo-Ops, #2: The Construction Workers Statue. During the construction of then-Miller Park, three construction workers lost their lives in the Big Blue crane accident, when a crane toppled and crashed in windy conditions. The ballpark’s opening was delayed a year as the team recovered and cleaned up the mess from the crane.
Today William R. DeGrave, Jerome Starr, and Jeffrey A. Wischer are memorialized in a statue of their likenesses, which is found near the front entrance. It is fitting that the Brewers recognized that tragic day.
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American Family Field Photo-Ops, #3: The Racing Sausages. There are a lot of noisy between-innings promotions during Brewers games, but don’t miss the Klement’s racing sausages in the middle of the sixth inning.
In the race five Brewers employees dress up as the Racing Sausages mascots: a hot dog, a brat, a Polish sausage, an Italian sausage and a chorizo, and then race around the foul territory of the ballpark.
The Racing Sausages hang out in the parking lots with the tailgaters before the game, so it’s a great opportunity to pose with one.
American Family Field Photo-Ops, #4: Autograph Alley. Autograph Alley is located near the Third Base Entrance, not far from TGI Friday’s. It is a wall of baseballs signed by the game’s superstars, other celebrities, and people who purchased a ball to sign.
You can spend some time here looking at the signatures, some of which are amusing, or you can go to the Brewers’ website beforehand to find the location of any signed ball you may be looking for. Some big names here include Alice Cooper, Muhammad Ali, Joe DiMaggio and of course Robert Grzeszkiewicz.
I left out some other things I liked—like Helfaer Field outside the ballpark, the interactive Bud Selig tribute, and the Kids Zone. Check them all out; wander around this ballpark. It’s got plenty to amuse you.
Click here for more great American Family Field tips, including this amazing list of Brewers game shuttles, tailgating tips, and parking tips. And click here to follow Ballpark E-Guides on Facebook!
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3 American Family Field Food Items To Try | Milwaukee Brewers
Posted by Kurt Smith
If you somehow manage to pass through the Brewers game tailgating and still have room in your stomach, there is still an outstanding selection of American Family Field food too. Most anything you’d be interested in eating at the ballgame, and possibly a few things you’d never want to eat at a ballpark, is available here.
The bratwurst culture is huge in Wisconsin and American Family Field is no exception; you know sausages are popular in a ballpark where people in sausage costumes race in the sixth inning of every game. But other than as an ingredient in the “bratchos”, I’m going to suggest a few alternatives, because not even I can live by brats alone:
American Family Field Food, Tip #1: The AJ Bombers Burger. Any burger joint that wants to differentiate themselves from McDonald’s is going to mention that their burgers are “fresh”, and AJ Bombers, the eatery with an outpost at the ballpark, is no exception.
But there is something to be said for that; an AJ Bomber’s burger is the right kind of juicy, with toppings ranging from bacon, cheese, Schlitz onions and peanut butter. (Yes, you read that right.)
You have to wait a bit for an AJ’s burger, and there’s no view of the ballgame from here, so get your fix taken care of before game time…and wash it down with a concrete.
American Family Field Food, Tip #2: Sargento Cheese Curds. Because you’re in Wisconsin, right? Hot Cheese stands used to be the home of some neat variations of the grilled cheese sandwich and cheese curds. Recently the Brewers reduced the confusion with just simple Sargento Cheese Curds stands, selling the fried and battered cheddar cheese nuggets in various flavors like ranch, sriracha and mesquite BBQ.
If you’re not from Wisconsin, think fried cheese sticks or cheese balls but in nuggets form. A very popular thing around these parts.
American Family Field Food, Tip #3: Bratchos. My apologies for not having a picture of the bratchos. I couldn’t find a basket on display, and I couldn’t order one after the AJ Bombers burger and a plate of Rounding Third wings.
But the bratchos are not to be passed up on otherwise. It’s new at Brewers games as of 2015…and new as a food item that I’ve ever seen. Bratchos are kettle chips covered with four kinds of crumbled sausage (chorizo, Italian, Polish, and bratwurst, the staples at Brewers games), cheese sauce, sour cream, jalapenos, and sauerkraut.
It’s pretty much like a mishmash of a loaded brat with chips, but I’ve never seen them combined before. As professional eaters say when eating odd foods together, it all ends up in the same place anyway.
Those are three unusual and tasty stuffs on the American Family Field food menu, but there’s a lot more, like the Smoke Shack Ham Dinger, J. Agave’s tacos and the inimitable Zaffiro’s pizza. Stay tuned.
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Super Cheap Seats at American Family Field
Posted by Kurt Smith
If you’re looking for cheap seats at American Family Field, you’re in luck…there are a lot of them. The Brewers have a good amount of even really good seats that are affordable, but here are two options you can get with just what’s in your pocket.
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Cheap Seats at American Family Field, Tip #1: The Uecker Seats. The Brewers offer their fans an opportunity to see a game for one dollar, in the humorously named “Uecker Seats”.
I’m dating myself with this, but I remember the Miller Lite commercial featuring “Mr. Baseball” Bob Uecker, in which he gets ousted out of his seat (to which his reaction is “I must be in the front rooooow!”) and placed in the worst seats in the ballpark, where he screams at the umpire.
It was funny, and the Brewers picked up on it when they opened American Family Field in 2001, declaring the highest seats behind home plate the “Uecker Seats”. These seats are blocked by pillars that hold up a portion of the ballpark’s massive roof, so sitting here closer to the aisles means a partially obstructed view.
But the seats are just four quarters. You can’t beat that.
In order to get a Uecker Seat, you have to get in line and buy them at the box office, pay cash, and enter the ballpark directly after buying the ticket. If you have a group they need to be with you.
But once you’re in, you can stand just about anywhere, and many people simply move to a better seat during the game. But if you’re not close to the aisles, the view from the Uecker Seats can be perfectly acceptable (better than in the above photo, obviously).
The only caveat with the Uecker seats I have is this: for a high demand game, and the Brewers have quite a few of them, you will need to get in line early. This means you might not be able to enjoy the tailgating, and the smell of the sausages cooking may get to you.
Incidentally, the Brewers just added a statue of Uke sitting in the seats named for him. A great photo-op.
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Cheap Seats at Miller Park, Tip #2: Bernie’s Terrace. You should actually avoid Bernie’s Terrace, unless, of course, you just want to get into the ballpark cheaply.
The Bernie’s Terrace seats are so named for their proximity to the platform where mascot Bernie The Brewer sits. Bernie stands there during the game, waiting for a Brewer to knock one out of the park (or hit an inside-the-parker, as happened my last trip there).
When this happens, he slides down his slide onto the lower platform. It used to be into a vat of beer, but the Brewers became concerned about their image when moving into American Family Field (?) and cleaned it up a bit.
So sitting in the Bernie’s Terrace sections (441 and 442), you’d think you’d get a good close up view of Bernie sliding. Depending on where you are, you might or might not. But your real concern will be that the affable mascot’s platform creates a ridiculously obstructed view. Sitting in the upper rows of Section 442, you will lose almost half of the entire field to this.
Not to mention that you will be about as far from home plate as seats get at a Brewers game. Not a great way to watch a ballgame, so if you’re serious about seeing the game, you’ll want to avoid Bernie’s Terrace.
The nice thing is that next to the Uecker Seats, they are the cheapest tickets in the ballpark, cheaper than standing room even. And you can order the Bernie’s Terrace seats ahead of time from the Brewers’ website or box office.
Many people buy the cheap seats at American Family Field and just find a better place to sit. For lower attendance games, this is fairly easily done, so long as you don’t try to sit in a Field Level seat behind home plate. But you’ll have a much harder time doing this for a Cubs game or a weekend game.
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That’s just two great deals at Brewers games; there are a whole lot of other ways to save a few bucks. Check out some more Brewers game tips here, including tailgating tips, parking tips, what to know bringing the kids, and this amazing list of Brewers game shuttles!
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Why The Best Baseball Fans May Be In Milwaukee
Posted by Kurt Smith
Ask 30 sports travelers which city has the best baseball fans and you may get 30 different answers.
Some might tell you Boston is full of fans who will be happy to pay a hefty price to see a winning team. Or that Philadelphia is full of fans who work the hardest to intimidate opponents and opposing fans. Or that the north side of Chicago has the most patient fans in the known universe.
But if you want to see some evidence of a truly certifiable and dedicated fan base, check out the Arctic Tailgate in Milwaukee, a yearly event that takes place the day Brewers tickets go on sale.
Yes, that means what you think it means. Fans set up tents on concrete outside of the American Family Field ticket windows. In February. In Wisconsin. To buy baseball tickets that can now be bought online in the comfort of their homes.
So there are probably 20 people in tents waiting in line, right? Read this from the Brewers website: The first 2,000 fans in line will receive a hot dog and small soda, compliments of Klement’s, Pepsi and Sportservice, as well as an Arctic Tailgate t-shirt.
A small soda.
In 2014, the Brewers sold 91,000 tickets on the day of the Arctic Tailgate. This on a day when the temperature was six degrees. In 2015, the Brewers decided that the weather was too cold for overnight camping, even for Brewers fans. And people still got in line and bought 101,000 tickets by 3:00 PM that day.
These people are surely aware that they can just shell out a few extra bucks on StubHub for Opening Day tickets. If nothing else, Brewers fans are a thrifty bunch. But to them, that isn’t the point. They just want to be the first each year to celebrate Brewers baseball.
You don’t need to see people sitting on concrete in freezing cold to know what a dedicated fan base the Brewers have. You can witness it in any regular season game at American Family Field. After three hours of a tailgating scene unmatched in baseball, Brewers fans are as loud as any.
But if you want to pronounce Milwaukee fans to be the best in baseball, the Arctic Tailgate gives you a pretty strong argument.
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The Secret Stadium Sauce At American Family Field
Posted by Kurt Smith
Sausages at American Family Field are available in four varieties for varying tastes. There is the Wisconsin brat, the Italian, the Polish, and the Mexican chorizo. The four flavors are very different, but according to most accounts, the one thing that makes them all taste better is the Secret Stadium Sauce.
Secret Stadium Sauce is a Milwaukee institution, carried over from the days at Milwaukee County Stadium. It is a blend of water, tomato paste, corn syrup, vinegar, a blend of spices and capsicum. It’s something like a barbecue sauce, but not quite.
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The story of its creation is one of necessity being the mother of invention: close to 40 years ago, the team’s concessions were running out of ketchup and mustard, so a vendor named Rick Abramson put together a concoction of ketchup, mustard, smoked syrup and barbecue sauce, slapped it all together, and became president of Delaware North Companies Sportservice. Now there’s a company that recognizes genius when they see it.
Indeed, baseball authorities Tony Kubek and Bob Costas would trade off broadcasting duties when announcing games in Milwaukee, so they could each enjoy their brats with Secret Stadium Sauce without enduring endlessly long seconds of delay between bites.
Like the Ballpark Mustard in Cleveland, the Secret Stadium Sauce is available in local grocery stores in Milwaukee, which means that there is no shortage of it in the world-class tailgating scene of American Family Field parking lots.
Condiments – bringing people together.
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4 Ways to Score Cheap Brewers Tickets
Posted by Kurt Smith
The Brewers are more fan-friendly than most baseball teams, even when they’re in the hunt for a pennant. Here’s a few ways to score some cheap Brewers tickets. Notice that my first suggestion is to go through the team…I don’t say that often.
By the way, if you’re really going skinflint for Brewers tickets, check out this post.
Cheap Brewers Tickets, Tip #1) Get The Team Newsletter. The Brewers offer a lot of specials in their e-mail promotions, even for a ballpark that already has a bunch of cheap seats.
The Brewers offer discounted tickets for students, kids, seniors, first responders, and more, and they have quite a few discounted ticket days like their “5 County Fridays”. They often waive ticket fees for a short time, and that’s not a small chunk of savings.
Their e-mail newsletter will remind you of these things, and many of them are popular and limited to availability, so jump on them quickly. Sign up here. You’ll thank me.
Cheap Brewers Tickets, Tip #2: Be Flexible. If you’re not picky about which game to attend, click on the Dynamic Deals link in the ticketing section to see what the best ongoing offers are at that time.
Check for flash sales too on the Brewers’ website; the Brewers offer Terrace tickets for almost nothing at times. (This will also likely be in the newsletter, but you can check the website first.)
Cheap Brewers Tickets, Tip #3: Bring Your Friends. Milwaukee folks love to attend games in numbers, and the Brewers appreciate that. Groups can get tickets for crazy discounts on certain nights, and group leaders will receive a voucher for two free tickets in an e-mail with another couple if they can bring 100 folks.
The larger the group, the bigger the discount, so summon all your game-selling skills to your co-workers (it shouldn’t be too hard in this town); the savings can be huge.
Cheap Brewers Tickets, Tip #4: Help Your Fellow Milwaukeean. The Brewers have several ways to score tickets helping out your fellow Brew Crew fan; look for them in the “Community” section of the team website. You could win tickets by participating in any of several marathon runs or other programs.
On their website, there is also a link called “Brewers Buddies Ticket Requests”. The team will donate tickets to charitable organizations, so if you’re part of one, send in a request for tickets on your charity’s letterhead. You deserve it!
Those are just a few ways to score deals on Brewers tickets; there’s other ways to save some bucks at the ballpark too. Check out more Brewers game tips here, and don’t forget to Follow Ballpark E-Guides on Facebook!
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5 American Family Field Tips For Newbies
Posted by Kurt Smith
If you’re doing a Brewers game in Milwaukee for the first time, here are some American Family Field tips for newbies … things I definitely wished I knew in my first couple of visits to the place. Like that there’s no baseball town like Milwaukee…and there may be no better fans in baseball.
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American Family Field Tip #1: There are lots of really cheap seats. If you don’t mind missing the tailgating scene or the pre-game bars, you can get a Uecker seat on game day for just a buck; the seats are in Sections 421 and 422 and are obstructed by very large support beams, but if it’s too awful you can wander and find a good standing spot. You did get in for just a buck after all.
But there’s also the Bernie’s Terrace seats that are at rock bottom prices too, partly because of the obstruction of Bernie’s slide and the distance from home plate. Again, you can still wander, and you can buy those seats in advance and take advantage of the pre-game scene without getting in a ticket line.
American Family Field Tip #2: Sit in the Loge Box for the best value. If you would prefer to nail down a decent seat, the Loge level at American Family Field is a great value. They’re right on top of the action, almost as if you were on the field level anyway, and equivalent seats at Yankee Stadium would probably go for quadruple the price.
This is a popular spot for Brewers fans, and chances are you’ll be surrounded by some noisy ones.
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American Family Field Tip #3: Use a shuttle or tailgate. The tailgating at a Brewers game is like no other in baseball…long lines form at the gates well before they open, and within minutes after opening grills and tents and tables of food are set up, music is playing and corn hole games take over the lot. The Brewers even encourage it with coal bins and occasional giveaways.
But if you’re not necessarily into standing outside, there are a plethora of bars and restaurants that give patrons a lift to the ballpark, and many of them get crowded and feature a great pre-game scene. There’s a dance floor at Kelly’s Bleachers, a bowling alley at J&B’s Blue Ribbon, and billiards at Steve’s on Blue Mound.
Whether you’re in the parking lot or at a nearby tavern, a Brewers game is an all-day celebration.
American Family Field Tip #4: Try Bernie’s Bombers burgers. Not knocking the bratchos, the loaded baked potatoes or the other great food items at the Brewers’ ballpark, but Bernie’s Bombers is it for burgers…fresh burgers with rotating toppings named for Brewers players or for visiting team cities. The concretes are fantastic too.
The Secret Stadium Sauce is popular at Brewers games, and you can’t go wrong with that on a Wisconsin brat, but check out these great Milwaukee institutions while you’re in the ballpark.
Planning a trip to Milwaukee? Save a bunch of money on hotels, flights and rental cars…book your trip with my friends at Hotwire! (It’s still Kurt’s favorite!)
Click here to start booking your trip to Milwaukee and American Family Field today!
American Family Field Tip #5: Bring the kids. Miller Park is not only very wallet friendly, there are lots of mascots and games for kids. (More about bringing the kids here.)
There’s the Associated Bank Kids Zone where kids can participate in a Sausage Race and sit in a huge glove, and Bernie’s Clubhouse with padded play areas for smaller kids. Not to mention all of the mascots they can pose with and the Helfaer Field playground outside of the ballpark. And of course, there’s lots of sugar in the American Family Field menu.
There you go, five tips for newbies visiting American Family Field in Milwaukee; although, of course I would be remiss if I forgot to mention to be in your seat in the middle of the sixth for that crazy Sausage Race. The fans love it, and you can pose with the racing sausages in the parking lot.
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3 Tips For A Brewers Game With Kids
Posted by Kurt Smith
If you’re a parent, you really should visit American Family Field for a Brewers game with kids; it’s one of the most kid-friendly ballparks in baseball, and the Brewers do a lot to bring in young fans.
Here’s just a few things you should know…
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Brewers Game With Kids, Tip #1) Join The Club. The Brew Crew, like most teams, go after the young ones early with a Kids Club. For a very reasonable fee, your kid gets six ticket vouchers in the Terrace Reserved seats, good for most weekday games. It’s great if you plan to take the little one to the ballpark a few times. (And they’ll probably want to go back.)
The young one also gets a lanyard, a water bottle, a wallet to hold all that money he’s saving on tickets, and a poster, not to mention all of the exclusive stuff like be in a pregame parade, tour the ballpark, and get a picture with the racing sausages. Not a bad deal at all.
It’s very popular, so get on it well before spring training starts.
Brewers Game With Kids, Tip #2) Three Play Areas. On the Field Level at American Family Field is the U.S. Cellular Power Playground, where kids can participate in a race to first base or a small scale Sausage Race, sit in a huge glove or mock-up dugout for a photo, or use the pitching and batting cage. It will definitely keep the little ones occupied for a while.
On the Terrace Level is Bernie Brewer’s Clubhouse, an equally fun play and concession area full of padded stuff for smaller kids. It’s a hike to get there, but if you’re using your Terrace seats from the club you’ll be on that level already.
Outside of the ballpark there is a playground at Helfaer Field too, so the kids can burn off a bunch of energy while you’re waiting for the gates to open.
With all of these places to play here, they might actually want to sit in their seats for the game afterward!
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Brewers Game With Kids, Tip #3) Kid Promotions. The Brewers also run frequent promotions for kids; they can run the bases on Sundays, get autographs from a Brewers player on certain dates, or have their birthday celebration at the game. If you want to run the bases, sitting on the first base side puts you closer to the line.
There are contests to be an announcer for an inning, or pose on the field with a Brewer, listed on the Brewers website. These promotions are popular, so you should hop on them early.
One last thing: when a Brewer hits a home run, poke the kid and tell him to look up to Bernie’s Terrace in upper left field, where Bernie will slide down into the lower terrace. Everyone loves it.
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Going to a Brewers game at American Family Field? Find more Brewers game tips here, including tailgating tips, parking tips, and this insane list of Brewers game shuttles!
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3 American Family Field Party Areas
Posted by Kurt Smith
I’ve mentioned elsewhere on this site that Brewers fans love to attend games in groups. If you’re gathering a group and have the means (or a cool employer), you should look into the American Family Field party areas. These are all-inclusive spots with major sponsors that keep the party going even when the game starts, without having to worry about the tab you’re running.
Here are three that I like for various reasons…
American Family Field Party Areas, #1) The Northwestern Mutual Club. The Northwestern Mutual Club is the located down the left field line in the Club (third) Level. At the Club there is a fancy, carpeted, climate-controlled indoor dining area with décor celebrating team history, and several types of seating outside…from tables and chairs to seats at counters.
These Club tickets include the daily varied premium buffet prepared by the Club chef, which includes a carving station and a gourmet salad station, along with the brats, nachos and popcorn. Two free drinks (beer or wine) are included, and there are bars on the inside and near the seating area outside. There is even an Alex’s Lemonade stand that distributes proceeds to children’s cancer research from lemonade sales.
Like with the other group areas, it sounds expensive to get in, but it’s not bad at a per-person rate. The Club is pretty cool if you have the means, and the view from the seats isn’t half bad.
American Family Field Party Areas, #2) The Associated Bank Check Deck. The Associated Bank Deck is lower than most party areas, but pretty distant from home plate in left center field. This deck has barstools with tables, plenty of space to mingle with fellow bank customers, and general admission seating that overlooks the home team bullpen. It is very close to Bernie’s Slide, so you have that.
The Associated Bank Deck is mostly for groups, who get a decent deal on tickets. The game ticket includes a buffet (with similar items as the rest of the party areas, but with pulled pork and chicken breasts in case that matters to you) that goes until an hour after the first pitch and also includes two beers. There’s a private bar with TVs to watch the game.
And that’s not all; there is a private entrance (adorned with the Bank’s logo and colors) that bank card holders can use regardless of where their seats are. It’s convenient to the east lots of the ballpark and is right there at the seating area when you enter.
American Family Field Party Areas, #3) The Aurora Health Care Bullpen. The Aurora Bullpen is on the field level behind the right field fence, next to the visiting team’s bullpen. The Patio is for groups, although individual tickets are sometimes sold.
The area includes a full bar (outside!), hi-def TVs, and enough tables and barstools and such to accommodate around 75 people. Your group gets a buffet that includes brats, dogs, BBQ chicken sandwiches, mac and cheese, a nacho bar, and two complimentary beers (Blue Moon!).
Tickets go for around $100 a person for the moment, which with a buffet and two beers is a decent value. The view isn’t great through the fence, but it’s a neat place to hang out and feel like a relief pitcher.
That’s three spots where fans gather courtesy of their employer or to celebrate some other occasion with a Brewers game. Lots of fun for all with their baseball. Stay tuned. Check out more Brewers’ ballpark tips here, and be sure to Follow Ballpark E-Guides on Facebook!
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Rogers Centre With Kids – 3 Things to Know
Posted by Kurt Smith
Visiting Rogers Centre with kids can be a blast of a time for them, especially on days when the Jays set up an entire playground in the outside plaza. Here’s three things you should know to make it a memorable day for them…
Rogers Centre With Kids, Tip #1) Do Jr. Jays Sundays. For the kids, the Jays have Jr. Jays Sundays (or Saturdays, it changes from year to year). Of late they’ve been setting up entire playgrounds on some Sundays, with big inflatable bouncy stuff and entertainment in the plaza outside Gates 10-11.
Definitely get out there early for this…it’s a pretty big setup with games, food, people on stilts playing ball with the kids, etc. Don’t miss it…you might not see it coming from Union Station and you have to walk around the Centre a bit.
Inside the ballpark on Jr. Jays days, they have interactive kids’ areas throughout the concourses, pitching and batting cages, video games, face painting and other fun things to keep the kids occupied.
Without doubt it’s the best day of the week to bring the kids, and it draws a big crowd of families. Running the bases is an extremely popular promotion, so expect to be there a while, or…
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Rogers Centre With Kids, Tip #2) Join The Fan Club. The Jr. Jays Kids Club doesn’t give deals on tickets like some teams do (Jays tickets are generally pretty cheap already), but as of 2019, you do get a package with a cap, a backpack, sunglasses, a lanyard, and access to members only events.
If your kid is a big fan, it’s worth it, if only for the front of the line access on Run The Bases days. Lines get very long for that and the little ones may get antsy.
Rogers Centre With Kids, Tip #3) Bring Your Own. If you’re bringing a family and are on a budget, you can save a ton of cash bringing your own food. (Drinks must be sealed.) The Jays are particularly lenient with this policy; people online tell stories about bringing in whole pizzas. (Bonus if you bring in a Boston Pizza!)
I’ve talked about the multiple “street meat” options here, but you also have lots of choices at Union Station to fill up your goody bag, including the always beloved by kids McDonald’s, if you’re arriving that way.
There’s three tips for taking the young ones to Rogers Centre and teaching them about baseball for a better future. If you’re looking to save on tickets when you do, try this post.
(Need more Rogers Centre help? I got ya! Check out this complete seating guide, some tips for bringing in outside food, and this helpful primer on the best ways to get to a Blue Jays game!)
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3 Tips for Cheap Blue Jays Tickets
Posted by Kurt Smith
If you’re looking to do a Jays game tightwad style, it’s easy enough…there are already lots of cheap Blue Jays tickets to begin with. You need only be willing to sit in the 500 level somewhere.
But if you’re looking to find deals for wherever you’re sitting, here’s three suggestions for you.
(Need more Rogers Centre help? I got ya! Check out this complete seating guide, the best ways to get to the ballpark, some tips for bringing in outside food, and this helpful post for bringing the kids to a Blue Jays game!)
Cheap Blue Jays Tickets, Tip #1) Use The Box Office. Blue Jays games rarely sell out, especially when the team isn’t in contention. It’s easy enough to order tickets at the box office on game day, saving yourself the considerable online fees.
Here’s a bonus tip for you…the box office close to the Union Station Skywalk is by far the most popular, so try another one to avoid waiting in line. I tried this for a weekend game on a beautiful June day…against the Yankees…and didn’t wait at all.
My friends at TickPick have Blue Jays tickets…they offer a best price guarantee, a buyer’s trust guarantee, and NO service fees. Sounds like a no-brainer to me!
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Cheap Blue Jays Tickets, Tip #2) Use A Third Party. For low demand games especially, you can often find a better deal for tickets on StubHub or with my affiliate friends at TickPick. The Blue Jays sell a lot of multi-game packages, so fans have lots of extras to unload.
Click here to search for Blue Jays tickets at TickPick and tell ‘em Kurt sent you…they are an affiliate of Ballpark E-Guides.
Cheap Blue Jays Tickets, Tip #3) Get A Multi-Game Pack. There are plenty of deals for those willing to splurge on a few games; the Jays will throw in a few perks with multi-game packs too, like Opening Day or postseason ticket offers and discounts in the team shops.
This is a popular choice with locals; if you plan on going to a few Jays games, get a friend to split the cost and you’ll both save some cash.
Those are three tips for getting your hands on cheap Blue Jays tickets…and while I don’t often recommend patronizing scalpers, they do tend to be plentiful here and can offer you a nice deal if the time is right. But you didn’t hear that from me.
Planning a trip to Toronto? Save a bunch of money on hotels, flights and rental cars…book your trip with my friends at Hotwire! (It’s still Kurt’s favorite!)
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Cheap Seats at Comerica Park | Detroit Tigers
Posted by Kurt Smith
Like all ballparks, the one in Detroit has seating choices for every budget. I go into much more detail about Comerica Park seating here, but here’s some things you should know about the cheap seats at Comerica Park:
Cheap Seats at Comerica Park, Tip #1) Outfield Seating. The Pavilion seats are behind both teams’ bullpens in left field. The bullpens were placed there to move the ridiculously far fences in to appease grumpy power hitters after the departure of Juan Gonzalez. 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 very far from home plate.
The Bleachers 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.
And then there’s the affordable Kaline’s Corner seats; I’ve talked about those here.
Cheap Seats at Comerica Park, Tip #2) The Mezzanine. On the first base side of the upper level, there is a gap just past first base, created to lower the seating of outer sections. 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”). The view of the Big Board and downtown Detroit is much better on the right field side.
The mezzanine concourse area also 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.
Cheap Seats at Comerica Park, Tip #3) Upper Grandstand/Skyline Seats. The upper level seats down the left field line are called the Upper Grandstand seats; they’re obviously elevated and far from home plate. They’re only a few bucks less than the mezzanine seats; I would far prefer the mezzanine and its view of the impressive Big Board. To see that here requires a neck twist. Nice view of the skyline from here though.
Sections 344 and 345 are called the Skyline seats; they are the cheapest tickets in the ballpark. But it’s probably worth a few extra bucks to get a better ticket, since the left field foul pole will be in your view especially in 345. You might be able to move to a better seat; the Tigers patrol the lower level more strongly.
There’s three tips on cheap seats at Comerica Park for you…go here for much more useful advice for your next Tigers game at Comerica, including how to get there without paying for parking!
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3 More Comerica Park Shuttles
Posted by Kurt Smith
I’ve talked a little bit about the Detroit establishments that offer Comerica Park shuttles here, but there’s enough such places to include in another post, so here’s a few more suggestions…
Comerica Park Shuttles, #1) Harry’s Bar & Grill. The newly remodeled Harry’s is located across I-75 from the ballpark on Clifford Street; you could probably walk it, but it’s a long walk, and they’ll make it easier for you with a ride.
Harry’s is nicely accessible from all of the nearby major highways. Parking at their lot is free, but it is small and fills up early. If you’re using a shuttle from any tavern you should arrive early anyway, but this doubly applies to Harry’s. Their lot is fenced in and attended like the Tigers’ lots.
Harry’s has some high end items on its menu like creole shrimp pasta and salmon salad, but it is mostly known for its varieties of burgers and a full bar. Harry’s is a popular pre- and post-game spot, and gets crowded on game days.
Comerica Park Shuttles, #2) Tommy’s Detroit Bar & Grill. Tommy’s is located on Third Street, very close to the Joe Louis Arena. It’s in a small building built in 1840, so it survived Prohibition…hmmm. Parking in the adjacent lot is free for Tigers games most nights and the shuttle to games is also free, but there might be a parking charge if something is going on at the arena or the Cobo Center. You can call and ask first.
Tommy’s is cramped in a good way, and there’s actually some history here…the building was actually an outlet for the Underground Railroad. Bartenders are friendly and the burgers and corned beef are very good by most accounts. Fresh hand dipped chicken wings too.
Tommy’s will occasionally have specials that include a meal, game ticket and a ride to the game for a very nice price. Well worth checking out.
You can use the People Mover to get back if you don’t want to wait for the shuttle, but be sure to use the Cobo Center or the Fort/Cass stations.
Comerica Park Shuttles, #3) McShane’s Irish Pub. People talk about Nemo’s being the classic pub where Tiger Stadium sat, but since their bartender was such a jerk to me in my visit, I’m not bothering with them. McShane’s is actually on the corner of Michigan and Trumbull (the old Tiger Stadium site), and it’s an eatery with an outdoor patio, live entertainment and decent drink and appetizer specials. The beer selection, so I’ve read, is a bit better than Nemo’s with some craft brews on tap.
The menu is Irish pub style fare with burgers as the mainstay; I’ve read a lot of good reviews about the food. The grub here is a bit pricier than at Nemo’s, but there’s a better selection too.
At McShane’s there is a charge for their parking lot, but they refund that amount to you in a coupon you can use inside, so it’s essentially free and there’s no cost other than the tip to ride the bus. The bus is also said to be less crowded than Nemo’s.
There’s three more Comerica Park shuttles…if you’re looking for an affordable spot at the game, have a look at this post. Or read this to find some other ways to get to Comerica Park!
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Comerica Park With Kids – 3 Tips
Posted by Kurt Smith
It would be difficult to name a more kid-friendly ballpark than Comerica. Visiting Comerica Park with kids is easier here, what with the extra stuff for them to do.
So here’s a few tips…
Comerica Park With Kids, Tip #1) Rides! In addition to the carousel in the Big Cat Court and the ferris wheel near the Brushfire Grill, both of which cost a small fee, there are interactive pitching and batting cages under the Pepsi Porch, and near the Big Cat Court are free video game kiosks.
Lines get long for the rides, but if you’re early the kid should be able to go on a couple of times. If you want seats near this stuff, it’s on the first base side.
Comerica Park With Kids, Tip #2) Go on Sunday. Sunday is by far the best day to bring the kids. Kids 14 and under ride the ferris wheel and carousel for free, they’ll get promotional items and face painting, they can register for giveaways and run the bases after the game.
As with the rides, running the bases is very popular, so you’d do well to line them up behind the scoreboard early.
Comerica Park With Kids, Tip #3) Join The Club. The Tigers Kids Club isn’t expensive at all, and the young fan does get a magnet schedule, issues of the Kids Club magazine, and best of all a separate line for running the bases on Sundays (trust me, that alone is worth the price of membership). The Kids Club includes some ticket discounts too.
Comerica Park With Kids, Bonus Tip!) Nursing Moms Welcome. Kids 3 and under get into Comerica free, and the Tigers are one of the few teams that offer a nursing lounge with a TV in the upper level.
Incidentally, by law in Michigan mothers can breastfeed anywhere, and that includes from the seats at Comerica Park.
There’s a few tips for bringing kids to a Tigers game…stay tuned, I’ve got more, like your cheapest ways to get to the ballpark!
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Nationals Park With Kids – 3 Things To Know (+1!)
Posted by Kurt Smith
If you’re visiting Nationals Park with kids, take advantage of all of the cool stuff the team offers for parents and young fans. Here are my three favorite tips for parents, plus an extra for nursing moms:
(Hey Baseball Fans – Find out how to get cheap tickets, pick a great seat, get to the ballpark and choose what to eat at the game…and save money on all of it! Check out my complete Nationals Park Guide here!)
Nationals Park With Kids, Tip #1) Join The Club. If you sign up the kids in the Junior Nationals MVP Club, in addition to the lanyard, hat, duffel bag and other goodies, you’ll get offers for discounted tickets, and a coupon book with discounts on food and other stuff in the ballpark.
The free membership includes e-mail offers, which would certainly be worth the couple of minutes to sign up. But the paid membership is worth the small price too, if only for front of the line privileges on Run The Bases days. If you plan on having the kids run the bases, sign up…you’ll thank me.
My friends at TickPick have Nationals tickets…they offer a best price guarantee, a buyer’s trust guarantee, and NO service fees. Sounds like a no-brainer to me!
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Nationals Park With Kids, Tip #2) The Presidents’ Race. In the 4th inning, and the 13th if the game goes that long, the likenesses of the Mount Rushmore presidents race from the right field warning track to the finish line near first base.
Be sure to tell your kids not to root for Teddy Roosevelt, because he rarely wins, as documented in the excellent “Let Teddy Win” blog. His defeats are always for some wacky reason…unauthorized use of a feline, pre-game warmup injuries, or dive-bombing a racing sausage when the Brewers come to town.
Nationals Park With Kids, Tip #3) The Family Fun Area. The kids play area here is impressive…it has simulated pitching and batting cages, a playground area with a very cool jungle gym, a picnic area, photo booths and penny press machines. There’s also a “Rookies” concession stand for kids with smaller portions and prices.
Get here early if you can…the racing presidents greet fans here before the game. There are even bobblehead replicas for photo-ops.
Nationals Park With Kids, Bonus Tip! The Nursing Lounge. On the mezzanine level in right field is a very comfortable nursing lounge. It’s a private area with comfy chairs, a play area for toddlers, and TVs for busy moms to watch the game.
My wife tested this room out (she’s legitimate) and had nothing but nice things to say about it. Nice that the Nats are looking after moms for us dads.
There’s three things to know for parents at Nats games, plus one for moms of tiny ones. If you’re looking to save money on Nationals tickets too, be sure to check out this post.
Planning a trip to Washington D.C.? Save a bunch of money on hotels, flights and rental cars…book your trip with my friends at Hotwire! (It’s still Kurt’s favorite!)
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4 Ways to Score Cheap Nationals Tickets
Posted by Kurt Smith
So you’re looking to score some cheap Nationals tickets? Like with most teams, the Nationals offer ways for you to save a few bucks, especially going to multiple games.
Here’s a few tips for both Nats fans in the area and other Nationals Park visitors:
(Hey Baseball Fans – Find out how to get cheap tickets, pick a great seat, get to the ballpark and choose what to eat at the game…and save money on all of it! Check out my complete Nationals Park Guide here!)
Cheap Nationals Tickets, Tip #1) Team Newsletters. The Nationals make a lot of ticket deals available in their e-mail newsletters, including tickets that include concessions, discounted theme nights, group discounts, etc. You’ll get a weekly e-mail with some offers; check that out before buying from the team website.
Be sure to sign your kids up for the Fan Club memberships too…they’re free and you’ll receive some exclusive offers for them in your inbox too. Well worth a few minutes to sign up.
My friends at TickPick have Nationals tickets…they offer a best price guarantee, a buyer’s trust guarantee, and NO service fees. Sounds like a no-brainer to me!
Get $10 off your first purchase with email sign-up!
Cheap Nationals Tickets, Tip #2) The NatsPass. For big time fans who can attend a few games, the NatsPass allows you to see as many games as you want for a monthly price. You download the MLB Ballpark app, order the pass, and then you’ll have the barcodes on your phone. You won’t even have to remember to bring the tickets.
It’s standing room, but standing room here is actually pretty good and the price is well worth it if you attend, say, three games against the Phillies or Braves.
Click here to check out the NatsPass…
Cheap Nationals Tickets, Tip #3) Go In With A Friend. The Nationals also now have a very cool “Pick ‘Em” plan, where you buy 20 or 40 tickets at a discount and choose how many you want to use (up to eight) at almost any matchup during the season (excepting Opening Day and very popular contests). You can share with a friend or two and save a bunch just going to a few games.
There’s lots of added perks too: Higher priced tickets for this plan include concession credits, it includes Opening Day and concert ticket opportunities, and you’ll have postseason priority should the Nationals so thrive. If you plan on spending a lot of time at Nats Park this summer, definitely check this out.
Cheap Nationals Tickets, Tip #4) Help Your Fellow Washingtonian. The Nationals will have a blood or food drive at the ballpark on occasion; donors receive tickets and a T-shirt. You can tell someone you literally bled for their ticket.
The Nats also give away tickets and other prizes for charitable groups, military types (the Nats are very good about appreciating the military), and other philanthropic folks. Check out the “Community” section of the Nationals website; you may find something you can participate in and be rewarded by the Nats with some tickets.
There’s four helpful tips for saving some cash at your next few Nationals games. If you have any questions, feel free to drop me a line.
Planning a trip to Washington D.C.? Save a bunch of money on hotels, flights and rental cars…book your trip with my friends at Hotwire! (It’s still Kurt’s favorite!)
Click here to start booking your trip to Washington and Nationals Park today!