Friday, January 12, 2007
ESPN ranking of baseball stadiums
Tim Kurkjian of ESPN lists today his 5 greatest Major League Baseball ballparks. Fenway Park comes out on top of his list. Kurkjian writes, " I have covered a game in 48 ballparks, and Fenway remains No. 1 mostly because of its closeness, and the stories it can tell. " The other ballparks in his top 5 include Oriole Park at Camden Yards, PNC Park, Wrigley Field, and AT&T Park. Kurkjian gives his worst ballpark award to Dolphins Stadium.
Few could argue with Kurkjian's analysis. Fenway is certainly a magical venue, but I always think of the cramped seats when I think of Fenway. (yeah, I'm spoiled :)). Of the parks that I have visited (so far, I've been to 1/2 of current ballparks, missing notables such as PNC Park and Dodger Stadium), I would rank them as:
1) AT&T Park...there's nothing like the view of the San Francisco Bay and the smell of Gilroy Garlic Fries
2) Oriole Park at Camden Yards...modern meets classic. The warehouse is an enduring feature that is uniquely identifiable to Baltimore. As for smells: mmmm, smoke from Boog's barbecue wafting over the stadium.
3) Fenway Park...Beatifully tucked into the Fenway neighborhod, its quirks are genuine as opposed to manufactured idiosyncrasies such as the flagpole at Houston.
4) Wrigley Field....the coziness, the surrounding neighborhood, and the feeling of being on top of the action from the upper deck provide an intimate setting.
5) Petco Park...yes, it is contrived to give an old time feel, but there's something neat about the San Diego look that is provided to this ballpark by the sandstone that is evident throughout. The concourses are interesting even on their own.
I also can't argue with Kurkjian's vote of Dolphins Stadium as the worst MLB venue. I don't think that there are any others that currently come close; well, maybe Adelphia Coliseum, but I still think that it has a bit more interest than the stadium in South Florida. One past ballpark, though, does approach the Marlins' home for ugliness...Kingdome. It just felt so sterile in that building.
Few could argue with Kurkjian's analysis. Fenway is certainly a magical venue, but I always think of the cramped seats when I think of Fenway. (yeah, I'm spoiled :)). Of the parks that I have visited (so far, I've been to 1/2 of current ballparks, missing notables such as PNC Park and Dodger Stadium), I would rank them as:
1) AT&T Park...there's nothing like the view of the San Francisco Bay and the smell of Gilroy Garlic Fries
2) Oriole Park at Camden Yards...modern meets classic. The warehouse is an enduring feature that is uniquely identifiable to Baltimore. As for smells: mmmm, smoke from Boog's barbecue wafting over the stadium.
3) Fenway Park...Beatifully tucked into the Fenway neighborhod, its quirks are genuine as opposed to manufactured idiosyncrasies such as the flagpole at Houston.
4) Wrigley Field....the coziness, the surrounding neighborhood, and the feeling of being on top of the action from the upper deck provide an intimate setting.
5) Petco Park...yes, it is contrived to give an old time feel, but there's something neat about the San Diego look that is provided to this ballpark by the sandstone that is evident throughout. The concourses are interesting even on their own.
I also can't argue with Kurkjian's vote of Dolphins Stadium as the worst MLB venue. I don't think that there are any others that currently come close; well, maybe Adelphia Coliseum, but I still think that it has a bit more interest than the stadium in South Florida. One past ballpark, though, does approach the Marlins' home for ugliness...Kingdome. It just felt so sterile in that building.
