There are three tiers of seats at the Diamond. The red seats are box seats, the silver seats are reserved, and the gold seats are general admission. All of the seats are the same otherwise. Bench seats with irritating little armrests that stick out from the somewhat contoured bench-back.
Also notice the luxury boxes down low to the field, as opposed to higher up in most parks. They kind of serve to segregate the box seats from everything else at the ballpark.
The Diamond has had it's share of troubles recently. At the end of the 2004 season, the R-Braves had to play some of their home games at Norfolk's Harbor Park because heavy rains made the poorly draining field unplayable. A good bit of the outfield was under water.
One of my few favorite things about the Diamond? The fireworks! The fourth of July home games are always sold out, and feature the BEST ballpark fireworks I've ever seen. They are so good, that people check in to the motel beyond the left field fence just to sit outside their rooms and watch. just a great fireworks show!
Monday, May 23, 2005
DC: Richmond's "Rough" Diamond
The last stop on my little weekend adventure was an afternoon day game in Richmond, VA. The Richmond Braves played my Norfolk Tides.
The Diamond has the distinction of being built just a few years before the big ballpark boom, started by, among others, the Tides' Harbor Park. What a difference a few years and 90 miles makes!
The Diamond was built in a part of town I'd describe as "warehousey." It is convenient to I-95, and to the surrounding parking lots, but not much else. It was also built very quickly, during one off-season.
It is a very basic, symmetrical stadium, with one huge grandstand. The concourse is accessed by steps, something that always irks me.
The picture shows a massive roof over the stand- a good feature in my opinion. Plenty of cover for those rainy days when they keep playing the game!
The Diamond has the distinction of being built just a few years before the big ballpark boom, started by, among others, the Tides' Harbor Park. What a difference a few years and 90 miles makes!
The Diamond was built in a part of town I'd describe as "warehousey." It is convenient to I-95, and to the surrounding parking lots, but not much else. It was also built very quickly, during one off-season.
It is a very basic, symmetrical stadium, with one huge grandstand. The concourse is accessed by steps, something that always irks me.
The picture shows a massive roof over the stand- a good feature in my opinion. Plenty of cover for those rainy days when they keep playing the game!
Sunday, May 22, 2005
DC: RFK Rain Delay
Having kept a close eye on the forecast, I opted for a seat under the protection of the upper deck overhang. So I was able to stay dry during a rain delay in the sixth inning, and ultimately during the game-ending rain delay in the eighth. Before then, the crowd of 40,000 was treated to what would be a Nationals victory over the Mets.
The preseason buzz about the Nationals was that they may not have the best record in their inaugural season, but they would be entertaining. So far, they have exceeded expectations, performing well for their home crowds, and staying close to .500.
Too bad their grounds crew isn't performing as well! Poor tarp management caused a comedy to break out at the ballgame. It took the crew a half-hour to get the tarp on the infield the second time. Their struggles were entertaining to the remaining crowd. Their struggles also ensured that the infield dirt was saturated and unplayable.
The preseason buzz about the Nationals was that they may not have the best record in their inaugural season, but they would be entertaining. So far, they have exceeded expectations, performing well for their home crowds, and staying close to .500.
Too bad their grounds crew isn't performing as well! Poor tarp management caused a comedy to break out at the ballgame. It took the crew a half-hour to get the tarp on the infield the second time. Their struggles were entertaining to the remaining crowd. Their struggles also ensured that the infield dirt was saturated and unplayable.
DC: RFK's View From Above
RFK Stadium is one of the last multi-purpose stadiums remaining, and it has a couple of uses. The prime tenant, of course, is the Nationals, but the very successful soccer team, DC United also calls RFK home.
Compromises have to be made when trying to accommodate many uses, and for RFK, the compromise is the view from the seats in the outfield. This view from the upper deck in left field shows that the outfield wall is well out of sight. Even the steepness of the deck doesn't help!
Everywhere else in the ballpark, the views are fine, unless you are at the very back of the lower deck, where the overhang of the upper deck osbcures your view of the scoreboard.
Compromises have to be made when trying to accommodate many uses, and for RFK, the compromise is the view from the seats in the outfield. This view from the upper deck in left field shows that the outfield wall is well out of sight. Even the steepness of the deck doesn't help!
Everywhere else in the ballpark, the views are fine, unless you are at the very back of the lower deck, where the overhang of the upper deck osbcures your view of the scoreboard.
DC: The Walk to RFK
During my many trips to DC to visit friends, major league baseball was about two hours away. Fight the traffic from Northern Virginia to the south suburbs of Baltimore, then light rail into Camden Yards.
So it was a pleasure to hop on the Orange line metro and join the crowds in the 1/4 mile walk from the Stadium/Armory station to RFK Stadium. From this distance, the stadium's distinctive up-and -down roof can be seen.
So it was a pleasure to hop on the Orange line metro and join the crowds in the 1/4 mile walk from the Stadium/Armory station to RFK Stadium. From this distance, the stadium's distinctive up-and -down roof can be seen.
DC: A New Era
The second leg of my DC weekend took me to the oldest "new" venue in baseball, where I could witness a new era for baseball in our nation's capital. Washington DC waited 33 years to get another chance at major league baseball, and judging by the turnout, they will do well.
Campbell's Field Grandstand
Campbell's Field is a very nice, comfortable ballpark, made more roomy by the often thin crowds. This was a Sunday afternoon in July, with only about 2,000 in attendance. Like many of the new parks, there are plenty of skyboxes and even a group seating area under the tallest part of the roof.
In Ben's Shadow
Campbells Field has one of the most unique locations in baseball, in the shadow of the Ben Franklin Bridge between Downtown Camden and Downtown Philadelphia. One of the massive suspension cable anchors site beyond the left field fence, and from the first base stands, one can see the span of this huge bridge, and the Philly Skyline across the river.
The bridge dominates the entire ballpark, and provides some interesting views. I for one am drawn to the clatter and rumble of the PATCO trains shuttling across the bridge between downtown Philly and the South Jersey suburbs. In fact, the bridge can be something of a distraction from the main event- the ballgame!
The bridge dominates the entire ballpark, and provides some interesting views. I for one am drawn to the clatter and rumble of the PATCO trains shuttling across the bridge between downtown Philly and the South Jersey suburbs. In fact, the bridge can be something of a distraction from the main event- the ballgame!
Mmm, mmm, Good!
Camden New Jersey is often thought of as the poster child for urban decay. Parts of it can be pretty nasty. But it does have some things going for it. Like Campbell's Soup, which is still headquartered in the city. Like Philadelphia, conveniently across the river by car, boat, or train. Like the Delaware riverfront, and the attractions that have been recently built. The Tweeter Center amphitheater, the New Jersey Aquarium, the Battleship New Jersey, and Campbell's Field, the home of the Camden Riversharks of the independent Atlantic League. Yes, the soup company is the title sponsor of the ballpark, and has added their touch to the place.
The Atlantic League started from scratch, and was able to get cities in the northeast to construct some beautiful new ballparks for their teams. Most of the teams are located in the large metropolitan areas between Boston and Philadelphia.
The Atlantic League started from scratch, and was able to get cities in the northeast to construct some beautiful new ballparks for their teams. Most of the teams are located in the large metropolitan areas between Boston and Philadelphia.
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
DC: Disappointing Delmarva Crowd
I never did catch an attendance figure for the game, but it was easily under a thousand. Quite disappointing for a Friday night, and travel mug night. The threatening weather may have had something to do with it. A storm front was on it's way up from the souuthwest, but didn't hit until a couple hours after the game.
Naturally, in a stadium called Perdue, you can get chicken served any number of ways, and there are two concession stands dedicated to chicken. I still go for the hot dogs, along with a tasty cold beverage!
Perdue Stadium also has some nice picnic areas, including one behind home plate, and a carousel on the concourse in left field for the young kiddies to enjoy.
Naturally, in a stadium called Perdue, you can get chicken served any number of ways, and there are two concession stands dedicated to chicken. I still go for the hot dogs, along with a tasty cold beverage!
Perdue Stadium also has some nice picnic areas, including one behind home plate, and a carousel on the concourse in left field for the young kiddies to enjoy.
DC: Friday with the Shorebirds
I drive up the Eastern Shore of Delaware/Maryland/Virginia about five times a year to see Mom and Dad. The largest city between Virginia Beach and Wilmington is Salisbury MD, considered the center of the DelMarVa peninsula. Chicken rules the roost here, and one passes numerous chicken farms on the drive up US-13. Hopefully the trip isn't spent behind a chicken truck on it's way to one of the processing plants. Tyson, Mountainnaire, and Perdue have plants in the area.
The Delmarva Shorebirds play at Perdue Stadium on the east side of Salisbury. It is a nice, little ballpark set among fields and forests. When driving up the shore in the summer, I try to make it a point to stop, at least for a while, if the 'Birds are in town.
The Shorebirds give you small-town baseball. There is a large percentage of kids and families in a Shorebirds crowd. They may come from Virginia, 40 miles to the south, or Delaware, 10 miles to the north, or the three counties that make up Maryland's eastern shore. Most of them sit in the metal bench seats that make up a majority of the stadium seating. A general admission ticket is all you need to get a good view of the game here!
The Delmarva Shorebirds play at Perdue Stadium on the east side of Salisbury. It is a nice, little ballpark set among fields and forests. When driving up the shore in the summer, I try to make it a point to stop, at least for a while, if the 'Birds are in town.
The Shorebirds give you small-town baseball. There is a large percentage of kids and families in a Shorebirds crowd. They may come from Virginia, 40 miles to the south, or Delaware, 10 miles to the north, or the three counties that make up Maryland's eastern shore. Most of them sit in the metal bench seats that make up a majority of the stadium seating. A general admission ticket is all you need to get a good view of the game here!
DC: A Weekend Trip
At the end of april, I took a quick weekend baseball trip. I had to be up in Washington DC Saturday afternoon for some other business, so decided to make a baseball weekend of it. I would hit three ballgames in less than forty-eight hours, and make a loop around the Chesapeake Bay. Two ballparks would be familiar, and one would be new, to me anyway.
First stop was Salisbury, MD Friday evening. It was only two and a half hours from work, so I only had to leave an hour and a half early. I watched the Delmarva Shorebirds of the single-A South Atlantic League play the Asheville Tourists at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium. Saturday night, I had a reserved seat to watch the Washington Nationals take on the New York Mets at RFK Stadium in DC. After a quick trip down I-95 Sunday morning, (with a stop at Potomac Mills outlet mall,) I caught my Norfolk Tides playing the Richmond Braves at the Diamond.
The forecast was iffy, but I was able to dodge the raindrops for the most part and see some good baseball.
First stop was Salisbury, MD Friday evening. It was only two and a half hours from work, so I only had to leave an hour and a half early. I watched the Delmarva Shorebirds of the single-A South Atlantic League play the Asheville Tourists at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium. Saturday night, I had a reserved seat to watch the Washington Nationals take on the New York Mets at RFK Stadium in DC. After a quick trip down I-95 Sunday morning, (with a stop at Potomac Mills outlet mall,) I caught my Norfolk Tides playing the Richmond Braves at the Diamond.
The forecast was iffy, but I was able to dodge the raindrops for the most part and see some good baseball.
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