We all know that baseball games serve up overpriced hot dogs and mediocre American beer, but what are the best MLB stadiums?
For those who can be bothered to get off the couch, these are the 10 best MLB stadiums to visit.
10. Target Field – Minnesota Twins
In true “Minnesota nice” fashion, we crown Minnesota Twins home ballpark Target Field one of the best MLB stadiums mostly because of its unique left and right field stadium porches.
Target Field also has nice views of downtown Minnesota featuring the Wells Fargo Center and IDS Center as they rise above the upper decks. I’m sure the locals will agree passive aggressively.
9. Citi Field – New York Mets
The Mets have always been the “little brother” to the Yankees but when it comes to stadiums, the 41,922-seat Citi Field outdoes Yankee Stadium with features like the Shea Bridge and Pepsi-Cola Porch.
Fans are met with a rotunda architecture main entrance as well as one of the biggest scoreboards of any ballpark in the world measuring 17,400 sq ft at the front, and 6,900 at the back.
8. T-Mobile Park – Seattle Mariners
T-Mobile Park is an architectural jigsaw puzzle which some will call ugly. It’s definitely a bold design to say the least and is effectively a ballpark wrapped inside a square which creates open concourse areas.
The best part of T-Mobile Park? A retractable canopy roof which is a money pit. As long as it works though it’ll help keep out the rain in Seattle, where the sun loves to play games of hide-and-seek.
7. Fenway Park – Boston Red Sox
Fenway Park is one of the best MLB stadiums even if some seats have obstructed views. Built in 1912 it’s the oldest stadium in the league and sits in the middle of the Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood.
It’s best feature? The “Green Monster”, which might sound like Hulk’s male appendage but it’s actually Major League Baseball’s most iconic and tallest outfield wall measuring 37 feet.
6. Dodger Stadium – Los Angeles Dodgers
Dodger Stadium’s backdrop itself makes it one of the best MLB stadiums, with the cinematic grandeur of the surrounding Los Angeles hills only outshone by the Dodgers star-studded Hollywood superfans.
Opening in 1962 the retro charm of Dodgers Stadium has recently had the Hollywood makeover treatment with hundreds of millions of dollars in upgrades to keep it glitzy and glamorous.
5. Oracle Park – San Francisco Giants
Oakland loses the Golden State Warriors to San Francisco. They also lost their baseball team to Vegas, all while The Bay enjoys one of the best MLB stadiums in Oracle Park.
All 42,300 fans who can pack into Oracle Park collectively laugh and look down on Oakland as they all enjoy front row seats to San Francisco Bay and the downtown skyline.
4. Petco Park – San Diego Padres
San Diego may have lost the Chargers but the Padres are the pride and joy of the city, and Petco Park is the centrepiece, which is built around the old Western Metal Supply Co brick building at left-corner field.
Petco Park takes you back in time with the contrast between the historically preserved mid-1920’s warehouse and the surrounding views of the ever-evolving contemporary San Diego city skyline.
3. Oriole Park at Camden Yards – Baltimore Orioles
The retro-inspired Oriole Park at Camden Yards opened in 1992 and has set the trend for how many new ballparks are designed, including Petco Park.
Behind right-field and forming part of Oriole Park’s design is the eight-story brick B&O Warehouse building which broke ground in 1899 and contrasts stunningly against the backdrop of the Downtown Baltimore skyline.
2. Wrigley Field – Chicago Cubs
What makes Wrigley Field so great? Well for starters, it’s a Major League Baseball relic. Opening in 1914 its brick outfield walls are covered in ivy, and the scoreboard is still hand-operated.
Home runs have landed on the surrounding “Wrigley Rooftops” with bleacher seating installed at some of those residential buildings offering one of the greatest quirks of any stadium in the world.
1. PNC Park – Pittsburgh Pirates
PNC Park is the best MLB stadium. Simply put, it’s a spectacular ballpark with its retro-classic architecture and combination of steel trusses, archways and natural grass which will leave you mesmerized.
Everywhere you look from the 38,747 seats will provide an excellent backdrop of the Allegheny River and the Pittsburgh city skyline, and the Roberto Clemente Bridge which provides direct access into PNC Park.
