Chicago Cubs - World Series

October 30th, 2016, day after my son's first birthday. We're brunch at about noon with that Mother-in-Law of mine and and wife brother's family. Phone rings. It's Janet. She has tickets to gave 5 of the World Series at Wrigley Field and asks 'Can you get to Chicago in 7 hours?'. What happens next is a bit of blur. I don't mean to over 'Hollywood' it here, but just a pretty controlled panic of checking Delta flights, frequent flyer miler balance, calling my boss, gauging my wife's reaction to this. I was pretty sure it could happen and then it just did. 

Drove home as fast as I could, threw a bag together, back in the car, airport, security, preflight beer, panicked phone calls, board, wheels up, touch down @ 4:30, Uber, meet Janet, Red Line, Sheridan stop, at the gates of Wrigley @ 6:15...

Walking up to the stadium there were police checking bags two blocks north of the stadium. Waveland Ave had a riot like line of cops that I assume stood there the entire game as they were still there when the game let out.

We were 4 rows behind the Cubs bullpen, right on top of Jon Lester's warm up; then eventually Carl Edwards Jr (who was a shockingly small man) and Alrodis Chapman.

Indians had a solo shot in the 2nd and the place was absolutely void of energy. Then in the fourth Kris Bryant's walk up music was (and maybe always is) 'warm it up Kris' by none other than Kris Cross. He hit a bomb to center that was low and fast, I didn't think it was going to get there when it left the bat. Just into the stands and then the fan dropped it into the basket. Rizzo then came up and nearly did the same thing to right field, but it fell a few feet short and he wound up on 2nd. Zobrist singled, Rizzo was held at 3rd.

(Those were my notes the morning after, I'm picking this up two weeks later and unfortunately won't come up with the level of detail you've read this far)

The biggest thing I that stood out from the game perspective (vs. the experience perspective) was Alrodis Chapman entering the game with 1 out in the 7th...He went the rest of the game and that. We questioned that decision the rest of the game...Until we didn't. Cubs win 3-2

Janet and I we're able to decide early on that the only way to explain the event was 'Bananas'. It was the World Series, it was at Wrigley, and we were there. Such an amazing experience to even be at a World Series game, much less one of this significance. Never before have I attended a game where the fans lived and died with every pitch, SUCH a nail bitter. We rarely sat down and when we did it was only for moments until Cubs got a runner on or the pitcher got a two strike count and then it was back at go crazy levels

Eddie Veder did the 7th Inning Stretch giving props to David Ross as it was his last game at Wrigley Field. Plenty of celebs all over the jumbotron.  Chapman struck out the final batter in the top of the 9th. I go nuts, Janet goes nuts. Wrigley, Chicago, Everybody GOES NUTS. So many W flags all over the stadium. 

Top 4 events (not to be confused with moments) of my life in no particular order to date: Birth of Son, Marriage of Wife, Superbowl of Packers, and now Game 5 of Cubs)

New York Mets - Revisited

Revisited the mets at Citi Field on sept 23rd, 2016 V's the Phillies. This is after seeing them at Shea 15 years early just prior to sept 11th in 2001. The game was tense as the Mets were nursing a 1 game lead over the cards for the wild card. Mets won 10-5 in the end.

I've finally come to the realization that I need to start grouping stadiums into eras, because it's just not fair to compare a 2009 stadium to a 1996 stadium, much less a 1960s, or 1900 stadium. They are doing different things now and have different priorities for what they're trying to do.

I classify Citi in the same era as target field, Marlins Park, Nationals Stadium, and thou I havent been there at the time of this post, the new Yankee. This stadium compares quite well to all of those, probably most so to Nationals on account of the fact that it is BIG! I think it's actually a bit nicer. Granted it's a little confusing with all of their seating tiers...

Connected directly with the subway there was a good vibe as soon as we got off the train. I was surprised to see that there was actually plenty of parking too! Only a couple (I only saw 2) gates to get in, but lines weren't too bad. Once inside you immediately had to go upstairs to reach the 100 level, with a museum and some other nonsense at ground level. 

Open concourse like you'd expect from a 2009 park with good food options (pastrami melts, New York style pizza, etc.). The beer was like the rest of New York beers, largely boring. We sat 3rd base side in row 26. Good view just at the cusp of the outfield. Great batters eye with the retracting apple for HR's, just like Shae. 

Common areas through out, even in the upper decks which was unusual I thought. They had the standard games and activities for kids that most new parks have. They did not, however, have an in park restaurant/bar that many do and lines at concessions did seem long everywhere. That shouldn't be the case for a big 45k stadium.

At the end of the day in at a B+ here. In several ways it's better than Target and National, but I think I'm at a point where I'm ready to retool my entire stadium rankings. So stay tuned...

Toronto Blue Jays

#25 - Thursday, June 30th 2016. Blue Jays vs Indians. RA Dickey v Carlos Corasco. Rogers Centre (Sky Dome) is beautifully positioned in the city, right next to CN Tower, in between the downtown district and the water front. Walking up fans were everywhere. Couple bars and restaurants that were in the area were packed. Almost had the atmosphere of a football game outside stadium. As we walked up to the gates the lines were enormous. We tried multiple gates and all lines were 30+ people deep. Hadn't experienced the likes of this since the Metrodome.

Had 3rd row seats in the left field corner which was at a nice pitch, very close to the field. However, my seat did NOT have a cup holder!?!? Unreal. This place was built in 89, so it has those things about it that the newer stadiums have learned not to do, i.e. Don't build stadiums that serve multiple sports. This is one of two stadiums in baseball that also doubles as a football stadium. That means the seats face directly forward, don't face home plate. On the plus side the jumbotron in center was huge and obviously new. The hook for this place is that have honest to goodness hotel rooms built into left and right field upper deck. That was very unique.

The lower deck was an open concourse, but barely, it looks like it might have been a reno at some point. All lines were long and the concourse was cramped. The only common area with a game view was a standing room only section in dead center field. Seemed awkward as we walked down there as it was kind of just a walk through, but no one was moving.

The fans were very excited about their team, but I didn't get the sense that they were serious baseball fans like I did in Detroit, More just people that were really happy to have a competitive team, which I can appreciate.

In terms of a grade, I am going to have to go back and redo all these because my opinions are changing so much based on the more stadiums I see. It's bad I would put this stadium in the lower 10, but I don't know about the lower 5. It gets a little uptick due to game day experience and location, but everything is pretty poor. C-

Detroit Tigers

Detroit Tigers - Went to Stadium #24, Comerica Park on Tuesday, June 28th 2016. Trudii, baby Vinny, and grandma Chris. Cooler night, but perfect for a game. Played the Marlins. Pelfry v Conley. Tigers won 8 to 5. Stadium is set just outside the center of downtown. Took the train and walking up you saw a lot of buzz around the park, but most was due to pan handlers, construction, and traffic cops. It's Detroit, it wasn't a picture-esk experience, BUT as soon as you got up to the park it was an amazing exterior. Totally decked out with Tigers across the whole building including their primary statue at the main gate. Fantastic. Once inside we were met by a tiger themed merry go round which the ladies and Vin immediately flocked to. 

As we began to explore the stadium my expectations were immediately exceeded. Very open stadium. Fantastic batters eye covered with ivy. The concourse on the lower level had a continued theme for each decade of Tiger baseball and  The concessions lined the inner ring of the promenade, very unique as they were permanent brick structures, not the pop up kiosks were used to. Sitting down out in left field the fans were super into the game the entire time, a very intelligent fan. Minimal screens throughout the stadium, only one Jumbotron and limited scoreboards throughout. This was moderately refreshing as opposed to the younger stadiums. Upper deck was bare bones, but I think that was a good move, making it elaborate would have been overkill for a stadium like this.

Overall I give Detroit a very high grade. They built a stadium that fit their city and their fans with a lot of integrity. Great urban placement. Clearly means a lot to the community. Not to classy, not too frilly like the newer stadiums. I feel like it truly represents Detroit quite well.

I want to say B+, but I rank this over Nationals Park. Still under Petco & PNC though...I'm starting to learn that I just really love the late 90's, early 2000's parks...when they went eclectic, but before they went 'hollywood'...this makes me think I need to drop Washington stadium a notch

A- for now