2023 Baseball Tour: ABC Supply Stadium

 When Beloit built their new stadium two years ago, we wanted to check it out. It took us two years to get there. Apparently we like hitting Beloit over the 4th of July weekend. 

ABC Stadium is the home of the Beloit Sky Carp, the Marlins High A team. They changed their name from the Snappers to Sky Carp last year after a fan poll. I personally wanted the cheese curds. The stadium is located on the river just across the border from Illinois. We actually went from WI to IL to WI to get to the stadium. 

Like most newer minor league stadiums, parking is minimal. There is no real parking lot. You can park at the Public Safety building next door or find street parking. The bonus is that it is free. If you park at the public safety building, make sure you pay attention to the signs so you don't park in police parking and get a ticket. 

While we were waiting for the gates to open they actually scanned our tickets ahead of time to make it easier to get in. There are stairs to climb to get in from the outfield entrance. 

The concourse isn't overly wide but it doesn't feel crowded. The downside there is very little over hang to hide under when it rains or snows as this is Wisconsin and you never know in spring. You can walk around the entire park.

I did like all the little touches through out the park. Like the geese prints, the giant Beloit sign, and a little free library. The library was filled with kids books but that is great idea to keep the little ones entertained during a game.

Stamping in was easy at the team store. I just had to make sure it was the right stamp and not Pohlman Park. 

We didn't get any food as we were still full from our late lunch. The candy kabobs looked interesting especially since it was a lot of sugar for one person.

It was Poopsy's birthday so there were several area mascots there wishing him a Happy Birthday. Of course I needed a picture with Grimace.

The field is all turf except for the infield dirt which is unusual for a major league or minor league stadium. The game itself was okay. The pitcher for Beloit got hit in the first and second inning by batted balls and stayed. Then got ejected in the third because he didn't like a call in the field. That was probably the most exciting part of the game.

Overall it is a nice park and we would definitely go back. 14 current minor league stadiums down, 106 more to go.

2022 Baseball Tour -- CHS Field

 Last year we were trying to figure out where to go for our Labor Day trip. The Brewers were out of town and no other team close was home. The hubby said to go farther out and we settled on Denver. However, Denver is too far to drive to in a day or two. The minor league schedules were not completely friendly as all the teams in Iowa and Nebraska were not home when I needed them to be but the St. Paul Saints were. That is how we ended up at CHS Field.

The hubby decided to work prior to us leaving for the game since it was a 7:10 start and we got a late start. We were able to get into the Twin Cities right around game time. As I plan these trips, I'm starting to learn what I need to scope out ahead of time.. parking, bridges, etc. The parking for CHS Field is in lots around the stadium. We parked in the Farmer's Market lot for $8. It was card only which was fine by me.

It was a few block walk to CHS field. On the way we passed some of the Peanut statues that are all around St. Paul. I want to get back and look for more. I'm also not sure what the pigs are all about.

We entered CHS Field through the center field gate so we never got a real good look of the front of the stadium. Based on where we parked this was the easiest option. Like Davenport, you must climb stairs to get into the actual stadium.

Once we were in the park, our first stop (after getting my passport stamped) was the City of Baseball Museum. This museum featured the history of St. Paul Baseball. The Saints used to play in an independent league until 2021 and the realignment of baseball brought them into MiLB. They became the AAA team for the Minnesota Twins. The museum was very interesting and full of a lot of old baseball memorabilia. It is definitely worth checking out while if you are even at CHS Field.

The Saints hosted the Omaha Storm Chasers. It really was not that exciting of a game. Omaha was down early and had to play catch up. 

Like Target Field, the foot print of CHS is really tight. There is not much foul area and the netting only goes to the end of the dugouts. Those foul balls get into the stands rather quickly down the lines. 

Our seats weren't too bad. There were a lot of people and dogs since it was Bark at the Park which we try to avoid but this time it was unavoidable. The crowd was a younger crowd and I wouldn't really say a baseball crowd. It was definitely a definite vibe going on in that stadium. Not sure if it was because of Bark in the Park, the Saints used to be independent, or a lot of young people live in St. Paul. The crowd seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Most parks have a ball boy. CHS Field has a ball pig. Again I don't know why but they do. That alone is worth price of admission.

Overall, not really impressed by the stadium. It is not high on our list of stadiums to visit again. The cream soda, the ball pig, and the museum were my favorite parts. At least we can say we have been there and I have my stamp. 4 AAA Parks down, 26 more to go.

2022 Baseball Stadium Tour -- Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark

 Once I discovered that Arizona University was home, I started to look at other D1 college teams in the Phoenix area -- ASU and GCU. I knew ASU was not home. I wasn't sure if GCU even had a baseball team but it turns out there do. GCU or Grand Canyon University is a private university in Phoenix that just started making a name for itself in the last ten years or so. It also turned out that GCU was home when we were in Phoenix.

GCU plays at GCU Ballpark right on campus. Because GCU is in North Phoenix which is not the best of neighbors, you had to go past a security guard to enter the university campus. Parking was a breeze with a large parking garage right next to the baseball field. People were actually watching the game from the parking ramp.

Tickets were $5/person and it was all general admission. The seats were all stadium seats so no bleachers like Hi Corbett Field. 

The field actual opened in 1962 and had undergone a massive facelift in 2018. GCU Ballpark is a great place to watch a game especially once the sun goes down and it's not blinding you if you sit along the first base side. The hubby said he wouldn't mind coming to another game here in the future.

GCU played CSUN (Cal State University Northridge). It was a good game. GCU won 3-2. It was just a fun game. 

I found 2 things interesting. They had a prayer before the game started. I am not used to that in the college setting. I guess I don't go to many private collegiate games. They also had cheerleaders. I am definitely not used to seeing cheerleaders at baseball games. Mascots yes.. cheerleaders no. They did keep the fans entertained.

We will definitely keep GCU on our list of teams to see when we are down in Arizona. And for $5 it is cheap entertainment. 

2021 Baseball Stadium Tour -- Veterans Memorial Stadium

 Last year we had plans to get to a Cedar Rapids Kernal game. We all know how 2020 turned out. This year when I saw that Cedar Rapids was home Labor Day weekend, I told the hubby we were going to Iowa for Labor Day. 

Cedar Rapids Kernals play at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The stadium was built in 2002 and the field was re-named Perfect Game Field in 2009. It holds about 5300 fans which is on the higher end of capacity for minor league baseball. Cedar Rapids is the Minnesota Twins High A affiliate. Parking is free. 

Inside the gift shop, the Kernals Store, there is the Cedar Rapids Pro Baseball Hall of Fame. It is not very big but it honors past players who have done well. There is some memorabilia and plaques of all of the inductees.

The field is a nice. The hubby was annoyed on how busy the scoreboard was. I really didn't need to know all of those stats. 

We did not eat at the game so I can't tell you about all the yummy ball park food.

It was a typical high A baseball game. The Kernals tried to make a come back against Quad Cities but fell short. Typical of the games we went to this year where the home team lost. 

Outside of the stadium is a nice veteran's memorial. 

We definitely we keep Cedar Rapids on the list of places to return to. Honestly the only minor league ball parks we've been to so far that we really haven't enjoyed was Beloit, who got a new stadium last month, Burlington, and Kane County.. the last two are no longer minor league affiliates.  It is a nice stadium and a nice town. We will definitely be back.