Objective: Take an adventure up to Manchester, NH from Boston and see a AA New Hampshire Fisher Cats game and get back to Boston that night.
The Adventure: I have been working on my goal to now see every minor league baseball park. I had accomplished the major league parks back in 2013 and now with the love of baseball still hot, it is time to take on the minor league teams. Click here to read Inside Northeast Delta Dental Stadium– Arty 84 Baseball Park Reviews MILB Addition #1.
Growing up in Boston, I never really got a chance to explore Manchester, NH. I had a day off from work and since I am moving to DC in a few weeks, I figured her is my chance. I figured I would take a bus up there for a couple reason. 1) by the time I parked and drove, it would cost about the same as it was for a round trip bus ticket, $44 dollars. 2) I don’t have to worry about driving 90 minutes both ways and falling asleep or getting pulled over for a DWI. 3) a bus is more of an adventure.
I am a cheap person at times, and wanted to do this on the low end. I work at a hotel that has a free shuttle service to the airport. The airport now has free silver line trips into Boston’s south station, where the bus terminal is. So i got to the hotel, jumped on the free shuttle and off to south station. I picked up my ticket for the 2PM bus that will get me into Manchester around 3:20PM, giving me a few hours to explore before the 7PM Fisher Cats game vs Richmond. Richmond is the AA team for the San Fransisco Giants. The Fisher Cats are the AA team for the Toronto Blue Jays.
I started the day off with a beer at this new little Mexican place at south station called Tavitas. I had of course a Harpoon IPA, after all I am in Boston, right kids? My beer adventures didn’t stop there. I got up to Manchester around 3:30PM and heading over to a fine place call The Thirsty Moose Tap House with several beers on tap. I went to my old school favorite of a Yeti Imperial Stout from the fine folks over at the great Divide Brewery, then I went to the 603 sampler ( 603 is New Hampshire’s area code) which included brews from Kilgore, Stone Face, Tuckerman, White Birch, Great North and Able Ebenezer. I also had my favorite bar food, chili cheese fries.
After the nice beer tasting and snack, I headed over to the game. There was a happy hour going on at the Sam Adams Pub over there. 1$ off beers, so I had a few. Stupid be went all the way to New Hampshire wearing shorts and a T-shirt and forgot my sweatshirt in my van. I froze my ass off up there with the temperature about 59 degrees with a wind. I managed to watch 5 innings sitting in the stands. 14$ bucks got you in and I made my way down a row behind the home team dugout. After about the fourth inning and a couple more beers, I made myself back to the Sam Adams pub and watched the rest of the game while it was a tad warmer. I left the game in the 8th inning. The Fisher Cats were loosing, but from what I read they made a little comeback in the 9th, but still ending up loosing 5 runs to 6.
I left the stadium freezing my ass off and made my way to the bus station that was about a quarter of a mile a way. I get there and the place is closed! Good think I bought my round trip ticket, otherwise I would of been out for the night. I had an hour to kill and wasn’t going to be sitting outside with the crazy homeless people, so I walked to a bar at the end of the street called called Queens Pub and Grill and had myself another one. Mind you the whole time I have only had a little buzz going on. I felt fine, until I walked back to the bus station and sat on the bus and I felt like a rock just hit me. Plastered I was. I feel asleep and woke up an hour later still in Boston, still drunk, YIKES! After getting on the wrong red line train, falling asleep and missing a stop and then barely making it to the last train on the blue line, I was hopping that Pete’s Roast Beef was still open, but it was not. I managed to get back to the hotel to get my van and hung out there for a little while until I was sober enough to drive. That was my day to Manchester New Hampshire. I spent about 100$ that day. My budget was about 75$ for this adventure, but I had a couple more drinks than I planned, hey it happens. If your in Manchester, check out a Fisher Cat game and explore the city, its a good old New Hampshire time.
Stadium Name: Northeast Delta Dental Stadium
Team: New Hampshire Fisher Cats
League: MiLB – AA Eastern League Years Visited: 2016 Opposing Team: Richmond Flying Squirrels (SF Giants AA) Date Opened: 2005 Date Closed: NA Overall Rating: 7 out of 10
From MiLB.com:
Triple-A
Double-A
Class A
Short A/ Rookie
Adult Ticket
$8.12
$7.15
$6.99
$6.13
Child Ticket
$7.07
$5.95
$5.89
$5.23
Hot Dog
$3.30
$2.91
$3.03
$2.63
Soda
$2.94
$2.86
$2.89
$2.58
Beer
$5.47
$4.76
$4.86
$4.37
Program
$2.77
$2.58
$1.96
$2.17
*Parking
$4.83
$4.43
$4.32
$3.72
Beer Price Rank (2016): above average
Ticket Price Rank (2016): above average
Baseball, Bars & Bedlam Visit Order: MiLB Park #5 Notable Award: Like its big league brother, the Blue Jays, this stadium also includes a hotel in center field where you can rent a room for the night and take in a baseball game from your own room or a patio setup with heat lamps on the main level of the hotel.
Review: I got to the park about an hour before the game. The park had said something about a pregame happy hour, but they didn’t have many drink specials or any that I could see. Prices for tickets and beer is above average, but it is located in the biggest city in New Hampshire so I will give it some wiggle room for that. The game was a good time. I had got dinner and a few drinks down the road before I got to the park so i had a nice little buzz going on. The temperature that day dropped dramatically to the point where I had shorts and a t-shirt on and was shivering. There is a little bit of a breeze in the mountains of New Hampshire. There was a decent crowd for a Thursday night and the fans seem to really get into the game. Its a newer stadium with everything updated. It was a good time and if your ever in Manchester (or Manchs Vegas as they call it) check out a game.
Welcome to our Adventure vlog – We call this The Wicked Explorers with Arty 84, Suzi J Henry & Charlotte
Angry, Drunk Jaguars Fans Kicked out of TIAA Field during the Hottest Game since 2003 vs The Patriots
So as the stroy goes, a bunch of us went down for a bachalor party to see the Patriots play the Jagaurs. Now after being to about 20 differnt NFl stadiums, this was the only time we really had an issue with a home town fan. NFL fans for the most part are not bad when you have friendly interactions with them.
On September 16, the Patriots Played the Jaguars in Jacksonville. It was the hottest game since 2003 at 107 degrees. The Patritos fans where just hanging out when this angry Jaguars fan starts runing his mouth. He kept saying “Nick Foles” who beat the Patriots in the superbowl the year before. Nick Foles went to the Jags the next year and they finished last in the AFC South. The jags also finished last in the AFC south this year (2018)……. The patritos went on to win the Super Bowl for the 6th time.
Inside Fenway Park – Arty 84 Baseball Park Reviews
Stadium Name: Fenway Park
Team: Boston Red Sox
League: MLB – American League East Years Visited: 1988 – Present time Opposing Team: More I have seen than haven’t Date Opened: 1912 Date Closed: NA Overall Rating: (1-10) 9
Beer Price Rank (2016): 1st highest in the MLB
Ticket Price Rank (2016): 1st highest in the MLB
Baseball, Bars & Bedlam Rank: 2 out of 33
Baseball, Bars & Bedlam Visit Order: 1 out of 33 Notable Award: The stadium is currently the oldest ball park in all the major leagues.
Review:
Growing up 10 miles north of Boston makes me a little bias for this review but the Red Sox will always be my number team. I remember being a kid and getting all excited walking into the stadium. The stadium is just part of the experience. The green line train ride there, grabbing some food before the game and walking around the stadium before, checking out the sites is what makes Fenway, Fenway. I remember being a young guy and hearing all talk about ripping down Fenway and building a new stadium and as a kid that made me sad. I seen the Boston Garden come and go and it was like a piece of my childhood was gone forever. I remember going to the game with my dad back in October of 1993. The Sox were out of the playoff run and we must of just got tickets for free. We took the train in and I remember just walking up the ramp and seeing the green monster and green grass. When you 8 years old, that means everything to you.
My first game was when I was 4 years old. I was with my mom, aunt and grandfather. We sat 3 rows back behind the owners box. It was a rainy night, the ushers kept kicking people out from the unused owners seats in front of me. Every time an umbrella was opened, the usher where on it. I don’t know how i remember this at my age but the image is clear as day. I remember every time I had been to that stadium and we are talking over 100 times in the last 25+ years. It is a great place and I have great memories there. It will always be number 1 for favorite stadiums for me.
The Fenway area of Boston is a great place to go before, after and when games are not even going on. Over the years such places as Cask, Beer Works and Ball Park Tavern have been hangouts in the Neighborhood. With several colleges surround Fenway, the crowds are usually younger, but don’t be surprised if you see some grandmothers banging back shots at the bar before the game.
Getting to the game is fairly easy, jump on the Green Line, any train but the E train and get off at Kenmore. DONE. But if you do end up on the E line, get off at Northeastern and its about a 20 minute walk through the Fens Park, but just don’t do it at night, unless you want to hang out with the large amount of homeless people living in the park or criminals looking to cause trouble or your occasional drunk college kid passed out on the path on his way back to his dorm.
If you have never been there, GO! its a great place to watch your favorite team play. Its part of American history. The Green monster, manual score board, the 420 triangle or the Fenway frank (the original was better) are things that make this stadium unique. See it before the Sox don’t play there anymore and if you need any advice feel free to reach out to me.
According to Statista, the Red Sox are #1 for highest ticket prices in 2016, see link for all MLB teams prices. They are also the 1st highest in beer prices according to business insider, see link for all MLB teams prices. If you are in Boston, take in a game. Arty tip: Drink before you go to the game at a dive bar somewhere. Beers and food will cost you a leg. Also wait to last minute and get your tickets on Stubhub or Ace Tickets. Don’t buy from the box office because you can find tickets cheaper elsewhere.
Inside Progressive Field– Arty 84 Baseball Park Reviews
Stadium Name: Progressive Field
Team: Cleveland Indians
League: MLB – American League Central Years Visited: 2010 & 2015 Opposing Team: Cincinnati Reds & Chicago White Sox
Date Opened: 1994 Date Closed: NA Overall Rating: (1-10) 8
Beer Price Rank (2016): 29th highest in the MLB
Ticket Price Rank (2016): 22nd highest in the MLB
Baseball, Bars & Bedlam Rank: 10 out of 33
Baseball, Bars & Bedlam Visit Order: 18 out of 33 Notable Award: In 2008, Sports Illustrated named Progressive Field the Best stadium in the MLB
Review:
This field is one of the new era baseball fields. In the early 90’s, new stadiums were popping up in the majors. Teams were getting away from the multi use stadiums that were largely built in the 60’s and 70’s and moving forward to give baseball teams their own unique homes. Soon after Camden Yards was built, Jacobs Field or the Jake, as it was known before naming rights, was born.
The forever struggling city of Cleveland needed an uplift. For years the Indians would share Municipal Stadium with the NFL Browns. The stadium was falling apart and desperately needed help. Finally in the early 90’s a plan to redesign downtown Cleveland came about and part of the plan was a new arena and baseball field. The new era of baseball fields came with a more old school design with nooks and crannies making each field unique. The old “concrete donuts” multi use stadiums lacked any architecture and special feel to it, but these new stadiums all brought great character to the majors.
The first time I went to Progressive Field was in 2010 during a small long weekend road trip. The city of Cleveland, a tad dull on a Friday night, did bring in some fans for the night baseball game vs the inter-league Reds. Not as jammed pack as the stadium once was in the 90’s with the attendance record breaking days, but a fan base was seen there.
I liked the grand entrance out in left field to bring you into the park. I liked the home plate entrance that was very architecturally done well to welcome you to the Jake. The concourse was well designed and very easy to flow. Gift shops and beer stands were easy to get to. Much detail was done all the way down to the Indian’s symbols on the seats.
I went back years later for a day game on a wonderful Sunday afternoon in July. The sun was shining and the park was packed. Although the city of Cleveland gets a bad rap, the baseball stadium is one of the best in the the MLB. If your team is in town, check out the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and take in a Indians game, and don’t go to a Cavs game because Lebron Sucks.
According to Statista, the Indians are #22 for highest ticket prices in 2016, see link for all MLB teams prices. They are also the 29th highest in beer prices according to business insider, see link for all MLB teams prices. If you are in the Cleveland area, take in a game. Arty tip: Go to Stubhub for a better deal on tickets and grab some beers, its one of the cheapest in the majors.
League: MLB – National League West Years Visited: 2011 Opposing Team: Atlanta Braves Date Opened: 2004 Date Closed: NA Overall Rating: (1-10) 9
Beer Price Rank (2016): 25th highest in the MLB
Ticket Price Rank (2016): 25th highest in the MLB
Baseball, Bars & Bedlam Rank: 5 out of 33
Baseball, Bars & Bedlam Visit Order: 23 out of 33 Notable Award: The historical landmark Western Metal Supply Co. building was renovated and included in the stadium design in an example of adaptive reuse. Building is a portion of the left field seating.
Review:
I went to Petco on my first west coast road trip back in 2011. When I started my tour, this was one of the parks I really wanted to see the most. The city of San Diego is a great place. Perfect weather all year round and plenty to do. This first time I went to San Diego, I couldn’t get a hotel downtown, so I stayed in an awesome beach town of La Jolla. Since I enjoy to drink a few drinks, I decided that public transportation would be the best bet to the game. Well if you are going to do this, expect it to take over an house to go 10 miles and the last train leaves around 11PM, so no time for post game fun. I had to take a combination of buses and light rail to get there.
The Park was great. My favorite feature is the use of the historical landmark Western Metal Supply Co. building hat was renovated and included in the stadium design. Easy to navigate through the park. A little baseball diamond is out in the outfield grass area for the kids. Building is a portion of the left field seating. In right field, there is a giant lawn area to sit and watch the game. You can see the park from all the buildings around it and it is a stones throw from the Gas Lamp District.
I didn’t really see anything about the stadium I didn’t like other than a few blind spots. Odd think is they seemed to take the away teams bullpen an move it to the right field foul space in stead of where I think it should be to the right of center field. Instead that space is a beach pit. Speaking of the beach It’s so close to the ocean you can smell it and from the upper deck see the seaport. The Naval ships and large bridges are a great site and if your in town for a convention, the convention center is right across the street. Nice use of the ivory throughout the park on the walls and walking bridges.
Odd think is they seemed to take the away teams bullpen an move it to the right field foul space in stead of where I think it should be to the right of center field. Instead that space is a beach pit.
According to Statista, the Padres are #25 for highest ticket prices in 2016, see link for all MLB teams prices. They are also the 25th highest in beer prices according to business insider, see link for all MLB teams prices. If you are in the San Diego area, this stadium is a must see. Arty tip: Ticket prices are cheap, so the box office could be your best bet for good seats. Also the stadium is a stones throw to the Gas Lamp District full of places to eat and drink. Basic pizza and bar def was a great place to eat.
Inside Orioles Park at Camden Yards – Arty 84 Baseball Park Reviews
Stadium Name: Orioles Park at Camden Yards
Team: Baltimore Orioles
League: MLB – American League East Years Visited: 2005, 2009, 2011 & 2016 Opposing Team: Boston Red Sox Date Opened: 1992 Date Closed: NA Overall Rating: (1-10) 10
Beer Price Rank (2016): 8th highest in the MLB
Ticket Price Rank (2016): 14th highest in the MLB
Baseball, Bars & Bedlam Rank: 1 out of 33
Baseball, Bars & Bedlam Visit Order: 3 out of 33 Notable Award: Big time stadium with a real homie, fan friendly old school baseball feel. Best food in the majors too!
Review:
20 years old and looking like it was just built last week. 25 years ago if you went to this area of where the park is, you would probably die. Memorial Stadium, which I dont know much about was an old school multi purpose stadium that served its purpose from the mid 50s to 2000 when it was finally torn down. A huge urban renewal project in Baltimore in the early 90s was the reason the inner harbor is one of the most beautiful places to watch a baseball game.
Camden yard was the third stadium I had been to and is my favorite of them all. As I write this, I have been to 30 MLB parks with 3 to go and everyone I go to I always compare it to this one.
From the design and architectural attention made on every detail, the stadium sets itself apart for many of the other newer stadiums in the league. Careful planning was down to make this park part of a larger picture. The stadium is simply just a piece of the inner harbor. Attracting, in past years, more fans of the visiting team then the home team, summers in Baltimore are busy and fun for all.
The stadium isnt the largest in the leagues, but holding 30K plus people, it really has warm old school ball park feel to it. The brick facades, the exposed black steal inner structure and cast iron are all import features of the stadium. In right field, they have a board walk where you can find some of the best food in the majors, cheap beer and the nicest fans in Baseball. There are little baseball sized plaques on the wall and ground that celebrates home runs hit by all sluggers of the MLB.
I have been to this park about 7 times and being 8 hours way from Boston, its a nice weekend summer trip. I advise any baseball fan to get here for the weekend. Its fun for the whole family. There is plenty to do around the inner harbor, between walking tours, boat tours, food, malls and bars, there is always something. Baltimore has a night life in a old neighborhood north of the stadium with tons of bars and if you want to stay close, Power Plant Live, which was an old power plant converted to a entertainment complex right next to the stadium, is a good choice.
According to Statista, the Orioles are #14 for highest ticket prices in 2016, see link for all MLB teams prices. They are also the 8th highest in beer prices according to business insider, see link for all MLB teams prices. If you are in the Baltimore area, take in a game. Arty tip: I would say stay close to the inner harbor, they have a light rail the runs to the burbs, but Baltimore is a walking city, stay in town and have a great weekend!
Inside Busch Stadium III – Arty 84 Baseball Park Reviews
Stadium Name: Busch Stadium III
Team: St. Louis Cardinals
League: MLB – National League Central Years Visited: 2007 Opposing Team: Arizona Diamondbacks Date Opened: 2006 Date Closed: NA Overall Rating: (1-10) 8
Beer Price Rank (2016): 22nd highest in the MLB
Ticket Price Rank (2016): 8th highest in the MLB
Baseball, Bars & Bedlam Rank: 8 out of 33
Baseball, Bars & Bedlam Visit Order: 7 out of 33 Notable Award: Beautiful red brick views of the St. Louis Arch and Mississippi River.
Review:
Despite what many people have to say about St. Louis, I had a wonderful time. This was the second park on the 10 day road trip we were taking and as we pulled into the city we expected the worse. We had been on the road for about 12 hours that day, leaving Pittsburgh and heading to St, Louis with a stop in Louisville, KY to check out the Louisville Slugger Museum.
We stayed in a hotel right down the street from the ball park so it was a quick walk over. We made it into town just in time to get to the game, but when we headed over to the giant arch, we realized it would be a good two hour wait to take the elevator ride up so we opt just to do that next time we are in town.
We headed over the park and made our way in. Since this was a 10 day road trip, we tried to go as cheap as possible. From what I remember the ticket prices here were high so we had to get standing room. I think that was still a 20 dollar ticket. Our theory was it wasn’t going to sell out so we would walk up to the upper level and grab a seat up there, harmless right? We couldn’t of been more wrong. There was a guy at every level checking tickets, so needless to say we walked all the way to the top just to walk all the way down. By that time all the available places to stand we gone. I took us about 3 innings to find a solid place to stand.
We stayed for most of the game considering it was a Tuesday night and we weren’t planning on doing much at night. The problem we did run into is that the city, other than around the ball park, basically shuts down after 6PM, so looking for a place to eat or be able to go in with someone under 21 was impossible. Oh and our hotel didn’t have room service either so we pretty much starved that night.
As for the stadium, it was beautifully done. It was a replacement for another concrete donut multiplex stadium. The old stadium was right next door to this one. In fact when building the new stadium, they were only able to complete up to a small sliver in center field where the bleachers are because the old stadium was in the way. They construction workers had to wait until the last game of the season in 2005 and remove that section of the old stadium first so the new stadium could be completed before opening day in 2006. It was a impressive feat that the construction workers were able to do. Busch III was opening on time 100% complete by April of 2006.
The stadium has a huge concourse and all the modern perks of a modern stadium. Great views from around that park. The stadium room was located on the main walk way between the grandstand and box seats so you had to deal with people walking in front of you the whole time. Also for a stadium that is owned by a beer company, i expected at least the bud and bud light to be cheaper, boy was a wrong.
The stadium was nice and there the area we were staying was also seemed safe. There is a parking lot there, located where the old stadium was, but if you were going to visit, I’d stay in town. We only had about 6 hours total so I can’t really give a true assessment what the night life in and around the stadium was like, but from sources, there is a night life before and after game around the stadium.
According to Statista, the Cardinals are #8 for highest ticket prices in 2016, see link for all MLB teams prices. They are also the 22nd highest in beer prices according to business insider, see link for all MLB teams prices. If you are in Boston, take in a game. Arty tip: Drink before you go to the game at a dive bar somewhere. Beers and food will cost you a leg. Also wait to last minute and get your tickets on Stubhub. Don’t buy from the box office because you can find tickets cheaper elsewhere.
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