I traveled to 60 ballparks last year. Favorites include Altoona (PA), Brooklyn (NY), and Ogden (UT). Least favorites include Potomac (VA), Hagerstown (MD) and Wilmington (DE).
Stunningly, both of my parents live within 25 miles of Fifth Third (Dayton) and I have never been! Although I did get to Fifth Third (Toledo) over the 4th of July weekend last summer. Great park!
I too have been to Fifth Third Field in Dayton and thought it was amazing! However, my heart lies with old Memorial Stadium, home of the Fort Wayne Wizards.
My favorite minor league park is Modern Woodman Park, home of the Quad Cities River Bandits. It sits on the banks of the Mississippi River, and balls hit over the right field fence end up in the Big Muddy. Just outside the park, parallel with the right field foul line, is a girder bridge spanning the river, which is lit at night. The park floods frequently, but it is a great place to see a ball game. They have renovated it since my visit in 2003, and I would love to return to see the new facilities. Other favorites include the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Dayton Dragons, and Toledo Mudhens.
My least favorite have been the Hagerstown Suns and the Beloit Snappers. I have been to high school fields in better conditions. That is not to say I didn't still enjoy the games, however.
regardless of what they are saying in the media... I cant help but think that the new Hagerstown owners have other plans for this franchise. No way they paid just under $7 million for the revenue streams available in that horrific Memorial Stadium. It has to be one of the worst ballparks in the country, I know its in the bottom 5 of the 97 I have visited.
Yes, I was able to rectify the err of my ways this past summer with a trip that included Dayton and the beautiful new ballparks in Columbus and Fort Wayne. All three of them are tremendous additions to each respective city. And Hammonds is a definite for summer 2010 as old friends have just moved to that area.
Riverwalk Stadium of the Montgomery Biscuits. Just check out some pics on Flickr. You will be amazed by how they integrated the ball field into an old train station.
I've only been to 4 Minor League Parks: Birmingham (not Rickwood Field, but Regions Park), Gwinnett (Coolray Field), Rome, and Savannah.
I have to say without question my favorite park out of that group is Rome. Neat, clean, pretty, great food, decent location, and there wasn't anything bad about the park. I liked Savannah. Very old stadium (oldest functioning everyday stadium in the Minors) but nice.
Regions Park I used to go to all the time when I used to live in Birmingham and never was fond of it. And Coolray Field in Gwinnett....one time is more than enough for me.
Well, that is still three more than the only one that I have visited (Stater Bros, Adelanto California. Home of the High Desert Mavericks). But it was a great experience.
When I get older and hopefully claim all 30 MLB ballparks, the one thing I want to do is to go to these regions where Minor League cities are all close by (i.e. Appalachian League, Florida League, and the California League) and take in a game each week. Less than 2 weeks away to Chattanooga!