Stadium Secrets

[MrMon]

Imagine someone from out of town is coming to a sports stadium that you frequent. What is there that they should know that is not obvious? Where's the best food, the best beer? Any secret parking places? Seats that are cheap that ought to cost a lot more? Perhaps a bar or restaurant nearby that's a great place to hang out before or after a game?

I'll start with the new Busch Stadium in St. Louis. First, parking. Parking close to the stadium is now $15, and the traffic afterwards is horrific. But if you park north of the stadium and make about a 10 minute walk, 15 at a leisurely pace, you can park for as little as $3. Even with the walk, you'll be out of downtown faster than if you parked closer.

Next, beer. Being St. Louis, the place is littered with AB products. If you like real beer, you don't drink AB products. But, for some strange reason, there is always a place in the stadium where you can buy non-AB products. That place is now the Casino Queen Party Porch, where they have a full service bar, four microbrews on draft (Schlafley, Boulevard, Goose Island, and Widmer), plus more micros in bottles, all for the same price as the AB crap. And considering that's $6.50/16 oz, I'm not paying that to drink Bud Light.

Haven't tracked down any decent food yet, but St. Louis has always paled compared to other cities in the stadium food department.

[lippy]

The Metrodome in Minneapolis

If you go to a game, park on Washington Ave a few blocks further than most the cars. You save like $5 to walk a block or two. Instead of going East on Washington to get to 35W, go West, go across the river on 1st St, turn right (East) on University and take that to 35.

[JordanIB]

Shea Stadium.

I can't believe I discovered this one with less than 2 years to go in this shrine.

Normally for the 45K+ crowd games (Opening Day, Yanks games, some Braves games, Fireworks Night, Playoffs, etc.) I am sitting in the Upper Deck, and if I need to urinate, I have to wait friggin' 20 minutes in line for some hole-in-the-wall bathroom that has 4 urinals in it.

Well this past Saturday I discovered the mens bathroom outside of Section 10 of the Upper Deck. UNBELIEVABLE! This lavatory heaven had 2 separate areas with urinals, totaling at least 25 in all. No line whatsoever. In and out in no time. It was beautiful.

It also used to be that you could walk into the bar (I forget the name) on the field level without a field level ticket stub, and then simply walk out the other exit which emptied out into field level seats. But after a few years they got smart and put an usher at the exit. I'm sure he accepts cash though.

[MyNameIsSamSnead]

My roomate was at a game at Fenway a few weeks ago and he was talking to this guy sitting next to him who claimed that he hadn't paid for a ticket since 2004. This guy said that somewhere around Gate A there's a place you can just unhook a chain/rope and slip right in as long as no one is patrolling.

I'm not sure there's any truth to this....but I figured I'd throw it out there to see if anyone else knew about this.

[jws43yale]

BallPark at Arlington (or whatever it is now called)

Haven't been in a couple of years, but the bleachers in centerfield are great seats for the price. If I remember correctly, they were $8 a person like 5 years ago, and you can pretty much sit anywhere, including right up at the wall. But, they are miserable on a hot day b/c there is no shade.


RFK Stadium

Way to big of stadium for baseball so huge number of seats. Due to gift regulations for Congress, good seats right along the 1st or 3rd baseline are capped at $50. When I was there two summers ago, all of those seats got to go up in the outfield behind the game for all you can eat food, and all you can drink cocktails and beer. If you are looking to pound a few back, this is probably worth it alone. Also, directly behind home plate is $90 a seat, but you get free food and beer all game from the guys who bring stuff around.

[Kneel B4 Zod]

at the Fleet Center in Boston, you only need a ticket stub to get into the Luxury Box area. so if you happen to be at a game with buddies who are in a box, one of them can come down with an extra stub, give it to you, and bring you up. commence free drinking/eating/civilized bathroom usage!!

this was true as of a few years ago, not sure if it still works.

[Kneel B4 Zod]

[ QUOTE ]
My roomate was at a game at Fenway a few weeks ago and he was talking to this guy sitting next to him who claimed that he hadn't paid for a ticket since 2004. This guy said that somewhere around Gate A there's a place you can just unhook a chain/rope and slip right in as long as no one is patrolling.

I'm not sure there's any truth to this....but I figured I'd throw it out there to see if anyone else knew about this.

[/ QUOTE ]

here are 2 possible Fenway ones:

- on the afternoon of evening games, they often release tickets that had previously been reserved for VIP's/Players/whatever they don't end up being used. you can sometimes call the box office up and buy sweet tickets this way (I got Monster seats once this way).

- This one is trickier and YMMV and is certainly unethical; I stumbled into in by mistake. There is a new outdoor area you need a ticket to get into. You normally need to go through an official ticket booth to get in. However, there is also a normal bar in this area, and the backdoor of this bar goes out into some alley that is open to the public. Think of the bar as a tunnel between the stadium and the outside. The bouncers aren't supposed to let people leave/come back, but these are sometimes dim-witted types who are easily tricked. I was able to leave the bar once through the back alley and come back in showing only my stub. (I had to show my stub to the back door bouncer, who did not have a ticket scanner or anything like that). I would imagine it's possible to go outside with a couple stubs, give one to a buddy, and smooth talk your way past the unsuspecting bouncer. Its also possible the bouncer may not be there at all.

[kylephilly]

Citizen's Bank Park in Philadelphia:

Parking: The Holiday Inn (5 minute walk, is usually 5 bucks cheaper than the lots next to the stadium)

Beer: There are several bars including a McFadden's and smaller stands throughout which you can get Victory and some other local name beers

Food: Tony Luke's cheesesteaks.. don't miss this. Also, Harry K's has some good food.

[polkaface]

Ballpark in Arlington -

JWS43YALE is correct. Buy the bleacher seats, they are now $15 each, but great value for the price (and as he said, no covering, so on a Texas Summer Day be careful aka miserable). Another option is if you go for a non-holiday, weeknight game you can just buy the cheap $6 3rd level seats and sit anywhere in the lower deck outfield with no hassle. The main thing is to sit in the back few rows as they sell the seats from the wall back.

Stay away from the Garlic Fries, they use fresh garlic which is nice, but the fries are less than desirable. Better off sticking to dogs and nachos.

American Airlines Center - Park in the city owned lots around Hooters (under Woodall Rodgers) for $5. Not a bad walk at any point of the year.

[Ballzack]

Minute Maid Park: Houston

Tickets:
Buy standing room only ($5)and sit in the resturant (Los Nine Amigos) in right center field. You can also heckle Brad Lidge for blowing another game cause the bullpen is right there.

Beer:
You get the best value for beer from the mobile stands that sell the 22oz beers for like $1 more than the regular stands and vendors.

Food:
Right behind the Crawford Boxes (Left Field Corner) there is a vendor that sells foot long jalapeno sausages on a bun. Complete with onions and peppers. The best thing in the ballpark and this is the only spot they sell them.