A Lifelong Tour of the American Pastime

In the suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri, baseball is quite simply always in the air. Cardinal red is the color of summer. Games are broadcast on televisions and radios in nearly every public place. Parks are full of kids playing little league. Catch, pickle, and wall ball were, at least before the internet, the outdoor entertainment of choice.

Growing up there in the 1990s and early 2000s, Ozzie Smith, Mark McGwire, Scott Rolen, Chris Carpenter, and Albert Pujols were my beloved heroes, their posters on my walls... and the Cubs, Mets, Red Sox, Astros, and Braves were the despised villains. But even with a deep loyalty to St. Louis, trips to away stadiums - most often to cheer for the home team, because I'm not that guy - became a summertime tradition for our family while I was still in elementary school.

My dad is from Detroit: Tiger Stadium was my first "away day." Chicago and Kansas City were within a day's drive, as were Milwaukee and Cincinnati: why not see those stadiums too? By college, the entire country was up for grabs on road trips with friends. I saw the country through its beloved pastime, finishing my 30-team tour during the summer after my college graduation in 2006 at Baltimore's Camden Yards.

Since then, some stadiums have been demolished and replaced, so while I have seen 35 different stadiums, there are a few new ones I've yet to see (I'm coming for you, new Minnesota). When this subject comes up, I'm often asked which stadiums are my favorite, and so, this page felt like a fun project to work on before Opening Day 2025.

Below, you'll see my rankings, complete with quick paragraphs and then photos I've taken at each of the 35 ballparks (with the exception of the old stadiums in Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, and Detroit). Several were taken by a kid using an old film camera... and absolutely zero were taken with a website in mind. I use the name of the stadium I like best, or the one used when I visited, not the most recent corporate sponsorship.

And yes, my rankings are completely biased. Welcome to the internet.

Since 2006, I've gotten more into soccer, hockey, basketball, and even throwball, but baseball still holds a special place in my heart. Ten years living in what is technically Braves territory in Charlotte, North Carolina made things difficult, but the minor league Knights were fun enough, and their downtown stadium is a gem.

Now, back in the Midwest and living with our family in Michigan, my dad's Tigers have become co-equal favorites in our house with my Cardinals. May a repeat of that 2006 World Series happen every year, forever and ever. Amen.

Tier I - The Best of the Best

1) Busch Stadium II - St. Louis, Missouri
- Opened: 1966
- Closed: 2005
- My First Game: August 4, 1989
- My Final Record: 73 Wins - 58 Losses

For me, nothing will ever replace the red-seated concrete cathedral that was my first introduction to Major League Baseball. The iconic arches on the roof, the view of the Gateway Arch just outside, the old school scoreboard added to the centerfield upper deck, even the yellow newspaper tarp and Big Mac Land... they will simply never be topped.

I saw Ozzie do his backflips here as a five-year-old and saw Mark McGwire hit home runs #62 and #70 as a high schooler. I saw Rick Ankiel lose his touch from right behind the plate in the 2000 NLDS and saw Ray Lankford strike out more times than I care to remember. I saw Jim Edmonds hit that extra inning NLCS Game 6 winner in 2004, saw them win the National League pennant the next night, and then saw them lose their final game in the building in the NLCS the next October. I took home a piece of concrete that night, a pair of red seats in a later clearance sale, and a few blades of grass (that I still have!) when we camped in tents on the field. This was baseball heaven.

2) Busch Stadium III - St. Louis, Missouri
- Opened: 2006
- My First Game: April 21, 2006
- My Current Record: 8 Wins - 1 Loss

I moved away from St. Louis for good in the summer of 2006, and so Busch Stadium III will never be my home, but the team won the World Series there that fall, and it quickly became a beloved replacement for most Cardinals fans. The red seats carried over to the new digs, the concourses have plenty of nods to Busch II and the rest of Cardinals history, and everything is a vast improvement to the objective observer (which I am not).

Albert Pujols did his thing here for five historic years, bringing home titles with Scott Rolen and Jim Edmonds in 2006 and 2011, and I had my first Budweiser here on my 22nd birthday, a 3-6 loss to the hated Astros, which is my only loss in the building at time of writing. (I blame the Budweiser.) Busch III will never be Busch II, but I'm always eager to go back.

P.S. We did in fact return a week after this posted on April 2, 2025... Mike Trout hit us a foul ball, Ivan Herrera hit three home runs, and the home team won my girls' first MLB game 12-5. Just a magical Wednesday afternoon in the Lou.

3) Petco Park - San Diego, California
- Opened: 2004
- My First Game: August 24, 2005
- My Current Record: 1 Win - 0 Losses

Whenever anyone asks, I confidently say that Petco is my favorite non-Cardinals stadium, and it's not particularly close. San Diego itself cannot be beaten: the weather is perfect for a night at the ballpark. And the park itself is an absolute beauty, from the Western Metal Supply Co. building in left field to the "Park in the Park" in right center. The concourses are open and spacious, letting the weather be the star that it is, the food options and the integration of technology were both great and innovative for their time when I visited, and sight lines from every seat I went to were exactly as they should be.

If you can't be in St. Louis for a game, and even though it pales in comparison in the history and championship departments to nearly all others, San Diego's Petco Park is the place you'd want to be.

4) Coors Field - Denver, Colorado
- Opened: 1995
- My First Game: May 31, 2005
- My Current Record: 1 Win - 1 Loss

My first visit to Coors was after a memorable all-night drive on my 21st birthday with my brother and our friend Chris, driving straight through from St. Louis to Denver, stopping only for gasoline and breakfast at a random diner somewhere in the middle of Kansas. It was worth the drive.

Coors has a magical feel to it, especially if you can see the sunset behind the actual Rockies, a view visible from the right field seats and worth the trip all on its own. It's a simple park, a classic, a retro stadium built (in 1995) before retro became the thing every city wanted to build. The trees and "geysers" in center field add to the aesthetic, and the row of purple seats in the upper deck that marks one mile above sea level is a nice addition. The home of the Rockies is a must-visit.

5) PNC Park - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Opened: 2001
- My First Game: May 17, 2006
- My Current Record: 1 Win - 0 Losses

One of the last stadiums I was able to visit on my 30-team tour, PNC Park is a gem, almost entirely because of that view: that bridge, that skyline, that river. There is no better stadium view in all of Major League Baseball and probably not in all of American sports.

The stadium itself is intentionally simple and stripped down in hopes of being "intimate," which, considering the Pirates' futility, means "not overwhelmingly empty." It really works though: instead of massive empty stands towering over the outfield, you have that view, you have smaller sections, you have only two decks, you have a stadium that actually fits. I appreciated our walk across the bridge from our parking garage, the statues that lined that walk, and the entire experience. Every city, every team wishes it had a PNC Park.

6) Safeco Field - Seattle, Washington
- Opened: 1999
- My First Game: August 17, 2005
- My Current Record: 11 Wins - 11 Losses

Safeco (or T-Mobile now, I guess) is a stadium built for its city. This is the first retractable roof stadium on my list, but rainy Seattle absolutely needs it in certain seasons. Yet in my 22 games there, I only saw the roof closed twice (Seattle summers really are unlike anywhere else). The view, again, stands out here: from the first base side, the entirety of the Seattle skyline sits over the left field wall. And inside, garlic fries absolutely rule the day, a must-have on every visit like a hot dog elsewhere. You can also walk right up to that left field bullpen and heckle all you want, or you can stand over the center field wall in what's essentially an outdoor walk-up bar. The location just south of Qwest/CenturyLink Field provides plenty of character too, even if it has changed quite a bit over the last few years.

I lived five years in Seattle, from 2007-2011, and so I'll admit that ranking Safeco this highly is part bias, but it really is just a beautiful ballpark. Visit on a sunny day in July/August, and you'll see exactly what I mean.

7) AT&T Park - San Francisco, California
- Opened: 2000
- My First Game: August 22, 2005
- My Current Record: 1 Win - 0 Losses

My main memory of San Francisco's famous AT&T Park is not McCovey Cove, it's not that big glove out there, it isn't seeing a decisive victory. My main memory: being absolutely frozen to my core by the wind in the middle of August. I remember little else, because the winds of San Francisco are brutal and this midwesterner was underdressed for the occasion, but the Giants won our game, 5-0.

The view of the bay and, in general, the proximity to water will always make for a great stadium, but AT&T is particularly well-constructed, with walkways along the water and less signage towering above the outfield wall than most. For many, this is a top-three park, so placing it in my top tier is a no-brainer... just bring a jacket.

8) Tiger Stadium - Detroit, Michigan
- Opened: 1912
- Closed: 1999
- My First Game: August 14, 1991
- My Final Record: 2 Wins - 2 Losses

Replacing the aging Tiger Stadium in 2000 with a brand new Comerica Park made sense on nearly every level for the Detroit Tigers, but for so many Tigers fans (including my dad), that didn't matter. This was (arguably) a Fenway/Wrigley era gem, built in 1912 with an iconic, blue, low-overhanging outfield upper deck. It was close enough to the heart of the city, nestled in Corktown, and it had nearly a century of history and tradition. And, worst of all, it was replaced by a good (but not in any way iconic) basically-cookie-cutter-retro stadium. Comerica is good, don't get me wrong, but it's not old Tiger.

In my second game here in 1992, way back in the upper deck behind third base, we caught my first (and only!) foul ball. That speaks to the intimacy of the stands here, where the dugouts were literally dug out down the lines, below field level, and where poles obstructed the view of many, many seats. Just like Fenway, comfort was never the goal here, and so it had to go. But for me, the move away from stadiums like this one toward stadiums like Comerica signaled the move from baseball being the nation's pastime, where you attended to watch the game, to baseball being a product to be consumed alongside other products, like jumbotron games and highlights, endless advertising, and specialty food and drink.

I only went to Michigan and Trumbull four times, but I really do miss it.

Tier II - The Must-Visits

9) Camden Yards - Baltimore, Maryland
- Opened: 1992
- My First Game: June 3, 2006
- My Current Record: 0 Wins - 1 Loss

My Tier II descriptions will be quite a bit shorter... but Camden was the last stop on my 30-team tour, and I'm happy we kept it (and not nearby RFK) for last. The warehouse is as recognizable as it gets, the entire style of the park was clearly the inspiration for so many built after it, and even the treed-in gathering area in center field is a nice touch. The stadium has been renovated several times since 1992, and I hope to get back there again because few stadiums have the same gravitas of this new era of classics.

10) Wrigley Field - Chicago, Illinois
- Opened: 1914
- My First Game: July 20, 1996
- My Current Record: 4 Wins - 7 Losses

Ah, Wrigley Field. I've been to Wrigley eleven times, and I'd bet I'll go a few more before they bulldoze this old place, but my relationship with the home of the Cubs is complicated as a Cardinals fan. I went to college near Chicago (hence the photo with Olivet friends above), but the Cubs are one of my most hated teams in all of sports, thanks mostly to Carlos Zambrano (iykyk). Their stadium is legendary, nestled into the heart of north Chicago... the ivy, the bleachers, the old-school scoreboard, the atmosphere, and the marquee out front... all incredible. But I am required to despise it. The new ridiculous video board over the left field wall is easy to point to as a massive aesthetic mistake, so I'll leave my focus there. Visit if you must, but resist liking this amazing place too much, lest you fall into evil.

11) Yankee Stadium I - New York, New York
- Opened: 1923
- Closed: 2008
- My First Game: July 15, 1999
- My Final Record: 0 Wins - 2 Losses

I attended old Yankee Stadium twice before they tore it down to build Yankee II across the street, and both times were in the middle of the summer, in the middle of the week, against mediocre opponents. I am left to simply imagine the electricity in the air for a playoff game in October there. Monument Park in center field was particularly memorable; we visited Cooperstown as part of this road trip in 1999, and the number of legends with plaques in both places is always going to be impressive. To consider Babe Ruth played here, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle... it was an experience to be sure. For history's sake alone, Yankee Stadium was a must-visit, and I can only assume the new one is too (it's one of the few left on my still-to-visit list).

12) Fenway Park - Boston, Massachusetts
- Opened: 1912
- My First Game: July 16, 1999
- My Current Record: 0 Wins - 1 Loss

Fenway. Ugh. I visited in 1999, before digital cameras existed (see evidence above) and before Boston sports teams had really won anything, so I had little animosity for the place. Instead, the Green Monster wowed this middle schooler, and I still remember being amazed at how integrated into the city the Park was. One other memory, similar to the one in San Francisco: we visited Boston on a summer day with temperatures in the 100s, and being crammed into old, tiny seats down the third base line was a miserable experience. That memory wasn't helped in 2004... but I'm objective enough to know the place is a gem. It's 100% a must-visit, obviously, just don't expect the comforts of newer parks. Expect a classic.

13) Kauffman Stadium - Kansas City, Missouri
- Opened: 1973
- My First Game: September 23, 1995
- My Current Record: 1 Win - 2 Losses

If you haven't been to Kansas City, you might be surprised to see Kauffman on my must-visit list. Camden, Wrigley, Yankee, and Fenway this is not, but the park built in 1973 has been renovated several times since then without losing its charm. KC claims to be the "City of Fountains," and they fill the outfield to dramatic effect alongside the gigantic, crowned scoreboard in dead center. Sightlines are mostly good, where I've sat at least, and few places showcase the midwestern hospitality quite like KC. Hot chocolate at a game in late September is a fond childhood memory for me, as are the games I saw the Cardinals win here when interleague play was first introduced. Find your way to Kauffman... before they replace it.

Tier III - The Goods

14) Comerica Park - Detroit, Michigan
- Opened: 2000
- My First Game: August 9, 2000
- My Current Record: 2 Wins - 8 Losses

Now we're into the "goods," and things get a lot more subjective/debatable. (You'd be hard-pressed to find anyone that hates that top 12.) Comerica comes in at the top of Tier III for me: It's a really good, retro-inspired stadium with a great location and view of the Detroit skyline. The seats are comfortable, the concessions are decent, and there's even a carousel with tigers on it for the kiddos. There's very little to hate here, outside of the ridiculous amount of advertising on that left field scoreboard and the equally ridiculous fix to the dimensions in left. All said, it's a solid "good" in Detroit, one I'm happy to visit each time (though the 2-8 record needs some work).

15) SkyDome - Toronto, Ontario
- Opened: 1989
- My First Game: August 6, 1997
- My Current Record: 2 Wins - 0 Losses

The SkyDome opened in 1989 and was unlike anything seen before: a retractable roof, a big scoreboard, a hotel in center field? It still stands out as one-of-a-kind, but it was dated pretty quickly, and now it feels more like a relic rather than a classic. That said, it's a good place to watch a game, and the location is close to downtown Toronto, the CN Tower, and the waterfront. I've enjoyed both visits there, made ten years apart in 1997 and 2007. They've renovated it recently; hopefully now that we're back in Michigan, we'll have a chance to visit again.

16) Dodger Stadium - Los Angeles, California
- Opened: 1962
- My First Game: April 27, 2004
- My Current Record: 1 Win - 1 Loss

Dodger Stadium wins points for the southern California climate, and I know many put it on a must-visit list alongside Fenway and Wrigley, but I've never been able to see that level of appeal. It's a good park overall, one boosted by Dodger history and the fandom of LA, but it's only good. When I visited with friends in 2005, we were bummed to hear we couldn't walk around the park with our bleacher tickets as the concourses didn't connect, and the parking lots that surround the stadium are an unfortunate relic of that era. I'd love to see this one updated, but I understand the attachment to it too. Anyway, #16 feels both low and high when I think about it, so it must be just right.

17) Shea Stadium - New York, New York
- Opened: 1964
- Closed: 2008
- My First Game: May 19, 2006
- My Final Record: 1 Win - 0 Losses

Shea Stadium never got the attention or acclaim of other stadiums of its era, but man, did I have a blast there. In 2006, with the replacement Citi Field on the way next door, my friends and I showed up for an interleague game against the Yankees and saw a walkoff single from David Wright win it 7-6 for the Mets. The place exploded, and Shea was suddenly everything you'd want in a ballpark. I'm not sure I'd ever seen an upper deck so steep, but it made you feel close, and the orange seats were as iconic as Busch's cardinal red ones. I really liked it, but the amazingly small concourses desperately needed an update, as did the seats, which were probably a safety hazard.

18) Progressive Field - Cleveland, Ohio
- Opened: 1994
- My First Game: June 28, 1994
- My Current Record: 2 Wins - 2 Losses

Cleveland's Progressive Field was another one of those early-90s builds that brought baseball into the heart of the city, and it really is a good spot to watch a game. It feels more modern than retro, and there are few gimmicks here, making it feel authentic instead of forced or contrived. I don't love how they've reduced seating by adding permanent advertising decks in right field, and I don't love the rebrand (they should've gone with Spiders), but it's fine. If that 2016 World Series hadn't had a rain delay, and if the 1994 season hadn't had that strike, this stadium would've already had the championship celebration it deserves.

19) Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Opened: 2004
- My First Game: May 20, 2006
- My Current Record: 0 Wins - 1 Loss

Citizens Bank feels a lot like Comerica, if Comerica was built a few miles out from downtown, surrounded by parking lots, and built without as much charm. Once you're inside the stadium, though, it's a good experience: the ad/video board isn't too imposing, the Liberty Bell gives a retro-feeling local connection, the skyline is visible in the distance, and everything feels nice and comfortable. It's a good ballpark, right in the middle of the pack, but at the end of this tier, thanks mainly to its location.

Tier IV - The Mehs

20) Great American Ballpark - Cincinnati, Ohio
- Opened: 2003
- My First Game: June 14, 2003
- My Current Record: 0 Wins - 1 Loss

I'm not going to spend too many words insulting places, but this tier is strictly "meh." GABP in Cincinnati could've been a winner, but the gimmicks are strong with this one, so strong that they unbelievably obscure the view of the river. The concourses don't connect and the outfield has way too much seating... confusing choices ruin the potential in Cincinnati, a statement that might apply to the team too. It's new, and it's nice, but it's only the best of the "meh."

21) U.S. Cellular Field - Chicago, Illinois
- Opened: 1991
- My First Game: July 19, 1996
- My Current Record: 2 Wins - 2 Losses

It feels like I've been to New Comiskey, U.S. Cellular, Guaranteed Rate whatever it is called more than four times, and I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing. It's a "meh" stadium if ever there was one, built in 1991 but without anything impressive to distinguish it from others. The outfield "exploding pinwheel" scoreboard is its only recognizable feature, and... man, it's rough. U.S. Cellular is comfortable enough and reasonably accessible from the interstate for those living outside Chicago, but there's a rumor they'll build a new stadium for the White Sox soon, and that would be welcomed by nearly everyone.

22) Ameriquest Field in Arlington - Arlington, Texas
- Opened: 1994
- Closed: 2019
- My First Game: July 18, 2004
- My Final Record: 1 Win - 0 Losses

Ameriquest in Arlington reminded me of U.S. Cellular in so many ways, even though it had some distinctive elements. They built Ameriquest in the middle of nowhere, so they added features like a museum and a mini-field to make it attractive, but they just ended up feeling... meh. I did see Mark Teixiera hit a game-winning grand slam here, and they rang a big ole bell when he did it, so that was nice? It was also crazy hot here in July. The new Rangers' ballpark apparently addressed some of those critiques, and I'm curious to see where it would land on this list.

23) Three Rivers Stadium - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Opened: 1970
- Closed: 2000
- My First Game: July 9, 1993
- My Final Record: 1 Win - 0 Losses

Nothing. I remember absolutely nothing about this stadium. I was nine years old, so that makes some sense, but I have a ticket stub and a program to prove we did attend, and my dad promises we did too. We saw the Pirates beat the Reds 4-1, and the internet tells me that means Jay Bell, Jeff King, and Orlando Merced topped Barry Larkin, Chris Sabo, and Reggie Sanders. Cool. The mid-20s is about as neutral of a ranking as you can get, so here Three Rivers lands. As you can tell from the photo above, building PNC Park was a wonderful decision.

24) Milwaukee County Stadium - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Opened: 1953
- Closed: 2000
- My First Game: July 18, 1996
- My Final Record: 1 Win - 0 Losses

Similarly, I attended a game at Milwaukee County Stadium when I was 12 years old, but somehow, I still remember absolutely nothing about it. My dad doesn't remember anything about this trip either, but the ticket stub and program prove we attended. The internet tells me this was when we saw the New York Yankees stomp Milwaukee 16-4 en route to their memorable World Series victory in 1996, but I don't remember this midsummer blowout. Wade Boggs, Bernie Williams, Paul O'Neill, Darryl Strawberry... and Derek Jeter batting 9th. Phew. Milwaukee County lands in another neutral landing spot for a demolished stadium, but unlike in Pittsburgh, it lands six spots higher than the stadium that replaced it.

25) Turner Field - Atlanta, Georgia
- Opened: 1996
- Closed: 2016
- My First Game: July 30, 2004
- My Final Record: 1 Win - 0 Losses

I'm going to say very little here about Turner Field, because I cannot separate my long-standing hatred for the Braves from my review of this park. All I'll say is that though parking was abysmal, the neighborhood around the park wasn't the greatest, and the stadium wasn't "unique" in any real way, it did not deserve to be replaced after only 20 years. It was fine. Our non-stop drive trip from Chicago to Atlanta for a game (and non-stop drive back immediately afterward) is one of my fondest baseball road trip memories.

26) Truist Park - Atlanta, Georgia
- Opened: 2017
- My First Game: July 7, 2022
- My Current Record: 0 Wins - 1 Loss

Now for this one, I'll type a few more words. Truist Park is everything I personally dislike about baseball, but it's surely nicer (and newer) than all those below it in the rankings. The Braves left Atlanta for a corporate park in the burbs (because, of course they did), where everything feels plastic and replaceable. They did not learn the lesson of Ameriquest in Arlington... location absolutely matters. But here, at least, money undoubtedly flows into the Braves' coffers, so that's nice for them? There are a few local touches that are memorable, and "The Battery" is fine, but "there's just no there there." The sense of place is completely absent in what often feels more like an outdoor mall, where baseball is also being played. I would put this one lower in this "meh" tier, but... you'll see.

27) Joe Robbie Stadium - Miami, Florida
- Opened: 1987
- Closed: 2011
- My First Game: October 11, 2003
- My Final Record: 0 Wins - 1 Loss

A usually-empty football stadium justifiably ranks low on any baseball stadium ranking list, but my one memory at Joe Robbie lifts it a few spots higher than it otherwise would be: friends and I drove from Chicago to Miami to see the Cubs play in the 2003 NLCS. Dontrelle Willis was on the mound, the place was packed and electric (as seen above), and I really enjoyed the evening, Cubs win aside. But the stadium was clearly not built for baseball, and fond memories can only lift it so much. I'm eager to see the new Marlins Park the next time I can get the family down to Florida.

28) Angel Stadium - Anaheim, California
- Opened: 1966
- My First Game: July 11, 2003
- My Current Record: 1 Win - 0 Losses

Finally, with the last of the "meh" stadiums, we have a completely nondescript stadium in Anaheim that likes to think it's in Los Angeles. The rocks and fountains in center were added in a 1998 renovation, and they're... weird, but they're the only thing that distinguish this park from any other, so we'll take 'em. Think U.S. Cellular or Ameriquest without anything else worthwhile. Completely adequate, but certainly nothing more than that. This is probably the first of all the stadiums I'd vote to replace on sheer potential in that location alone, and I'm shocked it hasn't happened yet. (It's in a close tie with #35 for a replacement, and yes, that one absolutely has to go.)

Tier V - The Mistakes

29) Minute Maid Park - Houston, Texas
- Opened: 2000
- My First Game: July 17, 2004
- My Current Record: 0 Wins - 1 Loss

#29 starts a special tier of newer stadiums that some may love but that I despise and wish we could just burn to the ground. Ha. Minute Maid Park in Houston is the best of these three warehouses, but that's not saying much. I know it gets hot in Texas, but there's something deeply wrong about playing baseball in air conditioning under fluorescent lights. This mid-summer game was played with the roof closed on a beautiful day, and it felt exactly like a warehouse, or an airplane hangar, or a really bad mall. Even though that left field facade gets praise from most, I couldn't handle the vibe, and I swore I'd never return. Not great. (And, bring back that center field hill!)

30) Miller Park - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Opened: 2001
- My First Game: May 12, 2006
- My Current Record: 1 Win - 0 Losses

Yes, #30 is another warehouse/mall, and it's in Milwaukee, and it's terrible. Even if Milwaukee gets some rain, and it's north enough to be a bit cold, they played for decades here without a roof. This is an abomination! Ha. Bernie the Brewer's slide is the only redeeming factor here, but look at that photo and imagine sitting that high up to watch a game in this sort of environment. Hard, hard pass. Burn it down.

31) Bank One Ballpark - Phoenix, Arizona
- Opened: 1998
- My First Game: August 25, 2005
- My Current Record: 0 Wins - 1 Loss

The fact that these three nearly-identical parks were built within four years of each other should not be surprising, but man, I wish we could go back and remake those decisions. The BOB, as it will forever be known, combines the depressing warehouse feel with numerous gimmicks and overwhelming advertising, easily placing it at the bottom of this tier. I've never loved baseball less than while watching the Diamondbacks lose 1-3 to the Mets in a mostly empty warehouse to the cheers of the visiting fans, who similarly outnumbered the home fans 3:1.

Tier VI - Good Riddance

32) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum - Oakland, California
- Opened: 1966
- Closed: 2024
- My First Game: August 20, 2005
- My Final Record: 0 Wins - 1 Loss

Now, this tier will be a bit controversial because my visits to #32, #33, and #34 were all made at the end of their long lifespan. Oakland's ranking on this list also has to be considered in light of management that had long since stopped caring about their team or their team's fans. The Coliseum wasn't a baseball stadium; I'll always remember walking through its empty concrete corridors to find our seats, seats clearly intended for football. They pointed the wrong direction. Nearly all the concession stands were closed, and the attendance on my only visit wasn't terrible, really, a solid 27k. I shudder to think of the atmosphere toward the end of the Athletics' time in Oakland, when the owner purposely ruined the franchise to get them to move, and the stands were even emptier. A's fans deserved better than they got, and they certainly deserved better than the Coliseum.

33) Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome - Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Opened: 1982
- Closed: 2009
- My First Game: August 8, 2004
- My Final Record: 0 Wins - 1 Loss

The Metrodome had its own unique charm, yes, but like the stadium above it in the rankings, it never felt like a baseball stadium. By my visit in August 2004, it was clearly showing its age, with (again) empty concrete concourses, stains on the walls, and broken seats in the outfield. The sightlines were terrible, too: watching a game played on decaying astroturf through my binoculars was difficult on many levels. That the team held on for another five years, waiting for Target Field to be built, is a bewildering miracle. I'm eager to see the new place in Minnesota, because I hear great things, and this one desperately needed a replacement.

34) RFK Stadium - Washington, D.C.
- Opened: 1961
- Closed (to baseball): 2008
- My First Game: May 21, 2006
- My Final Record: 1 Win - 0 Losses

And finally, the last ballpark on my list that was rightfully replaced, we have RFK Stadium. This one was falling apart around us on our visit in 2006: concrete was crumbling, seats were cracking, all the paint was fading, and it was on its very last legs. It should have reminded me of Busch Stadium (#1 on the list!) in some ways, with its similar shape and infrastructure, but it instead felt like what would have happened to Busch had it been hit by a nuke and invaded by zombies. A dreadful place to watch a game in every way imaginable, RFK was a stopgap for the Nats while Nationals Park was being built, and everyone was glad to leave it behind.

35) Tropicana Field - Tampa Bay, Florida
- Opened: 1990
- My First Game: July 28, 2005
- My Current Record: 1 Win - 0 Losses

And then we come to last place, Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay. Because it's in last place, I think it should have been a must-visit for every baseball fan as to how not to build a stadium, run a team, or do anything related to baseball, really. Built in a terrible location, built with zero character inside and out, built with the weirdest gimmicks, and built with a ceiling low enough to affect balls in play... it just doesn't make any sense.

We arrived early for our game in Tampa to take in batting practice, and the crowd barely grew by the time the game started, making a grand total of 8,308 fans that day, the smallest for any professional game I've ever attended. We were the only ones in our upper deck section, right behind home plate. You can't really blame the fans for not showing up, either. The team has actually been good for most of their time in existence, but the ballpark gives you practically zero reason to leave your couch to watch the game... unless your kid wants to see the in-house aquarium.

After Hurricane Milton tore the roof to shreds in 2024, there's a question if the team will even bother to rebuild this place. Here's hoping they do not.

Thanks for reading, or at least skimming, my personal diary/ratings of Major League Baseball's stadiums. I'm hopeful to get to my remaining six (New York, New York, Minnesota, Miami, Texas, and Washington) before they build any more new ones, but if they rebuild Anaheim or Tampa, I'll be happy they did.

And happy Opening Day 2025 to all who celebrate. I'm heading back to Busch III next week. Go Cardinals. (And yes, now, go Tigers too.)