If you are a baseball fan, chances are you have seen one of the best baseball movies all time in “Field Of Dreams“. From sitting on the same benches as Kevin Costner to viewing the Field that happens to have been built after plowing down a corn field, this place is a perfect day trip for the avid baseball fan!

One story I was able to overhear while visiting was too good not to share with you.

A group of baseball players that played ‘extra’s in the field’ during the filming of the movie continued to play a regular Sunday night game after the picture went to Hollywood.  Tourists liked this idea so much that they asked the landowners if they could have the players play every year.

The following year, and unbeknownst to a 300 passenger bus of Japanese Tourists, in the middle of the night mind you, the group of ball players walked through the cornfields and reached the grass in the outfield as the tourists gasped with nervous energy.  The tour guide never had told this group that these players were to arrive.  The Japanese tourists clapped their hands feverishly as the players took the field and played.

The Japanese tourists were so impressed with the caliber of play – and for what these ballplayer’s had done for them – that they hired these two teams to travel all throughout Japan year round and play exhibition games.  All of the extras (who all had played semi-pro in some fashion) had a great career now.  Even to this day, there is a new generation of men playing with the old style “Sox” jerseys around the world.

The Field of Dreams Movie Site sees 300-400 visitors a day, and for this humble Canadian, I went there during the All-Star Break of 2008, after I had been chasing the World Record for 3 weeks.  Having a chance to view this landmark for over 5 hours, and talking with several different other visitors, this park only grew my appreciation for the game of baseball more.  It was a great way to settle down after a 3 week stint of chaos.

Quick Tips:

Fly into Milwaukee via Air Tran on any flight you can view from the best Airline in America.  Try to tie it in with the Chicago teams. Milwaukee, St. Louis or Minnesota on a baseball vacation.  Luckily for you, Milwaukee has is one of the cheaper cities to rent a car, and/or pay for lodging. Use Priceline (www.priceline.com) to bid on your hotel rooms-and you will be amazed at what price you will only have to pay.

To drive to the Field of Dreams Movie Site will take you about 4 hours from the Milwaukee International Airport.  The park is still as beautiful as it was when the movie was a hit nearly a quarter-century ago.  This amazing landmark must be on a baseball fan’s bucket list.  Not only is it a fantastic attraction – but there is no cover charge to see the Field!

Those who visit are welcome to bring bats, balls and gloves to break out in a pickup game.  Visitors from all over will just come and do the same.  Be sure to buy something from the gift shop on your way out as that is how the kind landowners are able to keep up the maintenance of this truly amazing ballpark in Iowa.

*******There is a Best Western in Dodgeville-about a 90 minute drive North East from this movie site-where you can stay for under $100 a night.  Dodgeville does have a Wal-Mart and is one of the nicest heritage towns in America.

Go The Distance!

If one thing is for sure in Winston Salem, it’s that the people in that area love their baseball team. Attending a Saturday night game for the Winston Salem Dash, the Class A Affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, is akin to being present at a very popular regular season series in the Major Leagues. With two months to go until the game, the only tickets available online were the suite tickets for $68 a pop (virtually unheard of in the Minor League Baseball world for an individual ticket), or lawn seats for $7.

The lawn seats were located down the left field line and provided a spectacular view of the ballpark. They also provide endless entertainment for children throughout the game. Even though rolling down the hill on the lawn seats is not allowed, running on them is, which means parents can be sure their children will be occupied during the game without having to pay much extra.

All of the parking immediately around the stadium was taken, but there were a number of lots to choose from. The lack of security immediately available in these lots was surprising due to the fact that many of them were in somewhat remote locations downtown. Even so, parking within a decent walk of the stadium could be found for just $3.

Winston Salem’s stadium is one of the very few where the press box and scoreboard operators are on the same level as the main concourse. Equipped with large windows, fans can peer into the in-game activities of the team and media personnel as they do their jobs in real time. To some already serious baseball fan kids, this is an extremely awesome experience.

Also on the main concourse, fans will find profiles of the best players in the history of the Carolina League. Some of the names fans can expect to read about include Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome, Barry Bonds and Wade Boggs. These profiles are complete with the player’s accomplishments both during their time in the Carolina League as well as in the Major Leagues.

Perhaps the main disappointment with the stadium is the team shop. While the personnel in the store were extremely nice, the selection was not. Much of the memorabilia seemed to be geared towards, whether purposefully or not, senior citizens, and while there certainly is a market for that, one would think there should be a space for more items geared towards other demographics as well.

The food selection at BB&T Ballpark was certainly above most other parks at the A level. Not only were there the typical food selections such as hotdogs and nachos, but other options as well. While fresh squeezed lemonade doesn’t sound like a rarity, it isn’t found very often in ballparks. Their presentation and taste of this beverage was excellent.

This baseball experience was clearly great for families as they brought more kids onto the field than most ballparks during the game, avoiding the temptation to go for the dumb jock entertainment option. They even had a toddler race which the fans loved and was adorable to say the least.

The stadium also had televisions around the concourse, just as most Major League ballparks do so fans are sure they aren’t going to miss a single moment of the game, or the between inning entertainment.

Overall, this was a great Minor League ballpark with very strong presentation and a wonderful baseball atmosphere. While it is not clear how well the fans know the current members of the team, it is clear that they enjoy going down to the ballpark and watching the Dash.

Minor League Stadium Rating: 4.25/4

Overall Stadium Rating: 4/5

Built in 1993, L.P. Frans Stadium is home to the Hickory Crawdads, the high A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. The stadium seats just over 5,000 people and overall probably has a bit more to offer than most stadiums that host a team on that level.

One of the most unique facets of the ballpark is Crawdads Café which is down the right field concourse. It is essentially a full blown sports bar inside of the ballpark which has amazingly reasonable prices. Two people can have a meal of grilled cheese sandwiches, fries and two drinks for under $15 – which is amazing considering at a Major League Ballpark that cost probably wouldn’t feed one person. The atmosphere there is great as the waiters are dressed in uniforms and there are pieces of Crawdad history that line the walls. The café also features flat screen TVs in the corners so fans can watch other sporting events if they are there early.

Families with small children will be happy to find an extremely well equipped play area down the left field concourse. There are three different apparatuses for children to play on as well as a few children’s games set up for kids to play while the parents are enjoying the game. There are also other booths set up on the concourse as well including clowns making animal balloons and face painters.

By far the most entertaining part of the evening was provided by the between inning entertainment. One of their performers who goes by the name BBoy McCoy performed at least three times throughout the game and had the crowd’s attention throughout each skit. BBoy McCoy’s specialty is dancing and he had moves that continued to wow the crowd even as the game neared the ninth inning.

There are various promotions run throughout the game as well that all revolve around decreasing the price of food. At various points if a specific Crawdads player got a hit, all sandwiches or drinks would be one dollar. Even if fans didn’t partake in purchasing food during this time, watching as parents gave their kids money to run to the concession stands all around the park was certainly humorous.

The team shop was a down point of the trip, but this was in no way due to the staff person who was working in there. She should be commended for being extremely cheerful even though she had to oversee a store in such cramped quarters that it contributed to a lack of options for shoppers. The prices were comparable to what fans would fine across the country at other stadiums for this level of play, but the cramped quarters were not. Apparently the team store was recently moved from its previous location to where it was when we visited. Hopefully this mean they are taking on some expansion for the store as well as this would certainly add to the value of a family experience.

All tickets for the stadium were under $10 which is slightly lower than what most parks of this level offer. There truly isn’t a bad seat in the house as all of the seats provide a good view of the entire playing field. There were only a few suites which would have been characteristic of a park built in 1993, but this puts it slightly behind other ballparks built after that as this was just before the time period when a big focus started to be put on suites.

Overall visiting LP Frans Stadium was a classic Minor League Baseball experience. Everything from the $2 parking on the grass lot to the multitude of kids running around not paying any attention to the game, it had the feel of everything a Minor League Baseball game is supposed to.

Minor League Stadium Grade: 3/5

Overall Stadium Grade: 3.75/5

Prince George's Stadium Home of the Bowie Baysox

If someone looked up AA Minor League Baseball stadium in the encyclopedia, they probably wouldn’t find anything, but if there was an entry, the accompanying picture would probably be one of Prince George’s Stadium in Bowie, Maryland. It’s the home to the AA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. Prince George’s Stadium has everything a stadium for a AA should have, and nothing that it shouldn’t.

While this is a good thing, there isn’t anything that could set this park apart from any other generic park in the nation. While it is picturesque due mainly to the good upkeep of the facility, there isn’t a piece of the park that makes it stick out as a stadium that would be recommended to other Minor League Baseball fans as a must see.

Bowie Baysox: Prince George's Stadium

One part of the park that does separate it from others doesn’t have to do with appearance. One of the best things about the park is that the majority of the seating is general admission, meaning one can sit wherever they please. Since Minor League Baseball rarely sells out anywhere, this creates a much more laid back atmosphere, which is well deserved for those living so close to the hustle and bustle of the nation’s capital.

Like many other stadiums, this one is certainly kid friendly. Down the right field line, families will find an area where kids can let loose some of their pent up energy as there is a playground featuring activities such as a bouncy castle and jungle-gym.

Down the left field line on the concourse is where a group would be able to have an outing. Unlike some places where groups may go in other parks, this one actually has a very good view of the action on the field meaning that people do not have to leave their party when the action starts to be able to view the game, they can take their time with their coworkers and still catch the action.

The team shop certainly leaves something to be desired as well. Once again, it does have everything that one would expect, but there weren’t any items that would leave a fan saying, “Wow, that is neat.” It is located almost directly behind home plate on the concourse, but there is a brick wall between the field and the store, so fans will miss some of the play on the field if they do want to get some shopping in.

Overall, a visit to Prince George’s Stadium is a relaxing experience. Even though it may not be the most memorable park in the country, it certainly has its place in the heart of Eastern League fans. As mentioned above, it is a change of pace from the big city life many are used to in that area, and making it even better is the fact that parking is free. The stadium is essentially right off of the freeway and is tucked away from the main roads making traffic flow easily before and after each contest.

2010 Bowie Baysox

Minor League Stadium Review: 3.25/5

Overall Stadium Review: 3/5

Summary:

Ballpark Aerial Rendering

The Corn Crib is located approximately two hours southwest of Chicago in Normal, IL on a 22-acre portion of the Heartland Community College campus.  The Normal Cornbelters, a Frontier League professional baseball team, and the Heartland Community college Athletic program consisting of men’s and women’s baseball, softball, and soccer will share the facility.  This multi-use facility is also equipped to accommodate concerts and other non-sport events including commencements for the college.

Stadium Specifications:

View From Behind Home Plate

League                                         Frontier League

Owner                                           Normal Professional Baseball Club LLC

Architect                                     Pendulum Studio

Hard Construction                 $9,000,000.00

Fixed Armchair Seats           3,500

Bench Seats                               1,000

Grass Berm                                3,000

First Base Suites

Premium Suites                        10

Suite/Classroom                      2

Beer Garden                               2

Party Deck (Right Center)    100

Paved Parking                           600

Grass Parking                            600

Field Dimensions:

Left Field                               328

Left Power Alley                 370

Center Field                          400

Right Power Alley              370

Right Field                            328

Stadium Features:

Corn Field Berm

Drive-In Movie Screen

Artificial Turf Field – With Removable Mound (for softball)

Soccer Practice Field

Softball Practice Field

Concert Configuration

Pendulum Studio Profile

Firm History

The principal owners of Pendulum Studio, Devan Case and Jonathan Cole, developed a lasting friendship and professional bond in 1999 while working for HNTB Corporation.  As staff architects they were teamed to design O’Brien Field in Peoria, Illinois and U.S. Steel Yard in Gary, Indiana.  They share a combined 20 years of sports facility design experience serving as a testament to their dedication to the sports marketplace.

Pendulum’s breadth of experience and proven leadership in more than a dozen built facilities across the nation allows us to speak with authority about the relevance of designs of the past while setting the bar for where we believe design is headed in the future.  We recognize the importance of revenue generating amenities and the overall fan experience, both of which are critical to securing profitable successive seasons and overall longevity in the marketplace.

Photo by Susan

Take me out to the ballgame.

Take me out to the crowd.

Buy me some squid legs and takoyaki.

When we see the Carp, we’ll have okonomiyaki.

Squid legs? Tako what? What about peanuts and Cracker Jack? We’re talking baseball, but Japanese baseball, and the food at ballparks in Japan is a force to be reckoned with.

Dried squid legs, udon (thick noodles in broth), yakisoba (thin, grilled noodles), and steaming hot takoyaki (grilled octopus) may not sound like standard baseball fare, but if you walk into any Japanese ballpark, you’ll more than likely have a nosh on one of these dishes, or at least see them at every concession stand.

Photo by Susan

If you’re looking for hot dogs in Japan, you’ll certainly find them. However, Brad Poelman of Salt Lake City warns, “Japanese hot dogs tend to be small and thin with an unnaturally neon-pinkish hue. The taste is usually about as unnatural as the color. Think ‘plastic’ or ‘rubber.’” Eww. Let’s heed Brad’s warning and pretend hot dogs don’t exist at Japanese ballparks. Besides, why would you want a boring hot dog when there are so many more options?

The eclectic flavors of Japan are prevalent in its stadiums. Sure, you’ll find typical American snacks such as the aforementioned – and apparently inferior – hot dogs, hamburgers, and even pizza. But a tour through Japan’s stadiums is an education about Japanese cuisine. My favorites include curry rice (rice topped with a mild curry sauce with potatoes and carrots) at Meiji Jingu Stadium in Tokyo and oden (a kind of stew containing daikon radish, boiled egg, and fish cakes) at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka. I’ll admit that I once bought food from a McDonald’s at the Nagoya Dome, but it was a fried ebi (shrimp) burger.

Photo by Susan

Other amazing choices include shumai (steamed dumplings), gyoza (fried dumplings), and the super-convenient bento box that is a meal unto itself. Imagine the healthy goodness of rice, fish, meat, and a few veggies combined in one box. Chicken dishes also abound, from yakitori (grilled chicken on skewers) to karaage (fried chicken “nuggets”). Daigo Fujiwara grew up in Japan, where he enjoyed miso katsu at the stadium in Nagoya. “A fried chicken on a stick coated in a sweet miso (soy bean paste). I still crave it sometimes,” says Fujiwara, who now lives outside Boston and roots for the Red Sox. They don’t serve miso katsu at Fenway Park, but I’m sure the hot dogs are larger and not neon pink.

Photo by Susan

Ballpark cuisine is also a good example of regional specialties. At Skymark Stadium in Kobe, you’ll find Kobe beef croquettes – when they’re not sold out. Takoyaki is in plentiful supply both outside and inside Koshien Stadium in Osaka, home of the Hanshin Tigers. Osaka is also the birthplace of okonomiyaki, a type of pancake filled with octopus, cabbage, and bacon and topped with katsuobushi (dried bonito fish flakes), but I’ll argue that the best version of okonomiyaki is found at Mazda Zoom Zoom Stadium in Hiroshima. The Hiroshima-style pancake – or pizza, or savory crepe – adds yakisoba or udon in layers rather than one big mixture. Sold as a snack, it’s definitely filling enough for a meal.

Photo by Susan

Let’s face it: It’s uncomfortably hot in Japan during the summer months. You need something refreshing when the sun is unleashing its rays with ferocity and the humidity wraps its sticky arms around you like a blanket. Greg Thompson of Atlanta is happy that “on summer nights in Yokohama Stadium, they serve Mandarin oranges over shaved ice.”

“My favorite snack was probably the slushie things I got (at) the Mazda Stadium in Hiroshima,” says Florida native Mary Beth Clemons. “It was bubblegum flavored, priced well, and convenient to eat. It came in a clear bag where you just tear off the corner and use a straw with a little spoon on the end. Perfect for a hot afternoon of baseball.”

Photo by Susan

Another perfect thing at a Japanese baseball game is something cool to wash down all of that good food. Enter the beer girls! Each stadium has girls – okay, there are guys, too – who strap kegs of beer to their backs and roam the stands looking for thirsty patrons. With unprecedented customer service we don’t see often enough in the States, the beer girl will sprint up the stairs to your seat and pour a cup of beer with a smile on her face. If you want something a little stronger, don’t worry. There are plenty of vendors who will mix you a glass of chu-hi or a lemon sour. Not a fan of alcohol? Then drink down a tall glass of Calpis (The unfortunately named beverage is merely a soft drink that tastes like milky Sprite).

All this talk about the food at Japanese baseball parks is making me hungry. I can’t wait until September and my next tour of games there. Before that, I’ll be back here next month with another essay on Japanese baseball.

Even though the Washington Nationals don’t have their own baseball history and Washington D.C. is not known as a hub for baseball traditionalists and major fans of America’s pastime, their stadium just may be one of the best in the league.

Nationals Stadium is obviously one of the newer Major League stadiums, and it certainly shows in almost every aspect of the park. From the second one walks up to the gate, it is obvious that the team has made a conscious effort to attempt to make a state of the art stadium that still harkens back to some of the past happenings in America’s game.

Perhaps the biggest draw back of visiting Nationals Stadium is that it isn’t in the best area of Washington D.C., but the team does a good job of making sure that the four or five blocks between the team owned parking lots and the stadium are well lined with police officers and other team personnel. While one may think it would be less expensive to purchase a parking pass, it was actually cheaper to park in the same lot and pay on game day than paying ahead of time.

Image by wallyg via Flickr

Walking up to the stadium, one will notice three statues that reference the history of baseball in the nation’s capitol. The two most popular by far are one of Josh Gibson, who was considered the Babe Ruth of the Negro Leagues, and Walter Johnson, one of the best pitchers of all time.

On the pillars inside of the stadium, one will see posters of the greatest players in the history of the game such as Bob Feller and Jackie Robinson. There are also many posters and collages that chronicle the history of baseball in Washington.

One of the major draw backs of the stadium is the team shop. It is by far the smallest Major League stadium team shop this reviewer has ever seen (it’s actually smaller than some Minor League shops as well). Due to this fact, there are not many options and even the options that are available do not have the sizes that fans of other teams may be accustomed to.

The best part of the stadium is the view. Even if one purchases the cheapest tickets available, they will be right on top of the action. Unlike older stadiums that continue to place fans vertically further up, making it harder to see the action, the Nationals’ park has a great view from every seat. The upper deck has more of a horizontal feel than a vertical one, which allows those in the cheap seats to have a better view of the game.

The presentation of the game is great as there are a good number of different types of food that one can chose from as well as pre-game entertainment right outside of the stadium.

Fans also have the opportunity to view the game from many other places in the stadium that creates a situation in which many people enjoy, being able to walk around the stadium while still being able to see the game.

Although one cannot see any of the major D.C. monuments from the stadium, the view is still nice, and on a clear summer night, one can still see some great architecture. Even though many discount the Nationals as a team, their stadium certainly should not be discounted as it is one of the best in the majors.

Major League Stadium Grade: 4.75/5

Overall Stadium Grade: 4.5/5

Upon arrival at Busch Stadium, one thing comes completely clear, the planners of this park certainly did all they could to remind fans of the rich history of the Cardinals, while also keeping a modern look present with the park.

The entire stadium is brick and is decorated all around with historical facts about the Cardinals and their impact on the history of baseball. While many stadiums today have incorporated monuments and statues into their décor, Busch has as many, if not more than any other Major League stadium. In fact, it may be the only stadium where one player has two statues. Stan Musial has both a medium sized statue in the middle of other famous Cardinals, including Ozzie Smith among others; he also has a much larger than life statue with his own brick pathway on the same concourse outside of the stadium.

Also featured with a statue is longtime broadcaster Jack Buck, but his memorial is complete with a soundtrack of some of the greatest calls in Cardinal (and baseball) history.

As many baseball followers may remember, the stadium the Cardinals played in before this one was also called Busch Stadium, and it is not forgotten. One can see where the old stadium was even though the new one was virtually built on top of it due to the fact that there are lines notating where the field was.

Speaking to some long time fans of the Cardinals in St Louis, it was obvious that they thought there was a need for a new stadium, but there was also some reservation in these sentiments as they were so used to the older building. The major concerns were that the ball carries differently in the new park than it did in the old one and they believe it is just not as consistent or reliable as in the old park.

Image via Wikipedia

While baseball fans are more traditional than any other group, this is not to say that the fans don’t appreciate the new stadium. While sitting in the stadium, one can see a beautiful view of downtown St. Louis with the arch able to be seen right over the skyline.

Other than what is mentioned above, the stadium has all of the bells and whistles of most modern ballparks. They have a decent menu of food offered at relatively decent prices for Major League ballpark food.

Their team shop is larger than normal and does offer more options for all genders and ages than most other stadiums possess. It was also clear that the city truly embraced the All Star game last year. Even though this reviewer’s tour took place a month after the game had taken place, the area of the city surrounding the ballpark was still alive with excitement and small arcs commemorating the game.

While walking around the outside of the stadium, a fan feels like they are taking a walk through history. Even though one can’t walk all of the way around the stadium on the walkway, the three-fourths that can be walked is both entertaining and educational. Every ten feet or so features a large brick commemorating a great moment in Cardinal history starting with the beginning of the franchise and carrying all of the way up through recent Cardinal events.

Major League Stadium Grade: 3.75/5

Overall Stadium Grade: 3.5/5

Speaking of getting married, on our honeymoon to the Outerbanks, we spent some time relaxing as most would imagine, but we also took in some baseball as well. There is a college summer league team down there called the Outerbanks Daredevils where we were able to take in a game.

The original plan was to travel to the nearest minor league team, the Carolina Mudcats, the AA affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, but that was about three hours away from where we were staying, so we settled for this instead.

Watching the Daredevils was seeing baseball in its purest form. These athletes were still in college and were playing during the summer as a way to stay sharp and on top of their game.

The Daredevils play at a local high school stadium where they had a packed house, of what seemed like mostly local people, for the game. It was so hard to find a spot at the high school that some were forced to park on the sidewalk in front of the school.

With bleachers on both sides of the field and no assigned seats, one has to get there a good amount of time before the game starts to make sure they have a seat. The atmosphere is such that kids can play catch inside of the park’s grounds while the game is going on while their parents watch the game. The pitchers warm up virtually right next to where the bleachers are located, so it is very easy to watch the development of some of these young players as they prepare to step on the field.

Tickets were reasonably priced as was the merchandise. If one were to simply look at the stadium operations of the game, they would think they were at a high class minor league organization. There were on field promotions, a mascot and giveaways just as one might expect there to be at any professional game.

The merchandise was high quality and reasonably priced and it was obvious that the locals had ingrained the team as a part of their community as many called the players by their first name, despite there not being a scoreboard boasting who was on the field.

Attending a Daredevils game is a great way to spend an evening on the Outerbanks after a day in the sun. The team plays 28 games during the summer and is seems to be run very well. In a place where one may feel like they are getting away from their normal baseball routine, it is a great way to get the fix for America’s Pastime in while on vacation.

For sports enthusiasts visiting New York in October, it is definitely the best time to attend a Mets or Yankees game, especially because both these teams have moved out into brand new, high tech stadiums. As the Major League Baseball season gets ready for the post-season, the Yankkees will kick off their first playoff campaign in their new stadium (the Mets have not made the playoffs this year). With both the traditional stadiums gone, baseball fans can now look forward to enjoying games in the modern venues that feature innovative facilities for both players and spectators.

Citi Field Of The New York Mets

Until April 2009, Shea Stadium was home to the New York Mets. However, now Shea Stadium has been replaced by Citi Field. On the inaugural day of this new venue, the Mets played an opening game against San Diego. Although this new home field of the New York Mets has a seating capacity of 41,800 it is relatively smaller than the new stadium of the New York Yankees, the lack in size has been compensated with exceptional facilities. Citi Field is located in Queens at 126th Street.

New Venue Of The Yankees

The old Yankees stadium which dated back to 1923 was closed down recently. The current home field of the Yankees is now the new stadium which is located just a stone’s throw away from the old stadium. This new venue can hold a maximum of 52,325 spectators. This spectator capacity is actually lower than the 56,886 limit of the old venue. However, you will be glad to note that the new place includes several premium seating options like corporate suites that were not available at the old venue.

Baseball fans interested in the history of the game will surely enjoy the unique, behind-the-scenes tour available at the new Yankee Stadium. The tour includes a visit to the New York Yankees Museum and the dugout. The tour also passes along Monument Park that celebrates great baseball legends like Mickey Mantle and Babe Ruth. However, the star attraction of this new stadium will probably be the hard rock cafe that will remain open all round the year regardless of any games being played or not. The cafe is also expected to be the most lucrative ventures of the stadium. This new Yankee Stadium is situated in the Bronx along East 161st Street at River Avenue just across from the old stadium.

Tickets, Accommodation And Sightseeing

To get game schedules or buy tickets, you can visit the official sites of the Mets and the Yankees. However, there is no reason for disappointment even if you fail to get hold of tickets for a Mets or Yankees game.

You can always set off to the ESPN Sports Zone at Times Square and catch all the games on the huge screen. The experience is the best alternative to actually being there.

Remember that both of the new stadiums do not offer any kind of accommodation. So if you are planning on watching a game and then staying overnight in the “city that never sleeps”, it would be best to check out some affordable hotels near the venues. And while you are here for the game, why not check out iconic structures of the city like the Empire State Building and Central Park?