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| The view from our seats taken from my crappy phone camera. |
While the view wasn't bad for the $14.00 ticket price, I have been spoiling myself with the tickets for other major league ball parks I've visited. I'm used to sitting close to the dugout about 10-20 rows up, close to the action where we can hear the pop of the glove and the occasional cuss word.
Anyway, the whole experience with the family was good. I am glad I went to re-connect with the cousins and got to check another ballpark off my list. However, the ballpark experience wasn't that great; I've definitely been to better ballparks.
Outside the ballpark, it seemed like there was a good vibe going on with some pubs close by and street vendors with reasonably priced souvenirs, peanuts, and bottled water. Getting to the ballpark from I-90 was also a snap, and I was off the freeway, parked, and heading across the street to the ballpark within minutes. The parking rates were ridiculous though at $15 to $20 dollars. This is something the locals may know how to get around. One thing that I found disconcerting was the fact that the team store was closed due to the 1.05 pm game time. I figured the team store would be open before games so fans could get a shirt or whatnot. I was on the hunt for a shirt and did get one inside the ballpark (more on that in a bit).
Inside the ballpark (after getting through the VERY loose security where the guard asked my cousin if his bag was all baby stuff, noticing the baby he was carrying and let him go without a search or second glance), the atmosphere seemed good. Lots of fans decked out in Indians gear milling about and getting ready for the afternoon game. I did stop at a souvenir vendor and got my t-shirt for only $20. I've seen more expensive shirts at concerts and other ballparks. At this point, it seemed like we were in for a nice afternoon until we got to the upper deck.
First, not all of the restrooms were open for the upper deck, and there wasn't any sign on the restroom doors indicating why it was closed or where the alternative restrooms were. I did find it though after some hunting. Granted it wasn't a sellout (attendance announced at just over 21,000), but it just seemed odd that not all the restrooms would be open. I got a hot dog around the second inning, and the dog was rather lackluster. The bun was smushed and stale, having the texture that it was steamed and prepped hours ago. At nearly $5 at dog, I would like the bun to be better. I got a soda to accompany my hot dog (no beer for me since I would be driving right after the game), and the concession stand had no lids or straws. This wouldn't have been that big of an issue if the seats had cup holders. Overall, the staff of the concession stands weren't that remarkable or terribly friendly. They weren't rude by any means either though; just pretty neutral.
Leaving the ballpark, I figured I would hit the restroom one last time only to find the restrooms on the lower, main deck already closed and locked up for the afternoon, which meant I had to hold it for later. Good thing getting back on the freeway took just minutes like getting to the ballpark in the first place.
All in all, I would give Progressive field the following grades:
Cheap seats view value: B+
Crowd and atmosphere: B- (restrooms please!)
Concessions and food value: D- (only thing keeping this from an F was that I didn't feel sick later that night)
Parking value and accessibility: C (pricey but close to the park)
Getting to and from the park: A (suspiciously easy for me that day)
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Overall experience grade: C+
I would give Progressive Field another chance to see how it would be to have a seat in the lower deck and be able to try some of the other food vendors. I'll post a review of my experiences at Comerica Park in Detroit soon.
