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Set "smack dab" in the middle of downtown Memphis, Autozone Park races to the
front of the pack as the finest minor league baseball venue. This beautiful facility
opened for the 2000 season, and at a cost of $80 million, no expense was spared in
making this venue just a terrific place to see a game.
The stadium is an intimate sized 12,300 seat facility, with room for another 2000 on
an outfield berm. Three levels here - the main one has a concourse with a view of the
field throughout, and behind the outfield bleachers is a picnic area with colorful
canopies, and a thirteen story scoreboard with the largest video board in the minors.
The second level is a club level and the third a suite and press level. Both of these
concourses are enclosed, climate controlled, and carpeted, offering premium
concessions and lounge areas.
This ballpark just adds so much to the synergy of what a vibrant downtown setting
should be - the architecture and wide open main courtyard is appealing and inviting,
and just steps from the front door is the famous Peabody Hotel and the Peabody
Place entertainment center. Take a look beyond the outfield and you see new lofts,
condos and apartment buildings, with patios and decks overlooking the field. Two
blocks away is Beale Street. Hotels and shops are open everywhere.
Notable food item - The Rendezvous barbecue stand sells the pulled pork nachos.
Gotta try 'em! (USRT visit April 2002)
front of the pack as the finest minor league baseball venue. This beautiful facility
opened for the 2000 season, and at a cost of $80 million, no expense was spared in
making this venue just a terrific place to see a game.
The stadium is an intimate sized 12,300 seat facility, with room for another 2000 on
an outfield berm. Three levels here - the main one has a concourse with a view of the
field throughout, and behind the outfield bleachers is a picnic area with colorful
canopies, and a thirteen story scoreboard with the largest video board in the minors.
The second level is a club level and the third a suite and press level. Both of these
concourses are enclosed, climate controlled, and carpeted, offering premium
concessions and lounge areas.
This ballpark just adds so much to the synergy of what a vibrant downtown setting
should be - the architecture and wide open main courtyard is appealing and inviting,
and just steps from the front door is the famous Peabody Hotel and the Peabody
Place entertainment center. Take a look beyond the outfield and you see new lofts,
condos and apartment buildings, with patios and decks overlooking the field. Two
blocks away is Beale Street. Hotels and shops are open everywhere.
Notable food item - The Rendezvous barbecue stand sells the pulled pork nachos.
Gotta try 'em! (USRT visit April 2002)
The Bricktown Ballpark is an architectural jewel of a stadium situated right in the
middle of the historic Bricktown neighborhood of downtown Oklahoma CIty. And what
is Bricktown? Basically a several block neighborhood of old buildings rehabbed and
reused as offices, nightclubs and restaurants, with a canal snaking through the
neighborhood below street grade and offering paddleboat and water taxi rides.
Here is where the "retro ballpark" feel really works well... the old style wrought iron
gate and stone/brick facade matches the adjoining neighborhood, and the ballpark
itself has two levels of seating, including a club concourse and suite level on the
infield.
There are statues of Johnny Bench, Warren Spahn and Mickey Mantle located at the
three different entrances to the ballpark, and also a cool barbecue restaurant located
at the left field corner with outdoor patio seating and a great view of the action. The
signature song? "Oklahoma!" of course, and remember to sing along.
OKC has a great baseball history going back to the early 1900's, and this stadium
has already hosted a AAA All-Star Game and will also host the AAA World Series
championship game starting in 2006. Big XII college baseball also holds its annual
tournament here. (USRT visit April 2006)
middle of the historic Bricktown neighborhood of downtown Oklahoma CIty. And what
is Bricktown? Basically a several block neighborhood of old buildings rehabbed and
reused as offices, nightclubs and restaurants, with a canal snaking through the
neighborhood below street grade and offering paddleboat and water taxi rides.
Here is where the "retro ballpark" feel really works well... the old style wrought iron
gate and stone/brick facade matches the adjoining neighborhood, and the ballpark
itself has two levels of seating, including a club concourse and suite level on the
infield.
There are statues of Johnny Bench, Warren Spahn and Mickey Mantle located at the
three different entrances to the ballpark, and also a cool barbecue restaurant located
at the left field corner with outdoor patio seating and a great view of the action. The
signature song? "Oklahoma!" of course, and remember to sing along.
OKC has a great baseball history going back to the early 1900's, and this stadium
has already hosted a AAA All-Star Game and will also host the AAA World Series
championship game starting in 2006. Big XII college baseball also holds its annual
tournament here. (USRT visit April 2006)
The home of the Round Rock Express, the Dell Diamond was actually constructed
as a AA venue, and in fact, Round Rock was a member of the Texas League for five
seasons, from 2000-2004.
In 2005, the ownership group relocated the Edmonton Trappers to Round Rock, and
just like that this suburb of Austin, Texas became a AAA city.
The Dell Diamond has just under 9000 fixed seats and capacity for an additional
3000 spectators on the outfield berm, which makes this a very small and intimate
venue for this level of baseball. The stadium has received numerous awards and
distinctions for its design and architecture, as well as its penchant for fan friendly
amenities.
Actual conference rooms along the first base side double as party suites on game
nights. A sport court in the outfield comes equipped with a full basketball court, and
another party deck comes equipped with pool and hot tub. Texas home cooking
comes a plenty here on the concession menu, with a "Texadelphia" stand in the
outfield offering plenty of the local cooking, including a Texas Cheese Steak
sandwich. And of course, Nolan Ryan's Barbecue. Owner has to have his own food
stand, no!? (USRT visit August 2007)
as a AA venue, and in fact, Round Rock was a member of the Texas League for five
seasons, from 2000-2004.
In 2005, the ownership group relocated the Edmonton Trappers to Round Rock, and
just like that this suburb of Austin, Texas became a AAA city.
The Dell Diamond has just under 9000 fixed seats and capacity for an additional
3000 spectators on the outfield berm, which makes this a very small and intimate
venue for this level of baseball. The stadium has received numerous awards and
distinctions for its design and architecture, as well as its penchant for fan friendly
amenities.
Actual conference rooms along the first base side double as party suites on game
nights. A sport court in the outfield comes equipped with a full basketball court, and
another party deck comes equipped with pool and hot tub. Texas home cooking
comes a plenty here on the concession menu, with a "Texadelphia" stand in the
outfield offering plenty of the local cooking, including a Texas Cheese Steak
sandwich. And of course, Nolan Ryan's Barbecue. Owner has to have his own food
stand, no!? (USRT visit August 2007)
| Pacific Coast League |
AUTOZONE
PARK
Memphis,
Tennessee
AT&T
BRICKTOWN
BALLPARK
Oklahoma
City,
Oklahoma
DELL
DIAMOND
Round Rock,
Texas
PARK
Memphis,
Tennessee
AT&T
BRICKTOWN
BALLPARK
Oklahoma
City,
Oklahoma
DELL
DIAMOND
Round Rock,
Texas
