stonecriesout: Game 2: AT&T Park

< Baseball Heaven >

It is a pleasure to share with you about my experience at AT&T Park! Anything you've heard about this stadium is probably true--it is surely as beautiful and pleasant a ballpark as any fan could ask for. Being from Seattle, I was completely comfortable with the in-city dwelling of the park, which apparently deters some fans. I don't get that.
Anyway, the view from any seat in this stadium is gorgeous. The photo above is not from our seats--we sat in the upper level near the LF foul pole, and enjoyed the view of Willie McCovey Cove, the water, and of course: the ballgame!

< The view of Willie McCovey Cove from our seats >

I was excited to see this game in particular (MLB recap here), as my favorite starting pitcher Roy Halladay was going for the visiting Philadelphia Phillies, and the Giants are my favorite NL West club. Big Doc got touched up for 10 hits and 5 earned over 7IP, but it was encouraging to see the SFO boys putting rallies together. Giants' starter Jonathan Sanchez was able to grind out 5 productive innings against the NL's most feared offense, only allowing 1 ER, despite 5 free passes. 2010 Giants' newcomers Mark DeRosa and Aubrey Huff drove in 3 of the 5 SF runs, and little-used backup catcher Eli Whiteside provided the other 2, including a solo HR off of Halladay in the 7th.

The fan experience at AT&T Park is very well-suited for a fan like me. AT&T Park pays tribute to the storied history of the Giants, and so many of the larger-than-life legends who have donned the black & orange (one notable exception, you can probably figure it out). I gained the true sense that the folks who constructed the experience at AT&T Park really had a deep sense of the importance of appreciating the history of the game, even while watching the present teams.
Fans at the Giants game seem to be a fair representation of their home city: passionate, savvy, and yet, still amiable and non-threatening. I appreciated feeling as though I was attending the game with fellow baseball fans, rather than with bar rats or vigilant know-it-alls. Sadly, a group of girls who suffer from some sort of debilitating disillusion that they are the only people on the planet did sit down behind us, and quite conspicuously rehash their recent sexcapades, and hopeful plans for future partners.
Our party relocated.

< A little colder, but still a great view. And no disgusting commentary! >

Stadium fare at AT&T Park is nothing short of impressive. Variety, variety, variety. Prices jumped from those of the Oakland Coliseum, but that was expected.

Tickets:
$7 each (thanks, StubHub!)

Parking:
City Parking Garage - $10

Stadium fare consumed:
Polish Sausage - $7
Gordon Biersch Garlic Fries - $7.50
Hot Chocolate - $3.50
Gordon Biersch Marzen - $9

This was also the first game at which we were able to come and watch Batting Practice. We hung out near the LF foul pole, and also stopped by the Phillies dugout to say Hey to a friend of Carlin's! I ended up walking away with a ball, picked up by a stadium staff member and tossed up to me. Hey, I'll take it!

If you didn't know, Carlin and I have been friends for about 12-13 years now, after meeting at church Summer camp. Through our junior high and high school lives, there was a core group of us who all attended these camps each year and became great friends for that time in our lives! Well, when Carlin and I were in the Bay area, we reconnected with another Pilgrim Firs friend, and stayed at her place for a couple nights! Turns out, another camp friend of ours had just moved from Chicago to LA days before, and came up for the weekend and we all got to go to the game together!

< Alice (have fun in LA!), Beth (thanks for having us!), Me, Carlin >

You just never know what is going to happen or who you will see when you go on a baseball pilgrimage.

I must say that anyone who has the opportunity to see AT&T Park ought to absolutely jump all over it! I'd happily go out of my way to see another game there, only next time I'd probably be willing to spring for the seats between RF and the Cove. Everything about AT&T Park facilitates a greatly enjoyable fan experience!

Now, the traditional photos: