LOAN DEPOT PARK (Miami, visited 4/21/2022)

THE BALLPARK - I did not have great expectations for LoanDepot Park. When I watched games played there on TV, the place seemed to lack personality. What I found in person was something else entirely: a ballpark that truly represents its vibrant city. LoanDepot Park's modern, gleaming white exterior with blue tinted glass captures the feel of Miami.

LoanDepot Park

LoanDepot Park opened in 2012. It has a seating capacity of approximately 37,400. The roof is retractable, and the playing field is artificial turf. The ballpark sits on the former site of Roddy Burdine Stadium, which hosted the Orange Bowl and University of Miami football for 60 years. The location has plenty of good sports karma.

View from center field

Like many newer ballparks, the concourse is open, providing nice field views. There's a unique feature in the concourse beyond center field that's a must-see: The Bobblehead Museum. It's a large two-sided glass display case filled with bobbleheads from all 30 MLB franchises. The shelves of the display case are mechanically agitated to keep those bobbleheads gently bobbling, while a mirrored surface behind the bobbleheads lets you see them, front and back. 

The Bobblehead Museum

The food was great. There were many local options to choose from. I had my first-ever Cuban sandwich, which was served with plantain chips. I loved every bite. My only criticism with the concessions is that there were not many gathering spaces where you could sit down and eat. I opted to stand and eat rather than schlep my food to our seats.

Cuban sandwich with plantain chips

The place draws modest crowds, so ticket availability on a weeknight was excellent. We walked up and bought good seats in the lower level behind the visitors' dugout. The Marlins were playing the St. Louis Cardinals, and we quickly noticed that Cardinals fans travel well. It felt like there were almost as many Cards fans in the park as Fish fans.

Field view - LoanDepot Park

THE GAME - All those Cardinals fans were in for a disappointment. The Marlins shut out the Cardinals 5-0. The big story of the night was Marlins pitcher Pablo Lopez. He got married to his wife, Kaylee on an off-day during the homestand (April 18). Three days later, he took the mound and pitched seven dominant innings of three-hit, shutout baseball. Along the way, he struck out future hall-of-famer Albert Pujols three times! Pablo Lopez left the game with an ERA of only 0.52 through his first three starts of the season.

Albert Pujols at the plate

This was the final season for Albert Pujols - an 11-time All-Star, 2-time World Series Champ, and 3-time National League MVP. St. Louis signed Pujols for the 2022 season so he could retire as a Cardinal, and he rewarded them with a productive year. He finished his career with 703 home runs. This night, though, was not his night. After the newly-wed Lopez struck Pujols out for a third time, the Cards lifted Albert for a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning. The pinch-hitter struck out to end the game. They should have let Albert hit.

Greetings from Miami

My LoanDepot Park experience easily beat my admittedly low expectations. When it comes to ballparks, it's a solid double.

OVERALL SCORE - ⚾⚾ 

GLOBE LIFE FIELD (Arlington, visited 8/17/2022)

THE BALLPARK - Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers, was only in its third season of service when we visited in August of 2022. Globe Life Field replaced the Ballpark at Arlington, which hosted the Rangers from 1994-2019. Why would you replace a ballpark that had a classic design and many rave reviews after only 25 years? Well, I think I know the answer...

Center field entrance to Globe Life Field

It's HOT in Texas, y'all. As we walked up to the ballpark, the temperature was a blistering 105 degrees. Inside, with the retractable roof closed, it was a comfortable 72 degrees. In 2021, the Rangers played 70 of their 81 regular season home games with the roof closed, and I get it. In the Texas heat, air conditioning is a necessity, not a convenience. 

The Ballpark at Arlington

Still, part of me wished I had made a trip to Dallas before 2020 to take in a game at the beautiful ballpark that still sits across the street from Globe Life Field. It's now known as Choctaw Stadium, and it's been retrofitted to be the home of an MLS soccer team and an XFL football team.

Field View

But I quickly forgot about the ballpark across the street when I stepped inside Globe Life Field. Sure, baseball is best played outdoors on real grass, but being in a new ballpark is like sitting in a brand new car... It smells good and gets your heart racing! 

From the concourse, you can see the
PA announcer's view of the field.

Globe Life Field seats around 40,500 fans. Plentiful windows and transparent roof panels let in lots of light, which helps you forget that you're sitting under a 5.5 acre roof. The stands are close to the field, giving fans nice views of the action. The main concourse is largely open, so you can see the field as you make your way to your seat or zip out to get a hotdog.

My Globe Life Field companions

If there's a shortcoming at Globe Life Field, it's a lack of local flavor, and I'm not talking about food at the concessions. The atmosphere is kinda generic, when it should scream, "I'm in Texas!" You could plop this ballpark down in almost any city, and it wouldn't feel too out of place. The Rangers could do more to make this house a home ... or a ranch.

Retired numbers are honored in the concourse

THE GAME - We saw the Oakland A's handily beat the Rangers, 7-2. The A's were powered by 2 home runs from catcher Sean Murphy and a 2-run dinger from rookie Shea Langeliers - his first major league home run. On the Rangers' side of the ledger, shortstop Corey Seager singled in the first inning and was driven home by an Adolis Garcia double. The Rangers didn't score again until the ninth inning, when former Phillie Brad Miller (aka "Bamboo Brad") drove in a run with a double.

Oh, and heavy rain swept through the area during the game, which wasn't interrupted thanks to the closed roof. Maybe indoor baseball isn't such a bad thing after all.

OVERALL SCORE - ⚾⚾  

TARGET FIELD (Minneapolis, visited 8/29/2022)

THE BALLPARK - The Minnesota Twins did it right when they built Target Field, which opened in 2010. The ballpark, nestled in downtown Minneapolis, has a sleek, modern feel. It's on the smaller side, with a seating capacity of approximately 38,500. Much of the exterior façade (and some of its interior) features native Minnesota limestone. Most of the field's lights are recessed along the edge of the upper deck's  metal-clad canopy, giving the roof the appearance of an airplane coming in for a landing.

Target Field, Minneapolis, MN

I wasn't expecting it, but this ballpark turned out to be a favorite of mine. Sight lines are great. There's not much foul ground, so it feels like you're right on top of the action. Most of the main concourse is open - offering good views of the field as you walk about. There's a lively vibe in and around the ballpark, and the fans and employees we encountered truly were "Minnesota Nice."

Budweiser Roof Deck Bar - Center Field

Concessions were good. I enjoyed a tasty local brew as we strolled around the ballpark before game time. We even found a tribute to Charles Schultz, the creator of the Peanuts, who hailed from neighboring St. Paul (the other half of the Twin Cities).

Dorry and Charlie Brown

THE GAME - We saw the home town Twins defeat the Boston Red Sox 4-2. The Sox jumped out to a 2-0 lead by the middle of the 3rd inning, but the Twins came roaring back. The Twins got on the board in the bottom of the 4th. They loading the bases with no outs, but only managed one run on a sacrifice fly by outfielder Jake Cave. (Fun Fact: After the 2022 season, the Orioles claimed Cave off waivers from the Twins. Then the Orioles tried to sneak him through waivers themselves, but my Phillies claimed him and added him to their 40-man roster for the 2023 season.  Welcome to Philadelphia, Jake Cave!) 

In the bottom of the 5th inning, the floodgates opened for the Twins. Three batters walked to load the bases. Then third baseman Gio Urshela cleared the bases with a clutch two-out double. The Twins held onto the resulting 2-run lead, winning 4-2.

Target Field as we flew out of town

Flying out of Minneapolis the following night, I looked out the plane's window and saw a beautiful sight - Target Field, lit up like the sparkling gem that it is. 

OVERALL SCORE - ⚾⚾⚾