THE BALLPARK - Truist Park, which was named Sun Trust Park when it opened in 2017, is the current home of the Atlanta Braves. It replaced Turner Field, which was built for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games and hosted the Braves from 1997 to 2016.
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| The Battery Atlanta |
Truist Park is located about 10 miles north of downtown Atlanta in a mixed use development called the Battery. The ballpark is surrounded by relatively upscale shops, restaurants, apartments and office space - giving it a decidedly corporate feel. You could be forgiven if you mistook the park's façade for a Dick's Sporting Goods store at the mall.
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| Truist Park Façade |
The ballpark feels much like other newer parks built to honor an earlier era of baseball-only venues. It seats a little over 41,000 fans, has great sight lines, and has open concourses that offer nice views of the field of play. Truist Park could use more local flavor. Sitting inside the ballpark, you might forget that you are in the Atlanta area... until the crowd breaks into the infamous (and annoying) "tomahawk chop."
I was impressed with the way the Braves honored their history with a Monument Garden in the main concourse. Excellent displays tell the stories of the franchise's Hall of Famers, World Series Champions and players with retired numbers - all centered around a statue and display honoring baseball's true home run king: Hammerin' Hank Aaron. Unlike the Yankee's Monument Park, these exhibits are open throughout the game, and unlike the Cardinals' museum, the Braves' Monument Garden is free of charge.
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| Hank Aaron - 755 Career Homers |
Dorry and I definitely had a fun night at the ballpark. In a carry-over from Turner Field, Home Depot sponsors a "tool race" in the middle of the seventh inning. Imagine Milwaukie's famous sausage race, but with tools. Phil the Bucket (great name) won in a photo finish.
There was a ballcap give-away for all fans. Dorry gamely wore hers, but I couldn't bring myself to put on a Braves cap. We also met Blooper, the Braves' Muppet-like mascot, who seemed mildly annoyed by my choice in headgear.
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| Blooper Photo Op |
Dorry and I enjoyed some local fare for dinner. She had Chick-fil-A. I tried a Georgia BLT - fried bologna, butter lettuce, tomato, pimento cheese and garlic mayo - all on a brioche bun. There was a lot going on with that sandwich!
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| Me and my Georgia BLT |
THE GAME - We watched the Braves overpower the Miami Marlins, 6-4. The Marlins built a 4-run lead and were shutting out the Braves until the bottom of the 6th inning, when the Braves began storming back. Powered by home runs from Ronald Acuna, Jr. and Matt Olson, the Braves scored 6 unanswered runs to notch the win. The game ended with a pinch-hit appearance by Miami's Jean Segura, a favorite player of mine who was with the Phillies for their magical run to the World Series in 2022. Never one to just watch a pitch go by, he swung at the first offering and popped up to end the game.
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| The view from our seats |
We had an entertaining evening at Truist Park, but as a ballpark I think it's middle of the pack. I give the Braves' latest home a solid double.
OVERALL SCORE - ⚾⚾
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