Ryan treated us to baseball tickets for Father’s Day so we made the trek downtown and I thought I’d share a few thoughts on the experience.
This outing felt a little different for us because John had hip replacement surgery a few weeks ago. He’s recovering beautifully, but navigating a sporting event looks a little different for us right now than it does for the average bear.
Many ambulatory folks parked offsite and took the light rail in. The stop is about one block from the stadium and is a good option.
We parked with no problem right onsite in a covered garage. Perhaps the reason there was no overcrowding is the fact that parking was $50.
Yes, $50.
I am not in any way kidding.
I am sure this news is shocking to absolutely no one, but the pain is real in our pocketbook.
Entering the stadium is about 10x easier than entering Salt River Field where we attend spring training games. We didn’t get strip searched and read our Miranda rights.
Everyone smiled and ushered us to the closest door.
Since it was Father’s Day, they were gifting Dbacks golf shirts to dads. The shirts are actually quite tasteful and very pretty. I can see John wearing his when he’s up to a golf game.
Remember when I was shocked about the cost of parking? Well, then it will come as no surprise to hear the cost of concessions. I am only sure you can imagine.
The good news is that can bring your own snacks into the stadium using clear plastic bags.
You can also carry in unopened plastic water bottles.
Do NOT skip this step. You will be thirsty and need a sip of water and a bottle there costs $7.25. Ryan refilled his bottle from the fountain and that water wasn’t the greatest, but it was wet.
The biggest surprise to me was how many people were happily loading up on expensive stadium food. Throughout the game, fans seemed to be making repeated trips for hot dogs, nachos, ice cream, and drinks.
Judging by the giant ice cream creations being carried around the stadium, many fans considered game day a cheat day.
And there are a lot of options for eating: the usual snacks and a few sit-down restaurants right on site such as Four Peaks Draft Room and Bourbon & Bones.
We stuck to our water and John bought a bag of popcorn we all shared and didn’t finish.
The only heat you might experience attending an Arizona home game is the walk to the stadium.
Chase Field boasts a retractable ceiling which is primarily closed during summer months. The temperature is maintained at 78°. Of course games are never rained out and sunburn isn’t an issue.
Perhaps I should title this post “The Non-Baseball Fan’s Guide to Chase Field.” As in baseball isn’t really my sport.
But. The experience really is fun. The stadium is full of good energy (even though the home team lost) and friendly workers.
The bathrooms are clean and plentiful.
Navigating in and out of downtown and the stadium itself on a Sunday afternoon was a snap. I drove and parked with absolutely no trouble or stress whatsoever.
Perhaps because it was Father’s Day, there were a lot of families in attendance so everyone seemed sober and on good behavior.
Helpful Tips for Visiting Chase Field
- Consider taking the light rail if mobility isn’t an issue.
- Bring unopened plastic water bottles.
- Pack snacks in a clear plastic bag.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes.
- Don’t worry about the summer heat inside the stadium.
Wrap Up
Baseball may never become my favorite sport, but I genuinely enjoyed the experience. Between the comfortable indoor temperature, friendly staff, easy parking, and time spent with family, it turned out to be a pretty perfect Father’s Day outing.
Sometimes the best summer memories come from trying something that isn’t exactly your first choice but becomes special because of who you’re sharing it with.
And another way we escape the summer heat can be found on this Sedona visit post.
As always, may God bless you and yours for a wonderful week!