For a few weeks now I’ve been thinking about what makes for a “good” ballpark experience. I don’t think there is a definitive list because everybody has their own “must do” items to truly experience a baseball stadium, especially a Minor League stadium. However, as a geographer who studies place and place attachment, I’ve thought about the things I try to do when I visit a new ballpark. The premise can be applied to any sports venue, but my primary experience has been with baseball stadiums and especially Minor League stadiums. #1: Read Up on the Park There are a lot of blogs and books that talk about stadium visits,…
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My night with the Bradenton Marauders – April 10, 2014
While in the Tampa region for a conference, I aimed to visit as many of the area Minor League Baseball stadiums. From downtown Tampa, where I stayed for the conference, there are five Minor League teams within an hour drive. So after committing to watching a Clearwater Threshers game (more on that visit here), I had to choose between the other ballparks to visit. Eventually I decided to make a trip to the south end of Tampa Bay, and visit the Bradenton Marauders. I decided to visit Bradenton for a few reasons. 1: It is near DeSoto National Memorial, and visiting NPS sites is another one of my traveling objectives.…
