Stadium Opened: 1997
Team: Atlanta Braves
1st Visit: 10/19/99
Last Visit: 8/29/10
# Games: 23
Food: 7/10
Stadium: 8/10
Important Games Seen:
1999 NLCS Game 6, 2000 All-Star Game, my 1st interleague game (6/2/00), 1st anniversary of 9/11 vs. the Mets (2002), longest game (16 innings- 5/7/02)
Turner Field was my first home ballpark, and it only took until my third day of living in Atlanta for it to become so. The Braves were in the middle of their record-setting 14 consecutive division titles in 1999 and were playing the Mets in Game 6 on the Monday after I arrived. My roommates and I headed downtown and saw the series-clinching win by the Braves. Thus began a great 4-year run at the beautiful Turner Field. One of the big draws of living in a big city was being able to head to a Major League game anytime I wanted, and I took advantage of it as much as possible.
My only experience with Major League ballparks at the time was Philadelphia (concrete multi-purpose) and New York (historic but old and lacking many amenities). What a shock to the system to walk into a 2-year old park with every bell & whistle imaginable, including a huge video board, a large cafe with bands and big-screen TVs, and concourses where you could watch the game while you grab a beer. It didn't hurt that as you walked into the park you were walking through reminders of the '96 Olympics (Turner Field was 1st used for that before being turned over to the Braves in '97).
The crowds, while not often sold-out, were loud and supportive, still in the midst of the mind-numbing "Tomahawk Chop." And you had a 60% chance of seeing a future Hall-of Fame pitcher (Glavine, Maddux, Smoltz) on any given night. The prices were right too. In a time when successful teams price regular fans out of games (hello, Phils & Yanks!), the Braves had many great seats under $15, even $5 day-of-game seats.
The food was eclectic and plentiful. My favorite stand was "Taste of the Majors," a a stand that featured food and beer from the opposing team's home town (for example, when they played the Phillies, the featured items would be cheese steaks and Rolling Rock Beer). Sadly, when I returned in 2010, the stand was gone. But the food was still better than the average ballpark. The Chophouse is the view-of-the-park restaurant common in MLB parks these days. It is a nice place to watch the game, but you have to be there very early to get a good table.
The team store is nice but lacks the space needed for a modern ballpark. The variety is solid, carrying most of the variations the Braves have worn through the years.
My best memories were of 2 particular games:
-the 2000 All Star game, which remains my only All Star Game. It was an amazing climax to a great 5 days, which included the All Star FunFest (which I volunteered at) and the Home Run Derby. The game was solid, despite many All Stars missing the game because of injury (including Mike Piazza and Mark McGwire);
-the 1st anniversary of 9/11, which featured the Mets versus the Braves. Many members of the FDNY and NYPD were in attendance, presented the colors and threw out the 1st pitches. The game was simultaneously the most somber and most patriotic game I have ever been to.
As you can see, I have very little negative to say about Turner Field. Returning there, much like Nationals Park, will always be nostalgic and enjoyable.
For more pics of Turner Field and comparison of differences from 2000 and 2010, click here.
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