FanPost

All 30 Major League Baseball Stadiums, Ranked

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As a baseball fan first and a Yankees fan second, I've made a goal to attend at least one game at all 30 stadiums in my lifetime. I have made decent progress on my goal (Nine of 30 current stadiums, and two more inactive ones), and last month reached a somewhat-related milestone when I saw the St. Louis Cardinals defeat the New York Mets, the former being the only Major League team I had not previously seen play in person. Without further adieu, here are all 30 MLB stadiums, ranked. Stadiums marked with an * I have attended a game at, and stadiums marked with a + I have toured.

30. Tropicana Field

A horrible location, poor field conditions, and lack of character add up to create the worst stadium in baseball, and it's not particularly close. Baseball is not meant to be played permanently indoors.

29. Oakland Coliseum*

I personally enjoyed my time at the Coliseum, and would say it's maybe not quite as bad as its poor reputation. The fans were certainly passionate and into the game, but with so many teams opening new ballparks in the past two decades, there's almost no other choice for the second-to-last spot than the oversized stadium in Oakland.

28. Guaranteed Rate Field

The stadium that will always be remembered as "the last stadium to open before Oriole Park at Camden Yards" got even worse with its atrocious new name this season. Good thing White Sox fans should have a fantastic product to watch on the field in about three to five years.

27. Angel Stadium*

I saw the Yankees lose to the Angels in Anaheim way back in 2009, and can confirm that Angel Stadium is definitely showing its age. Closed-off concourses and a lack of anything that truly makes it stand out from the pack puts this stadium fourth-to-last on the list. The Angels should probably look into building a new stadium relatively soon, even though it likely won't happen until far beyond 2040.

26. Chase Field

Any stadium that is regularly compared to an airplane hangar can't be all that hot of a destination. Even with the first-of-its-kind pool feature in right center field, Chase Field is too large, and according to the Diamondbacks, in need of major upgrades and repairs. The ongoing disputes between the team, Major League Baseball, and Maricopa County isn't a good look for a stadium that could certainly be a lot better than it actually is.

25. Rogers Centre

A stadium that is slowly improving, from the all-dirt infield to the grass supposedly replacing the turf soon. A whole different (and better) experience when the roof is open. The CN Tower being in close proximity and an increasingly engaged fanbase are both major bonuses. A slightly underrated stadium that, despite its shortcomings, deserves to host an All-Star game in the next decade.

24. Comerica Park

Comerica Park certainly appears to be a nice place to watch a game, and the location with the Detroit skyline in the background was well-planned. While the Ferris wheel and carousel are cool, Comerica Park suffers from a lack of a feature that truly makes it stand out, other than the strip of dirt between the pitcher's mound and home plate that only Chase Field also boasts.

23. Marlins Park

This funky, taxpayer-funded stadium isn't all bad. It certainly is unlike any other stadium, and the oddity of the place, and the statue out in left-center field, help make Marlins Park feel distinctly Miami. It seems as if the roof is almost always closed, which is disappointing. The Marlins were smart to build the place small, as Miami never has been and probably never will be a baseball town, just a town with a baseball team and a really weird baseball stadium.

22. Progressive Field*

The sellout streak then-Jacobs Field boasted for years never ceases to amaze me. Progressive Field has fallen from grace quite a bit since then. The capacity is remarkably low now, and attendance has been fairly low this season, and many seasons before, for a team coming off an American League pennant and coming within one game of their first World Series victory since 1948. It appears that Cleveland can only handle one great sports team at a time.

21. Great American Ballpark

"So-So American Ballpark" is a hitter's haven with a nice location right by the river, and that's about it, unfortunately for the Reds.

20. Minute Maid Park

Minute Maid Park is another stadium on this list whose ranking mostly suffers due to a lack of character. At least Tal's Hill made the place memorable and gave it a feature that stood out when compared to other ballparks. The Crawford Boxes do seem to be a pretty desirable seat location, however.

19. Globe Life Park

I have always felt this stadium fit well with the vibe of Dallas and the Texas Rangers as a whole. It is certainly sweltering in the summer, and I'm sure the new stadium will be nice, but I will be a bit sad to see this one go.

18. Miller Park

A consistent fanbase with a strong showing more often than not, a cool retractable roof, and delicious bratwursts. What more can you ask for as a baseball fan?

17. Citizens Bank Park*

I attended a game at Citizens Bank Park this year with low expectations, but was pleasantly surprised with my experience. Great food (cheesesteaks and crab fries are a must), a beautifully-built stadium, and an extremely friendly staff that surprised me more than anything else made me want to go back again. Citizens Bank Park deserves to host its first All-Star Game early in the next decade.

16. Coors Field

Did you know Coors Field is the third-oldest stadium in the National League? Feel old yet? While being built a bit large, Coors Field is a great place to witness that Rockies' offense do some serious damage against National League pitching.

15. Nationals Park+

The perfect middle-of-the-road Major League Baseball stadium. Nothing terrible about it, nothing that really stands out about it. It could benefit from some more development in the neighborhood around the stadium, but it does have a nice open feel to it. It will be interesting to see how Nationals Park is perceived next year during the All-Star Game festivities.

14. Safeco Field

A great experience when Felix Hernandez starts and the King's Court is present. An alright experience when any other Mariner pitcher does. Bonus points for location and stellar food.

13. Yankee Stadium*

The House That George Built. What a disappointment it has been. Catering to the rich and elite, employing likely the unfriendliest stadium staff in baseball, and overpriced tickets have overshadowed some of the few better things about the new stadium. With all the resources the Yankees have, if they insisted on building a new stadium, it should have been a ballpark unanimously in the top five across all of baseball, not a stadium that barely cracks the top 50% of stadiums. Sure, it was loud at first from 2009-2012, but the mediocrity on the field over the past five years combined with ticket prices not getting any cheaper has resulted in some of the most passionate fans being chased away in favor of Legends-ticket holding "guests". A team that once boasted packed houses every night of the week now struggles to get 40,000 or even 35,000 fans on a regular basis. It's still a pretty great place to watch baseball's most famed franchise play a game, but oh, what could have been.

12. Busch Stadium

It certainly feels and looks a like the old Busch Stadium, but a newer ballpark is always an improvement over a cookiecutter old one, right? New Busch is good not great, but has a picturesque backdrop with the Gateway Arch standing over all and regularly packs a sometimes annoying but very intelligent fanbase into the seats, not to mention the two World Series that have already been won there in the stadium's short lifetime.

11. SunTrust Park

A stadium I could see climbing the ranks in the coming years, SunTrust Park just misses the top ten in its first season in action. Despite the Braves' move out of downtown Atlanta, I think the suburban location makes sense for the area, especially after hearing multiple accounts of horrible traffic getting to and from Turner Field. Props to the Braves for designing a stadium with a focus on putting seats closer to the action than any other field.

10. Dodger Stadium*

An amazing place to see a game with an electric atmosphere, even on weeknights. The blueprint for how to build a large capacity stadium and continually fill it. Should the Dodgers finally make it back to the World Series this year, it will be absolutely deafening for all of Games 1, 2, 6, and 7. Dodger Dogs may be nothing special, but Dodger Stadium is.

9. Kauffman Stadium

I remember that during the 2014 World Series, many media outlets were discussing how the games were being played in two of the best ballparks in all of baseball, AT&T Park and Kauffman Stadium. I thought to myself "Is Kauffman Stadium really that special? It's old, far from the downtown area, and used to have turf for crying out loud!" After further evaluation a few years later, Kansas City does boast an excellent ballpark that cracks the top ten, with its most notable features being the dazzling fountains and top notch barbecue that perfectly highlight two things KC is well known for.

8. Citi Field*

It should not come as much of a surprise to New Yorkers that Citi Field is ranked quite a bit higher than Yankee Stadium. While the location and surrounding area in Queens leave much to be desired, once inside, fans find arguably the greatest food selection in all of baseball, fairly friendly staff, and great views for a reasonable price in the nation's largest media market. One flaw that prevents the stadium from ranking any higher is the overall dark feel of the playing field and stands; some improved lighting would make a big difference. While I'll always prefer to go to Yankee Stadium to watch my favorite team play if given the choice, Citi Field undoubtedly offers a better stadium and a more family-friendly experience.

7. Target Field

An under-appreciated stadium that could benefit from playing host to a winning team. Falls just below the upper echelon of baseball stadiums in America.

6. Wrigley Field

Ahh, Wrigley Field. A beautiful, historic stadium, day or night, that now boasts a World Series champion. The recent renovations have made the place even better. Long live Wrigley.

5. Fenway Park+

Edges Wrigley Field due to its slightly older age, recent sellout streak, and the Green Monster > ivy. While I may hate the team that calls it home, there's no debating the beauty of Fenway Park. A must-see for every baseball fan. Here's to hoping the ballpark in Beantown is around for several more decades.

4. Oriole Park at Camden Yards*

The ballpark that changed everything. A fantastic place to catch a game, I can personally confirm. An exquisite downtown location and the uniqueness of the warehouse in right field and Eutaw Street contribute greatly to the wonder of this stadium.

3. Petco Park*

A personal favorite stadium of mine for years that finally had its chance to shine throughout the All-Star game festivities last season. Petco Park has one of the most beautiful locations in all of baseball in America's Finest City, offering picturesque views, great food selection, and the oddity of the Western Metal Supply Company Building that works so perfectly.

2. PNC Park

PNC Park is stunning. From its gorgeous backdrop to the tribute to Roberto Clemente in right field with a 21 foot wall, the Pirates' stadium is everything a fan should want in a ballpark. The two-deck build of PNC Park also gives the stadium an intimate feel that few other parks have, and the yellow bridges over the Allegheny River beyond the stadium should not be discounted in the amazing experience PNC Park provides.

1. AT&T Park+

The best stadium in baseball. From McCovey's Cove to the giant glove, and from splash hits to the outfield lacking any pattern in the grass, AT&T Park is another must-see for every baseball fan. The stadium perfectly suits the great city of San Francisco, and likely is not replicable anywhere, ever. Well done, Giants organization. You made a beauty.

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