Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29
San Manuel Stadium
280 South E St
San Bernardino, CA 92410
Year Opened: 1966 Capacity: 5,000
Inland Empire on Route 66
The Inland Empire 66ers, named after historic Route 66, are the single-A baseball team (California League) of the nearby Anaheim Angels. The Inland Empire is a region in Southern California and includes cities like San Bernardino, Ontario, Riverside, and Rancho Cucamonga.
Baseball has been played in San Bernardino as far back as 1899. San Manuel Stadium, home of the 66ers, opened in 1996 and is an enjoyable venue in which to watch minor league baseball.
The current team began as the Spirit playing in Fiscalini Field. When San Manuel Stadium opened in 1996, the
team’s name switched to the Stampede. In 2003, a rebranding competition resulted in the name changing to the Inland Empire 66ers. The team has also been an affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Seattle Mariners.
The stadium is named after San Manuel, a successful casino in nearby Highlands, CA, operated by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. It provides a typical minor league baseball game day event. The staff is incredibly friendly and welcoming.
Food & Beverage 4
The stadium has several concession stands (though not all may be open based on game day attendance), providing a variety of nourishment choices.
Delicious looking classic and BBQ Smash burgers, spicy chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, and footlong hot dogs run $12 - $17. A third-base concession stand sells BBQ brisket nachos, brisket sandwiches, footlong dogs, and bacon-wrapped street dogs for $13 - $18. A stand selling just wings offers 6 and 10-piece baskets (traditional or boneless) with fries for $14.50 - $21.
The concession stands also offer traditional snacks like popcorn, pretzels, seeds, peanuts, nachos, chips, Cracker Jack, candy, etc. Pepsi products are served ($6.25 - $8). Premium and domestic beers are $8.50 - $15, depending on size and brand. A separate beer kiosk sells four beers on tap or in cans for a dollar or two less than the concession stands.
The Deville Beverage Co, located down the third base side of the concourse, sells tap beers, canned cocktails, and slushies from $5 - $14. This area has a few tables and chairs to eat and drink, but the music is too loud (at least pre-game) to have a conversation.
Tents offer kettle corn, funnel cake, cotton candy, lemonade, and shaved ice. Outside food or beverages are not allowed in the stadium.
Deville Beverage Co at San Manuel Stadium, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey
Atmosphere 3
San Manuel Stadium is a typical minor league baseball venue and provides a decent game day experience.
Seats are standard green fold-down stadium seats with cupholders, and provide average width and decent legroom. The stadium has two levels of seating separated by a small walkway. The upper level and third base side get shade first. Some suites are adjacent to the press box above the upper level. Handicapped seating and wheelchair spaces are available at the top of the first level on the walkway.
Party tents are down on both the third and first baseline concourses. A net goes all the way down the lines, so watching the game net-free is not an option at this stadium (except maybe from the party tents). The seats behind the visitor’s dugout (first base side) contain the ‘Toyota Redlands Garage Suite.’ Fans can rent this suite area for $32 a person, which includes free beer, food packages, comfortable, cushioned seats, up-close action of the game, and more.
San Manuel Stadium Toyota Redlands Garage Suite, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey
On clear days, parts of the San Bernardino Mountains, like Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead, can be seen in the distance. It makes for an attractive background. A tall building beyond left field ruins some of the views of the mountain range.
The video scoreboard displays players’ photos and stats, the line score, the lineup, and some advertisements. It can be a tad difficult to read during a late afternoon/early evening game because of the setting sun glare. Except for the line score, no closed captioning is offered (common for minor-league baseball). Starting lineups are also provided on a whiteboard down the third base concourse area if a fan wants to prerecord their scorecard.
Lights flash and a horn blows when the 66ers get a home run. The music person plays ‘noise’ between almost every pitch, and, unfortunately, it’s the same four or five snippets. This could be annoying to some baseball fans in attendance. The venue provides misters for the home dugout, but not for the visiting team’s dugout.
Between-inning contests include things like trivia questions, racing with the mascot contests (where the contestant always wins), a dance team, etc. Kids run across the outfield at the beginning of the 7th inning. That’s quite adorable.
Neighborhood 2
Safety doesn’t appear to be an issue, but there’s not much within walking distance of the stadium. A nearby place to hang out pre or post-game is just not convenient.
The neighborhood does have a few American and Mexican fast food places within a half mile.
Several breweries are within five or so miles: Ritual Brewing, Escape Craft Brewery, and 3 Iron Brewing.
Consider Rose Apple Thai for local, delicious Thai cuisine (about four miles from the stadium).
Side Note: The concessions at San Manuel Stadium likely offer better options on cuisine than anywhere else in the immediate area, so this is one of the few stadiums where it is a better choice to eat at the game rather than in the local neighborhood.
A few economy hotels (Econo Lodge, Motel 6, etc.) are about a mile north of the stadium. Many more well-known chain hotels are 3 – 5 miles from the stadium.
If vacationing in San Bernardino, check out Silverwood Lake or Big Bear Lake for outdoor activity. San Bernardino is also known for having the first McDonald’s hamburger joint. One may also want to check out the National Orange Show Event Center to see what events are taking place during your visit to San Bernardino.
Another sports team nearby during baseball season is the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (MiLB). The 66ers parent team, the Los Angeles Angels, is about an hour’s drive away.
Fans 3
Attendance records put the Inland Empire 66ers as either the first or second-highest average attendance in the California League for the last few seasons, currently at around 2,100+ fans per game. The average number is about 600 or so lower than attendance pre-COVID. Fans that attend applaud at good plays and appreciate good defensive performances by either team.
Access 3
San Manuel Stadium is not far off I-10. San Bernardino – Downtown Metrolink Station is within walking distance of the stadium. Ontario International Airport is the closest commercial airport to the venue (a little over 20 miles).
The venue charges $10 to park at the stadium, which seems high for a single-A venue. Security performs a bag check when entering the stadium; non-clear bags are allowed.
When entering the stadium, the concourse is behind the seating structure, and the playing field is not visible. Fans walk through a short underpass to get to the seating area.
Plenty of nearby handicapped spaces are in the parking lot. Bathrooms are sufficient for the crowds and serve their purpose.
Return on Investment 3
Tickets range from $12 to $22. Our recommendation: Get the general admission ticket ($12) and sit where you want after the game starts.
The team offers daily deals to help reduce the cost of attending a game, so keep these in mind.
Tuesday - $2 parking, tickets, hot dogs, and tacos
Wednesday - Bring your canine friend and sit in the lawn section
Thursday - $2 Coors Light
Friday - $1 hot dogs and $5 lawn seats
Saturday – A giveaway day
Sunday – Family Sundays. Check their website for events.
The parking price ($10) seems high to me for a single-A game. Concession and drink prices are the expected stadium prices. I recommend going on a Tuesday for the most affordable day.
Extras 5
An MIA/POW seat is placed on the concourse to honor men and women who left to fight for our country but never returned.
Be sure to pick up a descriptive game notes packet at the customer service desk. It even has a scoresheet pre-typed with the starting lineup and some stats.
Below the press box, four retired numbers are displayed: 43 - Chen, 42 – Robinson. 24 – Griffey Jr., 25 – Dauher
An excellent merchandise shop is available, though it does not sell hat pins.
The 66ers rebrand as the San Bernardino Cucuys (bogeyman) and the Redland Pickers several times a season. The team wears special-branded uniforms, the merchandise store sells shirts and jerseys, and the video board brands the special-branded team name.
Final Thoughts
The Inland Empire 66ers provide fabulous customer service and a decent game-day experience. Go with family and friends on a Tuesday and get an inexpensive, enjoyable evening out.
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