Another season of Triple-A baseball has come and gone. This past season, 30 clubs in the International and Pacific Coast League took the field and played games from early April to late September, resulting in 12,492,947 fans walking through the gates.
The International League lured 8,345,881 patrons to its ballparks for an average of 5,620 per game. The Pacific Coast League attracted 4,147,066 fans on the season for an average of 5,551 per game.
We present our rankings of the overall experience. Factors we include in our ratings are food and beverage in the ballpark, overall atmosphere, the neighborhood, the fans, access (which includes parking, traffic, restrooms, and concourses), return on investment, and an “extras” category for any unique or bonus points.
We use our official ratings when determining the ranking with “crowd reviews” – those reviews from our members – as our primary tiebreaker. Without further ado, our 2024 Minor League Baseball Triple-A ballpark rankings.
(James Hilchen) - Another year at the number one spot. Moving to affiliated baseball in 2021 hasn’t changed what has always made CHS Field such a great place. From the employees to the food, to the entertainment, to the amazing museum, a day at the ballpark doesn't get much better than in St. Paul.
(James Hilchen) - Coming in at number two for a second year in a row, the Bulls have a long and storied history in North Carolina. As someone who has seen my share of minor league ballparks over the years, Durham Bulls Athletic Park just might be my favorite. Great scenery, food for every taste, and fun reminders of an iconic movie make this a ballpark that should be on every baseball fan’s bucket list.
(Steven Kee) - The Lehigh Valley IronPigs have a reputation across the nation, and attending a game will impress everyone from baseball purists to non-baseball fans. The wide concourses, open views of the field, and inventive promotions attract large crowds year after year. The Pigs offer creative merchandise, specialty nights, and social areas that are among the tops in minor-league baseball.
(Marc Viquez) - Victory Field has been a beacon of summertime fun for the Indianapolis area for over 25 years. Its look and amenities have changed slightly, but its open concourse and massive lawn seating have remained unchanged. Fans flock to games for enjoyment with friends and family, while others root for their club in the grandstand. It’s simple, it’s cozy, and it’s what fans expect in Indianapolis.
(Paul Baker) - One of the hippest spots to be in town is First Horizon Park. The ballpark is everything fans in the Music City could have ever dreamed of, and it offers fans a place to enjoy the games or socialize with friends. The heartbeat is The Band Box behind left field; it offers everything from homemade food, a putt-putt course, barbecue, lounge chairs, and outdoor games from shuffleboard to table tennis.
The ballpark with a view. The home of the Charlotte Knights is located downtown and offers stunning panoramas of the city’s massive skyline. With that kind of backdrop, it’s hard to imagine a better place to watch baseball; however, Knight’s Castle is ranked sixth on our list. The venue offers a massive team gift shop and $5 parking across the street in the garage.
The ballpark continues to be a great place for people to have a good night with family and friends while watching baseball. This ballpark is a hidden gem in a city that doesn’t get much love as a tourist spot, yet all the fans know that Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark and OKC should be on any ballpark chaser’s bucket list.
(Dave Cottenie) - The Rochester Red Wings are a cornerstone franchise in the International League. They have weathered the ups and downs of Minor League Baseball and come out the other end still strong. Fans looking for a solid baseball experience that will offer tremendous value should check out the Rochester Red Wings at Innovative Field.
(Paul Baker) - The AutoZone Park developers spared no expense when they built the park. It is money well spent, as it offers a facility that feels more like a major league stadium. The exterior of the stadium is brick with lots of ornamental iron. There is a fan plaza outside of the main gates that features several baseball statues and metal plates of art featuring a stylized stadium.
(Paul Baker) - Polar Park is wedged into a small footprint, making for some unique design choices, and space is at a premium. There is a small entry plaza leading to the front entrance that screams “warehouse” more than “ballpark.” This design choice makes the home of the WooSox stand out from the standard red brick and green seat ballparks. There is an incredible amount of attention and connection to the community at Polar Park.
(Dave Cottenie) - The downtown ballpark started a revolution in baseball design, even before Camden. It does look its age for the most part, but it is still a destination for any ballpark traveler. The concrete exterior is made with marble inlets to give it some style. Outside the third base side, there is a large square that is perfect for meeting others before the game.
Summerlin, Nevada, is about 25 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, and they’ve chosen to eschew the bright lights or neon that could have easily been the thematic center of the ballpark instead of sticking to the Aviators theme. The profile of the upper deck has the outline of an old-school airplane hangar, and the signage throughout the park is clear and large, like an airport, but without the clutter of a million gates.
The home of the I-Cubs is a bit older than some of the others in the circuit, but its location is ideal at the convergence of the Raccoon and Des Moines Rivers. Fans only need to walk a few blocks to various restaurants, bars, breweries, lodging, and the famous Des Moines Farmers Market.
Cheney Stadium was called the “100-Day Wonder,” as it was constructed in less than four months to be awarded a minor-league affiliation with the San Francisco Giants. Leading this effort was Tacoma businessman Ben Cheney, who was honored for this achievement by having his name placed on the stadium and is also acknowledged through a statue of his likeness being placed in the bleachers, where it still resides today.
Sutter Health Park has been a hit with the Sacramento community as well as the baseball community. It is among the favorites of minor league travelers and hometown fans who enjoy nights out at the spacious ballpark. Sightlines are great from any seat, and lawn seating allows for an inexpensive way to bring the whole family.
(Marc Viquez) - The ballpark on the Ohio River completed major renovations that opened up the outfield concourse and right field corner. The home of the Bats now incorporates grass terrace seating near the foul pole, along with social spaces and outdoor bars. The city’s skyline and interstate system drape the skies in the background and the smell of barbecue filters through the warehouse lobby from Against The Grain Brewery.
(Marc Viquez) - The home of the Clippers is nestled in The Arena District, which also houses a soccer stadium and hockey arena, but the ballpark is a star of its own. The outfield concourse is set up like a neighborhood park with trees, benches, and tables. On the open concourse, multiple images and team history are displayed on the walls, and fans can peek through the gates behind left field.
Isotopes Park is an amazing venue to take in a ballgame. The view is spectacular, the team that presents the game-day experience is the best around, and the prices are reasonable. It’s close to the airport, so if in the Southwest, make a special trip to Isotopes Park.
The Dell Diamond offers plenty of glitz and glamor that includes carefully detailed concession stands offering everything from Tex-Mex to barbecue, a two-story outfield seating area, and an outfield concourse that includes a full-service bar, a rock climbing wall, and VR batting cages. If you care for the more relaxed baseball atmosphere, there are plenty of seats behind the infield.
The ballpark began as a Double-A venue but was promoted to Triple-A status in 2021. Its design with lawn seating allows up to 11,000 guests and offers a few unique features that include an active church inside its walls, a Tiki-Terrace down the 3rd baseline, and a 9-foot high mound for seating called the “knuckle” in the left-field corner. A covered awning above the concourse also helps from the Florida rains.
(Marc Viquez) - The neighborhood surrounding the ballpark is known as Hensville, and it can become lively before games that include activities for kids, pre-game concerts, and local eateries full of guests. Once inside the ballpark, fans are treated to the usual characteristics of minor league games, from great food, on-field promotions, and one of the better team stores in the business. If you can, check out the view from “The Roost” above the right-field corner.
This stadium is aesthetically pleasing, makes good use of its downtown location, and has something for everyone. The major weakness here is the price, which is a bit high for minor league ball, though again, you can find ways around it. El Paso is quite off the beaten path for most sports travelers, but it is well worth a trip to see the Chihuahuas.
Smith’s Ballpark is a beautiful facility, with the main concourse looking like it has a modern industrial theme. The seats are comfortable, and fans can also wander the stadium at will, giving you the option to take in the game from either your seat or the outfield viewing mounds. The view in the outfield rivals the best in the majors, with beautiful mountains adorning the view for every fan at Smith’s Ballpark.
The Houston Astros top-farm club rebranded as the Space Cowboys this past season and ushered in areas of space-theme art, decoration, and signage throughout the ballpark. The colors of orange, light blue, and navy have added a nice touch of color to the Texas-shaped scoreboard, and so has the playing of the old-school hip-hop classic “Space Cowboy” at the end of home games.
The ballpark is several miles away from downtown Omaha, but Werner Park offers a distinction from other Triple-A ballparks. It has a layout that offers seating close to the field, a broken-up press and suite area, stone seating and floral arrangements, and carnival rides behind the outfield wall. The venue almost feels like its own little town.
Coolray Field moves up the list after finishing last place the past few seasons. It is a well-designed, attractive place to watch minor league baseball. Its difficulty in attracting fans to games is that it competes with the major league club’s fan base and the fact that Atlanta's Braves home, Truist Park, is only 35 miles down the road.
The ballpark is closing on 30 years of baseball and was once the pride of the International League. The times have changed, but there is a lot to enjoy from its downtown setting, the sounds of ships in the distance, and an enclosed restaurant with views of the field.
A game at Greater Nevada Field represents a solid all-around value. Minor quibbles with parking and concession lines are made up for with a high degree of interactive entertainment and a great selection of high-quality concessions.
Time will tell if the 2019 change of affiliation to the New York Mets will reverse the Syracuse baseball attendance fortunes, but the squad has nearly nowhere to go but up. The situation does look to be improving. Early on in the campaign, the Mets have crawled within striking distance of the middle of the league’s attendance pack.
The renovation PNC Field underwent in 2012 has done a lot of good. Architecturally, the stadium has seen massive improvements. That being said, the RailRiders seem to be leaning heavily on their affiliation with the Yankees rather than trying to attract fans by creating their own identity.
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