Toyota Field - Rocket City Trash Pandas
- Gregory Koch
- 8 hours ago
- 6 min read
Updated: 21 hours ago
Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29
Toyota Field 500 Trash Panda Way Madison, AL 35758
Year Opened: 2020
Capacity: 7,500
Rocket to the Ballgame
Baseball has been played on-and-off in Huntsville, Alabama for many years, but it was not until 1985 that it found a long-term home in the city. That year, the Huntsville Stars moved into Joe W. Davis Stadium, a field they would call home until 2014, when they relocated to Mississippi to become the Biloxi Shuckers.
In 2020, baseball was set to return to the Huntsville area in the form of the Rocket City Trash Pandas, playing at Toyota Field in nearby Madison, but that entire season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Trash Pandas finally took to the field in 2021 at their brand new stadium and have been attracting large crowds ever since.
The "Rocket City" part of the team name alludes to Huntsville's long and storied history in manufacturing rockets and its role in the space industry. The "Trash Pandas" portion is a nickname for a raccoon, alluding to their black and white color scheme and their tendency to steal from trash cans.
Food & Beverage 5
Toyota Field has a wide range of concessions that are sure to satisfy virtually every fan. Main concession stands have names like Gravity Grille and Dumpster Dive, alluding to the team's nickname, and you can find all the classic options such as burgers, hot dogs, pizza, chicken tenders. and more. Wings are available in a variety of flavors at the Bandits stand. Other options include chili dogs, smashburgers, cheesesteak fries, and a fried chicken sandwich topped with pimento cheese. Peanuts, both traditional and Cajun varieties, are available for sale as well. There will often be a specialty item or two for each game which varies depending on when you visit.
For those with a sweet tooth, another stand sells Blue Bell ice cream and sundaes, with soft serve ice cream also available.
Alcohol is available to drink for those fans of age, and Pepsi products are available as well.
Atmosphere 5
Toyota Field has a 360 degree concourse, although the portion in the outfield is one level down from the remainder of the stadium, forcing fans to take stairs or an elevator to access it. The outfield portion contains a large kids' play area, while the remainder of the concourse provides access to the seating bowl and contains the concession stands, team store, murals, and other areas. The field is visible from the entire concourse, although you may have trouble seeing over some suites from part of it. Every seat in the stadium offers a great view of the action, with a large scoreboard in the outfield keeping fans informed on what is going on.
The fun at a Trash Pandas game begins before the game even starts, when team mascot Sprocket the raccoon comes on the field in his custom-made car, waving to the fans before getting out to hype them up even more. There are several other costumed characters as well including a man dressed as a hot dog and a giant chicken who goes up on the roof of the Trash Pandas dugout to encourage the crowd to cheer.
There are lots of mid-inning merchandise tosses involving everything from t-shirts to sunglasses as well as wacky on-the-field contests such as kids having to spin around and then stomp on a line of balloons while blindfolded. During the middle of the fifth inning, the astronaut race takes place on the field between Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, Sally Ride, and Mae Jemison. The astronauts also can be seen roaming the concourse during the game, interacting with fans and posing for photos.
Neighborhood 3
Toyota Field is located in the Town of Madison just outside of Huntsville. The area around the ballpark is still being built up, with some restaurants located along Town Madison Boulevard just beyond the outfield fence. Most of them are chain places, but there are a few local options there. You can also head to Huntsville Decatur Highway on the other side of I-565, which also has many local options, but again, most of them are large chains.
If you head into Huntsville itself, about a 15 minute drive away, Back Forty Brewing Company is a great place to get a beer or a bite to eat while hanging out with friends or watching live sports on the many TVs. You can also tour the U.S. Space & Rocket Center to see real rockets and space artifacts and maybe even ride in a space simulator.
Fans 4
Like anywhere else, the crowds at a Trash Pandas game will depend on where you go. For a typical weeknight game, there will be about 3,000 fans in attendance, while Saturday night games can draw near capacity crowds around 7,000. The fans are some of the most knowledgeable of any in the minors, which is perhaps unsurprising given Huntsville is one of the most intelligent cities in America, full of literal rocket scientists. You will spot many folks keeping score or having intelligent conversations about what is going on in the game. Still, they are here to have fun as well and they will enthusiastically participate as items are tossed in the stands between innings.
Access 4
Toyota Field is located right off I-565, about 12 minutes from Interstate 65, a major north-south highway through the region. Parking is available in a large, spacious lot and will cost $6.75 if purchased in advance through the Clutch app or $10 if you buy on site when you arrive. There is plenty of room in the concourse for fans to move around and the restrooms are more than sufficient for the crowds. When re-entering your section, ushers will hold you at the top until there is a break in the action so you do not block other fans' views.
Getting out after the game is easy enough, as barriers separate traffic leaving the stadium from through traffic on Town Madison Boulevard to ensure everything can flow continuously. If getting back on I-565 after the game, the highway is right there and it will be a breeze to get on.
Return on Investment 5
Berm seats at Toyota Field for the grassy hill down the right field line are just $10, with fans able to bring their own blanket or sit on the grass. Due to the slope of the hill, they are unable to bring lawn chairs and will need to sit on the ground. Every actual seat, from those right behind home plate to those way up the lines, is about $20 with fees, providing an excellent value to fans. Since it's not going to cost you any extra for better seats, you might as well get good ones near home plate or behind your favorite team's dugout. Concession prices are about what you'd expect for minor league baseball. The $6.75 for parking (if you buy in advance) is typical for minor league baseball in this part of the country. Charging over $3 more for buying the day of is unusual, but easily avoidable if you don't want to pay that much.
Extras 4
There is a large team store down the right field line near where you come in selling a wide variety of Trash Pandas merchandise. You can also find some Huntsville Stars gear here in honor of the previous team to call this city home.
The large kids play area in the outfield is worth an extra star here.
The astronauts race in the middle of the fifth inning is a fun tradition that combines the racing mascots you see in many places with the space industry that has made Huntsville the city it is today.
Look for the Launched to the League display on the concourse honoring former Trash Pandas who have made it to the big leagues, mostly for the Trash Pandas' parent club, the Los Angeles Angels. For an added bonus, the "A" in "Launched" is actually a rocket, giving the word a double meaning.
Final Thoughts
A Rocket City Trash Pandas game is a fun experience from start to finish. Not only do you get to see a professional baseball game at a great price, but the fun that happens between innings will keep the whole family entertained, even fans who don't care about baseball. One of many zany team nicknames that joined the minors around that time, the Trash Pandas are living up to the hype that built up when they moved to Madison. If you are in the Huntsville area, be sure to make the trip to Toyota Field to see a Trash Pandas game. It is one of the top stadiums in minor league baseball.
