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Year Opened 2002 Current Team Affiliate League Capacity My Grades Photos taken in 2002 |
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Aberdeen, Maryland |
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| Despite being host to a New York-Penn League team, Ripken Stadium feels more like an Atlantic League park - probably because that's what it was originally designed for. This means that the concourse overlooks the field with the luxury boxes stacked on top. Also typical of an AL park, there is the annoying and useless center concourse. Because of the center concourse splitting the seating into two levels, many of the seats have poor sightlines. This is especially true of the upper level seats which are not pitched enough causing heads in rows ahead of you to block the view of the field. The concourse is very spacious and contains plenty of concession stands. Concession variety was limited and prices expensive when I visited in the first year of the park. Also off the concourse behind home plate is a large gift store, stocked with plenty of Cal Ripken merchandise as well as Ironbirds apparel. Large picnic pavilions are located in both the left and right field corners. Ticket prices are high here, but the team makes up for it by providing free programs and not charging for parking. Typical of most new teams, they go through the motions of doing the same on field contests and dances (YMCA, Chicken Dance, etc.) Fortunately, sound effects were kept to a minimum and there was no mascot to be found. Ripken Stadium features two scoreboards - one providing the line score in left field and one with a video board in right field. An interesting feature is the lack of permanent ads on the outfield fence. There are just two large rotating ads. Ripken Stadium is certainly a nice enough new park, but doesn't break any new ground and offers little that is unique. Cal Ripken may call this the best minor league park, but I won't be. |
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