This past weekend I took my daughter to Marlins Park. It was my first full 9 inning game at the new park (I had taken in a few innings on a lunch break earlier, and I had taken a tour of the place during an off day). We had a blast, and the place still lives up to its positive reviews. (Again, traffic and parking were not too bad, all things considered).
But as the first major league park that I've visited to have featured open concourses, I have to say I'm a bit underwhelmed. Yes, you can see a sliver of the ballpark from the concession stands. And you can hear the crowd reaction a lot better in stereo sound. But it's not like you can actually see the action on the field from the concession stands. So I can't say that I'm all that impressed by that type of layout. Plus part of me likes the notion of closed concourses, where you walk through a tunnel just to be amazed by the ballpark suddenly appearing at the other end. (Call it the "Grand Canyon effect")
But as the first major league park that I've visited to have featured open concourses, I have to say I'm a bit underwhelmed. Yes, you can see a sliver of the ballpark from the concession stands. And you can hear the crowd reaction a lot better in stereo sound. But it's not like you can actually see the action on the field from the concession stands. So I can't say that I'm all that impressed by that type of layout. Plus part of me likes the notion of closed concourses, where you walk through a tunnel just to be amazed by the ballpark suddenly appearing at the other end. (Call it the "Grand Canyon effect")
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