Everyone loves to make lists of Top 10s. Long before David Letterman made it a national obsession, my friend Bill Cooke and I would frequently list our Top 10s from categories ranging from favorite restaurants to best science fiction films.
This time of year, though, the timely Top 10 is often about Major League Baseball parks. Every baseball connoisseur, it seems, has his/her own opinion as to which baseball parks are the best.
My friend from Cincy would list Great American Ballpark near the top of the list. My pal from Texas cites the Ballpark at Arlington (or whatever it is now called) in his Top 10.
This week, the travel website TripAdvisor has unveiled its entry into the annual conversation. Using many different factors, the site lists its Top 10.
TripAdvisor, as you may know, bills itself as the world’s largest travel site. On the TripAdvisor site, you can browse more than 150 million reviews, opinions, and photos of hotels, restaurants and attractions. The site also offers certain discount deals.
So, considering most of us don’t live near all 30 ballparks, it seems reasonable that we would have to travel to see many of these parks. And, since making a trip is a key component of travel, TripAdvisor would seem well-positioned to offer an opinion about the Top 10 Ballparks.
Since it seems repetitive, I won’t list the entire Top 10 here (you can click the link to visit the article if you wish). But, since I have been to seven of the 10 parks on the list, I definitely feel comfortable making a few comments.
First, the two historical parks in the survey – Wrigley and Fenway – are no-brainers. They should be in every Top 10. My only surprise is that Dodger Stadium, the third oldest MLB park, is not listed.
Secondly, every baseball aficionado, it seems, lists PNC Park in Pittsburgh and AT&T Park in San Fran as two of the greats. I’ve never been to PNC – I fully intend to do so sooner rather than later – but I have been to AT&T. And even though it was on the chilly side the night we visited in 2012, the visit to the Giants’ stadium left us all with a very warm feeling.
In terms of the TripAdvisor list, I don’t have too much heartburn over any of the selections. I am a bit surprised that Petco Park in San Diego isn’t on the list. I’ve always heard it is wonderful. I was pleased to see Kauffman Stadium in K.C. When we went there in ’09, the four of us thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It had the feeling of being in a homey, comfortable neighborhood park and the K.C. fans were the best. Camden Yards in Baltimore is another great one and I’m glad to see it make the list.
Not to be a Detroit-basher, but the only member of the TripAdvisor 10 that I would quibble with is Comerica. We were there – on July 4th no less – and there wasn’t anything that felt special about the experience. Nothing bad; just nothing memorable.
Perhaps if we had been there on a crisp autumn night in October rather than a sultry summer afternoon, the feeling would have been different.
JG
Originally posted 4/2/2014
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