Ballparks

CAMDEN YARDS

• Pat's Thoughts:
• Best Pre-Game Bar: Pickles. Cheap Natty Boh.
• Best Post Game/Rain Delay Bar: Max's. I like the bank of tv's they have to follow multiple games. If you go to the DSX a block or two over, there is not much seating and the tv's are small and cramped by the bar. Not a good place to watch the Cubs blow their chances at a wild card.
• Parking: I prefer the Eutaw St garage for $10. It isn't really a problem in Baltimore
• Seats: $5 student seats aren't bad. There really isn't a bad seat anywhere really.
• Atmosphere: Fans kind of know what is going on. If you sit in the $5 student section on Friday's, lots of drunken idiocy. Not that I have a problem with it, but if you are looking to really follow a game - buy up to somewhere tamer. The club level section is nice, but man are those people a bore.
• Ballpark Beer: Standard beers (Bud Light, Bud, Coors Light) - $6.50 a piece I think. Average really.4 per person, so you can load up.

WRIGLEY FIELD

• Pat's Thoughts:
• Best Pre-Game Bar: Murphy's. Behind the right field bleachers, beer on tap, good for people watching, outdoor seating, tremendous atmosphere.
• Best Post Game/Rain Delay Bar: (1) Cubby Bear. I have only been here while intoxicated, but it was alot of fun. More of a clubby type of place, with load music, hot women and Rick and I acting like jackasses. Who wouldn't like that? (2) Piano Man. Off of Addison I believe, a little walk away from Wrigley. Laid back, outdoor patio seating with easily accessible bar. Giddy-up.
• Parking: Take the train. I don't even know where you can even park.
• Seats: Spring for bleachers if you can get them - anyone who sits in them will agree. If you can't get them, the upper deck is fine. There is no jumbotron thing, but there are some obstructed view seats.
• Atmosphere: The best I have been around thusfar. Granted, when you are a winning team, everything is better. Pick up a copy of The Heckler if you can (satirical newspaper). People chant everything under the sun to the outfielders when in the bleachers. Don't be easily offended or afraid of beer getting spilled on you either, cause it will happen. If you are in the rest of the stadium, try playing drinking/betting games. You are very close to the field, and to each other, so make friends with the people around you.
• Ballpark Beer: Two beers - Bud Light and Old Style. Old Style is a decent beer, around Natty Light territory, but you should have one. They are $6 I think for the big ones. Tip: If you sit in the upper deck on Friday afternoon, come back Sunday night, and the guy selling the beer remembers you - you have a drinking problem.
• Lodging: Chad and I will attest to two different thoughts on this. 1) Pay alot of money and stay near Wrigley. This is ok, but it really is expensive. (2) Stay at the Super 8 on N. Sheridan out by Loyola College. First, the people there are tremendous. But it is right by a train stop. Hop on the train for $1.50 or whatever it is, and get dropped off right by the stadium. $3.00/day to get to Wrigleyville is worth $100's to stay down there. Just a suggestion.

CITIZENS BANK

• Pat's Thoughts:
• Best Pre-Game Bar: The Parking Lot. They have tailgating, a great idea.
• Best Post Game/Rain Delay Bar: Burkes Inn - Havertown. I don't know any Philly bars.
• Parking: $10 to park between Citizens Bank & Lincoln Financial Field. Bathrooms are far away, but you can tailgate for hours.
• Seats: Caution: Don't buy seats in the upper decks of right field. You can't see shit. You can't see the right fielder, sometimes you miss the center fielder. And getting up to get a beer could be taking your life into your own hands with that incline. If you don't care too much about where you sit, get a $12 standing room only ticket. The concourses are large, and you can stand behind the really nice seating sections.
• Atmosphere: Not bad. Relatively knowledgeable fans. But they have Broadcast Dream where you can do play-by-play of a half inning, braodcast out onto the concourse. Feel free to try out some celebrity impersonations.
• Ballpark Beer: Standard beers (Bud Light, Bud, Coors Light, Rolling Rock) - $6.50 a piece I think. They take credit cards.

MCI CENTER

• Pat's Thoughts:
• Best Pre-Game Bar: RFD. A bazillion beers, although usually crowded.
• Best Post Game: Fado. Irish bars are fun after you have had a few.
• Parking: Take the Metro - get off at Metro Center, puts you right there. Honestly, I don't know anyone who has driven to MCI, except John. And he sniffs out parking spots.
• Seats: The cheap(er) seats are up top. Kind of far away, but cheaper. If you want lowers, look to the corners. Priced relatively well and for basketball, it is still a good seat. If you get a chance to go to one of the skyboxes, take it. Good food and booze, and the views are pretty nice. But nobody turns down skybox seats anyway, I am not sure you needed any encouragement on that front.
• Atmosphere: Very corporate for Wizards games. Probably because they stink. Lots of room to spreadout though. Lots of bathrooms, an overall very nice arena. Sad when the number of bathrooms is a selling point - means the team stinks.
• Stadium Beer: Standard beers (Miller Lite, Bud, Coors Light) - $6.25 a piece or so. 2 per person, so you can't load up.

• PAC BELL/SBC PARK
• PNC PARK
• LANE STADIUM
• OHIO STADIUM