Looking for Insight from True Fans

by Ax on Feb 27, 2009 1:54 PM PST

My friends and I are on a baseball mission to see all 30 MLB stadiums. This year's tour takes us to:

Arizona (Friday September 11th)

San Diego (Saturday September 12th)

Anaheim (Sunday September 13th)

L.A. (Monday September 14th)

We're looking for recommendations in any/all of the following:

- Ballpark: (taigating traditions, signature foods, must sees, best place to sit, trademark brews, etc...)

- Bar Scene/Night Life: (around the stadium, city recommendations)

- Any other must see/must do things in the area...

- Any other insight that could be offered from true local die-hard fans

This FanPost was written by a member of the Gaslamp Ball community and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Gaslamp Ball managers or SB Nation.

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Try reading the comments here first and if you have specific questions, let us know.

by jbox on Feb 27, 2009 2:24 PM PST reply actions

Is "Ax" Axion's half-brother?

"We're not going to be as bad as you think."

by Drama on Feb 27, 2009 2:53 PM PST reply actions

He's two fifths

Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you? ◔ヮ◔
Uncommon Sportsman :: Absurdity in play

by Axion on Feb 27, 2009 3:05 PM PST up reply actions

Speaking of two fifths...

Ya think LaRussa has taken Khalil out drinkin’ yet?

"We're not going to be as bad as you think."

by Drama on Feb 27, 2009 3:53 PM PST up reply actions 6 recs

Also...

Make sure to look at this post on bringing food into the park.

by Dex on Feb 27, 2009 4:15 PM PST reply actions

Ya gotta go to PNC

and have yaself a Primanti Bros Samitch and pint of the Iron City Brew. Try to find a guy called John Wray who gave a tour of the old Forbes Field complete with impressions. Fanatic!

I went on a tour last year with jaybuckley – 10 parks and Coopers Town in 12 days. Awesome, a whirlwind but awesome. One of the fellas on the bus had a pretty comprehensive book with a lot of the information you are looking for; I’ll try and find out the name for you…

by ABY on Feb 28, 2009 10:01 AM PST reply actions

forgot...

pics

by ABY on Feb 28, 2009 10:41 AM PST up reply actions

Not much to speak to for LA tailgating/traditions

Since there’s no tailgating allowed, the food in the park is pretty awful, and the Stadium itself is pretty much nowhere near anything of note…except for two pretty cool places.

First, for food, there’s Phillipe’s for an amazing French Dip. It’s right across from Union Station.

Second, for pregame beers, there’s the Short Stop, one of the diviest bars I’ve ever been to. They have 2 dollar pints and the people who frequent it are actually pretty nice.

by matthewverygood on Feb 28, 2009 11:15 AM PST reply actions

unique features of Petco park to note

When I travel to stadiums I like to experience some of the things that make a stadium unique.

Petco doesn’t offer a lot of that. It is a nice stadium, but there is not a lot of truly special features as there are at other new parks.

I would suggest making your way up to the top of the Western Metal Supply building before the game. There is a bar with seating on the third deck where you can watch the game and have some food/drinks. Seating is limited so make sure you arrive early or are prepared to wait for someone to finish as they won’t even let you out there until someone else leaves.

As for seating, there are a couple unusual spots, both in CF. One is called the “Beachers” which sits behind the fence with sand (where kids can play). Also, there is the Park at the Park which offers cheap seats to sit on a grassy hill (just like a spring training game). Neither are the best places to view a game, but they are unique.

As for nightlife, just walk over to 5th street after the game (2-3 short blocks). There will be a bar there you like, as there is a wide variety.

by jjturf on Mar 2, 2009 12:39 PM PST reply actions

also a quirky

spot (sorry I misread the whole post), go inside the team store from inside the park and just keep walking straight to the back, you’ll end up in the kids section, follow the ramp down and around and it leads you to a little triangle area in left field. If there’s room you can watch the game there for a bit, it’s like being right on the field.

by ABY on Mar 3, 2009 5:11 AM PST up reply actions

Re: Petco not offering a lot of special features

I must respectfully disagree- Petco is one of the more unique parks that I’ve been to since doing my own park hopping travels, for pretty much the reasons you list as “few.” If you want vanilla, go to places like Seattle, Toronto or D.C., where both have sure, very nice parks, but little that actually have any interesting aspects to them. It’s not a real knock on them, because both are good looking facilities, but neither has anything really as unique and interesting as what Petco offers.

Petco has awesome architecture that is truly unique. It’s not all the same brick, mortar and concrete shells that almost every other park out there is, and it’s got more open air walkways than caves like Boston or LA. And the Western Metal Supply building is one thing I’ve always admired about Petco; I do artsy crap for a living, so aesthetics like the integration of the Western Metal Supply building into the ballpark, I respect as creative and tastefully done.

Also, Petco’s proximity to a safe-feeling mixing bowl of bars, restaurants and shops makes it super convenient. I’m just glad I hit San Diego on the tail end of my trip, because going from LA, Anaheim, to SD felt like I was escalating with each stop.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Mar 3, 2009 5:55 AM PST up reply actions 3 recs