Baseball is a sport that should be viewed in person. Much of the appeal of America’s Pastime lies in the atmosphere, including the smells, tastes, sounds and sights that cannot be captured by a television camera. Louisville Slugger Field is the crown jewel of minor-league ballparks in Kentucky. The stadium is the perfect size to create an atmosphere that can be intimidating for visiting teams while retaining a sense of intimacy and old-fashioned comfort.
Classic Environment
Slugger Field is named after the legendary Louisville Slugger baseball bats manufactured in downtown Louisville, about ten blocks from the stadium. The ballpark retains the feel of a bygone era with tons of stylized advertisements, a children’s play area, and even a carousel. The nostalgia factor is balanced by the modern comforts the stadium provides.
Louisville Slugger Field’s website claims that the PepsiVision Video Board measures 21 feet high by 46 wide. From my experience from sitting in various different locations at the ballpark, I can say that the huge video screen is clearly visible from anywhere in the ballpark. The park features other modern amenities like the 32 luxury suites available for $30,000.00 per year as of 2010.
Food!
Tons of food opportunities abound, and all the concession stands allow customers unobstructed views of the game. On my last visit I spent five minutes buying popcorn and I did not miss any of the action, including a home run for the home team. Although the food vendors offer wonderful views, they do not offer great prices.
During my last visit, my family spent over $20.00 on a large cookie, refillable popcorn, an ice cream sundae and a large drink. The ballpark’s website claims that a family of four can order four hot dogs, nachos, peanuts, a bag of popcorn and a large pretzel for $14.25. I checked the menu on the website and calculated the prices. I arrived at a total of $22.25, and that assumed the hot dogs were kiddie dogs.
My Recent Visit
I try not to let the high food prices stop my family from enjoying games at Louisville Slugger Field. The atmosphere is wonderful, and people will strike up a conversation with total strangers. During my family’s last visit, the man in front of us caught a ball and gave it to my four-year-old daughter. It made her night! On our way out of the park, an older lady gave my daughter a stuffed baseball just because she thought my daughter was cute. I do not know if these types of things happen in larger cities, but they happen in Louisville, Kentucky.
General Information
For diehard baseball fans, I can provide the dimensions of the park. The distance to the left field wall is 325 feet. The distances for center and right are 405 feet and 340 feet, respectively. The ballpark’s website claims that the distance from home plate to the backstop is only 60 feet, the same distance as at Chicago’s legendary Wrigley Field. The park seats a little over 13,000 fans and even includes grassy areas for people who enjoy watching from the outfield.
Single-game ticket prices range from $11.00 to $7.00. Children two and under do not require a ticket. The park is located at the corner of Main Street and Preston Street in the eastern part of downtown Louisville. The phone number for the Louisville Bats is (502) 212-2287.
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Louisville Slugger Field
