People have different interests. One of the silent ones is to see a baseball game in every major league park. Tinking that through over the years, it always seemed like it would be simple enough to hop onto a plane to Atlanta and catch a Braves game. Yet, I never did it. Until today.
One of the motivators to make this trip happen is that the Braves had a home game tonight. Had they not, I probably would not have done this.
Wanting to complete the Jasmer Challenge before work started back up since my trip to Kansas City wasn’t going to work out the way I had wanted, I flew down this morning, rented a car, and went out and found Beaver Cache. I had time before the game, so I drove two hours out to South Carolina to find Modoc Stash. Then I drove the two hours back to the ballgame. Timing was absolutely perfet for this run.
As I drove to Tuist Park parking looked like it would be an issue. $50! No! No! No!
These in the city parks can really struggle with parking. Lots of private/permitted lots. Not a whole lot of public parking. I turned and drove down another road. I saw a guy selling spots at a KFC. I couldn’t get his attention. 🙁 I turned the corner. I think it was a Red Lobster next door to the KFC. I pulled in there. Yup, these places make far more off of Braves parking than they do off the food from diners. Squeezed in by the dumpster and I was off.
I knew the game was pretty well sold. The Giants are a first place team and the Braves are doing well. Even so, there were tickets available. I even got an aisle.
The outside of the park was one big party a la Cincinnati. I entered the park in the right field corner. This probably isn’t where I should have given I sat on the third base line down the left field line. We were all funneled to an escalator. It was definitely cow herding.
I sat on the terrace level (second level). I took the narrow concourse around . . . until I could not any longer. It didn’t go through. Well, it did, but one had to go through the private box area. The first guy told me I couldn’t, which was fine. I asked how to get around He pointed me to the elevator right inside. As I approached the elevator, some lady said I couldn’t take it but that I could walk through. Okay. I suspect I could have drank at the bourbon bar at that point, but I really just wanted to get to my seat.
As I got close, I decided to get food prior to the game. I stood in line and purchased two hot dogs and a Coke. The hot dogs were probably the worst I have ever eaten. The rolls were hard and yucky. One of the dogs was very overcooked. A total waste.
Soon enough the game began. The Giants scored early. They played like champions do as they added on throughout the game. The Braves never produced a run. Disappointing for the home team.
Truist Park is beautiful from the seats. There is different seating throughout. It is quite attractive. My seat had a good view of the field. The next section over had its seats even more turned toward the action. Just a good looking building.
But the vibe in the park felt off. Perhaps it’s because the Braves were doing nothing, but there was absolutely no energy. Oh, they did everythign other parks do: fans introducing the line-ups, fun scoreboard graphics, the outfield race, etc. All good stuff, but the energy seemed really off.
I also did not like how the pitch count was displayed. Admittedly, it was prominent on the outfield board. But when one scores a game, he is facing the action: pitcher to catcher. Most parks display the pictch count on the facade of the second level. What the Braves do is have the runnng pitch count. Well, it is not always evident if the home plate umpire called the pitch a strike or a ball when you aren’t close. The current count is needed for one to keep track. Following on Gameday is useless as they are at least two pitches behind. That meant I had to turn 90° to see when I needed to. If I had sat behind the Braves dugout, this would not have been a problem. 🙂
Game came in just under three hours. Frankly, it was a rather boring game. Not a pitchers duel, but not a whole lot of action either.
Anyhow, I am happy I went. Beautiful park.