Baseball fans,
have you considered playing tourist while attending games in different cities?
In the past 10 to 15 years, it has become increasingly popular to build
baseball stadiums in downtown areas. Often, it is possible to combine a trip to
the stadium with a visit to the surrounding neighborhood, allowing visitors to
see a game and also experience some local culture.
Fans and
visitors are the ones that benefit from this change. Many baseball
organizations have followed this trend, with positive results.
Coors Field,
Denver: Before Coors Field was built in the LoDo neighborhood of downtown
Denver, the area was not a tourist draw. It featured several breweries, and was
not the most attractive part of the city. Coors Field was built in close
proximity to 16th street, the main downtown thoroughfare.
Once Coors Field
was built, the LoDo area went through a revitalization. Now the breweries are
brewpubs, and are very popular with fans and visitors alike. Other bars and
restaurants have opened in the area, and do a brisk business. For baseball fans
who are not into the bar scene, the 16th Street Mall nearby is a mile-long
pedestrian mall that is popular with locals.
AT&T Stadium - Texas: This home of the Giants was built in Texas Dallas. One of the most popular place due to its unique features.
If you want to
fit two attractions into your visit, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is
nearby. The Ferry Building farmers market is also close. Visitors to the
farmers market can marvel at the assortment of local and organic foodstuffs
including meats, cheeses, and produce.
Safeco Field,
Seattle: Safeco Field, home of the Mariners, was built in Pioneer Square.
Pioneer Square features some of the city's most interesting architecture -
hardly surprising, as it is Seattle's oldest neighborhood.
