Scrapbooking: Keeping Your Ticket Stubs

Ever since I was a young kid, I have always been a fan of collecting interesting and unique items from trips that I go on. It can range from a shot glass from each state or country that I visit, newspaper headlines or ticket stubs/items from each professional sports venue that I have visited. While unfortunately, there are some items that I probably will never sadly find from trips when I saw the famed Oakland A's Bash Brothers (Mark McGwire / Jose Canseco) take on Cal Ripken Jr.'s Baltimore Orioles or the World Cup 1994 match between the United States and Columbia at the Rose Bowl. Yes, that infamous game that many still remember 20 years later for the magnitude that it had.

The other day, I was going through all of my ticket stubs and found quite the collection that I have accumulated over the years from sports, concerts, movies and trips. I snapped a quick photo of a few with my camera that are shown below.

In that photo are tickets from the following few:

Yankee Stadium on my 30th Birthday - Derek Jeter became 10th all time on the MLB Hits List that night

Fenway Park Tour during the 100 Years Celebration

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Miami Heat when Kobe and Shaq were still team mates

NY Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles last year - Will be the last time I ever see Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter on the diamond

Houston Astros vs. Florida Marlins - 2005 game in Houston that showcased a very young Miguel Cabrera while still a Marlin

NY Mets stub from the game they played against the Washington Nationals in NYC on the 12th anniversary of 9/11.

What I've Visited (So Far)

It has been a very quiet year for visiting new stadiums, ballparks and arenas in 2014. After a busy 2013 that took me to Detroit, Toronto, Baltimore, Seattle, Washington DC and a brief few hours in NYC, this year has been an off year. Fortunately, later this year I will be crossing off two more MLB ballparks.

With that, I took a look back at what I have visited, so far.

MLB BALLPARKS


Arizona Diamondbacks - Chase Field - Visited 2012
Baltimore Orioles - Oriole Park at Camden Yards - Visited 2013
Boston Red Sox - Fenway Park - Visited 2011 and 2012
Brooklyn Dodgers - Ebbets Field Location - Visited 2011
Chicago White Sox - Comiskey Park - Saw by air 2003, have yet to visit in person
Chicago White Sox - Spring Training Facility - Visited 2012
Detroit Tigers - Comerica Park - Visited 2010, 2013
Detroit Tigers - Tigers Stadium - Visited 2013
Houston Astros - Astrodome - Visited 2005
Houston Astros - Minute Maid Park - Visited 2005
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - Angels Stadium - Home Ballpark
Los Angeles Dodgers - Dodgers Stadium
New York Mets - Citi Field - Visited 2012
New York Yankees - New Yankees Stadium - Visited 2011, 2012
New York Yankees - Old Yankee Stadium Grounds - Visited 2011, 2012
Oakland A's - O'Co Coliseum - Visited 1991
Philadelphia Phillies - Veterans Stadium - Visited 1996
San Diego Padres - Jack Murphy Stadium/Qualcomm Stadium - Visited 1996
San Diego Padres - Petco Park - Visited 2012, 2014
San Francisco Giants - Candlestick Park - Visited 1991
Seattle Mariners - Safeco Field - Visited 2002, 2013
Toronto Blue Jays - Rogers Centre - Visited 2013
Washington Nationals - Nationals Park - Visited 2013

NFL / NCAA STADIUMS



Arizona Cardinals - University of Phoenix Stadium - Visited 2008, 2012
Baltimore Ravens - M&T Bank Stadium - Visited 2013
Buffalo Bills - Rogers Centre - Visited 2013
Chicago Bears - Solider Field - Saw by air 2003
Detroit Lions - Ford Field - Visited 2010, 2013
Houston Texans - NRG Stadium - Visited 2005
Indianapolis Colts - Lucas Oil Field - Visited 2010
Michigan Wolverines - Michigan "The Big House" Stadium - Visited 2013
New Orleans Saints - Superdome - Visited 2006
New York Giants/Jets - MetLife Stadium - Saw in 2013
Oakland Raiders - O'Co Coliseum - Visited 991
Philadelphia Eagles - Veterans Stadium - Visited 1996
San Diego Chargers - Qualcomm Stadium - Visited 2007
San Francisco 49ers - Candlestick - Visited 1991
Seattle Seahawks - Century Link Field - Visited 2013
UCLA Bruins - Rose Bowl - Home Field
USC Trojans/Los Angeles Rams - The Coliseum
Utah Utes - Rice-Eccles Stadium - Visited 2006
NFL Pro Bowl - Aloha Stadium - Visited 2001
NCAA Fiesta Bowl - University of Phoenix Stadium - Visited 2008, 2012

NHL / NBA / NCAA ARENAS



Anaheim Ducks - Honda Center
Boston Bruins - TD Garden - Visited 2012
Chicago Blackhawks - United Center - Saw in 2003
Detroit Red Wings - Joe Louis Arena - Visited 2010, 2013
Houston Rockets - Toyota Center - 2005
Los Angeles Clippers - LA Sports Arena
Los Angeles Kings - Staples Center
Los Angeles Kings - The Forum
Michigan Wolverines - Crisler Arena - Visited 2013
New York Rangers - Madison Square Garden - Visited 2011, 2012
Philadelphia Flyers - The Spectrum - Saw in 1996
Phoenix Coyotes - Jobing.com Arena - Visited 2012
Seattle Supersonics - Key Arena - 2002
Toronto Maple Leafs - Air Canada Centre - Visited 2013
Toronto Maple Leafs - Maple Leafs Garden
Utah Jazz - EnergySolutions Arena
Washington Capitals - Verizon Center
NHL Hockey Hall of Fame - Visited 2013

Food For Thought: A Look at MLB Stadium Food

In my last entry, I spoke about the benefits of touring MLB ballparks across the country and in neighboring Canada. Taking these tours will leave even the simplest fan of baseball satisfied with the hope of a return to the ballpark. If you missed the entry, you can read it here.

A trip to the ballpark can never be complete without taking in all of its senses. From the fresh cut outfield grass to the newly delivered store merchandise and last but more importantly, its variety of food offerings. To the average fan of the game who attends one or two games a year it's simple, hot dogs, peanuts, nachos and beer. These very same items can be found at dozens of stands and hawkers through-out the ballpark which is what separates them from it's truly unique items. Moving away from tradition and into the future, ballparks around the league are cooking up fresh and innovative grub that will be sure to catch anyone's eye.

Hot Dogs and Burgers



The most common food item consumed on a nightly basis is the ballpark classic, the hot dog. It's a cheap, inexpensive item that has become legendary in the game of baseball, most notably by the classic Dodger Dog for those who prefer to stick with tradition rather than what's new. Combining tradition and innovation, the future looks promising as teams are capitalizing on the changing tastes of their fans by creating new items that is sure to cater to ones appetite.

Prior to the start of the 2014 season, the Arizona Diamondbacks unveiled their D-Bat Dog, an 18-inch corn dog stuffed with cheddar cheese, jalapenos and bacon, served with a side of fries for a price of $25.00

"This is really about providing our fans with new options each year, and in the case of some of our larger items, it's really about sharing with the family," said D'Backs team president and CEO Derrick Hall regarding the D-Bat Dog.

The Texas Rangers hold the distinction of creating the $25.00 hot dog when they created "The Broomstick", a 2-foot hot dog smothered in chili, nacho cheese, jalapenos and onions in 2012.

If it's a burger that you are after, be prepared for the unexpected! While many ballparks are going the conservative route by forming partnerships with established chain restaurants (Jack In The Box, Carl's Jr. and Ruby's), Tampa Bay, Texas and Washington DC are creating their signature burgers with a twist.

Tampa Bay Rays Fan vs. Food Burger
Price: $30.00



Anyone who finishes this 4-pound burger and a pound of fries will receive 2 tickets to a future Rays game and a shirt.

Texas Rangers Beltre Burger
Price: $26.00



A pound of beef combined with a half pound of bacon, onions, cheese, and chips on a pretzel bun.

Looking for a quick snack between innings?

So you decided to eat before the game or still might be hungry from lunch? These unique snacks are your best bet depending on which city you are in.



Oriole Park at Camden Yards (Baltimore Orioles): Crab Waffle Fries

Kauffman Stadium (Kansas City Orioles): Royal bacon blue fries

Safeco Field (Seattle Mariners): Oyster po'boy sandwich

US Cellular Field (Chicago White Sox): Chicken and Waffle Sandwich

The MLB Stadium Experience: Touring The Ballparks of Baseball

So you're new to the game of baseball?



Major League Baseball is a sport that has become a world wide event that features a diverse talent of professional players from all across the world. Day in and day out from March until the conclusion of the World Series in October, the fans of the sport can catch a game in 30 different ballparks across the country and in neighboring Canada. The 30 teams that make up MLB have played in ballparks, each unique to its team that have undergone transformations from small ballparks that seat up to several thousand fans to the newer versions that can boast attendance of 55,000 fans in a single game.

Never expect to see the same ballpark twice

The ballparks of baseball are designed in a variety of layouts that include

Modern - Angels Stadium, Dodger Stadium, Kauffman Stadium, U.S. Cellular Field

Retro Classic - AT&T Park, Busch Stadium, Citi Field, Comerica Park, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Yankee Stadium

Retro Modern - Chase Field, Great American Ballpark, Miller Park, Minute Maid Park, Safeco Field

Jewel Box - Fenway Park, Wrigley Field

Contemporary - Marlins Park

Multipurpose - O.co. Coliseum, Rogers Centre, Tropicana Field

All of these ballparks, a signature to the teams that call them home offer unique elements on display for the frequent and new fans to the game. While one look at a stadium during the game can be enough for the average fan, it's the diehards who go further to tour the ballpark for a small fee.


Visitors locker room at Fenway Park

The average fan who will attend the game in said city will generally arrive at the ballpark between 30-45 minutes prior to the first pitch. This will allow enough time to visit the concession stand and make your way to your assigned seat. Depending on the game, the fan will spend about 75% - 80% of the duration of the game in their assigned seat when not making the trip to the restroom, beer stand or merchandise location. The rest of the time is left spent walking the concourses to take a souvenir photo or visiting the Field Level, if not leaving the game early depending on the score. Unknown to many are the hidden gems that provide the full value of what the ballpark is truly about. This is where I learned that the ballpark tour provides these priceless artifacts.

During the past three years, I have spent countless hours visiting ballparks across the country in planes, cars, trains and buses that has taken me to 15 of the 30 current MLB ballparks. As a tip to anyone reading this, I cannot stress the importance of researching the ballpark prior to leaving. This avoids any scenarios that could arise including the tour being sold-out or not offered the day that you would be in town. Buy your tickets before you leave home and do your research! If you are traveling by car or train, leave yourself enough time to see the host city soaking up its local culinary and historical spots between the tour and ballgame. Tours generally occur late morning 10:00AM through 3:00PM depending on the team so this is another reason why I stress to do your research. Get yourself accustom with the stadium by knowing the best stadium food that the stadium has to offer and the must see traditions, like Bernie Brewer sliding down a beer-mug style slide following a Brewers home run.

Ballpark Tour Benefits

The ballpark tour itself is the crown jewel of the experience you will have during your visit. As I mentioned earlier, if you choose to arrive to the game an hour prior to the first pitch, you will only have so much ample time to explore every corner and smell of the stadium it has to offer. Spending the money, between the price of $6.00 - $25.00, depending on the team, for the ballpark tour provides you many rare opportunities to access portions of the stadium that many are unable to reach without the team tour guide. Here you have the opportunity to visit the field, a private suite, the press box, press room and other points of interest.


Playing field at Safeco Park

Depending on the home teams schedule for the day, options can either be huge or very small on what you will experience on the tour. Legendary Fenway Park in Boston is the best example of this that I can provide for you. While on a vacation in 2011, I took a brief tour of Fenway Park on 4th of July weekend with my family. Unknown whether or not the weather played a factor, the Red Sox tour guide took us to the press box, Green Monster and the Budweiser Patio in right field. The tour itself was very worth the price. A year later, I once again made my way to Fenway Park while on vacation in Boston. Once again, I was able to visit the same locations as I did the previous year, but this time I was lucky enough to set foot on the playing field after briefly visiting the away team dugout prior to visiting the locations that TED and The Town were filmed in. Two separate tours of Fenway, two unique views of the ballpark I was able to walk away with.


Visitor dugout at Fenway Park

Still Not Sold?

Here is a quick glimpse of a few highlights from my tours:

Yankee Stadium
Monument Park, Yankee Stadium playing field and the Yankees Hall of Fame that contained over 100 signed baseballs, several World Series trophies and dozens of priceless artifacts including Thurman Munson's locker still in tack.
Interested in taking a tour of Yankee Stadium? Read about my tour here

Comerica Park
MotorCity Casino Hotel Champions Club containing Miguel Cabrera's Triple Crown Award, 1984 World Series trophy and Justin Verlander's Cy Young and MVP awards
Comerica Park tour recap

Safeco Field
Field and dugout access and the team president suite that includes a rock with an inscription from the team owner (Nintendo of America) who's desire was to keep the MLB in Seattle after the team departed for Milwaukee
For more information regarding Safeco Field, click here


Miguel Cabrera's Triple Crown Award

Conclusion

Whether you are a fan of the game or just learning it, the ballpark tour is your best option to really experience everything that it ha to offer. Spend the money, arrive early, leave satisfied. As of this entry I have visited 15 of the current 30 MLB stadiums along with several past stadiums and sites where they once existed including Ebbets Field, Tiger Stadium, Veterans Stadium and old Yankee Stadium.

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

History was made in Baltimore, Maryland on April 6, 1992 when the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball opened their new ballpark, Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The ballpark that would be known as "The Ballpark That Forever Changed Baseball" would spark a trend in construction of traditional, outdoor ballparks built in downtown locations through-out the U.S. Prior to its completion, big league ballparks were designed as multi-purpose "cookie cutter" stadiums that could host baseball and football games in one central location. These stadiums were featured in Seattle (Kingdome), Minneapolis (Metrodome) and Philadelphia (Veterans Stadium) that were cost efficient for the stadium but not friendly to the fans.

Camden Yards was built on the land that once served as the rail yard for B&O Railroad Camden Station. Paying homage to its predecessor, the former B&O Warehouse dominates much of the ballpark view located in right field. The warehouse has since been converted into Orioles team offices, the team store and several restaurants located along the Eutaw Street entryway.

The Eutaw Street entrance, located between the stadium and warehouse is closed to vehicle traffic. Prior to the scheduled start of the ballgame, fans can explore this part of the stadium without needing a ticket to the game. Many shops and restaurants line one side of Eutaw Street to the other including Dempsey's Brew Pub and the Orioles Team Store. Most notably located along Eutaw Street are small baseball-shaped bronze plaques marking the spot where home run baseballs landed. This began following Mickey Tettleton's home run on April 20, 1992 that has still continued through the 2013 season. Former Seattle Mariner and Cincinnati Reds great, Ken Griffey Jr., holds the distinction of the only MLB player to ever hit a home run off the B&O Warehouse during the 1993 MLB All-Star Game Home Run Derby. If you're planning on visiting Eutaw Street for a 7:00 pm game, make sure you arrive before 4:00 pm as the street temporarily closes in preparation for that evenings game.

During the 2012 season, Camden Yards celebrated its 20th anniversary. To celebrate the anniversary, the Orioles organization unveiled six bronze statues of the six Orioles greats who have had their numbers retired by the organization. Each statue was unveiled in separate ceremonies through-out the 2012 season. Prior to the unveiling of his statue on September 29, 2012 in the stadium, Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson was honored with a statue depicting him preparing to throw the baseball to first base. The statue that most notably is gray in color with the exception of a gold colored baseball glove is located on Washington Boulevard 300 feet from the Camden Yards statue of Baltimore native Babe Ruth.

Food options are a plenty when visiting Camden Yards. The ballpark provides a wide variety of offerings including Boog's BBQ, Beers of the World, Dempsey's Brew Pub and Restaurant and Eutaw Market. During my trip I took in a quick bite to eat at Dempsey's after exploring Eutaw Street. Dempsey's is a sports-themed restaurant open year round that is located inside of the former B&O Warehouse building. The restaurant named after the Orioles great Rick Dempsey features Orioles memorabilia and displays of the on-field accomplishments of the 1983 World Series MVP and Orioles Hall of Famer. If you decide to take in a meal at Dempsey's, you are treated to a spectacular view of Camden Yards while being surrounded by TVs showing other games happening around the league.

I was fortunate enough to visit Camden Yards on September 12, 2013 after taking an overnight bus after seeing the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim vs. Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Center the night before. The game that I would be seeing later that evening would have historical value as it would be the final game at Camden Yards for future Hall of Famer and New York Yankees great, Mariano Rivera, who would be retiring at the end of the season. After several rain and lightning delays, the game got underway just after 8:30 that night. Given the significance with Mariano Rivera being at Camden Yards for the final time, a short ceremony honoring the MLB legend took place prior to the game. The Orioles presented Rivera with a sculpture depicting a baseball shattering a bat.

Oriole Park at Camden Yards historical facts:
Major League 2 (1994) a movie about the Cleveland Indians was filmed here while Progressive Field was under construction
Named the number 3 ballpark in the U.S. by Trip Advisor in March 2013
First major league ballpark to have an outfield wall made up entirely of straight wall segments since Ebbets Field
September 6, 1995: Cal Ripken Jr. broke Lou Gehrig's consecutive games played streak of 2,130 games.
September 6, 1996: Eddie Murray hit his 500th career home run exactly one year after Cal Ripken Jr. broke Lou Gehrig's consecutive games played streak
August 22, 2007: The Texas Rangers Ramirez hit is 500th career home run
May 8, 2012: Josh Hamilton tied the MLB record for home runs in a game with 4
August 19, 2008: Fastest ballpark to reach 50 million fans in history. Took only seventeen seasons to reach the mark.
1993 MLB All-Star Game

Rogers Centre - Toronto Blue Jays

A day after visiting Tiger Stadium and Comerica Park in Detroit, I made my way to Toronto, Ontario, Canada for the day. I had one main agenda for the day, the Rogers Centre, home of the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball. Ever since I began my tour of the MLB stadiums, I always imagined that Rogers Centre would be the last one that I would visit given its geographical location to the other 29 stadiums. Rogers Centre was stadium number 13 of the 30 active that I would be visiting in order to complete the circuit. Before going into the experience, let me provide some quick history of the stadium.

Rogers Centre, originally known as Skydome is a multi-purpose stadium located in Toronto, just steps from the famed CN Tower. Before the Rogers Centre, the Toronto Blue Jays played nearby at Exhibition Stadium from 1977 - 1989. Given that the ballpark was an outdoor stadium located relatively close to Lake Ontario, problems arose over the years where weather played a major factor through-out the season, most notably the only major league game played with the field covered entirely in snow on April 7, 1977, the Jays first game there. Following many ill fated weather plagued events, the demand came for a domed stadium closer to downtown Toronto. After years of searching for a new site, one was located at the base of the CN Tower near Union Station, a major Canadian railway yard.

The Rogers Centre finally opened on June 3, 1989 with the first baseball game held on June 5th. It was the first major North American sports stadium with a fully functional retractable roof. According to the tour guide, the roof is made up of four retractable panels, the last one in a stationary position which takes 20 minutes in length to fully open. The stadium is one of two remaining MLB ballparks still using an artificial field, other being Tampa Bay and the only one without a dirt infield. Also unique to Rogers Centre is the Renaissance Hotel that is located within the stadium that includes 348 hotel rooms, with 70 of them overlooking the field.

Prior to the game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim later that day, I took a brief tour of the stadium for a price of $16.00. The Rogers Centre stadium tour begins at Gate 4 only a few feet from the base of the CN Tower. Our tour guide, Kayla quickly ushered the three of us into the friendly confines of the Rogers Centre to begin the tour. The first stop on the tour was just shy of the right field foul pole at the end of the first base line. Rogers Centre holds the distinction of being the only MLB team to not have the traditional foul pole in favor of yellow mesh nets. These nets were created so those sitting in that part of the ballpark wouldn't have an obstructed view of the game.

While making our way through the area containing the suites, Kayla went into detail about the origins of the Rogers Centre and how the name was chosen for the original name, the Skydome. Chosen as part of a province wide "name the stadium" contest in 1987, the Skydome was chosen from 150,000 entries from 12,897 different names. Eventual winner, Kellie Watson, was drawn from a barrel containing over 2,000 entries that contained the name "Skydome." For winning the contest, Kellie was awarded with lifetime seats behind home plate including concerts.

During a brief visit to the media center and press box, Kayla shared several interesting facts about Rogers Centre including its playing field and rotating seats. Depending on which event will be at the stadium, whether baseball, football, soccer or a concert, the lower seating bowl can be reconfigured to accommodate the event. Beneath the seats is a track that can quickly transform the Rogers Centre from a 49,000 seat baseball stadium to a 53,000 seating capacity for football games. While learning about the seating capacity, the grounds crew was just below us hard at work getting the playing field ready for that evenings game. Much to my surprise, I didn't expect to see a grounds crew hard at work preparing the field at 11:30am for a 7:00pm game. Sure, I have been to many ballparks, but never have I seen work commence this early for a game. The Rogers Centre holds the distinction of having the only MLB pitchers mound that can be stored below the playing field and doesn't contain real dirt until it's placed on it prior to the first pitch.
Our last stop on the tour was the playing field that took us behind the center field wall and into the spacious outfield. The playing field, like Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay is the only one to use an artificial surface and the only one without a dirt field. To reduce the amount of time converting the field, a roll-based Astroturf was installed prior to the 2010 season. Rogers Centre previously used FieldTurf from 2005 - 2010 that took about 40 hours to remove for concerts.

If you plan on eating while at the game, there are plenty of options including your standard hot dogs, burgers and peanuts stands located through-out the stadium. Located near Gate 5 is a family friendly food stand containing everything from pizza to burgers, sandwiches and many more options. Do you prefer to eat before or after the game? The area between the Rogers Centre and Air Canada Centre provides several options including sports bars, Subway, Mexican, pizza and a pita restaurant that specializes in Schwarma wraps.

ROGERS CENTRE FACTS:
Home to the NBA's Toronto Raptors from 1995 - 1999
1992 and 1993 MLB World Series
WWE WrestleMania VI in 1990 and WrestleMania X8 in 2002
UFC 129 on April 30, 2011 that set a UFC attendance record of 55,000 seats after the previous number of 42,000 were sold-out on the first day

Maple Leaf Gardens - Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario, Canada is an historic arena that was constructed as an arena for ice hockey. Considered one of the "cathedrals" of ice hockey, the arena was home to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League from 1931 - 1999. From 1932 - 1967, the Leafs won 11 Stanley Cups while playing at the Gardens.

The Gardens opened on November 12, 1931 with the Maple Leafs losing to the Chicago Blackhawks by a score of 2-1. Five years later, the Gardens would play host to the first NBA game in history between the Toronto Huskies and New York Knicks. During the 1990s, the owners of the Gardens considered a number of new sites to replace the arena as it had become to small and lacking in revenue-generating luxury boxes.

The Maple Leafs eventually moved to nearby Air Canada Centre that they share with the Toronto Raptors of the NBA.

Canadian Retailer, Loblaw Companies and Ryerson University agreed to turn the Gardens into a joint grocery store and athletic centre for both companies.

MAPLE LEAF GARDENS FACTS:
Toronto Maple Leafs won 11 Stanley Cups while playing in the arena
Site of the first NBA game on November 12, 1931
Only North American venue to host The Beatles during their three tours
First arena in the NHL to have separate penalty boxes on November 8, 1963
Only Elvis Presley concerts outside of the US on April 2, 1957
First NHL arena to have Plexiglas inserted in the end zones of the rink in the 1946 - 1947 NHL season