The World Needs More Kevin

Opened: April 6, 1995

Capacity: 10,000

Affiliated with the Tampa Bay Rays

The Durham Bulls might be the most famous minor league baseball team thanks to Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins. This might be my favorite minor league park that I have visited. A baseball game here is not just a game, it is an event. The people come to have fun but also take the game seriously. Now maybe that was because the team has had some good years, I don’t know. There are also numerous places around the park to have a beer or to grab a bite to eat, which is something that you don’t see with a lot of minor league parks. Also since I go to Camden Yards alot I found the American Tobacco Warehouse across the street to be very aesthetically pleasing.

And I saw Mac James hit the Bull when I was there in 2019. Apparently it doesn’t happen all that often. Hope he enjoyed his steak.

How did I get there?

I visited a few breweries in town before coming here so I just pointed my car downtown and found a parking lot. It was next to the stadium and I could park there for $5 even though I arrived several hours earlier. For dinner I visited a restaurant next door and had some delicious sweet potato fries and a beer. Couldn’t get to that lot the next time and had to pay $8 to park in the American Tobacco garage.

Ticket prices

Figuring that the team would draw well I ordered tickets ahead of time but didn’t need to since it was a Sunday game. Prices were good, $10 to get in and have a good seat.

Finding my seat and amenities

East to find my seat. Once inside the food selections were some of the best that I’ve seen in the minors. Being in North Carolina I had to have a Carolina BBQ sandwich. The only downside was that there were no ice cream helmets available. Of course I saw the famous Bull as well. Mac James hit it at the game I went to in 2019.

In game experience

The usual minor league in-game entertainment with plenty of the mascot Wool E. Bull mixed in.

Getting out

Nice and easy. The exit onto the freeway that would link me to I-95 runs right by the stadium. Three turns and I was on the freeway. In 2019 I stayed just west of town and took the slow route through the city to get there. I missed the turn to get onto the highway, my bad.

Wrap

This may be my favorite minor league park. Saw the famous bull sign of course and I also took a detour over to the old stadium. That must have been night and day between the two. This one is a must stop when I get down into the Carolinas.