Opened: April 12, 2000
Capacity: 13,131
Affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds
Louisville Slugger Field
I did not know what to expect here and I came away from here quite impressed. Can’t wait to go back. Kentucky and this part of the country is relatively virgin territory for me so I’ll be back at some point.
How did I get there?
It was a Sunday so there was relatively little traffic to deal with. I was coming up I-65 from the south. I had stopped at Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace before coming into town. The day before was the Thunder over Louisville air show, which had brought thousands of people downtown for it. Today was a recovery day for them. Since traffic was light it was easy to find the stadium. I thought parking could be difficult but since it was Sunday I was able to find a spot on the street right outside of the stadium.
Ticket prices
I paid $12 for a seat. I was only a few rows from the field so I can’t complain. Took in the first few innings and then moved around the park.
Finding my seat and amenities
Easy to find the seat. Like several other AAA parks they seemed to have just about anything that you could want to eat. A chain brewpub, Against the Grain, is right next door so it is easy to have a meal and/or a cold brew before the game. The main entrance way into the stadium looks like it was an old warehouse. There were some small displays about the team’s history and it is where the kid’s play area was located. It was also air conditioned and despite this being April it was hot out which was quite nice. The game I came to was also team autograph day so I got my program autographed.
In game experience
There is nothing that stood out to me here as unique. it seemed to be the standard in-game entertainment. It was a hot day and many people went to sit or stand in the shade. That may have been why the crowd was not into the game but it could also have been the early hole that Toledo put them in. I think the Mud Hens wound up winning 18-5. The Bats did give local player Corky Miller a chance to pitch the 9th when the game was already out of hand. It got more out of hand but hey, he’s a catcher and not a pitcher.
Getting out
Again since this was Sunday it was easy to get out. I had to drive a few blocks down to find I-65 and I headed north into Indiana.
Wrap
This was a very nice park. It was one of my favorites to watch a game in and hopefully one day I will be back. In fact I will, the Louisville Slugger Museum was about the only thing open in downtown so it was packed and I did not get to tour it. I admit I think I could have but I didn’t want to miss the autograph session.