Skip the hectic commute into Boston and high ticket prices for a major league game and visit one of New England’s many wonderful minor league stadiums instead! Get up close for a fun and family-friendly game, all while saving some money and seeing what some of our smaller cities have to offer. What could be […]
Hadlock Field – Home of the Portland Sea Dogs
Skip the hectic commute into Boston and high ticket prices for a major league game and visit one of New England’s many wonderful minor league stadiums instead! Get up close for a fun and family-friendly game, all while saving some money and seeing what some of our smaller cities have to offer. What could be better?
Here’s a list of some of our favorite minor-league ballparks in New England. Which is your favorite?
McCoy Stadium – Home of the Pawtucket Red Sox (Triple-A Affiliate)
The Pawtucket Red Sox have long been considered one of the most successful minor-league teams in the country. Perhaps no other minor-league team in New England has captured the hearts of fans like the PawSox. This is where the Boston team really begins. Nomar, Roger Clemens, Jim Rice … they all remember their early days at McCoy Stadium. One of the most striking features of this ballpark is seeing the murals of the famous players during their time in Pawtucket. The longest game in baseball history was played here April 18, 1981, against the young Cal Ripkin Jr. and his Rochester Red Wings. It was a 33-inning marathon. 1 Columbus Ave., Pawtucket, RI. 401-724-7300; pawsox.comNew Britain Stadium – Home of the New Britain Rock Cats (Double-A Affiliate)
Midway between Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium, Connecticut’s New Britain Stadium (and it’s Minnesota Twins affiliate team) provides a welcome home to baseball fans of all major-league loyalties. Built in 1996 next door to Beehive Field, the stadium is one of the minor leagues’ most elegant — it’s sometimes called a “mini-Camden Yards.” A picnic area and a kids’ zone with interactive baseball events make this a park families love. 203 John Karbonic Way, New Britain, CT. 860-224-8383; rockcats.comHadlock Field – Home of the Portland Sea Dogs (Double-A Affiliate)
There’s no better way to top a day in Maine’s lovely bayside city than with a night rooting for the Red Sox Double A team at an intimate brick ballpark. In 2003, a likeness of Fenway Park’s Green Monster was built to honor the Sox affiliation, and the Sea Dogs outfield (nicknamed the “Maine Monster”) and mascot (Slugger the Sea Dog), are hard not to love, but if that’s not enough, a lighthouse rises in centerfield when after a Sea Dogs home run or win. 271 Park Ave., Portland, ME. 800-936-3647; seadogs.comEdward A. LeLacheur Park – Home of the Lowell Spinners (Single-A Affiliate)
A jewel of a park in a city on the comeback trail, LeLacheur Park offers views of the Merrimack River in between innings. When you join the throng advancing to the open gates, you get the feeling that this is how a city keeps a small-town flavor. For a family outing, taking in a game with this Red Sox affiliate it beats a movie at the mall any day. 450 Aiken St., Lowell, MA. 978-459-1702; lowellspinners.comCentennial Field – Home of the Vermont Lake Monsters (Single-A Affiliate)
Just an hour and a half south of Montreal, this Oakland Athletics affiliate plays in one of America’s oldest ballparks (originally built in 1906), but modern updates like the recent 27-foot by 16-foot video board and new scoreboard in left field ensure folks will keep coming back. Champ, the team’s ebullient mascot, helps make the visit even more memorable. 287 Colchester Ave., Burlington, VT. 802-655-4200; vermontlakemonsters.comThe Ballpark at Harbor Yard – Home of the Bridgeport Bluefish (Independent)
The Bluefish are a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, but they play in a state-of-the-art stadium that gives a big-league feel to the hometown game. A perennial power, the team and its stadium are an integral part of Bridgeport’s revitalization. 500 Main St., Bridgeport, CT; 203-345-4800; bridgeportbluefish.comNortheast Delta Dental Stadium – Home of the Manchester Fisher Cats (Double-A Affiliate)
Located within walking distance of the many shops and restaurants in downtown Manchester, the Fisher Cats have been conveniently luring fans in since the stadium first opened in 2005. Boasting state-of-the-art technology, 32 luxury suites, and an open concourse that lets fans view the action without interruption, the Northeast Delta Dental Stadium delivers a good time in a convenient location. 1 Line Drive, Manchester, NH. 603-641-2005; nhfishercats.comHistoric Yale Field – Former Home of the New Haven Ravens
At the time of this article’s original publication, Yale Field was home to the New Haven Ravens, a Toronto Blue Jay’s affiliate, but today it’s home to the NCAA Ivy League Yale Bulldogs. Although no longer a Minor League park, we still think it’s worth a visit for baseball fans. Built in 1927 and modeled after Yankee Stadium, it’s brimming with history. Over the years Yale Field fans have seen Ted Williams, Jimmy Foxx, Yogi Berra, Derek Jeter — even former President George Bush, who played here as a Yale undergrad — take the field. 252 Derby Ave., West Haven, CT. 203-782-1666; yalebulldogs.com
