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Fresno Grizzlies - User Comments Add your own

Excellent Ballpark! -- 2003-06-17

This park exceeds even Raley Field (at which I share in a season ticket plan for the Rivercats), and Raley is very good. I like the doiuble-decked design....it's actually quite intimate, and the upper deck isn't really that high up. It's similar to Franklin Covey field in SLC. Concourse is wide, we went on a doubleheader that drew 9,200 (out of 12,500), concession lines or restroom were short. No bad seats in this venue!! Orientation cuts down on late afternoon sun quite well, game temp (at 5:00 pm) was in the low 90's and we were quite comfortable. HOK and Fresno Diamond did a superb job with this park. The centerfield pool, new for 2003, is not original (re: Bank One ballpark), but it's still a good idea. Parking is suprisingly close and reasonable (five bucks).

Suggestions for improvement: Garlic Fries - at least you got 'em, but the amount we got for $4.50 was kinda sparse. And you shouldn't have to hunt for them. Where's the BBQ? There needs to be a BBQ smoker going, with Tri-tip, Chicken, a nice plate combo (the RiverCats have an excellent plate for ten bucks and it feeds my wife, kid, and I quite well).

Lastly, the location....downtown Fresno doesn't at first glace seem ideal. If they think that this will somehow contribute to some sort of a downtown "revival" where the Fulton Mall failed, they're deluded. However, the parking and security do well to alleviate concerns about crime. But most folks will just come from the more suburban areas from 99 and/or 41, and leave quickly. However, the layout (the right field upper deck goes all the way down the line) suggests that football and/or soccer, especially the level that the Mexican-Americans like, is contemplated. That, along with the concerts which the locals have resisted having at Fresno State's Bulldog stadium, seem to indicate that the Fresno Diamond Group intends to market agressively to the Hispanic market. In that case, the location is ideal. Evidently expanding Beiden Field was neither desired by the University, its neighbors, nor was it practical.

Hopefully the Grizzlies can build their attendance and not suffer the horrific slumps that have plagued other new facilities such as at Oklahoma City and Indianapolis.

DLS

Douglas Self

Don't miss Grizzlies Stadium -- 2002-07-30

We drove 480 miles one-way to catch a game in this BEAUTIFUL ballpark. HOK out did themselves on this one. The attendance was 11,471 in a 12,500 seat stadium and the concession stands were not crowded nor were the restrooms. Great sightlines! A scoreboard you can read! Great sound system! A roomy concourse!

Do yourself a big favor and go see a game here. The Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel is just one and a half blocks away and very reasonable, if you are coming from out of town.

Ron Wheeler

Grizzlies Stadium -- 2002-05-29

1000% improvement from Beiden Field. Every seat is great, even the view from the alley behind left field isn't bad. There's a Wrigley-esque feel with the buildings along the Fulton Mall in the outfield where fans watch the game from the rooftops. Parking is surprisingly available in a reasonable distance (we park in the garage under Courthouse Park, but there's a 6-story structure in center field). The area is getting much better with shops opening up, but it's still pretty scary at night if there's no ball game. Grizzly Stadium is very similar to Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City.

Bob Martinez

-- 2001-07-21

I visit my daughter, She goes to Fresno St. and lives across the street from Bieden Field. I walk across the street buy a tix and enjoy the game. Its a college ballpary but a nice one. I've visited a few minor league parks on the So. Cal area ant Bieden Field is OK. The Corn Dogs are HUGE. Enjoyed the games there.

Dave

Fresno's Surly Ushers -- 2001-06-11

With all due respect to Dan's experience and opinion, I have attended a good number of Grizzlies games over the past three years and have NEVER had a similar experience. Attendance has been somewhat thin at Beiden Field at times, and, regrettably, there are usually a good number of empty seats. I've moved on a number of occasions and never had a problem. There are some seats right down front where the owners sit, and I believe some in that area are also reserved for certain alumnae of Fresno State, and corporate ticket holders. The ushers are fairly militant about only allowing the appropriate persons to sit in *those* few seats, but otherwise I've found the environment very pleasant and relaxed. (The ushers, by the way, are in many instances volunteers working for funding for their local high school band.) I have had uniformly pleasant experiences with everyone in a purple "Host" vest so far. So Dan, I'm not saying it didn't happen to you, but my own experiences couldn't be farther removed from your own. You might want to consider going a second time.

In any event, after the new ballpark is built for next season, *everyone* is probably going to have to sit in their assigned seats as there aren't likely to be many open ones most nights. It appears that it's going to be a real gem of a park, and I'm looking forward to attending games there. However, with a full house, the downside is that I'm going to have to stay in my assigned seat too!

Rich Palmer

Rich Palmer

Fresno's surly ushers -- 2001-05-28

Beiden Field in Fresno is the only California ballpark I have vowed to never return to. The biggest problem is the overbearing emphasis on security. When a ballpark isn't filled to capacity, I like the option of seeing a game from different angles. But at Fresno, the ushers pounce right away and insist that you sit in your designated seat. It really detracted from my enjoyment of the game. Hopefully, they'll treat fans better at the new park next season.

Dan Calico

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