Baseball Travel Guide - Find all the baseball close to you!

Missing or incorrect information?

Asheville Tourists - User Comments Add your own

Stadium Review for 2003 -- 2003-09-20

Overall Rating: A

Facility B

The red brick makes for a classy natural look and the setting on a hillside adds to the overall effect. The box seats we had were comfortable. A concrete overhang covers the seating bowl around home plate. The stadium design keeps the sun off most patrons, which is a plus for those hot summer days. The regular reserve have backs, concrete seating (located on the wings) does not. Veterans come early and put their lawn chairs down on the top row of the concrete seats.

A stadium rehab would be a plus; the bathroom facilities need to be improved. During our visit the ladies room ran out of toilet paper in some of the stalls although to be fair it was one of the largest crowds in franchise history. Parking is limited. Most park on the street or on the hill next to the stadium. I think parking places are handed down from father to son. The stadium store is top notch with many items to purchase. Our bill came to just under $100.

The Mountain Monster in right dictates strategy just like its big league cousin in Fenway.

Atmosphere A+

The staff really works hard to make it fun. Two members down from us were dancing to the music and having a good time. The staff runs a lot of on field promotions and lucky numbers. While Ted E has put on some weight he has replaced Rocky Bluewinkle as Karen's #1 mascot. Bring the family, sit back and enjoy the show.

Value A

Hard to beat. I wonder if some of the people here appreciate what they have. The family next to us is a case in point. The father scored the game and looked like a regular. The mom read while the kids played video games. We thought that everyone in the family but the dad was there to watch the fireworks, which are a sensation, but fans were turned away because the event was sold out.

Box seats right next to the action are $8 and General Admission is $6.

Food service is provided to box seat holders. Our seat server, Daryl, was wonderful and his dancing has to be seen to be appreciated. Food prices are very reasonable and they have several different items to sample. The kettle corn was a real hit.

Odds and Ends

Special thanks for Margarita Turner for her assistance. Asheville is one of the top organizations in the minors; people like Daryl and Margarita are big reasons why. Tropical Storm Bill made us change our plans. We drove down from Kingsport, TN just to catch a night game and it was worth the trip.

Karen and Kevin Flynn

a wonderful baseball experience -- 2002-02-07

I'd have to agree with all of the compliments to the Tourists. The park is gorgeous, nestled on a hillside, with incredible old trees growing past the outfield fences. The announcer has a gentle and folksy demeanor, and is easily the best I've heard in a ballpark. He somehow fits perfectly here. The Toursits spend less time on extraneous distractions, like music and games between innings, than any other minor league team I've seen. The focus here is on baseball and McCormick Field itself. I think this is a good thing, though people with small children may not.

I can't put my finger on it exactly, but the Tourists seem to take better care of their fans than most other teams. The atmosphere is very friendly and low-key, and the staff are among the most helpful I've encountered. The only problem is that the cheapest seats are on these big concrete slabs. You'll have plenty of room, but it's a bit uncomfortable. Bring a blanket, or spring for the better seats.

The Tourists are a low-A full-season team. The players have a handle on basic baseball skills, and few are completely overmatched, but this isn't major league or AAA ball.

Asheville itself is a wonderful tourist town. It's beautiful, with a neat downtown that is easily walkable, and mountains in every direction. The large local hippy population means that it's a vegetarian's culinary paradise. I used to go there for eating and baseball weekends, and was never disappointed.

Oh, and the Tourist's logo, a fat bear with singlasses, a Hawaiian shirt, and a suitcase, is easily the coolest in professional sports. The mascot, Ted E. Tourist, is a charmingly moth-eaten version of the same. Make sure to buy a hat or a shirt.

Nathaniel Florin

Nearly perfect? -- 2001-07-05

I've come to know McCormick Field extremely well over the years, and it's about as close to perfect as I can imagine. While I live in Atlanta, my wife grew up in Asheville and her parents still live there, so we visit frequently. Whenever the Tourists are in town and my family committments allow, I head over to McCormick Field to take in a game. My wife and I got married in Asheville, and in lieu of a big rehearsal dinner/party, the night before our wedding we invited everyone to Little Pigs Barbecue just down the street for dinner, and then to join us at a Tourists game afterwards. A splendid time was had by all.

McCormick Field has been the site of minor league baseball (as well as high school football and even stock car racing) since 1924. After the 1991 season, the old wood and steel grandstand was torn down and replaced with a new brick and concrete structure in time for the opening of the 1992 season. It's an attractive building, with an open concourse area, top notch restroom and concession facilities, and a nice souvenir shop in a detached building (along with team offices). The layout and dimensions of the playing field remain unchanged from the original stadium, however, including the extremely short right-field fence -- only 300 feet at the foul pole -- though the height of the fence was increased to 35 feet. The area behind the outfield fence and along much of the left field line is a tree-covered hillside, which makes an extremely pleasant backdrop -- both Babe Ruth and Branch Rickey reportedly called old McCormick Field "a beautiful place to play". The grandstand roof, which extends over most of the general admission seats, is cantilevered so that no supporting girders or columns obstruct the view, and it provides plenty of shade for those who aren't inclined to work on their tan during day games. The box seats are new chair-back folding plastic seats, while the general admission sections are mostly aluminum bench seats set on concrete; there are also two sections, one at each end of the grandstand, with no aluminum benches, for those who want to bring their own folding chairs.

McCormick Field is conveniently located, though it's not right in the middle of downtown Asheville. Parking is free, though the lot at the stadium is tiny; there are a few on-street places on McCormick Place right next to the gate, and the businesses nearby don't seem to object to fans using their lots after hours. I typically park at the medical office building just across Charlotte Street; I've never failed to get a spot there, even when the game has been a near-sellout.

Concessions aren't cheap, but by comparison with other places they seem pretty reasonable. If they're a little higher than some, it seems like the difference goes into maintaining and enhancing the quality of the whole Tourists baseball experience. The pizza at least is a notch above the run-of-the-mill fare, and the food in general is as good or better than most I've had in other parks.

It's no accident that Tourists General Manager Ron McKee is one of the most respected executives in minor league baseball -- he and his staff do a great job of ensuring that everyone who comes through the gates has a pleasant and enjoyable experience. In short, I can't think of anything to complain about at McCormick Field, except that I can't get there often enough to suit me.

Scott Walker

Add your own comments, recommendations, criticisms, or suggestions.

Site last updated Thursday, November 5, 2009 at 07:09:43 AM

A Sports Reference Site: About Baseball Reference | Found a bug or have a suggestion?
Privacy Statement | Conditions & Terms of Service | Use of Data

Partner With: FantasyPlayers.com. Contact Fantasy Sports Ventures for advertising information.