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Chukchansi Park /
Fresno Grizzlies
Chukchansi Park is a very attractive ballpark, and an excellent place to watch baseball. The park itself is a light sand color, with dark-green steel decking and seats. The lower deck extends from the foul pole in left and wraps around the foul pole in right. The best feature is the second deck, which starts at third base and runs all the way to the foul pole in right. Like AutoZone Park in Memphis, it makes the park look like a smaller version of a major-league park, rather than the average minor-league park, and those seats are still close to the action. The press box, 30 luxury boxes and the 600 Club restaurant are above the second deck, and stretch from third base to beyond first base. Lower deck box seats are $16 and $14, with lower reserved at $9. Upper box seats (behind home) are $11 (these are the best seats), upper reserved are $8. The worst seats are the $7 Power Alley seats (left-field bleachers). You are pretty much baked and blinded until the fourth inning.
Like many newer ballparks, fans are encouraged to walk around, and there is a good view of the action from behind the first deck. The Fresno Grizzlies came about when the National League expanded to Arizona and the owners of the Phoenix Firebirds were forced to move. Technically, the ownership of the Tucson Toros ended up moving their PCL franchise to Fresno, while the owners of the Firebirds moved their team to Tucson and named them the Sidewinders. The Grizzlies played at Fresno State University from 1998 through 2001. Grizzly Stadium, designed by HOK Sport, opened in 2002, and was renamed Chukchansi Park in 2007, as part of a marketing agreement with the local casino. All in all, this is a very good park in which to catch a minor-league ballgame. The second deck is a great feature. Perhaps the best plan would be to stop by as part of a visit to Yosemite or Sequoia National Parks.
The Picnic Pavilion, sponsored by a Mexican brewery, is down the third-base line. It’s a large covered area with many picnic tables, and the much-needed mist sprayers (see below). It was not open the night we visited. The 600 Club Restaurant is located on the third level, between home plate and first base. There’s a great view of the field from the windows, but not from the main tables or the bar. It is accessible to fans located in the surrounding luxury boxes, and in sections 601-605, immediately below. The 600 Club has an extensive menu that includes serious nachos, chicken strips, soups, salads, grilled chicken, fish and chips, BBQ ribs, Philly cheesesteaks, meatball or tri-tip sandwiches, large burgers, several gourmet hot dogs and sausages, and yes, inviting desserts. There is also a team store on the lower deck behind first. It has all the usual cool stuff, but there is a heavy concentration of goodies for younger fans, especially Parker, the mascot.
Misters: Because it’s really dry and hot in the summer, sometimes reaching 110 degrees, the team has installed misting sprayers under the second deck. They work great. You just walk through them or stand under them on your way back from buying a refreshing beverage.
The aisle seats have a nice embossed "Fresno 2002" crossed-bats logo on the outside. There are banners around the concourse showing former Grizzlies now with the Giants. An old building down the left-field line has a large banner of a photo of Babe Ruth’s visit to Fresno, probably in the 1930s.
Having said that, if you want to stay overnight and not have to drive anywhere, there is a perfectly nice Radisson a block beyond center field (this reviewer has stayed there), and it has a restaurant. (Radisson, 4233 Ventura St.; 559/441-2931).
Fresno Baseball
History
Local Attractions
For the Kids The oddest attraction in the park is the video-game arcade. Located behind first base, just under the second deck, are four comfortable lounge chairs, with 4 large-screen TVs, hooked up to the latest video games. At any given time, there were at least 8 teenage boys playing or watching. With the game going on just past the TV screens. I understand the toddlers needing a distraction, but c’mon, guys… |
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