Chase Field

Team: Arizona Diamondbacks

Address: 401 East Jefferson Street

Location: Phoenix, Arizona

Opened: March 31, 1988

Capacity: 48,686

Visited: July 1, 2018

Rating: 7.5/10

Chase Field, home to the Arizona Diamondbacks, is located in Phoenix, Arizona on the outskirts of the Warehouse District. The ballpark was built in 1988, and as Phoenix is the hottest major city in North America, it was built as a domed stadium. Depending on the temperature outside, the roof is either open or closed. Since it was 105°F when I was in the city, the dome was closed and kept the stadium at a much more pleasant temperature. You can actually check the state of the roof prior to game-time on the club's website, and there's even a roof hotline.

The ballpark is easily accessible by public transportation. If you're driving to a game, parking is fairly cheap and ranges between $5-$10. The traffic did not seem too bad either. With Chase Field being located downtown, there are multiple places nearby to catch a bite to eat before and/or after the game. 

I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of food options, specifically vegetarian ones. Chase Field offers vegan wraps, burgers, and hot dogs in addition to garlic parmesan fries, sweet potato tots, and jumbo pretzels. I was in line to get chips and guacamole, but decided to ask for the nachos without cheese or sour cream. The man working the cash register was really nice and accommodating to my order. Frozen yogurt, chai tea, and horchata are also offered for those who want something refreshing that’s not ice cream or soda.

The ballpark had a nice atmosphere and it was kept fairly clean. In regards to beauty, it was a little dull and boring; however, this is understanding considering the weather outside. Ballpark views are a huge factor in the beauty of a baseball stadium, and there's only so much that can be done with an indoor stadium. The addition of a pool located in right-center field is one of the unique parts of the stadium, and helps make up for the lack of a view.

The ticket I purchased happened to belong to a season ticketholder, so I ended up sitting next to his buddy. I was surrounded by Arizona Diamondbacks fans because I sat on the third-base side between the home dugout and home base, but they were all very courteous and I ended up chatting with the people on both sides of me. The Giants held a lead almost the entire game, so the Diamondbacks fans were a little quiet, but in their team's attempt at a comeback in the bottom of the ninth inning, they got loud. I did not encounter a rude fan, and everyone at the game seemed happy to be there. 

I enjoyed my visit to Chase Field, however I don't know how often I would visit Phoenix, Arizona in the summer due to the intense heat. Simply put, the ballpark itself did not stand out as incredible and was somewhat lackluster. To be fair, it might offer more when the weather is cooler and the roof is open. Regardless, the fans were some of the nicest baseball fans that I've come across and I wouldn't mind attending another game at Chase Field.