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Party at the Dilla Villa

Official Review by Paul Derrick, Stadium Journey Regional Correspondent

Opened in 1949 as Potter County Stadium, the Amarillo National Bank Dilla Villa has been a staple for baseball in Amarillo for many years. The team changed the stadium name in 2001 as part of a corporate sponsorship.

The stadium however is one of the few classic stadiums left from the older baseball era and unfortunately is dealing with its share of difficulties. The park is definitely starting to show its age with many seats that are broken or starting to show major wear.

There are several features of the Amarillo National Bank Dilla Villa that are architecturally unique. The stadium houses one of the few non-major league stadiums in the country to have an upper and lower level concourse. The lower level concourse is the major one, leading to the main grandstand. It also houses 5 concession stands, 2 bars, and a souvenir booth. There have been rumors of the Dillas getting a new stadium for years but these rumors have yet to be confirmed.

Food & Beverage    4

The Dillas provide a little of something for everybody at the old ballpark. Everything from the normal hot dogs and hamburgers to little variety with frito pies, BBQ, sausage wraps, and delicious turkey legs.

To quench your thirst there are all of the normal selections with all your basic Coca-Cola selections as well as a small variety of alcoholic beverages available on draft or in the bottle. One unique selection I found on the menu was pickle juice available for 25 cents a shot, not my cup of tea but the kids seemed to love it. All these selections are sold at good prices and are quite tasty. Also for $17/person you can purchase a pre-game picnic which consists of Brisket, Smoked Sausage, Potato Salad, Cole Slaw, Beans, Texas Toast and Iced Tea all catered by Desperado's BBQ Steaks.

Atmosphere    2

In walking up to the stadium I had my doubts on how inspiring this visit might be due to the rough look of the stadium from the outside. Walking in through the lower concourse you can see the stadium showing its age, as it is starting to look a little rundown. Upon sitting in my seat I did notice one consistent problem, FLIES. Flies were everywhere, quite annoying and when they are swarming on your food, not very hygenic. This problem must be due to the local rodeo stables that are nearby, but I definitely think this is an issue that the Dillas need to address.

As far as the game Amarillo does a great job to put a highly competitive team on the field as they have won the United League Championship the past two years in a row. There is a lot they could do to the stadium to make it a better venue and experience for the fans though. Starting off, Amarillo needs a new stadium or to have the one they have completely refurbished. I know from talking to many fans this change would be warmly welcomed. The scoreboard is the smallest I have seen at any professional game and I saw no scorecards or lineup charts anywhere, which makes me wonder just how much the organization cares about the fans.

Neighborhood    3

Amarillo is pretty much out there all by itself. The 15th largest city in the state of Texas, and largest in the Texas Panhandle, Amarillo has a population of 200,000 people claiming residence.

There are a couple of attractions, as well as tasty eateries in Amarillo. One interesting attraction is the Cadillac Ranch, a public art installation and sculpture. Created in 1974 by an art group, it consists of older junked Cadillacs, half-buried nose first in the ground, at an angle to that of the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. The Cadillac Ranch is definitely a must see for any automobile or art lover.

Amarillo has a big ranching community with some of the biggest ranches in Texas which would explain one of the best eateries, Big Texan Steak Ranch. Have you ever watched the scene in "The Great Outdoors" where John Candy devours the "Ole 96er" and thought, "I could do that." Well here is your chance. The Big Texan has a 72 ounce (4.5 pounds) steak, nicknamed "The Texas King". The steak is free to anyone who, in less than one hour, can eat the entire meal, consisting of the steak itself, plus bread roll, baked potato, ranch beans, shrimp cocktail and salad, or otherwise the meal is a whopping $72. To date, about 8,000 people have met that distinction out of 48,000.

Located adjacent to the restaurant is the 54-unit Big Texan Motel. Designed to resemble a main street in an old west town, it features Texas themed decor and a Texas-shaped pool. Amarillo definitely has a couple of interesting locations to check out and I highly recommend the Big Texan Steak Ranch, just make sure to bring a huge appetite.

Fans    5

Amarillo fans may want a new stadium and for the organization to change some things here and there, but that's not going to stop them from filling up the stadium. On what was an absolutely packed house the night I went, the fans were totally into the game rooting for each individual player and making sure to give the umpire an earful on any call they didn't agree with.

In visiting the other United League Baseball teams around Texas, I noticed a tradition I wasn't aware of at the independent league level, passing the hat. In this tradition they pass a hat throughout the stadium collecting money after one of the home players hits a home run. This tradition I noticed netted players what looked to be anywhere from an extra $20-$25 in most parks. Amarillo though makes sure their players are happy. After the first home run I thought maybe the player was just a fan favorite as they lowered two overflowing batting helmets down to the dugout, but then another player hit one and I noticed the same treatment. In talking with management for the organization he said on a good night a player could take home an extra 500 bucks. I think this act of generosity shows just how great these fans are. They are on their feet cheering loudly for their team and are some of the best baseball fans I have seen in Texas.

Access    3

Located on the outskirts of town next to a rodeo arena, the park isn't too difficult to find. Parking is plentiful and free and the restrooms are relatively clean with lines being pretty minimal if at all between innings. The concourses are wide enough for patrons in wheelchairs, and are pretty accessible to move around in general.

Return on Investment    4

Tickets range from $8 for field level box seats to $5 for general admission seats which I think is definitely worth it. In visiting the Dilla Villa, I feel you will experience what baseball is all about. Great fans who love the game and let their team know it every inning. The Dillas provide the people of the Panhandle a place to take their families for fun and entertainment at affordable prices. If you're in Amarillo, visiting the Dillas is a must.

Extras    2

Have to give some points here to Dilla Dude, the team mascot. The kids love him and he knows how to keep the crowd entertained.

Bye Bye Dillas

The Dillas are no longer. According to reports seems as if the Dillas didn't pay the bills and were evicted. Which after 3 straight United League Championships is kind of suprising. Moving in will be a the Amarillo Sox who will be part of the American Association. They will also be putting money in to renovate Potter County Stadium which is a huge plus because compared to other American Association teams that stadium will be an absolute eyesore if not renovated.

by pderrick | Jan 19, 2011 05:27 AM

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