Barnstorming

Official Review by Joshua Guiher, Stadium Journey Regional Correspondent

The Lancaster Barnstormers play in the Atlantic League. They play in Clipper Magazine Stadium, which is located in Lancaster, PA. Details of attending a game are sparse on the team's website that hasn't been updated since before the 2010 season, so read along and see how my visit went.

Food & Beverage    5

The Barnstormers have a nice selection of food. The best food is located at The Carvery and featured food from Hess's Barbeque Catering. All of their platters are $8.50 and they offer BBQ chicken, pulled pork, beef brisket sandwich, turkey sandwich and ham sandwich platters. They also have a Caesar salad ($6) and a chicken Caesar salad ($7.50).

If you want more traditional ballpark food, go to the Ballpark Classics stand. The menu is simply huge so I'm not going to list it here, but it has over 30 items including combo meals. Another nice thing is season ticket holders get a 32oz cup that they could get filled with soda for just $1.50; a real nice gift considering it was $4.50 for the average fan for the same size soda.

For dessert, you will want to check out Auntie Anne's pretzels, especially the cinnamon sugar pretzel. They also have regular soft pretzels with both selling for $3.50.

The Barnstormers also offered beer, although the selection wasn't too big. It is $5.75 for a domestic draft beer and $6 for a premium draft beer. Bottled water is $3.25 and soda selections are Pepsi products.

Atmosphere    2

If you look closely at the photos I took, you will notice that a good portion of the fans were more engaged to the person beside them than were into the game. I think this was mostly a product of the lack of atmosphere created by the team than an indictment on the fans themselves but either way, the atmosphere was one of the worst I experienced in my summer minor league ballpark tour.

There were some between innings contests as is standard for minor league baseball, but not a good variety or anything unique. Most of the between inning fun was taken up by calling bingo numbers for a group of about 15 people who were playing in the right field pavilion area. It would have been a lot more fun if it was baseball bingo being played by the entire stadium.

Neighborhood    1

Lancaster is a rundown, dying town. There is a high percentage of crime and quite frankly it is easily one of the worst towns I have traveled to. Nearly every building around the ballpark was boarded up and shuttered with the exception of a few row houses. The neighborhood alone makes me recommend that you make sure you know where you are going to get in and out of town from the ballpark.

Fans    3

The fans that were really into the game were quite loud. It was just the fact that on a perfect night for baseball the park wasn't half full and only some of the fans were really into the game.

To be honest, if it wasn't for former Mayor Dick Scott, the ballpark and the team would not exist in Lancaster. In fact, despite the beautiful stadium, I don't see how the team will continue to be in Lancaster in 10-15 years unless the fans start to show up and the town makes a turnaround.

Access    5

Easy to find off of the highway and free parking that was well lighted. I don't think you could ask for much more so nothing much to add here. Concourses were really wide for park size and things were easy to find except the ticket office which had the smallest, hardest to find sign I have ever seen.

Bathrooms were great.

Return on Investment    2

The return on investment was a disappointment due to the cost to enter a park that was more than half empty with a poor atmosphere. It cost $8 for a general admission ticket and the general admission area was a few benches and a grassy hill in left field.

Probably would get a 1-star rating except the staff let me sit by myself in an empty section despite knowing I only had a general admission ticket.

Extras    4

One point for the soda refill option for season ticket holders. Another for the cool setup around right field that had a pedestrian walkway that carried you over the bumper car ride. It was a neat perspective to watch the families have fun. Two points for housing the Silverball Museum Arcade, a pinball hall of fame where you can actually play the best pinball machines of all-time. The museum is open during games but is probably best enjoyed by coming early and playing before the game. A ticket for the museum and the game is just $20 per person and group rates are available if you want to have a birthday party or gathering that includes access to the machines.

Final Thoughts

A beautiful park with great extra entertainment options that does not live up to its full potential due to a poor atmosphere, a ho-hum fan base and a poor, crime-riddled neighborhood. If you go for the park itself, then make a stop at Clipper Magazine Stadium, but if you go for the full experience, I suggest you skip out of this one.