The Hammer

Official Review by Franklin Crittenden, Stadium Journey Regional Correspondent

The next time you are passing through the Mobile, Alabama area you may want to stop and catch a game at Hank Aaron Stadium. In fact, if you are traveling south on I-65 through the city of Mobile and you glance to your left just before you reach I-10 you will catch a glimpse of Hank Aaron's childhood home which is now located next to the stadium that bears his name. Hank Aaron's childhood home is part of the new "Hank Aaron Childhood Home and Museum" that was opened in the spring of 2009. The museum is filled with mementos and artifacts donated by Aaron and his family, as well as the Baseball Hall of Fame and the Negro League Baseball Museum. "Hammering Hank" was born and raised in Mobile and considers having Hank Aaron Stadium named in his honor and then locating a museum dedicated to his legacy in his hometown a great honor.

Hank Aaron Stadium officially opened in 1997 and is the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks' double A affiliate, the Mobile BayBears. The stadium has a seating capacity of 6000 as well as 22 unique luxury suites. These luxury suites are unique because they are located at field level which really gives this stadium an unusual look. The city of Mobile is one of the oldest cities in the South dating all the way back to 1702, so it seems strange that Mobile is also home to one of the newest minor league ballparks in the south. In fact the Mobile BayBears were the first minor league team to play baseball in Mobile in over 25 years. That means an entire generation of young baseball fans have grown up in Mobile without a minor league baseball team to fall in love with.

Food & Beverage    2

Hank Aaron Stadium has several concession stands that carry the names of some of the great historic baseball fields in America, The Polo Grounds and so on. Prices at the concession stands were very reasonable, but the selection was a little boring in my opinion. A hot dog was priced at just $2.50 and drinks started around $2.50 as well. There were also hamburgers for $4.50 and pizza sold by the slice at $2.50, but that was about it. There was also a larger hot dog that went for $4.50 and the usual selections of kids favorites that were priced from $2.50 and up. Adult beverages were also available and averaged around $5. There was nothing to get excited about at the concession stand, but there was nothing to complain about either. Inviting a few outside vendors or improving the variety of the concession stand menu would certainly be a plus.

Atmosphere    4

I must say that when I first arrived at Hank Aaron Stadium I thought to myself, here we go, another town, another stadium. Then I spotted the Hank Aaron Childhood Home and Museum and I perked right up. Hammering Hank has always been one of my favorites and getting a chance to have a look at many of his personal and professional keepsakes was a big treat. That alone was enough for me to rate this stadium above the norm. The whole complex was dedicated to Hank Aaron and that made visiting this stadium special to me.

Neighborhood    1

Hank Aaron Stadium is located about a quarter of a mile south of Hwy 90 which is called Government Blvd inside the city limits of Mobile. Government Blvd was the nearest place to find anything to eat or drink other than inside Hank Aaron Stadium itself. There is a McAlister's restaurant located on the corner of Government Blvd and the access to the stadium, and there is also a Steak and Shake located next door to McAlister's. Other than that Hank Aaron Stadium has this small section of Mobile to itself as far as food and drink is concerned. I don't know if this would be helpful, but there is a large modern movie theater right next to Hank Aaron Stadium which could come in handy if the game were to get rained out.

Fans    3

There were fewer than 1000 fans in attendance on the night I attended, and this game took place on a weekend. There were some storms in the area so that could account for a low turn out, but the crowd was just not what I would have hoped for. The fans in attendance were into the game, so I will give them credit for that, but all and all the fan turn out could have been better. Let's blame it on the weather this time.

Access    4

Easy to find and easy to get to as well. Parking was only $3 and there was plenty of parking available right in front of the stadium. Hank Aaron Stadium is located just north of I-10 right next to I-65. Take exit 1 and drop down on Government Blvd and then head east for about a block, then take a right and follow the signs right to the stadium, it was just as easy as it sounds. Traffic was not a problem the day I visited, but the crowd was small.

Return on Investment    4

Having Hammering Hank's Museum on the grounds of this venue made this a good return on my investment. Ticket prices run from $7 and up and our men and women in the military were admitted free, I always like that. Couple that with $3 parking and the addition of the Hank Aaron's museum and you have yourself a pretty good deal. There is a small admission price for the museum, but you could purchase a package that included both at a fair price.

Extras    4

At the risk of sounding repetitive, the extra here for me was Hank Aaron. This stadium is a tribute to "Hammering Hank" and everything from his museum to the "The 755 Club" doesn't let you forget what this place is all about. Everywhere you looked was a tribute to the Home Run King. That alone makes this stadium worth the visit in my opinion. Like all the minor league fields you visit these days there was also plenty of things to do with the kids, including a small water slide.

Final Thoughts

Mobile is a great city and Hank Aaron Stadium was an interesting place to watch a ballgame. The stadium was unique in its design and the addition of the Hank Aaron Children's Museum was a stroke of genius. If you live in the Mobile area and haven't visited the museum you should, and if you are not from Mobile and in the area you should certainly stop and take a look. On a side note, Mobile has some of the best Seafood restaurants in America, just ask anyone at the stadium and they will give you a few great suggestions on where to eat while you are in town. Two other sightseeing suggestions I will make would be to visit Bellingrath Gardens and the USS Alabama Battleship Museum, both are certainly worth a look-see.