At Bats

Official Review by Kevin Geary, Stadium Journey Guest Correspondent

Louisville Slugger Field, home of the Louisville Bats, is a great baseball stadium located in downtown Louisville along the banks of the Ohio River. There's plenty to do before the game, there's plenty to do during the game, and there's plenty to do after the game, all at a fair price.

Food & Beverage    4

What would you like? Hot dog? Check. Burger? Check. Soda? Check. Beer? Check. All the classics. You can also find some awesome, one of kind stuff including big brats, grand slam dogs, fried bologna, quesadillas, and a mixed drink to tickle anyone's fancy. And I'm not even including the Comfy Cow Ice Cream Shop, Dippin' Dots, German Roasted Nuts, Build Your Own Pasta Bar, Sorbets, turkey legs, roasted corn, or pulled pork nachos. When it comes to food and drink, Slugger Field offers classics and unique items.

Atmosphere    4

To start off, there's no such thing as a bad seat in the park. Slugger Field is named after the Louisville Slugger bat company. The Slugger Museum is a brief drive down Main Street away from the stadium. Outside the Main Street entrance to the stadium is a statue of baseball great Pee Wee Reese. Inside that entrance you can walk around and read all about the rich history of baseball in Louisville, which dates all the way back to the American Association days in the early 1900s.

During the game there is entertainment between every inning. Whether it be the classic seventh inning stretch, the Taco Bell Sauce Packet Race, the Kentucky Lottery Disco Drop, or an act from one of the promotions, there's always something to keep you entertained. With so much history and entertainment along with great seats at cheap prices, Slugger Field is a great place to watch a baseball game.

Neighborhood    5

There's plenty to do before the game. Family friendly activities include Museum Row on Main where you can visit the Louisville Slugger Museum, Frazier History Museum, and the Louisville Science Center. After that you can go to eat at the Old Spaghetti Factory, Brownings (which is attached to Slugger Field), or the Hard Rock Cafe.

After enjoying some great baseball action, you can enjoy Louisville nightlife at Stevie Ray's Blues Bar, Brownings (also a microbrewery), or go bar hopping at 4th Street Live. There is certainly plenty to do before and after the game - all within a 10 block radius.

Fans    2

I really want to give the fans a higher score, but when it comes down to it, not many of them care enough to follow the team or to watch the game for that matter. There are the few season ticket holders who come to/listen to every game the Bats play. Then there's the majority of the crowd who are there to either "catch a game," entertain the family, or are there because someone gave them tickets.

Most of the time, unless it's a weekend game, all of the "casual" fans are gone by the 9th inning and hardly anyone stays for extra innings. This laid-back attitude from fans hurts the overall baseball experience at Slugger Field.

Access    5

Fans can park in the parking lot at Slugger Field or the lot across the street on the third base side of the stadium for $5. There is also a lot across the street to the home plate side of the stadium and the Humana garage is available for $5. Additionally, there is a plethora of free parking available at parking meters (which are off after 6 PM during weekdays and all weekend long).

Also under this category are the restrooms. Let's put it like this: if there is a line (and there hardly ever is), the longest wait you'll ever have is 3-4 minutes. But, 99.9% of the time, there is no wait to use a restroom.

Return on Investment    4

Overall, Slugger Field has fair prices. You won't pay more than $11 for a ticket. You can get a ticket in the lower level near the bullpens for $10, or go a couple sections further down the line and pay just $7.

Food prices are good for some items (e.g., the big brat), about right for some items (e.g., super nachos and turkey leg), and some slightly overpriced (e.g., $3 for a hot dog) but all-in-all, you can always find a good deal. One thing new to Slugger Field in 2011 is the all you can drink cup for $9. Basically, pay $9 one time, keep your receipt and enjoy free refills on soda of your choice for the remainder of the game.

Extras    4

All You Can Eat Seats - Having a big get together or business meeting in Louisville? You could get a group of friends together and plan a trip to Slugger Field, where you can reserve the covered picnic area just above the right field wall for an all you can eat buffet during the game. The cost is $23 per person, which is a very good deal in my book. Chalk up Slugger Field's first bonus point.

Thunder Over Louisville - If you don't know what Thunder Over Louisville is, it's basically the biggest fireworks show in America and one of the most amazing things you will ever witness in your life. Where does Slugger Field get on the act? For $35, you get a ticket to the game and a wristband that grants you the power to come and go in and out of the stadium as you please all night long (which means REAL restrooms, ladies and gents). It may seem like a hefty price, but it really is a great deal. I would recommend to anyone to come to Slugger Field on Thunder Over Louisville just once in your life - you won't regret it. Slugger Field's deal of coming and going during Thunder earns them a bonus point here.

Promotions - Slugger Field always has some kind of promotion going on. Whether it be $1 Hot Dog & $1 Pepsi Tuesday, Thirsty Thursday Happy Hour, Fireworks Friday, or Sunday Kids Run the Bases, there's always something going on. Not to mention appearances by the Zooperstars, the Famous Chicken, Breakin B Boy McCoy, Myron Noodleman, and Jake the Diamond Dog among others. Unfortunately, Slugger Field lacks some creativity when it comes to giveaways, but they make up for some of it with quantity. While Slugger Field does offer entertainment, they could put up a few more giveaways.

Entertainment for kids - A baseball game can be boring from time to time, especially for the little ones. Luckily, Slugger Field has pulled out all the stops to keep the kiddos entertained. On Sundays, there's the Inflatable Kids Zone in the Hall of Fame Pavilion outside the West Gate. Also, every Sunday kids get to run the bases after the game. But, what if you're not at a game on a Sunday? Take them over to the playground. There are two separate playgrounds, one for bigger kids and one for smaller kids, sure to wear out the kids and allow mom and dad to head back to the seats to enjoy the remainder of the game. By the way, there's also a carousel available for $1 per ride. Slugger Field offers plenty of ways to entertain your children, which earns them a big bonus point.

Final Thoughts

Louisville Slugger Field combined with the great community of Downtown Louisville make for a great overall experience to see a baseball game, eat some great food, and have a lot of fun to cap off the night. I definitely recommend Slugger Field to anyone who enjoys a good baseball game at a relatively low price. Hope to see you at "The Slug" in the future.