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Apple of the Eye

Official Review by Paul Swaney, Stadium Journey Co-Founder

Wow. Anyone who attends a Fort Wayne TinCaps game has to be left with an overwhelming feeling of pure, wow. It's hard to believe that this is a class A ball club, as everything is at least on the level with an AAA team.

If you ran a minor league team and you were taking a test on how to build a minor league park, this would be the paper you would want to cheat off of.

Let me be clear about my point- this is as good as it gets in the world of not only minor league baseball, but live sporting events in general. Run, don't walk, to Fort Wayne, Indiana to see beautiful Parkview Field.

First you'll need a little history- on Johnny Appleseed. If you thought he was a myth, you would be wrong. He was a real man, missionary, and conservationist who traveled around the Midwest and helped to plant apple trees throughout Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.

His real name was John Chapman, and whether or not he actually wore a tin pot on his head is disputed by some historians. Nonetheless it made for a good name for the Fort Wayne ball club when they re-branded for the 2009 season. You see, John Chapman spent his last days in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and is buried there, although that exact location is in dispute as well. The result is a great local theme in a fabulous venue.

Food & Beverage    5

With four concession stands and 19 food carts, you shouldn't have to wait in line very long. Besides the prevalence of quantity, you'll also find the food to be of a very high quality. There are five different sausages from hot dogs to bratwurst, burgers, chicken, pork, vegetarian options, sweets, and plenty of beverage options.

In short, there's everything you would ever want.

I'll give my recommendation to the BBQ ribs (found out in the center field Grand Slam Grill) as well as the pulled pork sandwich. I also appreciated that they serve a locally made beer, Granite City Ale, served in either small or large sizes. If you want something else, they got it- with 20 additional beers available.

Above all else, stop at The Apple Cart for a Johnny Appleseed tribute snack. I recommend the apple turnover.

Finally, the Fort Wayne TinCaps need to be commended for the wide variety of healthy options available. Part of this is due to the sponsorship by Parkview Hospital, but this is also due to a commitment of the organization to provide healthy options to its fans. Pita chips with hummus, TinCap salad, and fresh fruit are among the bevy of fried ballpark foods.

Atmosphere    5

Parkview Field smells like baseball, sounds like baseball, and feels like baseball. From the beautiful entryway, through the wide concourses, and to any of the wide variety of seating options- seemingly everything has been done exactly right, making for a near-perfect baseball experience.

Most impressive are those seating options. Down the right field line there is a picnic area that accommodates groups of 50-1500. For $20 per person fans get their seats, food, and non-alcoholic beverages. In left field, the home run porch allows for padded seats, and food rails for $10 a ticket.

Club seats, padded chairs with great leg room behind home plate in the second deck, are sold out for the 2010 season, but offer great views of the action, and would be my choice above all other options.

Down below, fans can choose from reserved seats ($8), all-star seats ($9), or field boxes down the third base line ($36 for four seats). There are also plenty of other group options and luxury box seating, and having taken the tour, all are really impressive, and well worth the price. It is hard to believe that this is class A baseball. In many ways it feels equivalent to at least AAA level, and other than the play on the field, some may choose this option over some major league experiences.

Neighborhood    4

You'll find anything you're looking for before or after the games. If you want fast food, there's a string of Taco Bell, Rally's, and King Gyros literally across the street. You may not expect to get good seafood in the middle of the Midwest, but the Oyster Bar is a great choice if you want to go for a little nicer dinner. They also have pretty decent steaks.

Less than a mile away from the park is Mad Anthony's, serving up handcrafted beers, including an excellent pale ale. I tried the beer sampler for $6.50, which included tastes of six different beers. The food is solid as well, and I'm told they make great pizzas. I was frankly stuffed after all the goodies at the game, so I tried the "Scooby snacks." These little fried potato wedges were great, and at only $2.60 for a small order, they would make for a perfect snack.

For entertainment options, the Embassy Theatre is next door to Parkview Field, so you may be able to do a doubleheader of baseball and music or a Broadway style show.

Fans    5

I can't say there was anything memorable about the fans at Parkview Field, except that they do watch the game. That may seem like a small thing (it is a baseball game after all), but you would be surprised how many people go to games with little or no intention of paying attention to the action on the field. Besides that, the place was nearly full for an 11am start time on a Wednesday, pretty impressive.

Access    5

Parking will cost you $4 in the garage next door to the park, and the crowd size is small enough that getting in or out in a timely manner should not be an issue. Restrooms are clean and plentiful enough to avoid any lines.

Return on Investment    5

I really can't emphasize enough the great value that can be found at Parkview Field. I lived it up with a $9 seat, two entrees, a beer, an apple turnover, and a children's t-shirt for my son, and still left spending less than $50 for a near-perfect ballpark experience. That being said, I could have just as easily grabbed a $5 lawn seat, a 1/4 rack of ribs, an apple turnover, and a small beverage, and would have come in under $20. Any way you slice it, it's a bargain for the quality that is put before you.

Extras    3

One extra point for the friendly disposition of every single staff member that I interacted with. There is really something to be said for an organization that can get its staff to be as enthusiastic about the experience as this group clearly was.

A second point for Jake the Diamond Dog. In the world of minor league baseball there are always gimmicks, but I especially enjoyed this retriever serving as bat boy for a half inning.

Finally, I really appreciate the theme that pervades everything that you experience at a Fort Wayne TinCaps game. A fitting tribute to a local legend makes this baseball venue as American as, well, apple pie.

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