Cheney Stadium - Tacoma Rainiers
- James Hilchen
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Photos by James Hilchen, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86
Cheney Stadium 2502 S Tyler St Tacoma, WA 98405
Year Opened: 1960
Capacity: 6,500
Home of the Tacoma Rainiers
Opened in 1960, Cheney Stadium plays host to the AAA Tacoma Rainiers of the Pacific Coast League. The stadium has a unique history. Cheney Stadium needed to be built in short order in order for Tacoma to obtain the AAA team that was based in Phoenix. The mission succeeded with the stadium being built in a mere three and a half months to meet the Opening Day deadline.
In 2011, Cheney underwent a comprehensive $30 million renovation that included luxury suites, a kids play area, more restrooms and concessions and shoring up the main seating area. In addition to the Rainiers, Cheney Stadium hosted the Tacoma Defiance and OL Reign soccer teams in addition to hosting the AAA All-Star Game in 2017.
Food & Beverage 4
Cheney Stadium offers up all the items you expect. From hot dogs to burgers to pizza and BBQ sandwiches, there is no shortage of ballpark fare. Cheney takes their concessions one step further. As a nod to their location near the Pacific, give Ivar’s a try. They serve different dishes including fish & chips and clam chowder. If you are feeling adventurous, try an Ivar Dog. The Ivar Dog is a seafood-based hotdog topped with cole slaw and tartar sauce. In addition, Cheney offers up the regular snacks of popcorn, ice cream, cotton candy, pretzels, etc.
As for beverages, Cheney serves Coke products. Additionally, there are a multitude of beer and mixed drink options. Want coffee? Stop by Grounds Brew where you will find all sorts of different types of coffee and tea. Concessions run about the norm for minor league baseball.
Atmosphere 4
The stadium is aesthetically quite nice. There are no bad seats. One thing you notice quickly is the seating area is a bit steeper than many stadiums. This creates great views of the field without having to worry about partially blocked views if taller fans are sitting in front of you.
A video board sits just left of the batter’s eye, with the scoreboard just to the right of the batter’s eye. Down the first base line is a nice grass berm area. The berm gives a great view of the Rainiers bullpen which is near the right field corner. Behind the berm is a kids play area which includes a whiffle ball park.
Restrooms and concessions are below the seating deck. On the night I attended, while the crowd was not particularly large, there were no issues with lines for the restrooms or concessions.
Neighborhood 3
Cheney Stadium is set in a residential/retail area. As such, there isn’t much in the way of places to walk to before or after the game. However, about 3 miles away, you will find a litany of places in a very scenic area…Commencement Bay. This area is also where you will find most of the hotels in the area.
Among your dining options are the E9 Firehouse and Gastropub on Pine St. E9 brews their own beer and, yes, is located in a former firehouse. Down on 6th St., we stopped at the Southern Kitchen. If you are a fan of southern cooking, this is your place. Be sure and try the catfish…it’s great!
Fans 4
Having attended far more minor league games than I can remember, I was hard pressed to remember too many crowds that were more attentive during the game. A large percentage of fans knew the players, the important situations, and were engaged throughout the game.
Access 4
Cheney Stadium is located just off Highway 16 on South Tyler St. and is easy to get to. There are two parking entrances, one in front of the stadium and one behind the stadium in the Foss High School parking lot. On the evening I attended, the stands were about half full and there were no issues getting around the concourse or finding a restroom. Concession lines were minimal and yielded a very short wait, if any.
Return on Investment 3
You can get a ticket in the main seating area for about $23. I’d recommend using the Foss High School parking lot for parking as the cost is $10, which is half the cost of the home plate parking lot which is $20. Concessions are about the going rate at all minor league parks. While the cost to attend a game is a little more pricey than other parks, Cheney Stadium offers a fun experience that that gives you a good return on your money.
Extras 5
Cheney Stadium has a unique setup. While hard to describe, it is a very enjoyable look.
If you like old time light towers, Cheney is your place. The light towers were reclaimed from Seals Park in San Francisco, which is the stadium the San Francisco Giants initially played in when relocating from New York.
On a clear day, head up to the left field party deck. Should Mt. Rainier be peaking out, you will have a great view of it.
In the concourse, you will find a nice little display of the Tacoma Baseball Hall of Fame.
Final point for Rhubarb the Reindeer. Rhubarb is the Rainiers mascot and quite active during the game.
Final Thoughts
I wasn’t sure what to expect of Cheney Stadium. I walked away very impressed with the stadium and the game presentation the Rainiers staff puts together on a nightly basis. The prices are a little on the high side, but there are some unique factors that make a visit to Cheney Stadium well worth your time.
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