Stadium Journey’s Double-A Ballpark Ranking 2025
- Marc Viquez
- 3 hours ago
- 8 min read
As the 2025 season draws to a close, it's time to spotlight the ballparks that define Double-A minor league baseball across the Eastern, Texas, and Southern Leagues. Some stadiums are timeless classics, others are newly constructed or only a few years old, and several have recently undergone significant renovations.
These rankings are based on Stadium Journey’s patented FANFARE rating scale, which evaluates each venue across seven key categories:
🍔 Food & Beverage Options
🎉 Game Day Atmosphere
🏙️ Surrounding Neighborhood
🙌 Fan Support
💸 Return on Investment
🧩 Extras - Unique features that don’t fit neatly into the other categories
When two or more ballparks earn the same score, the Stadium Journey Council of Elders steps in to break the tie with their seasoned insight.
To dive deeper into each stadium’s review, just click the link associated with the team’s name. Enjoy the rankings - and see where your favorite ballpark lands!
1) Dr Pepper Ballpark, Frisco RoughRiders (4.57)
Dr Pepper Ballpark offers one of the best minor league baseball experiences, with an intimate setting in a populated area. The Frisco area is becoming a sports fan’s destination paradise, and the area continues to grow. If you’re in the Dallas area, be sure to give Dr Pepper Ballpark, the Choctaw Lazy River, and the Frisco RoughRiders a visit – seeing this park is well worth it for the unique entertainment experience.
2) ONEOK Field, Tulsa Drillers (4.57)
ONEOK Field sports and entertainment is very much geared towards families and children. In addition, it is still an enjoyable visit for those without youngsters. The downtown setting and current vibe create an ambiance for after the game. Tulsa, though not the ‘hotbed’ of tourist destinations, has plenty to see and visit.
3) Dunkin’ Donuts Park, Hartford Yard Goats (4.43)
Fans have embraced the Yard Goats and have come out in solid numbers for the ball club. Dunkin’ Donuts Park has the feeling of a venue that has tried too hard to incorporate as many features as possible into one place. Baseball almost feels like an afterthought here. Time will tell if this ballpark will age gracefully, but for now, it appears to be a venue well worth the wait for Hartford baseball fans.
4) HODGETOWN, Amarillo Sod Poodles (4.29)
HODGETOWN is a great new ballpark that seems to have something for everyone. The main entrance is one of the most alluring in all of the minors, and the unique stadium name shows creativity and a desire to be different. The Sod Poodles will be a mainstay in the area for years to come, and all minor league aficionados should schedule a visit at their earliest convenience.
In its first few seasons, Riverfront Stadium is already a great ballpark. With the plans that are in place, it will only get better in the coming seasons. Good food, great seats, and an aesthetically pleasing stadium allow for a fun time for fans. For baseball traveling fanatics, be sure to add this one to your list; it won’t disappoint.
To describe the atmosphere at a Reading Fightin Phils game is somewhat difficult; it is a place that is best served with your own eyes, and I only hope I can do it justice in this review. There is no other minor league ballpark experience quite like FirstEnergy Stadium in Baseballtown, USA.
It broadcasts baseball here. It’s about the game; a baseball purist's dream. At close to twenty years old, Hammons Field and the Springfield Cardinals continue to be a perfect place for baseball enthusiasts and other fans to spend their evenings. “This is the most wonderful place on earth right now. I feel like I’m in heaven.”
Before you even enter the stadium, you know you are in for a special experience, as it is surrounded by the beautiful Maritime Park, instead of a massive asphalt parking lot. If you arrive early enough, take a walk around the sidewalk outside the stadium to get some great views of the bay and check out the beautiful amphitheater just over the center field wall.
Portland Sea Dogs baseball is quietly one of the best minor league experiences in the country, whether you are a baseball purist or a family looking for a fun, affordable outing. The experience is refreshingly straightforward, focusing on the game without losing its sense of fun for fans of all ages.
10) Canal Park, Akron RubberDucks (4)
Canal Park is a comfortable, clean, and well-maintained ballpark and is definitely worth the trip based upon the food alone, but the people definitely make this park a must-see. It blends in beautifully with the surrounding buildings and neighborhood streets of Akron, Ohio.
There are many fantastic ballparks scattered throughout the AA level of minor league baseball. People's Natural Gas Field in Altoona has to be considered among the best. It’s a fun place to catch a game, filled with energy, enthusiastic fans, and plenty of entertainment to distract you. Plus, it’s hard to beat the view.
What has been created at Toyota Field and in the surrounding Town Madison development creates a minor league baseball experience that builds on the local support from the community, and gives visitors all they need to make a trip to see the Trash Pandas as convenient, affordable, and enjoyable as possible.
A trip to Dickey-Stephens Park to see the Arkansas Travelers is a great way to spend a summer evening or weekend afternoon. The Travs offer great value in a unique setting at a family-friendly price. A must for all baseball fans.
14) Regions Field, Birmingham Barons (3.86)
Regions Field blends both the future and the past of modern minor league ballpark design and construction. It serves as a place not only for baseball but also for the community to enjoy themselves through the season. It has revived the local neighborhood and brought fans back to downtown Birmingham.
Baseball’s return to Knoxville has come with a great deal of excitement, and with good reason. The stadium experience in Kodak was enjoyable, but it pretty much started when you entered the gates and ended as soon as you left. Alternatively, what the Smokies have created in Knoxville is a minor league baseball team that seamlessly transitions from outside the stadium, in, and back out again once the ball game is over.
Riverwalk Stadium is a beautiful ballpark to visit when stopping by Montgomery. It serves the Biscuits baseball team very well and is a fun place to spend a Summer evening or Saturday. Make sure you get a biscuit while you are watching the Biscuits!
17) MGM Park, Biloxi Shuckers (3.71)
For ballpark travelers, a trip through Mississippi is natural, and a stop in Biloxi is a necessity. However, Biloxi is a solid stop for average baseball fans who are looking for a bit of a different experience. The Biloxi Shuckers offer a great baseball experience and an outstanding concession lineup. A trip to MGM Park in Biloxi is definitely a Shuckin’ good time.
Whataburger Field shows its age a little, but it is still beautifully done and in a great location. Visiting Corpus Christi is also always a great respite, whether you’re taking in another game, visiting one of the many museums, or just heading to the beach and dining on first-class seafood; there is plenty for any visitor to do.
A Blue Jays farm team in the middle of Red Sox territory has to work harder to keep the fans coming, and the Fisher Cats staff does a great job filling Delta Dental Stadium year after year. While this may not be the most memorable ballpark out there, plenty is going on in Manchester to make a Stadium Journey to the Granite State worthwhile.
UPMC Park was a fun night at the ballpark. The pre-game ceremonies, food options, merchandise variety, and vantage points place it in a category all of its own in the Eastern League. When you add the city of Erie to your travels, you have a pleasant weekend to spend along the lake with friends and family.
Renovating a historic stadium comes with the risk of it losing its original charm, but Synovus Park succeeds in both honoring its past and offering a comfortable, modern fan experience. While not flashy, its authenticity, character, and thoughtful updates create a great atmosphere for minor league baseball.
Taking a trip to City Island for some Harrisburg Senators baseball is a great plan for some summer entertainment. FNB Field is truly a unique facility, and the team puts together a good experience. Sensylvania is the place to be.
Midland Rockhound Baseball is the only professional baseball option within 250 miles. As such, the leadership and game presentation could easily become stale, with the staff here counting solely on their monopoly to sell tickets and bring in crowds. Instead, they have chosen to offer an experience that is fun for all ages and different levels of baseball acuity.
Prince George's Stadium is showing some age in its 30-year frame, but it is still a quality minor league stadium that is presenting a nice level of baseball talent. A fresh new logo and branding, and a commitment to the fanbase will keep many coming back to games season after season.
The Somerset Patriots have been a fan favorite for more than 25 years. Conveniently located just off the highway and surrounded by shops and neighborhoods, the ballpark offers an ideal setting for affordable, family-friendly entertainment in New Jersey. Strong marketing and community engagement have long been hallmarks of the franchise, and the team’s transition from independent ball to an MLB affiliate only strengthened its already solid reputation.
AT&T Field provides a beautiful view of the Chattanooga hills. Its days are unfortunately numbered, but the memories that the ballpark provided will live on through those who witnessed a baseball game there. Coming next year is Erlanger Park, which will span over 140 acres in the heart of the South Broad District, just south of Downtown Chattanooga. We will make the trip to The Scenic City next year.
A trip to Upstate New York and the Binghamton Rumble Ponies is a great way to take in some Minor League Baseball. Mirabito Stadium offers a solid facility for baseball that was highlighted by a league championship for the Baby Mets. There is plenty of fun in Rumbletown.
Taking in a baseball game at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale is a great idea for the whole family, and the Northwest Arkansas Naturals provide a great experience. It’s only natural for fans to want to make return trips.
I currently do and probably always will have a warm place in my heart, and in my memories, for Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium. I’ve seen a lot of baseball here over the years, and for whichever reason comes first, I will miss it if/when it’s gone. With that being said, I have to admit it’s not a stadium that needs to be on anyone’s bucket list.
This was the final season for the Squirrels at The Diamond, a 40-year-old ballpark that was well past its prime. It was beloved by many, but the next year, the team will open CarMax Park in 2026 in the Diamond District development, bringing a new era of minor league baseball to Richmond, Virginia. We will surely see it make the list next year.
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