For more than ten years the Atlanta Braves have been champions in their division of major league baseball. This has become the best team that money can buy. Really, the Braves have become the team that they once were before they moved from Milwaukee. That is great for the Atlanta fans.

My wife and I have attended games at Turner Field on several occassions. The stadium is one of the newer designs that is friendly to the Southern fan. They have a huge area devoted to concessions; evrything from pizza to brats to burgers. Be sure to bring plenty of extra money for food, though. Turner Field has a reputation for not allowing food to be brought in from the outside. Hotdogs run #2.50 (for the same that you buy in a convenience store for $0.50), beer runs from $4.50 - $7. Bottled water runs $2.

There is an area for children of all ages to play virtual reality and computer games, although I don't understand why someone would pay $28 - $75 to watch a baseball game, then spend their time playing little games instead of watchng the game. There is a beautiful picnic area for families who enjoy eating while watching the game. Everything has been designed to enhance the enjoyment that the fan would want.

However, the Braves and their management have left out the most important aspect of America's favorite sport. That is the fan interaction with the team. Those of us who come from other areas of the country are accustomed to seeing the team, interacting with the players and announcers, and feeling as though they are a part of the team. This is seriously lacking at Turner Field. The stadium guards (really?) are unfriendly and go out of their way to make themselves appear more imortant than the customer. (I have not seen guards at any of the five other stadiums in which I have attended major league games.) The team members do not care about anyone but themselves. In general, the entire organization is quite pretentious. They try to be better than others, yet show that they are nothing more than the losers that existed in Atlanta for more than 25 years prior to their current streak.

On our last visit to the stadium, there was a group of fans who had travelled from St. Louis to watch the series with the Braves. They cheered the Cardinals and had a good time. No one complained until the Cardinals took the lead in the 7th inning. At that point, the stadium guards came down to the fans and thre them out of the ballpark. I was extremely embarrassed to be in the stands on that occassion.

If you want to see the game, go to the stadium. You would have a better time watching the gme on TV. But, don't expect to be treated as though you were important. The Braves are truly a low-class organization.

Over the past decade, the Atlanta Braves baseball team has been one of the most dominating teams in Major League Baseball. Playing it's home games at Turner Field, the one time Olympic Stadium in Atlanta, the Braves offer a great family outing at a reasonable price. The easiest way to get to the ballpark is to take the Braves Shuttle, courtesty of MARTA that will deliver you to the ballpark and keep you from having to pay exorbitant parking rates anywhere near the stadium. The stadium itself is perhaps one of the finest in baseball today, with it's blend of old and new features. As you first enter the entry plaza beyond center field, take notice of the billboard sized photo of the ball that Hank Aaron hit for his record breaking 715th homerun. You'll often find live bands and other entertainment in the entry plaza as well and will also find the entrance the Chop Shop, the steak house in the ballpark (which practically requires reservations, but you can stay and watch the game as long as you're eating/drinking) and a neat innovation in ballpark concessions called "Taste of the Majors" which features regional foods in hommage to the visiting team. You're likely to find such things as Philly Cheese Steak when Philadelphia is in town or Dodger Dogs when LA is visiting. One thing to be aware of if you're on a tight budget is that concessions at the ballpark are pricey, but you can bring in a small cooler, provided that it will fit under your seat and it contains no glass or aluminum bottles and no alcohol. So, fill up your cooler with Cokes and snacks and head to the ballpark without the worries of spending big bucks. Also, an interesting twist to buying tickets is an offer called "Skyline Seats" which the club sells day of game for $1 in the upper corner of the stadium and as the name suggests provides a great view of the skyline. Be warned though that these seats are rarely available if you show up anywhere near game time, so it's probably best, if you want to ensure seeing the game, to give in and buy a ticket. If you're a Braves fan or a fledgling Major League Baseball fan, the Braves rarely disappoint and will usually offer their fans a good win and a reasonable fire works display after the game. Overall, a wonderful experience at a reasonable price and as always features some of the top names in the game today.