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Turner Field

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Oedivanth
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Editor Pick

Turner Field

  • April 21, 2008
  • Rated 5 of 5 by RoBoNC from Indianapolis, Indiana
Turner Field

The Atlanta Braves is the oldest continuously playing team in baseball history. However, it would be a long time before they came to Atlanta. The team was originally formed in 1871 as the Boston Red Stockings and along with the Chicago White Stockings, present day Chicago Cubs; they are the only two remaining charter teams of the National League. The team spent 81 years in Boston and went through numerous name changes, Beaneaters, Doves, Rustlers, before settling on the Braves in 1912. The team remained the Braves except for four years when the name was changed to the Bees, but was soon changed back. In 1953 the team moved to Milwaukee where they played for the next twelve years. Then in 1966, it was announced that the Braves would be moving to Atlanta.

The first thirty years the Braves were in Atlanta, their games were played in Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. The most memorable event in the ballpark and which has been seen numerous times on television happened on April 8, 1974. Hank Aaron became the all-time home run leader when he hit his 715th homer against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The stadium was demolished to make way for a parking lot for the new stadium. The parking lot contains an outline of the old stadium as well as a plaque that marks where Hank Aaron’s 715th home run ball landed.

In 1996, Atlanta played host for the Summer Olympics. Originally called the Centennial Olympic Stadium, it was built directly across from Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. After the Olympics, it was renovated to accommodate the Braves. The stadium is now known as Turner Field, after the owner Ted Turner, and the address is symbolic, 755 Hank Aaron Drive. (Hank Aaron hit 755 career home runs, making him the all-time home run king. Barry Bonds may be the all time home run king on paper, but to baseball fans, Hank Aaron still holds that spot.)

Before or during the game and even on non-game days, the Ivan Allen Jr Museum and Hall of Fame highlights the history of the Braves and displays their World Series trophies. The museum opens up 2 ½ hours before game time and closes in the seventh inning. Ticket prices range from $6 in the Upper Pavilion to $74 in the Hank Aaron section. I sat in the Field Pavilion with a level view of the ball field and the tickets were only $22. It is a great section to try to catch a home run ball and you are next to the oversized drum that is used to get the home team fired up. The tomahawk chop is a signature trademark of the Braves. Instead of doing the wave, the drum is pounded and the fans began to "tomahawk chop" their team to victory.

Parking is not as bad here as it is at most stadiums. Parking fees range from $8-12. If you prefer to take public transportation, MARTA operates shuttle service to the stadium. The shuttle bus picks up at Underground Atlanta and operates 90 minutes before the game until an hour after the game. The bus ride only cost $2 a person and it was a lot better than having to fight traffic leaving the ballpark.

Games Watched: April 7, 2007 vs. NY Mets W 5-3

From journal Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Editor Pick

Turner Field

  • September 11, 2007
  • Rated 3 of 5 by Little Ayun from Cambridge, Massachusetts
Turner Field

Turner Field, in addition to being a great venue for a baseball game, is also a pretty fun place to hang out. It’s not a vertigo-inducing canyon like US Cellular Field in Chicago, or so protective of its heritage that it can be a little boring if you’re not riveted to the game and/or drunk like Fenway or Wrigley Field. The park was originally built as a venue for the 1996 Olympics, and was inspired by the then-new "throwback" style of Camden Yards in Baltimore. It’s got the big scoreboard and endless distractions that are de rigueur in the ADD age, including a number of kid-oriented activity areas, and there are tons of observation areas and standing-room spots that allow you to wander around to watch the game from a number of different angles and heights. My standing room only ticket cost me a whole dollar (though fees for online purchase pushed that closer to the cost of a matinée movie) and gave me entry into just about everywhere I was interested in going, including a seat, since the upper levels were half empty. Most games have some kind of giveaway or promotion on, as well. This is all really useful, given that the ballpark is in a bit of a dead zone – there's no real surrounding neighborhood where you can grab a meal or a drink before or after the game, and you have to get inside the gates of the park to get at any of the game-day atmosphere. I mean, I didn't even see any bootleg T-shirt vendors outside the park, and those guys are like roaches – they can thrive anywhere.

The downside to all the hand-holding and managed distractions is that the crowd isn’t particularly enthusiastic or passionate. It’s too easy to check out entirely. The game I went to was tied for five and a half innings, and most of the fans seemed disappointed by that. You certainly won’t see the passion exhibited by Red Sox fans (my gold standard), even in post-season games. As my friend Dave once said, watching an Atlanta LCS game on TV, "If you can’t be bothered to sell out your playoff games, you don’t deserve to go to the World Series." Not that the Braves are likely to get there anytime soon…

MARTA runs shuttle buses between Five Points station and the park – just make sure you tap your smart card on the exit turnstiles to get the free transfer. The old baseball park across the street is now Turner Field's parking facility, so there's a place to stash your car if you're driving.

From journal Looking for the Cool in Atlanta

Editor Pick

Turner Field

  • January 10, 2007
  • Rated 4 of 5 by pj1465 from Chicago, Illinois
Being a big baseball fan in general and an Atlanta Braves fan in particular, I try to catch a game at Turner Field whenever I'm in the Atlanta area.

The stadium, known locally as "The Ted" after former Braves' owner Ted Turner, was built originally to accomodate the 1996 Summer Olympics. After some rennovation, the Braves moved out of Atlanta-Fulton County stadium and into The Ted in 1997. The old stadium became a parking lot for the new one. The stadium hosted the 2000 All-Star game and has a capacity of 45,000 seats.

There's not much to do in the area immediately surrounding the stadium, and it is not pedestrian friendly. Parking is also fairly expensive. Outside the stadium, you'll find statues of legendary Braves' players Hank Aaron, Ty Cobb and Phil Neikro in an area called Monument Grove.

The stadium itself has a variety of entertainment options inside its gates. Often there are live music performances near the entrance. The Chop House (no doubt named after the infamous Tomahawk chop) restaurant serves up good food and overlooks center field. Scouts Alley is an area under left field that features interactive games for children (my nephews love it!). The Braves Museum and Hall of Fame is located beyond left field. The upper level Skyfield overlooks left field, has more games for kids and a place where guests can cool off under a light mist of water. Concessions and souvenirs are available throughout the park. There's also a huge high-defition screen behind center field. The Ted is also one of the cleanest ball parks that I've ever visited.

Then, of course, there's the baseball. The Braves proved to have a winning forumula for fourteen years, winning their division from 1991-2005. In 1995, the Braves edged out the Cleveland Indians to capture the World Series title.

From journal Visiting Hotlanta!

Turner Field

  • January 11, 2006
  • Rated 5 of 5 by melissabowman from Stephenville, Texas
Turner Field

We visited Turner Field, home of the Atlanta Braves baseball. The area the ballpark sits is also the area where the '96 Olympics was held. The torch stand and the Olympic rings are still there. The baseball complex was a fun experience. The parking lot is the old field that the Braves played at before they built the new stadium, which was used in the '96 Olympics (although some major renovations have been done since). Also in the parking lot of Turner field sits the 715th home-run-hit for Hank Arron. The inside of the stadium was also very entertaining; with one of the biggest jumbotrons in sports, you can see everything clearly. Also, from center field, you can see the beautiful scenery of downtown.

From journal Atlanta Baseball

Turner Field

  • July 2, 2005
  • Rated 4 of 5 by one4walking from Grovetown, Georgia
Turner Field was not built just to watch a baseball game. It was built to enhance the experience of a baseball game. From baseball history lessons to dancing in the stands, Turner Field NAILS IT! The openness of the layout allows our nation's pastime to feel relaxing and free. The lines are small, the seats are comfy, and the games are always hot in Hotlanta.

From journal Take Me Out To The Ball Game

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