Cashman Field

Vacant

7/10

                  To say the exterior of the stadium is somewhat plain is a bit of an understatement.

The design of the park is very functional, and is somewhat similar to Camelback Ranch in the Cactus League.

The hometown 51s battled Tucson on a beautiful night.

I stopped in Las Vegas on my 2013 loop down to Phoenix. The way it worked out, the only park between Los Angeles and Phoenix, that gave me enough time to make an afternoon game in Phoenix the next day, that I hadn't seen, was this one. Despite the bad reviews, I headed out. I rolled into town on a Sunday night and after settling in at the Plaza Downtown, I headed over to the ballpark. The matchup saw the 51s, who had already clinched the division flag taking on the Tucson Padres, who were playing their 2nd last game ever, after a 3 year pit stop in Tucson, between being the Portland Beavers and becoming the El Paso Chihuahuas.

I arrived super early and as a result, got lots of photos. Concessions were not bad, mostly with standard ballpark fare, although there were many varieties of the Burgers/Chicken Burgers. Parking is ample, but apparently, can get crowded when other facilities in the same complex as the ballpark have events as well. The crowd on this night was around 3,000, which in a 9,000+ seat park, left a lot of wiggle room. After the previous night of being packed in at Dodger Stadium, it was a welcome change.

Baseball in Las Vegas has always been a bit of a tough sell, as not too many places have more entertainment options on any given night. Some tourists do wander off the Strip and out of Downtown to catch a game, but it seems like a more local crowd. Besides the team heading to the playoffs(and a subsequent first round exit), the chatter around the ballpark was about a proposed replacement to Cashman, to be built in Summerlin, a wealthier planned suburb of around 100 thousand people, to the northwest of downtown. Ownership and the PCL commissioners office both support the move, while the mayor of Las Vegas favours a redeveloped Cashman instead. The 51s apparently have a 10 year lease, but can escape with 2 years notice. With the lack of any real proposed MLB stadiums, the Vegas ballpark saga could be one of the more interesting ones in the near future.

As for Cashman, after reading largely mediocre, or negative reviews, I found it was right around a 7, which is my average rating. The exterior is bland, the interior has a sleek, southwestern look to it. Food options are simple but with good variety and for the average ballpark crowd, parking is more than adequate. The location just north of downtown is good for luring tourists, although the neighbourhood leaves something to be desired. I wouldn't go out of my way to go back, but I wouldn't mind either.

Update 2016: As alluded to earlier, the Tucson Padres moved east to El Paso after the season, though they did have to play a handful more games in Tucson as the El Paso Chihuahuas as the park in El Paso wasn't done on time. As for a new park in Las Vegas, there hasn't been a whole lot of progress other than the city making it clear they will not help fund the proposed new park in the Summerlin area and are planning on redeveloping Cashman Center, with or without a renovated Cashman Stadium. So if nothing else, the lines in the sand have been drawn, but not much officially in the 2.5 years since I went here. Maybe next update?

Update 2026: The battle lines drawn in 2016 turned out to be where they settled permanently. The ballpark in Summerlin, Las Vegas Ballpark, opened for the rebranded Las Vegas Aviators in 2019. It's a substantial upgrade compared to here. This has left the United Soccer League's Las Vegas Lights as the new tenant at Cashman. Rugby and Football have also been played here, but for one season each. The soccer team finally did add new seating on what would have been the baseball field, but pro baseball is not coming back here in any form. With the Athletics now building an MLB stadium on the strip, Las Vegas will have a team in the top two levels of the pro pyramid. I'm glad I got one game in here before it stopped hosting baseball. At least this park has found new life as a "football ground" instead of meeting the wrecking ball.

Linescore
2013-09-01
                                     123     456    789   RHE
Tucson Padres(SD)         010    001    001   380
Las Vegas 51s(NYM)       000    100    100   291
Temp:91F    Time: 2:38   Att: 3,464  

Community Field

Burlington Bees, Prospect League

8/10

First of all, this is the first of 5 reviews from my 2012 Midwestern swing, where on the way home, my camera, loaded with all my photos, absconded, never to be heard of again. A lengthy investigation on my part, proved fruitless. 

I swung through Burlington, Iowa as part of a 6 game/5 park/5 day/6 state Midwestern swing and I'm glad I did. The city itself is apparently the smallest, full-season market in the affiliated minors, checking in at just over 25,000 people in the city proper. The local economy is apparently somewhat depressed, as the local mall, right across from Hotel #1(more on that later), featured numerous empty stores.

As for the park itself, it is a total gem. Renovations in 2006 bought the Burlington franchise some more time in town. This particular franchise has had the same name since 1973, when it was the affiliate for the Kansas City Athletics. The team was affiliated with the Oakland A's when I passed through, I don't believe that that's continuous, but am not sure(Checked in 2016, it's not). Now, the team is with the LA Angels.

The Monday night game I saw featured the hometown Bees, stocked with Oakland farmhands, in an all-Iowa matchup, taking on the Cedar Rapids Kernels, who at the time, were the LA Angels affiliate. I had come down from Bloomington, Minnesota, just outside of Minneapolis, taking the scenic route to stop in Dyersville, Iowa, and the Field of Dreams movie site, which I highly recommend if you're able to stop by.

The layout is a relatively simple grandstand. The seats stop just past third base on one side, and well before first, which has an area with several picnic tables. Concessions are pretty simple, but some of the lowest prices I've ever encountered. I took advantage of the low prices on everything to pick up a t-shirt(which I am wearing as I type this), as well as a program. The concourse(or what passes for one) features banners referring to past Bees logos and affiliations, with a few simple staircases leading to the seats. The ambience is baseball-first, primarily because that's all there is. There's no bouncy-castle, or mascot, or too many wacky sound effects and if there were, they didn't stick in my mind at all.

The most memorable thing about Community Field is that it lived up to it's name. A largely middle class group of apparent season ticket holders were out in force, providing subtle comments such as "Hey ump, you from Cedar Rapids?" in just the right tone of voice. Numerous fans seemed to know at least which players on the team looked to be progressing towards a promotion. But the best moment had to be when a draw for a child's baseball glove didn't have anyone answer to the winner's name. The team employee asked everyone within ear shot, "Hey are the X's here tonight?" to which some random voice replied, with a perfect local accent "I think they just went to the bathroom."

After the game, I walked back to HoJos, to discover the accommodations were so Spartan, that I actually checked out and went somewhere else.

Overall, I liked Community Field a great deal. The low prices, small-town community feel of the team and baseball first ambience were a welcome addition to my trip. I would gladly go back, if for no other reason than to get some good photos.

Update 2016: Both these teams swapped affiliates after 2012, with the Angels taking the Bees and Cedar Rapids ending up with Minnesota. The A's ended up with the Beloit Snappers of Wisconsin. A new ratings system doesn't change the rating here, the atmosphere earning a full point, but nothing else, leaving the score at an 8.

Update 2026: I have not been back yet, but Burlington baseball has seen some changes. Burlington was one of the markets dropped in the minor league reorganization of 2021. They have kept the name and logo from before, but are now a Summer Collegiate team in the Prospect League, which includes a few other exiles from the Midwest League and one from the Southern loop. The hammer would have likely come down on such a small market, with such low attendance, in such an old park eventually anyhow. But it was still nice that MiLB used to associate with small towns like Burlington. Not anymore sadly. I have a lot of Midwest League parks I've never seen, so this one likely drops pretty far down the list.

Linescore
2012-07-30
                                                     123    456   789   RHE
Cedar Rapids Kernels(LAA)       000    000   000   0 6 1
Burlington Bees(OAK)                100    010   000   2 8 0
Temp: 90F   Time: 2:52    Att: 881

Scottsdale Stadium

San Francisco Giants(Spring Training)

7/10

A better entrance picture than the first time anyhow...

Pregame for a Fall League game in 2015.


Fall League is sparsely attended, but could also be the best thing ever.

This is the current Cactus League park for the San Francisco Giants, as well as the former home of the AAA Phoenix Firebirds and a site for some group games of the inaugural World Baseball Classic, in 2005(All the ones with South Africa). In the offseason, it sees Arizona Fall League Action. Also, my hometown Edmonton Capitals trained there in 2011, which turned out to be their last year.

The park is located centrally in downtown Scottsdale, which in turn, is northeast of downtown Phoenix by around 20-30 minutes. Scottsdale itself is probably the most affluent suburb of Phoenix, with lots of trendy restaurants and shops. If you plan on heading to a game here, planning to spend time in the area either before or after is well worth it.

The stadium itself is pretty standard for the Cactus League, there are three types of seating in the grandstand and an outfield berm. I was still in the process of checking off all the Cactus League parks and when I flew in for a 4 game in 3 day express vacation in 2011, I asked to head off to this one. My stepfather, who had been here several times, agreed, but pointed out that Scottsdale is probably the most expensive park in the Cactus League now, with outfield berm "seating" going for 25 dollars a head. Compare that to a front row seat in west valley parks like Goodyear or Surprise and it's hard to justify too many trips.

Still, I did enjoy the experience overall, a plucky young Cleveland side managed to down the Giants, who were just coming off their first championship since moving to SFO. We sat behind two girls from San Fran who asked me to take their picture and an older couple who had come out from Ohio to watch the Indians. They appreciated my answer when asked by my mother "Who's your second favourite team?" to which I replied, "Whoever's playing the Yankees."

I'd give Scottsdale Stadium a 7/10. It would be an 8, but the high prices for everything drive the rating down. I realize I don't have the greatest photos for this one and it's the only Cactus League park that I haven't been to more than once, so a trip in 2014 is a good bet.

Update 2016: I have thought a few times of making another trip here during Spring Training, but the fact of the matter is that Giants tickets have become some of the most expensive and sought after anywhere in the Cactus League. They also use a "floating" pricing model, so ticket prices vary from game to game. I couldn't find any good seats available just doing a search, so I don't know how much they even go for. I did get a fall league game in here in 2015 and got some better pictures in. I have no idea when I'll come back here, but I'd hope to get a Giants Spring Training game in here within the next five years at least.

Update 2026: Ten years later, I still haven't come back here. Meaning it's been 15 years for Spring Training and 10 overall. The Giants have a lease extending to 2044, between them and the community service organization that actually runs the operations side of the games. They moved their development complex up the road to the site of the old Athletics complex and built a brand new one. They're firmly entrenched here for the foreseeable future. Now to actually make it back here for a game.  

Linescores
2011-03-24(Spring Training)
                       123    456    789   R H E
Cleveland          003   001    300     7 10 0
San Francisco   000   000    100     1   6  1
Temp:66F  Time: 2:30 Att: 10,292

2015-11-16
                                    123  456  789  R H E
Surprise Saguaros          300  000  400  7 10 0
Scottsdale Scorpions      001  101  000  3 7 3
Temp: 57F Time: 3:06  Att: 374

Blue Wahoos Stadium

Pensacola Blue Wahoos, Southern League

7/10

        The exterior of the park is still pretty bare, omitting even a sign with the name of the building(I tired to look it up when I got back and still got it wrong). I'd suspect its being left blank for a corporate sponsor.
         This staff member is covering her mouth, already over-apologetic for standing in my picture.

 

          I was here SUPER early, which gave me a chance to really walk around.

                                    

The Jackson Generals take batting practice.

I was excited to include the new stadium in Pensacola on my loop through three southern states in 2012. The team had just relocated from the Carolinas, and was enjoying its inaugural season in this brand new ballpark built right on the shore of Pensacola Bay. I had travelled from just outside of Atlanta after catching the Braves and swung through Alabama, making a pit stop in Mobile to see the USS Alabama in all its restored glory, prior to arriving in P-cola.

The evening's contest featured the hometown Pensacola Blue Wahoos, the Cincinnati Reds AA club, matched against the Jackson Generals, the equivalent for the Seattle Mariners. The park itself is located right in downtown Pensacola, one of the bigger cities on the Florida panhandle, as part of a new waterfront complex. One of the first drawbacks is that there isn't very much parking in the immediate area of the stadium and it's pretty much all snapped up by disabled parking, VIP parking, or season ticket holders. There are numerous pay lots in the area, as well as a ton of FREE on street parking, which I opted for.

The façade of the park is so basic that I didn't get a photo of it. As mentioned above, I doubt this place will be so generically named for too long. Entrance is on the first base side and up a few flights of stairs. Once you're up, you are confronted by a sparkling new ballpark, with just under 5,000 seats. It is well laid out and the outfield views are of the bay to right and an inlet to left. It isn't just Barry Bonds that can hit one into the water here. The team shop/ offices are in the main building behind home plate.

I'm a bit of a hypocrite with the issue of Minor League teams in particular taking on goofy names to sell shirts. "Blue Wahoos" is a goofy name. I also now own a Pensacola Blue Wahoos running shirt(featuring a Blue Wahoo wrapped around a baseball bat to form a "P") AND kept the bag it came in. I'm deeply conflicted.

One of the aspects of the Bayfront Stadium that I really liked were the concessions. The food itself was above average, but the layout is actually pretty innovative. Firstly, they were referred to as "Port" and "Starboard" which pays homage to the nautical theme of the park. Secondly, they were removed from the concourse, meaning that the lines for the concessions aren't going to spill over. There were extra tills not being used, which for big home dates, could get the lines moving. Also, ordering and paying are two separate people, kind of like a drive-thru. It was a little clunky, as most people didn't know quite where to go(me too), but with time, the locals should get the hang of it.

Overall, I enjoyed my game here. The Wahoo starter took a perfect game (or maybe a no hitter) into the final three frames before losing it. The ambience was alright, but like with other debut parks I've been too, there aren't many local traditions yet. Ownership seems pretty approachable, soliciting fan concerns pretty hard (I got a survey in my e-mail the next week) and actually trying to act on them (Don't climb over the seats for instance. I'm a seat climber. I'll try and stop.) But, as of right now, there isn't anything that makes this place particularly special, although that's not to say that won't ever change. 7/10.

Update 2016: This place still doesn't have a corporate sponsor, which going into season 5, is borderline miraculous. On the team website, it's referred to as "Blue Wahoos Stadium", I've also seen "Community Martitime Park", but I'll just stick with this name for now I suppose. As for the ratings, I was going to keep the 7, but I did say the food was above average, so it can have an 8.

Update 2026: So the name is "Blue Wahoos Park", instead of "Pensacola Bayfront Stadium". I'm beyond shocked that there's been no corporate sponsor, but with the facility being community owned, they may not need one. The Blue Wahoos still appear to be a good draw. The ended their Reds affiliation, and after a few years with Minnesota, have ended up with Miami, meaning the Marlins' top two affiliates are also both in Florida. I wouldn't mind coming here again, but being on almost the complete opposite corner of the continent now, it may be awhile.

Linescore
2012-06-27
                                                 123   456   789  RHE
Jackson Generals(SEA)               000  000   000  040
Pensacola Blue Wahoos(CIN)       200  000  21x  580
Temp:83F   Time: 2:24  Att: 4,625

The Epicenter

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, California League

7/10

The entrance on my visit in 2016.

A clear sunny day saw Bakersfield in town for School Day in 2016.

Most of the fans retreated into the shade, even with the temperature in the mid 60s.

                                         

Bonus: Still, my favourite sign, anywhere, ever. HEADS UP!

"The Epicenter" (LoanMart Field for the 2013 season) was my 2nd game in one day on my 2009 trip, having watched the A's and Angels at the Big A in the afternoon. I headed up I-15 to Rancho Cucamonga to watch the local nine, the Angel affiliated Quakes, take on the Stockton Ports. This park was part of the trend along with Lake Elsinore towards disproving the notion that minor-league parks have to be minor league. Don’t get me wrong, places like Eugene's Civic Stadium and Quebec's Stade Municipale are what it’s all about, but there are plenty of pre-1990 parks that are just horrible, isn’t that right? 

The Epicenter was a successful experiment in placing a relatively large, well-built stadium within driving distance of the Major leagues. Every season since has from an attendance standpoint, gone very, very well. The park is a concrete and plastic seat structure, with the electronic scoreboard in left and the video board in right. But, it didn’t do a lot for me. Maybe the 110 degree heat at the Big A that afternoon took a big chunk out of me, but after reading about this park in books and online, it wasn’t as good as I thought it would be, but it was ok. A big knock for me was the seating, which was confusing, I never did find my seat, I mean I thought I had, with other people sitting in it, but I guess not. The mascot, Tremor and a female accomplice are both dinosaurs. They are pretty active.

Rancho Cucamonga is a blooming suburb of Los Angeles, up the I-15. The area right next to the park is a rec complex(keep an eye out for a “Watch for Foul Balls” sign) and beyond that it’s commercial, with a couple of decent restaurants. I opted to forgo the concession at the park and return to Anaheim for a late night trip to Carl's Jr. It's in the eastern part of the Southland area, so easily 15 parks are within a day's drive, or like me, you can make it part of a multiple night stay in the LA area. I went to Angel games the night before and afternoon of, and a Dodger game on the way out of the city.

It was an evening game, the last home game of the season, so the crowd was around 4,500 or so, but awfully quiet. Still, there were some quirks. When a Rancho player hit a homerun, the booster club had a guy walk the seats with a helmet collecting money. During one of the intervals, one of the mascots courted the base umpire, who eventually got down on one knee and offered a bouquet. I expected, like in another gag involving an “umpire” in Tacoma that the real umpire would trot back onto the field and this guy would leave, but that didn’t happen, as he just went out to first base to get going.

Looking back on this review in 2014, I think I was a bit hard on this one. I think I caught it on a bad day or something. At any rate, I upped the score from 6 to 7. This one could very well be on my list for a second trip this year.

Update 2014: The Quakes are now affiliated with the other team in metro LA, the Dodgers, as of 2011, with the Angels entry now being in San Bernardino. Re-scoring this place was easy, it's a very average place, so it still gets a 7.

Update 2026: I made it back here as part of my 2016 California trip(still one of my best trips), so all new pictures. This was a "school day", so an early start meant I could get this in, then make it over to San Bernardino for a night game there. I'd still rate this as a 7. I still don't remember much about the concession, except for the school kids all being in line. A Quakes win did get me a free "Jumbo Jack" later. It was another atypical day, not really fair to judge the park on. But 7 still seems fine. The entire California League dropped into Low A for 2021. The park is now Morongo Field at the Epicenter. See why I don't change the post names?

For this season, the affiliation has fallen back to the Angels, after the Dodgers moved their affiliation to a new park in Ontario, east of Downtown LA and the Angels elected to come back here. It looks a lot like a Populous designed park, but it actually isn't. I wouldn't turn down a return visit here, but there are some others I need to get in first.  

Linescore
2009-08-30
                                                            123    456   789    R H E
Stockton Ports(OAK)                           000    001   020   3 10 2
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes(LAA)     003    001   00X   4  7 1 
Temp:102F   Time: 2:45    Att: 3,951

2016-05-04

                                                          123   456  789  R  H E

Bakersfield Blaze(SEA)                     150   002  020  10 10 0  

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes(LAD)   002  301   60X  12 19 3

Temp: 61F Time: 3:14 Att: 4,106 

Dehler Park

Billings Mustangs, Pioneer League

7/10

The entrance to the park is very straightforward. In fact, the only sign saying
"Dehler Park" that I saw was on top of the scoreboard.

                                    

                                  The park has a good view of the rolling hills leading out of Billings.
             

The park is centrally located only about 10 blocks north of downtown.

I headed to Dehler Park, my 5th in the Pioneer League, in September 2013, just in time for the first game of the final homestand of the season for the Billings Mustangs, against the Missoula Osprey. I drove all day from Grand Junction to make it(nearly running out of gas 30 minutes away due to my own incompetence), and drove to Edmonton the next day. The park itself is new as of 2008, replacing venerable Cobb Field. Of note, Dehler park holds almost 1,000 people less than Cobb, checking in at an eyelash over 3,000. The name comes from a local businessman, who bought the rights.

On the plus side, the field is not quite downtown, but not in a parking lot 12 miles outside of town either. It was a 30 minute walk from my hotel, which I would have done, if I'd arrived early enough. There's a fair bit of on street parking and with the crowd being around 1,500 or so, traffic wasn't really an issue, even right before game time. The ambience was around average, of note an elderly lady wandered the park with a small megaphone, leading cheers twice during the game. It wasn't a baseball heavy experience, but on the other hand, it wasn't a three ring circus like some places. A man in my section attempted to explain the rules to two women from Sweden, to no avail. The concourse is very wide, which allows for a good flow of the crowd when the game ends, room for lines for food or drinks and even allows lots of room for wheelchairs.

The only real drawback I found were the large, thick posts used to hold up the screen. Most places are able to keep the obstructions to a minimum, but I found myself having a hard time seeing just what was going on. A move a few seats over around mid-game helped this out.

The concessions were above average, even though my Cheesesteak turned into a slice of Cheesecake. I guess that'll happen with a bigger selection. When it showed up, it was a hot dog bun, with a slice of white processed cheese and some ok steak. They did, however, have local beers on tap at a halfway decent price, which is a huge plus for me. I'm a bit of a beer snob and will usually only grab a local brew. They actually had a ton of staff on and while only so many seemed to be actively doing anything, the line moved steadily.

Billings itself is the "Metropolis" of Montana, checking in at around 115,000 people, it reminds me a fair bit of Regina, which makes a little sense. I would have liked to have gotten in in the mid-afternoon, to poke around a bit before the game.

Overall, I found Dehler to be somewhat generic, but at the same time, a little frugal. It looks like the City of Billings did their homework and built the ballpark they needed, as well as one they wanted too. There simply never was(at least to my knowledge) a debate about building a new park vs. losing the team, as besides Billings being one of the better markets in Pioneer League territory, they've always had a good stadium to play in. It's is a little bland, but it's entirely appropriate field for Rookie level baseball, which is what Montana does best. Maybe in time, it can take on a bit more character, but for now, it's a strong 7/10.

Update 2016:  I have not been back for a 2nd game here. The Mustangs are still a Reds affiliate, one of the longest active affiliations in the minors, going back to the 1970s. Under the new ratings system, this place gets average scores for facility and atmosphere, with a token half point for the variety of food items available. I may end up back here this summer.

Update 2026:  While typing this update, I knew I'd be adding a trip in '22, but totally forgot about going back in '18. In addition, I mistakenly typed that I'd been here in 2009, but it was actually at 2013 loop. The 2018 trip was an Independence Day matinee against Helena, where I got a lot of good pictures. Billings, along with the rest of the Pioneer League, ended up getting shuffled out of affiliated baseball for 2021. So they carried on as an independent league, with Billings naturally a part of it. We stopped here for a game in 2022 on the way back from Colorado, but my Wife didn't feel great, so we arrived late and left early, getting in a look around Billings' half decent downtown. Looking at this place now, it's a very adequate, if not kind of nice park for Independent baseball. 7/10 is still very accurate.  

Linescore
2013-09-05
                                           123     456    789   R H E
Missoula Osprey(ARI)        000    600    000    6 6 0
Billings Mustangs(CIN)      120    000    100    4 10 0  
Temp: 84F  Time: 2:41 Att: 2,143

2018-07-04

                                           123  456  789  RHE

Helena Brewers(MIL)        000  000  001  14X
Billings Mustangs(CIN)     001  002  000  34X

Temp: 72F  Time: 2:28  Att: 3,948

2022-08-20

                                      123   456  789   R H E

Great Falls Voyagers    200   120   010   6  9  1

Billings Mustangs         331   000   12x  10 12 2

Temp: N/A   Time: 3:11 Att: 2,804

Recreation Park

Visalia Rawhide, California League

6/10

When the team changed from the Oaks to the Rawhide, the equipment shed got a makeover as a barn.

A relatively good crowd for a fireworks night.

Still, Visalia draws better than only Bakersfield in the league.

      The crowd mills around waiting for fireworks night to begin, while I sneak out to beat the traffic.

Recreation Park is the smallest in affiliated minors and advertises itself as the smallest pro ballpark in the US. It really is very small. There is about 1,700 seats behind the plate and about 500 more up the first base line. It's located in a residential/industrial area, around 7 minutes north of CA 198, the main freeway through town. I went in 2009, on my way to Los Angeles, having been in San Francisco the day before. I caught a game between the hometown Visalia Rawhide and the Lake Elsinore Storm. It had recently been renovated, so there is an outfield barn as part of the wall, part of the team changing it’s name from the Oaks to the Rawhide, as a result of switching affiliations from Oakland to Arizona. The big knock is the “concourse” being right in front of the first row behind the aisle, where I sat. It meant that people would stop to watch the game and block my view. Tipper, the cow and Smokey the bear would stop to “entertain” the children right in front of me. It generally was one of the least enjoyable games on the trip. I wish that I’d have gone to maybe Modesto or Stockton instead. Most of the people who seemed like more baseball oriented regulars sat at the back. Either there or the front would be a good call. The middle, where I was, is pretty high traffic. This was back when I usually ate before I came, so I didn't try any food and don't remember anything about it.

The biggest knock I have on this place is that seemingly nobody was there to watch the game. The kids were loud and out of control on the concourse. I don’t normally care, but it made it impossible to follow the game. The Rawhide were apparently out of it late in the season, their best player having been summoned to AA Mobile, but still, wow. The people sitting behind me were complaining about the view from two rows up. If you want to see, you need to sit at the back. The attendance average was only about 1,500 all year and if this is it, I can see why. Attendance was only what it was because it was fireworks night, which allowed me to depart early. Even the mascot, Tipper the Steer had a rough night being both roped to the ground during a demonstration and kicked in the stomach by a teenaged girl sitting in my row. It’s a hard knock life.

Visalia is a city of roughly 90,000 just off of CA 99. It earns a brief mention as the possible next stop for Crash Davis in Bull Durham, as a possible manager. Nearby is the Sequoia National Park, which I made a brief stop at on the way out. You have to drive through Visalia on the CA 198 until it turns into a two lane highway, then keep on going. It's a bit expensive to get in, but was worth poking around. 

The best thing about Recreation Park is probably it's location within the State, it's almost equal distance between San Francisco and Los Angeles, with 198 connecting to CA 99 after only a few miles. Still, I would have gone to Fresno, just up the highway, if they'd been at home. You could easily drive to any Major or Minor league park in California within 5 hours(and even some outside of it), without much hassle.

Overall, it’s just way too small and crowded, Other than the lack of other good options, I don’t understand how the Cal league can put a team here, as they’re apparently locked in until at least 2019. After that, with Bakersfield being a constant candidate to move, look for Visalia to come up in the mix. Still, the fact that even now there's 5 years left on the lease might allow Visalia to hang around in the league for awhile longer. 

Update 2016: I still haven't been back here, but I really hammered it in retrospect. Under the new ratings system,  I can't offer any insight into the concessions here, the atmosphere was terrible and the park was adequate, if not small. That bumps this one up from a 4, which is now pretty hard to pull off, to a 6, which is a little more forgiving and in line with the other reviews on here.

Update 2026: It has now been almost 17 years since I stopped here. It took some digging(baseballcube.com ?), but the team averaged around 1,800 fans a game in 2025, which is very average for the league. I was a little surprised that this place survived the minor league contraction of 2020, but it did and is still in affiliated baseball, still in the Arizona organization. It's Visalia's 81st year in the California League. This place is now Valley Strong Ballpark, after a local credit union. I would love to go to a game here, it's totally overdue and with more and more minor league parks looking like carbon copies, it's pretty much one of a kind now. Next California loop, whenever that is, I think it has to be in.

Linescore 
2009-08-28 
                                            123    456    789    RHE
Lake Elsinore Storm(SD)        103    000    100    550
Visalia Rawhide(ARI)              000    010    000    171
Temp: 86F Time: 2:41  Att: 2,544