Review from July 25, 2018
Asheville Tourists vs. Lexington Legends
Baseball In Beer City
After REwatching Bull Durham earlier this year (30th anniversary) and having family in the Asheville area, we had all the excuse we needed to get back to McCormick Field to see the Tourists. Even making the two and a half hour drive from Charlotte I had a happy anxiety. I had a couple Crash Davis/Bull Durham souvenirs picked out that I HAD to buy at the stadium. We also had our children with us this visit and it’s always fun seeing any ballpark experience through their eyes. And the adventure began...

We all got everything we wanted from the outing. I got my Crash Davis program and lapel pin. The children got hats and their typical novelty baseballs, ice cream and other treats. The adults may have gotten their share of reasonably priced beverages. The weather was summer time comfortable and we got 14 innings of baseball.

By our second inning of the day, we had gotten a South Atlantic League baseball, a favorite treat we treasure at home. We met our first professional umpire evaluator sitting near us behind the plate. My sister-in-law joined us by the second game of the day. We always enjoy sharing this pastime with somebody new. It gives them a chance to really get to know us and interact with us in a place where we are most comfortable. This makes an outing that much more special.​

McCormick Field became a more special place to us this tour. Seeing the stadium through fresh eyes, sitting in some of the most premier seats the park has to offer, and getting a double headers worth of baseball; it makes for a great day and great memories were made.

McCORMICK FIELD
Asheville, North Carolina

OUR RATING: 
42 / 50

HOME OF THE:
ASHEVILLE TOURISTS

MLB AFFILIATE:
COLORADO ROCKIES

BUILT: 1924 (renovated 1992)
CAPACITY: 4,000
CLASS: SINGLE-A
LEAGUE: SOUTH ATLANTIC

TICKET VALUE  8/10

  • $13 for Premium seats in the section behind home plate
  • Wait staff available in these sections
  • $9.50 reserved seats (grandstand seats behind the plate section)
  • $8.50 GA / first-come first-serve seating. We do NOT recommend purchasing GA at McCormick Field. While view from the seat is good, the casual Asheville crowd takes away from the ballgame experience.
  • Lucky day for us with a one-ticket double header

CONCESSIONS  10/10

  • Wait staff in our section serving a limited menu
  • $6.75 large beers in a high quality plastic glass, Great selection of local craft beers for $1 more
  • ​$7.75 chicken tender basket, along with standard ballpark food choices
  • A few unique items on the menu: mozzarella sticks, Parmesan truffle fries, Mac-n-cheese bites
  • Outer wall of concourse lined with specialty beer stands/ cheesesteak cart/ Mexican food stand
  • Basic food at concession stands and some specialty food carts present, but drinking was clearly more the focus than food
  • Some veggie options - veggie burritos, hummus plates
  • $6 soft serve ice cream / Dippin Dots offered in helmet cups...the tallest soft serve we’ve been served at a ballpark (check out the picture!)

FAMILY FRIENDLINESS  3/5

  • Two mascots: Ted E. Bear and Mr. Moon (our buddies - see pictures!)
  • Speed pitch, no other children activities available
  • Baby changing tables in both men's and women's restrooms
  • No open spaces for children to run around and play - may be difficult for kids who can’t sit still for hours at a game 

ATMOSPHERE  10/10

  • “Crash Davis Sporting News” cover on seasonal program commemorating Bull Durham 30 years later...Crash broke the minor league home run record as an Asheville Tourists
  • Many choices in team store to outfit ourselves and the children... so we ALL look like locals and blend in with the diehard home team fans
  • Usher spoke to fans waiting in line before gates opened giving preparatory directions for entering gates
  • Another team employee met us shortly into the gate with Ted E. Bear mascot. Employee offered to take a picture of children with the mascot, then TEXTED photo to our number for free.  This is a great way to collect contact info of people attending the game.  Same employee walking around stadium taking photos of other fans with the mascot all game. 
  • Bathrooms freshly painted in Tourists TEAL and BLUE. The whole place felt bright and inviting. Bathrooms also air conditioned, clean, and spacious.
  • Music and activities between innings. 7th Inning Stretch featured CUPID SHUFFLE (game 1) & COTTON EYED JOE (game 2)
  • Asheville brands itself as "Beer City", team store featured several items in that moniker (bottle opener magnet, several beer mugs, clothing)
  • Multiple party areas. Sections for rent down each line, picnic tables in concourse for Birthday Parties
  • Smoking section located in secluded area at the end of the concourse

CHARACTER  8/10

  • Beautiful brick arches along entrance and concourse​ 
  • Walking up the stairs from the hidden concourse, you enter into a sea of blue seats, with trees lining the outfield wall. You're practically standing on the field. Downtown Asheville is less than a mile away, but McCormick Field feels like a world of its own.
  • Outdoor signage and banners look fresh and vibrant
  • ​Part of concourse wall is solid rock - old stadium built into the mountain 
  • Concourse is out of view from playing area, fans must go downstairs to restrooms/concessions making the concourse feel separate from the game
  • Doors of restrooms & concession stands have prints of past Asheville players, Crash Davis, and lists of Asheville Players to play in major leagues
  • Minimal mention of Colorado Rockies. One banner on top of grandstand facing the entrance. Another sign advertising "Road to the Show" with all Rockies affiliates.
  • Mr. Moon home hat logo glows in the dark

PARKING  3/5

  • Free, paved parking lot located up the hill to the right side of the stadium entrance
  • This close lot was nearly full 30-45 minutes before gates opened
  • Overflow parking available in the surrounding area around stadium
  • Construction in lots nearby stadium, taking away parking spaces used in previous years
  • Team advertises a golf cart to shuttle people from nearby parking lots to gate...we did not see it operating during our outing

TICKET VALUE
(10 points)

• Ticket Prices
​• View from Seat

​CONCESSIONS
​(10 points)

• Variety, Quality & Price of Food
• Variety of Drinks / Souvenir Cups
• Length of Lines at Concession Stands

​FAMILY FRIENDLINESS
​(5 points)

• Play Areas
• In-Between Inning Activities & Contests
• ​Mascot
• Family Bathrooms

​ATMOSPHERE
​(10 points)

• Local Experience
• Sound-Effects & Music
• Programs
• ​Restrooms

​CHARACTER
​(10 points)

• Home Team Uniforms & Colors
• Architecture of Stadium
• History of Stadium
​• Tributes to MLB Affiliate / Local Players
• Location of Stadium & Surrounding Scenery

​PARKING
(5 points)

• Price for Parking
• ​Size, Quality & Location of Lot