Review from July 18 & 19, 2017
Atlanta Braves vs. Chicago Cubs
The new Sun Trust Park is a beautiful ballpark. I feel fortunate to have been there in its first year and have a hat and T-shirt featuring inaugural season logos. While the team is in a rebuilding phase, the Braves still have many elite players. It was a treat to see all star players such as Freddie Freeman, Matt Kemp, Brandon Phillips, and R.A. Dickey — a former Cy Young award winner. This was also an opportunity to see the 2016 defending World Series Champions and how well they travelled nationally. 

Our first game was the night game played on July 18th. The game was delayed 2.5 hours due to rain — but no one left! It will be nice to say I was at an east coast game that started at 10:05pm... highly unusual. The stadium and amenities were beautiful and modern, but nothing more than I expected to see at a newly constructed stadium with that large of a price tag. 

Sadly, being in Atlanta, the games were taken over by the cubs fans as they hijacked the 7th inning stretch with their "Root for the Cubbies", and waved their signature "W" flags after each of their victories. I'm not sure this should be allowed in professional sports: a visiting team based 11 hours away taking over and being represented stronger than the home team in their new stadium.

While I enjoyed the glitz of the new ballpark, I'm not really sure this venue is for me... especially as the area and crowds continues to grow, and more shops and restaurants open in the coming years. 

TRUIST PARK
Atlanta, Georgia

HOME OF THE:
ATLANTA BRAVES

BUILT: 2017
CAPACITY: 41,149
COST: $622 Million
LEAGUE: National League

RELATED POSTS

OUR RATING: 
42 / 50

TICKET VALUE  7/10

  • $27 tickets to deep right center field.
  • Great view of the game, but no view of video board for game stats and between-inning games. Average fan may become disengaged. 
  • ​$9 GA ticket high up off left field line, still a great view of stadium, but casual fan may feel disconnected that far up from the field
  • $20 pre-game stadium tour allowed for unique view of the ballpark. Were able to visit suites & VIP lounges, and see the park from every angle possible. It was nice to take in the new ballpark without the game crowd. Tour was a highly recommended addendum to a typical game experience.
  • Lineups posted on Instagram by 4pm for a 7:35pm game.
  • New location / newly constructed stadium more than 30min north of Atlanta. The park was easily accessible for anyone traveling down from the Carolinas. We even sat near a family who came in from Tennessee just for the games. Not having to deal with inner city traffic was a big bonus and made for a better experience than games at Turner Field. 

CONCESSIONS  8/10

  • $8 chicken finger basket, with curly fries. A ton of food for the price.
  • ​$10 souvenir soda and unique beer mug
  • Lines were long due to the caliber of opponent. It appeared that the facilities were not well suited to accommodate the sold out crowd.
  • Many vendor carts for food and snacks along the concourse on all levels
  • Premier restaurants / bars had entrances both inside and outside the ballpark. Once gates opened, ticketed fans could enter the park through those restaurant doors. 
  • Cost and selection at concession stands were standard for a event venue of this size. 

FAMILY FRIENDLINESS  5/5

  • Stadium featured batting cages, pitching radar guns, zipline, and rock climbing wall for kids
  • Ice cream / Floats available in souvenir mugs
  • Stations aimed to kids where you could rent (for free) a Mizuno brand glove in hopes of catching a ball during the game
  • Sunday kids run the bases
  • Family restrooms on every level
  • ​Outside food and water are permitted

ATMOSPHERE  9/10

  • Free programs
  • Signature tomahawk chop played throughout game
  • Braves fans were washed out by Cubs fans: "Root for the Cubbies" during 7th inning stretch and "W" flags after the Cubs win
  • Many team stores to purchase Braves merchandise, but also had small selection of Cubs hats and shirts, encouraging friendly banter amongst rival fans
  • One store in stadium featured game memorabilia (bats, bases, jerseys, etc)
  • Area outside stadium featured HUGE screen TV broadcasting game in an atrium just outside the ballpark entrance gates. You could experience the pre-game hype and excitement, watch the game on the big TV, and never need to purchase a ticket.

CHARACTER  8/10

  • Beautiful new facility as the center point of a new "downtown" Battery Atlanta. Featured countless restaurants and bars, with much more development planned for the years to come.
  • Centerfield fountain shoots water when home team hits a home run
  • Memorial Garden is a free walkable museum on the concourse for guests to visit during the game. Includes many tributes to former players and stadiums, displays of player awards and 1995 World Series trophy. Display of all Braves past uniforms (Boston, Milwaukee, Atlanta). Obvious they are very proud of their Braves history.
  • Many Chipper Jones features around stadium such as his 1999 MVP award, silver slugger award, and an inspiring quote saying how his teams came to the park every day "Expecting to Win"
  • The ballpark was not the main focus of The Battery, but just a part of the whole ambiance

PARKING  5/5

  • We did not purchase parking, but were able to reserve a hotel room adjacent to The Battery for less than $100. This is NOT typical pricing... my wife is a hustler!!!
  • ​Many parking options were available — some even validating parking with purchase at restaurant, bar or team store. 
  • Uber drop off right at the gate

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