Review from July 11, 2018
Kingsport Mets vs. Greeneville Reds
Kingsport Mets vs. Greeneville Reds
Camp Day at HWS
By: Matthew Preslar
Lucky for us, an 11:00am game on the schedule allowed us a day where we could visit two venues on the same day. Unlucky for us, it was a very hot day game. In full disclosure, it was the only day game on the schedule for the season of the Kingsport Mets. With a venue and a staff not really designed for a day game, the fan experience was affected.
Much like most summer day games, it was a "Camp Day". This means all the local day cares and summer camps showed up. That changed the dynamic of the place: not for better or worse, just different than a normal game.
Another feature affected by the day game was the seating. Most of the seating at Hunter Wright Stadium is traditional metal bleachers. The press box/announcers area and the natural hills of the area encapsulates most of the seated section. This restricts air flow while in your seat. With the sun directly overhead and no air flow, the day game was brutally hot and terribly uncomfortable to be in the seated bowl.
We always like to see every view and amenity a stadium has to offer. As we made our way around, the first base/right field side of the stadium goes up a steep hill. Up this hill were a few different refreshment stands. One of those stands served several flavors of shaved ice. Another stand served beer. However, it was not open for business on Camp Day. In a world where everything is about money, I respect that the Kingsport Mets chose not to sell alchohol on a day promoted to be about the children.
Another feature we liked about that side of the park was a covered picnic area. From the picnic area, there was not much of a view of the game. During our visit, Camp Day children sat at the picnic tables eating their package lunches. We don’t know if generally that area is more available to families or if it's reserved for private groups. The covered picnic space is located right beside the beer vendor, so it may be more of the “bar” atmosphere on a nightly basis. But if you need a table, or if you need some cover from a passing rain storm, this is your place to be at Hunter Wright Stadium.
Just past the patio was an open grassy yard. For this stadium, this is where you could let your children roam and play and not fear their safety. Again, not much of a view of the game from this section, but it would be a great space to let fidgety children run around to get out that nervous energy.
Hunter Wright Stadium and the Kingsport Mets seemed to be on par with several other of their rookie league mates. This is a place the locals can support and proudly call their own... and be a cost efficient method of entertainment. Without eating a major meal, a couple could still get out the door for about $20. In respect to the staff and venue, I would like to see their presentation in a normal setting of a night game to fairly evaluate the experience Kingsport has to offer.
By: Matthew Preslar
Lucky for us, an 11:00am game on the schedule allowed us a day where we could visit two venues on the same day. Unlucky for us, it was a very hot day game. In full disclosure, it was the only day game on the schedule for the season of the Kingsport Mets. With a venue and a staff not really designed for a day game, the fan experience was affected.
Much like most summer day games, it was a "Camp Day". This means all the local day cares and summer camps showed up. That changed the dynamic of the place: not for better or worse, just different than a normal game.
Another feature affected by the day game was the seating. Most of the seating at Hunter Wright Stadium is traditional metal bleachers. The press box/announcers area and the natural hills of the area encapsulates most of the seated section. This restricts air flow while in your seat. With the sun directly overhead and no air flow, the day game was brutally hot and terribly uncomfortable to be in the seated bowl.
We always like to see every view and amenity a stadium has to offer. As we made our way around, the first base/right field side of the stadium goes up a steep hill. Up this hill were a few different refreshment stands. One of those stands served several flavors of shaved ice. Another stand served beer. However, it was not open for business on Camp Day. In a world where everything is about money, I respect that the Kingsport Mets chose not to sell alchohol on a day promoted to be about the children.
Another feature we liked about that side of the park was a covered picnic area. From the picnic area, there was not much of a view of the game. During our visit, Camp Day children sat at the picnic tables eating their package lunches. We don’t know if generally that area is more available to families or if it's reserved for private groups. The covered picnic space is located right beside the beer vendor, so it may be more of the “bar” atmosphere on a nightly basis. But if you need a table, or if you need some cover from a passing rain storm, this is your place to be at Hunter Wright Stadium.
Just past the patio was an open grassy yard. For this stadium, this is where you could let your children roam and play and not fear their safety. Again, not much of a view of the game from this section, but it would be a great space to let fidgety children run around to get out that nervous energy.
Hunter Wright Stadium and the Kingsport Mets seemed to be on par with several other of their rookie league mates. This is a place the locals can support and proudly call their own... and be a cost efficient method of entertainment. Without eating a major meal, a couple could still get out the door for about $20. In respect to the staff and venue, I would like to see their presentation in a normal setting of a night game to fairly evaluate the experience Kingsport has to offer.
HUNTER WRIGHT STADIUM
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TICKET VALUE 9/10
CONCESSIONS 9/10
FAMILY FRIENDLINESS 4/5
ATMOSPHERE 6/10
CHARACTER 8/10
PARKING 5/5
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