UPDATE 2019:
SPIRIT COMMUNICATIONS PARK IS NOW CALLED SEGRA PARK

SPIRIT COMMUNICATIONS PARK
Columbia, South Carolina

OUR RATING: 
49 / 50

HOME OF THE:
COLUMBIA FIREFLIES

MLB AFFILIATE:
NEW YORK METS

BUILT: 2016
CAPACITY: 9,077
CLASS: Single-A
LEAGUE: South Atlantic

Review from August 19, 2017
Columbia Fireflies vs. Rome Braves
Spirit Communications Park, home of the Columbia Fireflies, is the best value in professional sports. The ticket price is on-par for A-level ball; however, what we got for that money was incredible.

The stadium was the 2016 Ball Park Digest park of the year. Everything about this stadium was top-notch. A person could walk all the way around the playing field, which is not typical of stadiums at this lower level. Even newer Ballparks (Greensboro, for example) are not built this way. 

SCP maximized the land they had and provided fans experiences other similar stadiums do not offer, such as a bar with stools in an open area behind center field. This offers new and exciting views for enjoying the game.

Our actual seats were just off the home dugout and past the safety nets. During the course of our double header (for one ticket price!), Fireflies first baseman Dash Winningham tossed my family a ball on his way back to the dugout after the half inning... three balls throughout the two games! These are special keepsakes to all of us. All these different aspects combined made this one of the happiest days of my life. My family enjoyed it so much that we all left with hats, t-shirts, and other keepsakes... and a million fond memories of our day with the Fireflies. 

TICKET VALUE  11/10

  • $9 tickets just past dugouts... able to see entire field from near end of this section WITHOUT any netting obscuring the view!
  • Double header for a single ticket the date we attended

CONCESSIONS  9/10

  • Child with allergy was allowed to bring in outside food with no problem
  • Big soda souvenir cup for $8
  • ​Standard stadium food choices plus Dippin' Dots in souvenir helmet for the kids; a few specialty foods like BBQ also available, but no food or drink options seemed unique to Columbia
  • Beer vendors located all along the 360 degree concourse

FAMILY FRIENDLINESS  6/5

  • Mason the mascot
  • Play area with inflatables and more along left field concourse
  • Firetruck outside stadium fence sprayed water onto open concrete slab  throughout the afternoon. Kids came in bathing suits and splashed around during the game
  • Everyone run the bases after the game
  • Fireworks after the game (Saturday night)

ATMOSPHERE  10/10

  • Entrance of stadium was a large staircase leading to grand entrance of wide arched windows. Felt like walking into something very special.
  • Palmettos out front of stadium entrance. Let's you know you are in South Carolina, the palmetto state.
  • Large team store with wide selection of hats, shirts and merchandise
  • Bobble head of Mason the mascot
  • Clean and well-stocked bathrooms; family bathrooms available

CHARACTER  9/10

  • Large concourse that wrapped around entire stadium, unlike most A-level parks we've visited
  • Behind center field, signs posted on brick wall displaying history of baseball in Columbia, including plaques for Larry Doby, Frank Robinson, and the Capital City Bombers
  • Little to no representation of the Mets, but the Fireflies identity was overwhelmingly strong. They did not need to piggyback off the parent club.
  • Vibrant team colors of navy and neon green. Fireflies logo on primary home hat and select t-shirts glows in the dark.

PARKING  4/5

  • Parked in a dirt lot a good distance away from stadium for a few bucks
  • "Free" ​Shuttle available to pick people up (ride for tips)

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