I tend to be a nostalgic person. I like the original Transformers from the 80’s, hate remakes of classic movies, and screamed bloody murder when the Browns moved to Baltimore.
That being said, the Columbus Clipper’s new home at Huntington Park is superior in every way to Cooper Stadium. I feel absolutely no remorse in saying that either.
Some of my fondest childhood memories were at the Coop, and I would never give those up; but the old stadium was in a bad location, in a bad neighborhood, had bad food, looked bad, smelled bad… Cooper Stadium was just bad.
Huntington Park on the other hand is AMAZING! It reminds me a lot of Jacobs’ Field in Cleveland; picnic tables, plasma screens everywhere showing the game, restaurants all over the place along with little beer and food stands. The bathrooms aren’t room-length troughs to empty your bladder into; there are actual clean urinals and toilets.
The left field… I’m not sure what to call it… building is pretty amazing. It is three stories; first floor is a Bob Evans, second floor is a bar filled with amazing baseball memorabilia spanning the length of baseball from all the old Columbus Teams like the Jets and the Red Birds, and the third floor is open-roofed with a Rooster’s and bleachers. All floors have HUGE open windows to watch the game below. In front of the building is a large concourse with lots of tables and benches and more picnic tables, and even a grassy knoll where you can lay down a blanket to watch the game.
On Friday’s you can buy $2 Leinenkugal’s before the first inning! There is a City Barbecue behind the Right Field Fowl Line, and two HUGE bars behind Home Plate. Drinks are expensive; $6 – $7.75, but that’s the same for any sporting event, anywhere. The drink prices are offset by the incredibly cheap ticket prices; General Admission is only $6, Reserved Seats are $10, Boxed Seats are $12 in advance or $15 on the day of the game.
On top of all that, after the game, head out the Right Field Entrance/Exit and head West to Betty’s Bar, just a short walk down the street. Betty’s is a little dive that’s been surviving since 1963. The place is awesome. They also happen to have buckets of 10 beers for only $20 after the game!
You need to go check out Huntington Park. Major League stadium with Minor League prices, and a great addition to our fair city.