Not every ballpark lives up to its expectations. Whether you’re a new fan or a long-time supporter, find out which MLB ballparks you should avoid in ‘Game Day Let-downs: Top 5 of the Worst MLB Stadiums.
5. Chase Field
Delivering a strike for number five we have Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Chase Field is fairly new with construction starting in 1996 and opening on March 31, 1998. The Diamondbacks beat the Yankees in 2001 to win the World Series by four games to three. Since then they have made the playoffs here and there but haven’t gone very far. Their most recent success was brought by making the World Series in 2023, before getting thrown around by the Texas Rangers. Chase Field holds an astonishing 48, 405. Due to a lack of success, Chase Field ranked 21st in attendance with the stadium feeling “empty”.
4. Comerica Park
Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers comes in at number four. Comerica Park opened on April 11, 2000. The Tigers needed a new stadium with their old park, Tiger Stadium” running for 88 years. With the Tiger’s lack of success recently, Comerica Park doesn’t really bring much to the table.
3. Roger Centre
Out of this country but not out of this world, Rogers Centre ranks number three. Home of the Blue Jays, Rogers Centre is located in downtown Toronto with some seats getting a great shot of the CN Tower due to its retractable roof. Other than that Rogers Centre doesn’t offer much. “Overpriced food, seats, and low-quality food”, one fan said. Another fan claimed, “The seats are not wide, with not much legroom.” Many fans don’t even like the name, saying “Centre should be reserved for arenas and not fields.
2. Oakland Coliseum
Number two we have The Oakland Coliseum, which hosts the Oakland A’s. This ballpark once used to host the Oakland Raiders up until 2019. The Raiders had the right idea by leaving the Coliseum. The A’s jumped on that train as well but much later, announcing that 2024 would be the Coliseum’s last year. Fan’s saying “Feces from feral cats”, “wastewater leaks”, and “broken seats” suggests that the move and a new stadium isn’t such a bad idea.
1. Tropicana Field
Last but not least there is Tropicana Field. The “Trop” home of the Tampa Bay Rays has been hosting the Rays for about 30 years. The Rays have reached the playoffs four years in a row but fans still are at an all-time low with only 13,000 fans on average attending games. Issues with the seating, slow working employees, and a very quiet stadium are likely the reasons for such little fans. Most importantly, hurricane Milton destroyed Tampa, Florida, and took the Trop’s fiberglass roof with it. The entire roof was gone due to the strong winds. The repairs were reportedly going to cost 55 Million dollars. It made sense just to build a new stadium. The Rays will be playing their 2025 season in George M. Steinbrenner Stadium while their new one gets built.
