A couple Fridays ago, I headed to the ballpark for an Eastern League (Double-A) game, taking a break from my obsessive following of Olympic Table Tennis, Archery, Fencing and probably 10 other sports. The weather was questionable, but this was a return visit to Reading, PA and since it was less than 2 hours from my house, I could make a last-minute decision. Storms cleared the area by 4 PM and it was looking good for the game to be played. I was last at FirstEnergy Stadium in 2010 and with this stadium being one of the more unique ones in the circuit, I wanted to get another look. Reading rebranded to the “Fightin Phils” (eh) and this place is everything you envision about the minor leagues. It’s festive and fun, while also staying focused on performance and the history of the team in the area. The stadium was built in 1950 and they very much have kept with it being a memorial to those that have served. In fact, each game they honor a specific veteran with a flag raising ceremony. The surrounding brick structure of the facility is in tact and dated back to nearly 75 years. Concourse walls are wonderfully adorned with tons of pictures and historical timelines. The highlight is the large plaza behind the first base side as festivities go on as early as a few hours before the game. There’s a stage for music, a long bar for adults and games for kids. It’s a party prior to baseball.
I love the history and original ballpark structures, but this one is not great from a viewing perspective. The grandstand is partially covered with a non-descript roof and the rows extend far back as the they start at ground level. Seats are a little tight too. Party/group areas fill the gap, then there are some distant bleachers down the line that are frankly terrible for viewing. The crowd wasn’t as big as my prior visit with a disappointing 50% capacity for the game I saw. It was an entertaining affair as Reading broke open a tie game against Hartford with six runs in the eight inning, powered by an Ethan Wilson home run. They won 8-2 on a very humid and sweaty night in the stadium. An updated Eastern League Rankings overview is posted here.
The plan was to see another Eastern League ballpark in Binghamton tonight, however this time I wasn’t as confident about the weather being clear like I was for Reading, so I didn’t commit for the 2-hour drive. Turns out they did get the game in, but I would’ve had my two daughters in hand this go around and with other outdoor plans impacted by earlier rain, it wasn’t worth the trip. There certainly have been a lot of changes since I saw the B-Mets at NYSEG Stadium in 2007 (now the Rumble Ponies at Mirabito Stadium) and hopefully I’ll get back for a re-visit as well in the near future.
Stadium and Arena Visits 