July 31, 2003
NYSEG Stadium (Capacity: 6,012)
Binghamton, NY
Binghamton Mets vs Portland Sea Dogs
Final Score: 2 – 1 (13)
* The stadium was re-visited for a game on September 21, 2025
** NYSEG Stadium has been renamed Mirabito Stadium
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Binghamton is a city of 47,000 located in the Southern Tier region of New York, sitting at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers. Those two bodies of water combined to devastate the city in 2011 as the area saw massive flooding from the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee. In 1992, the opening of a new ballpark coinciding with the arrival of a Double-A franchise in the Eastern League, relocating from Williamsport. This was not the first run at professional ball in the city, but it marked the return of baseball after a long hiatus. Always a Mets affiliate, Binghamton was successful early on with league titles in 1992 and 1994. They also won one in 2014. In 2017, the team rebranded to the Rumble Ponies, a very Minor League ish take on how Binghamton is the self-proclaimed “Carousel Capital of the World”. The Ponies made it to the LCS the last few years against Erie and my return visit to the stadium came for Game 1 on a Sunday Afternoon. The stadium gives off older vibes, but some helpful touch-ups made me like it more 20 years later (to the tune of a 13-point final ranking increase!).
Prestige Ranking: 2.5 out of 5
Location
Downtown Binghamton is boxed in by the two rivers and multiple railroad tracks. The ballpark is on the northeast side of that small downtown core and the immediate surroundings are mixed. Henry Street runs parallel to the exterior and it has an older vibe before giving way to a mostly residential neighborhood. You can find Mad Monk’s Tavern here just steps from the stadium entrance and it is a refreshingly old-school place to get a beer before or after the game. Past the Post Office and around the corner on Lewis Street, a repurposed train station now is home to a Chop House, plus there are a few other places to eat here. The more lively part of the city is half a mile away at State and Court Street, where clusters of restaurants and bars can be found. I wouldn’t walk to get there from the ballpark as questionable characters around may be off-putting to some people. Otherwise, the city offers a few small museums and not much else attraction-wise.
Location Ranking: 4.5 out of 10
Accessibility / Parking
Getting to Binghamton’s stadium is easy as exiting onto Route 7 from I-81/I-86 brings you in the vicinity. A turn onto Henry Street from Route 7 leads right to the stadium and there is a parking lot on the right. Because there is a stoplight there and the parking entrance is very short, a lineup of cars can slow down getting in. The parking lot is not the largest and on fireworks night, they close a portion of it. It’s uncertain where else to park if it’s full, but there will be others looking for spots on the street or in business lots scattered in the area. Just pay attention to signage. The search is also understandable given the absurd $10 the Ponies charged for the playoff game I went to. Getting out of the stadium lot after can be slow because of tight quarters and again the stoplight, so some quick steps towards the exit gate after final pitch can save you a few minutes.
Accessibility / Parking Ranking: 6 out of 8
Exterior
The entranceway to the ballpark features a flat, concrete wall in a design of light gray squares and rectangles. Normally, I don’t like teams using the parent club nickname and color scheme, but it seemed to work here in 2003 as it fit the stadium. Even the NYSEG Stadium’s logo at the top center blended nicely. The change to Mirabito Stadium makes that green and a bit of a clash. Otherwise, ballpark shape follows the roads as the building lines the sidewalk on Henry Street and Fayette Street. There is also a corner entrance near the parking lot, declaring this Rumbletown.
Exterior Ranking: 5 out of 10
Concourse
Most arrive in that exposed corner entrance and there’s a kids play area along with a corner spot for pre-game music. It’s not the most open or inviting plaza, but at least it’s something. Further in, the concourse is found underneath the seating bowl as the street grid’s tight footprint may have forced this instead of the traditional concourse overlooking the field. In 2003, I remember the area being dark and dismal. I was happy to see it well-lit in 2025 and spruced up with several wall decorations to combat the plethora of gray concrete. Limited concession stands, a team store and surprisingly expansive bathrooms are in the concourse. Space to move around is tight, especially because of middle posts. To reach the seating in the ballpark, there are plenty of stairs that need to be climbed.
Concourse Ranking: 2.5 out of 5
Food
The “Spiedie”. This Binghamton specialty consists of grilled chicken or pork cubes on an Italian roll in a marinade highlighted by Italian spices. I’ve tried my fair share and usually come away with the same impression: it’s dry and the sub needs more ‘stuff’. At the ballpark, I pressed on and gave the Spiedie another shot and found the pork to be better than previous attempts. Still needed ketchup though. Other food items at Mirabito Stadium are typical for a sporting event, while beer and wine has good variety. The first base line is your best bet as there are multiple choices from the Southern Tier Brewing Company on tap.
Food Ranking: 5 out of 8
Interior
The seating bowl is set up with a walkway in the middle and most of the blue seats come in the level higher up. These are the 100s as the the smaller sections closer to the field are labelled 1-18. Note that this is a ballpark where odd numbered sections are on one side and evens the other, which I never understood why someone would think this a better way for the fan to find their section. The ballpark design is in the shape of: \_/ and that means those sitting near that turn behind home plate (104-106 and 103-105) have an awkward angle as you really have to crank your head to see a ball in the opposite field. Also, avoid the first few rows of the 100s because it is not elevated and people constantly using the middle walkway get in the way of the view. On the positive side, the slope of the seating bowl is pretty good with nice height over the field. Blue seats extend out to near the end of the dirt in the infield and chair comfort is fine (bordering on a little tight between the rows). Behind home plate are a modest six suites and the press box, with a short roof covering the first few rows in the second level. With the exception of the boxes behind home plate, there is nothing but a chain-link fence in back of the seating bowl and it gives the ballpark a sort of unfinished look. Down the right-field line is a party deck and that’s it in an era where group seating / roaming spaces is all the rage. A pleasant outfield view greets you here with many rolling hills not too far in the distance and a railyard just beyond the fence. Most of the carts are parked and it’s tough to see if any trains roll in during the game.
Interior Ranking: 7 out of 14
Scoreboard
The scoreboard in right-center is a good one as the large video screen is quite clear. At the top, it features a classy looking wrought-iron structure with the stadium logo. During game play, the screen is quite busy and while the info is good, it’s easy to get a little lost. I loved how frequently replays were shown as usually MiLB is tough to get anything more than video of between-inning promotions. There’s also a video screen in left field and this one is cool because it immediately shows you the pitch type along with speed. I just wish they put the ball/strike count on this side too.
Scoreboard Ranking: 3.5 out of 4
Displays
Binghamton has more of a civic baseball pride than most other Eastern League teams and that can be seen throughout the concourse. The short enclosed walkway behind home plate is dubbed as the city’s baseball shrine and it’s nicely done with plenty of plaques honoring those with ties to the area. There’s a few more of these wall plaques hidden at the end of the concourse and they also go into a thorough description of each championship season, something I really appreciate. The pony theme is carried in multiple areas and you’ll even spot a few carousel horses around. Out in front of the stadium, a historical marker honors Bud Fowler, a player who suffered through racism and segregation in Binghamton’s early baseball years.
Displays Ranking: 4 out of 6
Cost
In 2025, the parking charge left a bad taste in my mouth. It normally is $5, which ok fine, but on Fireworks Nights, they charge $10. Unadvertised, the parking cost for the playoff game I attended was also $10. That’s a ripoff. Tickets were higher than normal too, but I grabbed a flash sale seat for $9. In terms of a regular game, the team had 2026 pricing up in the bathroom and I discretely took a picture. The $12 – $17 ticket cost is reasonable. Concessions included an $8.50 cheeseburger, $5.50 hot dog and $7 for a 24oz soda (the smallest option).
Cost Ranking: 6.5 out of 8
Fan Support
The first couple games that I came here for during the 2000s featured small crowds as attendance was barely 1,000 for a Thursday Night and a Sunday Afternoon game. Poor numbers has been a theme and despite a lot of fan improvements and a better identity, Binghamton fell back to last place in Eastern League attendance during the 2024 season. It wasn’t much better in 2025 as the average paid number was 1,977. This is a team that sold out championship games a decade prior and had high attendance for playoff appearances not too long ago. At least when I attended Game 1 of the Championship Series in 2025 there was interest as the stadium was half-full and I feared a smaller crowd. At least that playoff attendance is more than a few league teams overall.
Fan Support Ranking: 3 out of 8
Atmosphere
There’s a little more attention paid to the actual on the field product and that fits the older vibe (see below) in the ballpark. The small roof overhang does a surprisingly good job at enhancing noise and the right circumstances can increase volume. Hits and runs are met with loud applause. I was happy to see enthusiasm during the playoff game that I returned for in 2025 as the fans made extra noise for each home team success. They also would get some “Let’s Go Ponies” chants going.
Atmosphere Ranking: 8 out of 14
Other Stuff
Two nights after my first visit here in 2003, the B-Mets had a rare minor league no-hitter as Bob Keppel went the distance….Bullpens are buried behind the outfield wall here as there is limited space at the ballpark. The top half of the wall is cut out near these sections so that players can see the field…..Binghamton was very close to losing affiliated ball during the 2020 MLB purge that restructured the minors. A lot of people worked hard behind the scenes and thankfully, baseball looks good to stay for the long haul as the Mets committed to the area…..Over the third base side, a communications tower rises high above and it’s easy not to think much of it. However, there is history here as this Maroni Tower was part of the first test of wireless communication….. The game experience at Mirabito Stadium, gives a vibe from another era, which I love. Some examples: standings and league-leaders boards in the concourse; multiple fans keeping score; advertisement banners for 7 different radio stations at the top of the seating bowl; kids gathering towards first base in the seating bowl to catch a ball thrown from a player at the end of the inning.
Game (Initial Visit)
The game turned out to be a thriller after a dull start. Through nine innings, the score stayed 0-0 with all 11 hits coming in the form of singles. Then in the tenth inning, Portland loaded the bases with no out. They preceded to have a strange interference call to force one out and then the B-Mets turned a ridiculous, diving 6-4-3 double play to get out of the inning. It was still 0-0 when they reached inning 13, where a solo home run gave the Sea Dogs a 1-0 lead. Binghamton stormed back in the bottom half as they walked off a 2-1 win.
Stadium and Arena Visits 
