August 5, 2006
Keyspan Park (Capacity: 7,510)
Brooklyn, NY
Brooklyn Cyclones vs Tri-City ValleyCats
Final Score: 0 – 1
* The ballpark was re-visited July 12, 2015
* Keyspan Park was renamed Maimonides Park
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Perhaps no other city loved their home team more than Brooklyn did with the Dodgers in the first half of the 1900s. For decades, fans came out to Ebbets Field in the Flatbush section of the borough to root on Dem Bums. In 1958, owner Walter O’Malley broke Brooklyn’s heart when he moved the team to Los Angeles. That love and heartbreak will never fully go away, but at least baseball is back in this famed part of the country. In 2001, a Single-A team started up in a new Coney Island ballpark and the Cyclones became a rousing success. On the field, the Mets’ affiliate shared a postponed title in their inaugural season and have come so close to being an outright champion numerous times. Overall success has led to many division titles and playoff appearances. Brooklyn is the largest of New York City’s five boroughs with a population of 2.5 million and the ethnically diverse area features very dense urbanization. Most of NYC’s attractions are in Manhattan, however Brooklyn has plenty of reasons to visit. We first came on a hot July day for baseball and beach. My return in 2015 was only three years after Hurricane Sandy devastated Coney Island. The rebuild and resurgence is remarkable and Keyspan Park remains at the center of it all with a beautiful design integrated into its surroundings.
Prestige Ranking: 5 out of 5
Location
Keyspan Park is located in Brooklyn’s playground, Coney Island. The peninsula is on the southern edge of the borough along the Atlantic Ocean and features attractions that have brought New Yorkers to the area for decades. The beach and boardwalk invite many on a hot day, which coincides nicely with the Cyclones’ season. Perhaps more famously along the boardwalk is Luna Park. This old-school amusement park sits on the same site of the historic AstroLand and it still features the near 100-year old Cyclone roller coaster. You guessed it, that’s where the baseball team nickname comes from. The Wonder Wheel is still here too and you’ll also find plenty of other newer thrill rides to go along with carnival attractions in this tight space between the beach and Surf Ave. If you don’t want to shell out dollars for rides, at least take a stroll on the sand, the pier or the boardwalk with the ocean being right there. The separate New York Aquarium is just a bit further down and it’s also a good place to spend the afternoon. Surf Ave and this part of Coney Island have recovered since Sandy and it even feels a little less seedy than when I was here in 2006. You still won’t find an array of restaurants or fine dining before a game, but that’s not what this area is about (nor should it be). It’s classic seaside Americana all within its biggest city. That means getting yourself a Hot Dog at the original Nathan’s. There’s nothing like having one of their beefy franks while standing at a table in Coney Island.
Location Ranking: 9 out of 10
Accessibility / Parking
Situated between Surf Ave and the Boardwalk, the ballpark is right by what draws people to Coney Island. It sits with an empty lot on one side and parking on the other. I had concern that the lot would fill up with beachgoers as parking is near impossible everywhere else on a Saturday, but thankfully we were early enough to find spaces. While the team tries to keep spots reserved for game attendees, the parking situation can be dicey on weekends if this parking area fills up. Also aggravating is the driving, where aggressive New Yorkers can make for a nerve-wracking ride. Thankfully the park is easy to get to with only one turn needed after getting off the Belt Parkway onto Cropsey Ave. Thus, driving on the congested tight streets is short-lived. Traffic on the other hand is inevitable no matter where you come frome. Subway is an easier alternative, though it may be a long ride due to the location of the ballpark. From Midtown Manhattan, it is a 50 minute journey. Several lines (D, F, N and Q) do make their way to the Stillwell Ave station and it is a short walk from there to the ballpark.
Accessibility / Parking Ranking: 5 out of 8
Exterior
There is a lot going on with the exterior of the building as it features an asymmetrical shape that is full of varying pieces and undulations. Most noticeable are the glass windows of the team store, accessible from the street, and the entry gate which leads to a large set of open stairs. Occasional, light-colored brick is used and the ballpark features a couple large “MCU Park” signs. Also, attached with the ballpark on the outside further down Surf Ave is the Coney Island Brewery.
Exterior Ranking: 5.5 out of 10
Concourse
Before climbing the outside stairs, fans can start in The Gallery, an indoor lounge open to all ticket-holders. Not only is it a great place to cool off and chill, it’s also a spot to see team and local memorabilia. Further down on ground level is one of the largest team stores in the minor leagues. Two levels inside “Cyclone City” offer all the merchandise needed. Amazing this is for a Single-A team. Taking the climb up the steps to the concourse, it is above the seating bowl and completely open to the field. Signage has a very boardwalk feel, while the front of an elevator is designed to look like a subway station. Some of the concourse is covered, if not by the overhead suites, then by two yellow wavy canopies incorporated into the design on each side that provide additional shade. People can also enter the stadium from the boardwalk and this outfield area includes seating and is connected by a boardwalk-ish walkway that extends a little bit away from the field due to the bullpens. Bathrooms are dispersed and not all that clean. The infield concourse has a cramped and occasionally claustrophobic feel, not unlike the streets outside the stadium. I do appreciate the local decoration though and it’s integrated perfectly with the community.
Concourse Ranking: 3.5 out of 5
Food
Nathan’s is prominent throughout the park and rightfully so. Don’t sell their Fries short either and it’s the most appropriate meal for a Cyclones game. It’s good to see Brooklyn also have other more elevated items and these come from locals as well. Pig Guy NYC and Arancini Bros. have introduced Rice Balls, Chorizo Dogs and Bacon on a Stick to attendees. On the sweet side, Fried Dough, Lemonade and various Ice Cream is enticing as well. Beer comes from both Brooklyn Lager and the Coney Island Brewery, making for solid choices.
Food Ranking: 7 out of 8
Interior
Keyspan Park is highlighted by the surroundings as it’s incorporation gives the ballpark a true Coney Island feel. Over left field is the bright and narrow Thunderbolt roller coaster as other Luna Park rides loom in the background. The ocean is visible beyond center field and right. However, the look is kind of disappointing in spite of the close proximity as obstructions and seating bowl height don’t allow for water to dominate the view. What does dominate is the Parachute Drop that towers 250 feet above the right field corner. The ride has been closed for years, but it remains a landmark in Brooklyn and it has been refurbished for looks. Other notes: neon circles around the light posts were done to symbolize the roller coasters and the color of Coney Island…At night, the fluorescent lighting in the concourse gives off that classic amusement park vibe. As for seating design, it’s good enough. The stadium comprises a single level of green seats that extend nearly halfway into the outfield. It is a clean seating bowl and one that is uninterrupted from field to top row. Chairs are comfortable and further out, they angle towards the infield. A drawback is a slope that isn’t the greatest as a few heads can get in the way from the row in front of you. The luxury suite set-up is different as there are actually two levels of suites that hang over the concourse. It keeps it more confined to above home plate as opposed to being spread out. This upper section also includes a party deck and the press box. After the ballpark drew crowds so well in the first few seasons, two sections of bleachers were added in right field. These are pointless now and have become an eyesore.
Interior Ranking: 11 out of 14
Scoreboard
The left-field scoreboard is topped off with an excellent replica of the Cyclone roller coaster. The wooden planks include a logo for the team and ballpark. Below is a split board with one side featuring a video screen (that included an awesome opening video), while the box score is on the right. It’s becoming unusual to see a standalone box score, but it works given that the video screen has enough size to be useful.
Scoreboard Ranking: 3.5 out of 4
Displays
Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Brooklyn and a wonderful life-sized statue can be seen outside the ballpark with him and Pee Wee Reese, who was quite supportive of Robinson. The statue displays one of those moments of support. More Dodgers memorabilia can be found throughout the ballpark, including a mural for the 1955 Championship team. The front face of the suite level also includes retired numbers for Gil Hodges and Jackie Robinson. When it comes to Cyclones displays, go check out “The Gallery” as this lounge space on the first level features an abundance of wall murals. One of those gives a colorful history of the team’s 15 years in Brooklyn. Framed jerseys and other memorabilia can also be found in this area. This ballpark’s excellent displays go beyond the team as the Brooklyn Wall of Remembrance outside of the park serves as poignant honor for those that tragically lost their lives on 9/11.
Displays Ranking: 6 out of 6
Cost
Expect to pay prices much more representative of Brooklyn than the New York Penn-League. Parking is $6, while most tickets are a steep $17 (and $19 on game-days). Advanced sales for the outfield bleachers are at least $10 and it didn’t seem to be much of an issue to move to the seating bowl after a few innings. While a hot dog was $4, it’s hard to swallow spending $6 for French Fries or $9 for a pair of tacos. A 16oz beer was $7-$8. Overall, the cost is near the top of the Single-A.
Cost Ranking: 5.5 out of 8
Fan Support
Fan support has dropped off since my first visit in 2006. Still in honeymoon phase, the team was near the top of Minor League Baseball in terms of overall attendance during that season and the game we saw was in front of a packed house. In 2015, the Sunday return game I went to looked more like a crowd of 3,000. That came with a heavily inflated announced attendance of 6,160. During the three-year stretch that Brooklyn made the playoffs in 2010-2012, crowds averaged around 2,500. Not great, but not bad for minor-league ball. After I visited nearby Staten Island in 2025, I went back and dug into the numbers to see how Brooklyn was doing and the drop-off was stark. Games on SNY often featured small crowds and the team ranked in the middle of the pack for attendance (2,627) in their recently move to South Atlantic League.
Fan Support Ranking: 5 out of 8
Atmosphere
Just like Fan Support, the atmosphere dropped off from what I remembered it being in my first visit. There was much more of a casual feel to the game and the general buzz around the park combined with the beach and Coney Island base in the background made for less of a baseball atmosphere. Still, the fans are more knowledgeable than other fan bases and are louder as well. This is a place you’re apt to fear a funny comment, see a nod to the opposing team for a sensational catch or hear a great pop for the Cyclones on their way to a win.
Atmosphere Ranking: 9.5 out of 14
Other Stuff
After Hurricane Sandy ruined the field in 2012, it was replaced by FieldTurf. Not great for purists, but it does give the Cyclones more flexibility and uses through the season…..It really is hard to believe that Brooklyn plays in the same league as teams like Auburn, Batavia and Williamsport. The difference between these cities and ballparks is light years and it shows how much the NYPL changed through the years….The Cyclones have two mascots and they are named after Sandy Koufax (Sandy the Seagull) and Pee-Wee Reese (Pee-Wee).
Game (Initial Visit)
Brooklyn came in to the game having won 12 straight, but they were stymied by a hot pitcher on this night and lost 1-0. Tri-City’s David Qualben returned home as he is native to the borough and the pitcher turned in a gem in front of many friends and family. In seven innings, he only gave up two hits and struck out four. The ValleyCats’ only run came in the fourth inning on a fielder’s choice double play with the bases loaded.
Stadium and Arena Visits 
