The city of Louisville is synonymous with baseball because of a single word: Slugger. And while it’s the lumber that ties this city to America’s pastime, the city’s International League franchise has close ties with the baseball bat giant. The team itself – the Louisville Bats – plays at Louisville Slugger Field, which is just a mile from the bat manufacturer’s factory and museum. Louisville Slugger Field opened in 2000, two years before the Louisville RiverBats were rebranded to the Bats and took their current purple and black motif.
The ballpark has an official capacity of 13,131 and an open lower-level concourse that allows you to watch the game from virtually anywhere in the park. If you’re a baseball buff, be sure to check out the Hall of Fame Pavilion, found along the outer edge of the park. Visiting with kids? Check out the kids’ area in the right field corner, which is highlighted by a working carousel. (Detroit’s Comerica Park, Bowie’s Prince George’s Stadium and Frederick’s Harry Grove Stadium are other parks that feature full-sized carousels.) The ballpark’s team shop is accessible via the Hall of Fame Pavilion and the ballpark’s concourse, and features every must-have item for fans of the Bats.