One of the things that I love about minor league ballparks is the wide selection of places that you can sit for a game. While most fans sit in stadium seats or on bleachers, another popular choice is sitting on the grass berm beyond the outfield fence. Not every MiLB park has grass berm seating, but you’ll increasingly find this option available throughout many levels of the game. Whenever you’re planning a ballpark visit, deciding where you’ll sit is important. Take some time to browse the team’s online seating chart to not only determine if berm seating is an option, but also if this looks like a spot in which you might want to buy your ticket. Before you make up your mind, here are some pros and cons that you’ll want to consider.
Pro: It’s Family Friendly
Grass berm seating is arguably the best place in the entire ballpark for families. If you’ve ever sat in stadium seats with kids, you’ve likely seen them get up and down roughly 26 times per inning, climb on the back of their seats and show other signs of restlessness — perhaps to the point of hindering the ballpark experience for you and those who are seated around you. You won’t have to worry about this issue when you’re hanging out on the grass berm. Your kids can lie on their blankets, sit down and, if no one’s directly behind you, stand up. Some teams are a little stricter about berm behavior than others, but it’s not uncommon to see kids running around and enjoying themselves — especially when the area isn’t overcrowded. Additionally, because many MiLB parks have children’s play areas directly behind their outfield concourses, being on the berm often means you’re just a few steps away from bouncy castles and other forms of entertainment for the little ones.
Con: It’s Bad News in the Rain
Grass berm seating can be a bad choice following a period of rain. Stadium ushers wipe down the seats throughout the seating bowl after rain, but there’s little that can be done with the grass berm. Even if the grass has dried a little, the earth beneath it can be very wet — and the moisture can soak through your blanket within a couple of innings. While you can certainly lay out a couple of garbage bags beneath your blanket, this can be a hassle and potentially a mess, too. If there’s a lot of rain in the forecast around the time of your visit, you may wish to think about buying your tickets in a different part of the park. Some parks will even close their berms when the conditions have been too wet.
Pro: It’s Affordable
Whether you’re taking your whole family to a ballgame and you want to avoid overspending or you simply want an affordable night out by yourself or with a spouse or friend, a grass berm ticket is often the most affordable option in the entire park. The price of this seating section varies based on leagues and teams, but you’ll typically spend no more than $10 for an adult ticket in this part of the ballpark, with children’s tickets priced considerably lower. If you can park for free and you decide to eat at home, you’ll have several hours of entertainment without breaking the bank.
Con: It’s Not Comfortable for Everyone
Kids can sit, stand and lie on a grass berm for several hours without showing any ill effects, but this isn’t the case for every adult. If you have back, hip or knee problems, it’s possible that you might find this type of seating to be a little uncomfortable. In some cases, even the act of getting up and down off the grass might be a challenge. If you’re visiting a ballpark that has a wall at the rear of the berm, leaning against it may provide some comfort. Getting up every couple of innings and taking a walk around the concourse to get your muscles and joints moving can also be a good idea.
Pro: It’s Home Run Heaven
The grass berm is often your best spot for snagging a home run baseball during a game. This is especially true if the berm is large enough that it stretches behind much of the outfield fence. At these parks, most home runs are going to land on the grass. While your best shot at going home with a ball always involves snagging one before the game begins, you’ve got a good chance of getting a home run baseball when you’re on the grass berm. Remember to pack your glove and keep your eyes on the field whenever the pitcher is on the mound.
Con: It’s Not Ideal if You’re Nervous About Baseballs
As much as it’s exciting for some fans to think about potentially snagging a home run baseball while sitting in the grass, others may feel uneasy about the idea of balls falling around them. If you expect that you’ll be watching your kids as much as you’re watching the action on the field, it’s easy to be apprehensive about not being able to react to a flying baseball in time. For fans who may go several seconds at a time without watching the action, it can feel safer to sit out of the range of baseballs.
Pro: It May Offer a Good Bullpen View
When I talk to people about maximizing their ballpark visits, one suggestion that I frequently offer is spending some time around either bullpen. Watching the starting pitcher throw before the game or seeing a reliever get ready for action in the late innings is both entertaining and informative. Standing just a few yards away — something that you can often do at MiLB parks — allows you to see small adjustments that pitchers are making, see how catchers are framing pitches and even hear the instructions of pitching coaches. A big perk of sitting on the grass berm is that you may have a good view of the bullpen action. While bullpen positions vary from park to park, you’ll find a lot that are sandwiched between the outfield fence and the grass berm.
Con: It’s Mostly Devoid of Shade
It’s a good idea to be aware of the forecast when you think about where you’ll sit at a ballgame. While being out in the sun can be fun to some degree, direct sunlight for too many hours can obviously leave you with an unpleasant burn. One drawback to grass berm seating is that it’s almost always lacking in shade. While most minor league parks have at least a few sections (or the upper rows of certain sections) in which you can find shade, you’ll usually be in the full sun when you’re on the grass. This can make it a good choice for evening games, but something to carefully consider for afternoon games when conditions are hotter.
Pro: It’s a Good Spot for Fireworks
Different parks take different approaches to post-game fireworks shows, but teams often ask fans who stay for the show to gather on the berms. If you’re in the seating bowl at the end of the ninth inning, you’ll often find crowded berms by the time you get there. This means that you may need to stand on the concourse to enjoy the show, rather than lie on the grass. When you buy your tickets on the berm, you’ll already be in a prime location for the post-game festivities.
Con: It May Have a Bad View of the Video Board
If you’re the type of fan who loves watching the video board — perhaps because you enjoy carefully reading player bios and stats or simply following the various zany in-game promos that are prevalent throughout the minors — you’ll generally want to buy your ticket in an area that gives you a clear view of the video board. At lots of MiLB parks, the video board sits directly behind the grass berm, which means that you’ll either spend half your time turning to see the screen or have to give up on the idea entirely.
Are you the type of fan who often buys berm tickets, or do you generally avoid this part of the park? Or, do you sit on the berm when you’re visiting with your kids, but buy tickets in other areas when you’re alone or with adults?