Louisville Slugger Field’s design is such that when you walk around the exterior of the park before the gates open, you can’t see through to the field. Most fans won’t even notice this issue, but if you’re the type of visitor who enjoys catching a glimpse of batting practice from outside the park – and watching the landing spot of errant balls with the hopes of grabbing one when you get inside – that won’t work here. This doesn’t mean you won’t have the fun of snagging a ball during your visit, but it does mean you’ll need to have some luck on your side. Get to the head of the line before the game so that when the gates open an hour before game time, you can be one of the first fans in the park. If you want to find a BP ball, look in the seats down the lines, through the outdoor seating and along the grass berm in left-center. Although the park’s ushers are tasked with removing BP balls before the gates open, you always have a chance of finding one that was overlooked.
When the game begins, a handful of spots can give you a good chance of getting a foul ball. A front-row seat down either foul line, as is the case at most parks, gives you the chance of catch a rolling foul ball or have a ball tossed to you from the bullpen. If you want to be a little farther away from the action, the wide aisles down the lines are ideal spots to wait for a foul ball. Your best bet for catching a home run is a seat in the left field seats (sections 129 to 132) or a spot on the grass berm.
The prospect of getting an autograph is a little simpler. It’s as easy as finding a spot along either railing near the dugouts – on the third base side for Louisville and the first base side for the visiting team – before the game. Players are willing to sign in these areas from the time they emerge from the dugout for pre-game stretching until about 20 minutes before first pitch. At this time, ushers will ask you to return to your seat. If you’re especially eager to have a member of the home team sign something, join the other autograph seekers outside the park after the game. Bats players park in the lot on the east side of the ballpark and you won’t have trouble finding the spot to wait – players’ parking spots are clearly labeled on the asphalt.