Minor-League Roadtrip: Coca-Cola Park

JerseyBoys went out to catch some Triple-A baseball recently, as the Lehigh Valley IronPigs took on the Pawtucket Red Sox at Coca-Cola Park. The stadium was selected to host the Triple-A All Star Game, which takes place tonight at 7pm EST on MLB Network, and it’s easy to see why.

Both the IronPigs franchise (a Phillies affiliate) and the ballpark are only three years old. Despite being relatively new though, the park has quickly earned a reputation as one of the best Minor League venues, and was even honored as the Ballpark of the Year by Ballpark Digest in 2008. Last season, the IronPigs finished with the second highest average attendance numbers in all of MiLB.

We arrived at the park about 30 minutes before first pitch. Traffic was a breeze on the way in. Somehow, even with the huge attendance numbers, they still find a way to get everyone in an efficient manner. I was impressed.

We parked in the lot and walked up to the main gate on the Right Field Concourse. The ballpark is extremely accessible no matter which lot you’re in, and there’s plenty of space to roam around once inside. For the stat junkies, there’s a board as you soon as you walk in listing the lineups for that night’s game, as well as the league leaders in a few different categories. We were expecting to see Michael Bowden starting on the mound for the PawSox, but we learned that he had been replaced by Randor Bierd once we checked out the board. We also found out that Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz would be in the lineup for the Pigs, as he was on a rehab stint.

Our seats were along the first-base side, just behind the visitor’s dugout. Great view and plenty of leg room. However, it was a hot day and the sun was beating down on us for the first three innings. If you’re trying to avoid sunburn, it’s probably better to sit along the third-base side. That was a minor inconvenience though, and certainly did not ruin the experience for us.

Just over the right-field fence there’s a full-service bar, known as the Bud Light Trough. I’ve seen this at a few other Minor League parks and think it’s a great idea. Fans can sit up at the Trough and watch the game, all while enjoying a cold one. If you’re someone who just wants to check out the park or if the game gets out of hand, it’s the perfect spot.

There’s plenty of great food options at Coca-Cola Park, and we sampled a few. Depending on which stand you go to, the menu includes everything from hot dogs and soft pretzels to roasted corn on a stick and churros. The ballpark features a few patio areas where you can sit down and eat without having to bring it back to your seat. That was a huge plus. In order to get into the largest patio, known as the Picnic Patio, you need a ticket. But for $25, you get to sit in the Picnic Patio (down the left-field line), and you get access to a two-hour buffet. Not a bad deal, especially if you plan on eating a lot.

Ticket prices are $9 for field level seats and $14 for club level seats (second deck). I walked all over the field level section, and there’s not one bad seat in the house. There’s also general admission tickets for $6, which allows fans to either sit on the grassy knoll over the center-field wall, or stand along the rails.

Overall, Coca-Cola Park is a great place to watch baseball. And because the IronPigs are just one step below the majors, the game will not be short on talent. This night belonged to the PawSox though, who scored four runs in the 6th inning to win 4-2. I went home a happy man.