PNC Park

PNC Park, opened in 2001, quickly became known as one of the MLB's greatest ball parks among fans. Located on the Allegheny River, PNC Park offers the most tremendous scenery in baseball. From your seats, you can see right into downtown Pittsburgh. When the stadium hits it's full capacity, eager fans watch from the Roberto Clemente bridge, a namesake of the Hall of Fame Pirate player.  Fans wait to catch home runs from their boats and canoes, just waiting for a ball to splash into the water.

PNC Park offers the biggest "Bang for Your Buck" among ballparks in the MLB, as you can sit up close to the action for a mere 20 dollars, compared to Yankee Stadium's seats that go well into the triple digits. And unlike many ballparks that are located in the middle of nowhere (to accommodate for large crowds of parking,) fans can watch a baseball game right in an urban environment. For football fans, PNC Park is also located right next door to the Pittsburgh Steelers Heinz Field.

PNC Park is also the first venue in Major League Baseball to host an out-of-town scoreboard, so fans can stay up to date on the other games around the league. The exterior of PNC Park is Kasota limestone, which is refreshing from the standard brick that most ballparks have today. PNC is also well-known for its great food. Of course PNC serves fans the usual ballpark hot dogs, soda, and crackerjacks. But this ballpark is famous for having "Primanti Brothers" sandwiches, which is a local restaurant, and a favorite among fans.

Aerial view of PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA

Roberto Clemente, a 15-time All-Star, will not go unrecognized in Pittsburgh. Not only is the iconic bridge named after him, but there is also a bronze statue of him erected beside the bridge. The statue was brought over from Three Rivers Stadium, the field "Bucs" fans called home until PNC Park was built. Clemente's number was retired by the Pittsburgh Pirates after he died in a fatal airplane accident, attempting to bring food to an earthquake stricken Nicaragua. All of his teammates attended his funeral, except one who dove into the frigid Atlantic waters in search of his body. The wall in right field stands 21 feet high in honor of Clemente's number.

Lately though, the Pirates haven't had any break-out players like Roberto Clemente. Pittsburgh Baseball has been coined with the term "Best Stadium, Worst Team" in recognition of Pittsburgh's failure to reach the playoffs since 1992.  But with new sluggers like Andrew McCutchen, Neil Walker, and Pedro Alvarez, along with a solid pitching staff, the Pittsburgh Pirates may soon be the best team with the best stadium.

Next Weeks Edition of Ballpark Guide: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY

Rogers Centre

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Rogers Centre (opened in 1989) in Canada offers a unique and amazing experience to any baseball fan. Being the first retractable roofed stadium in the MLB, it is open all year long to also host the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts and also hosts one Buffalo Bills game each year since 2008. Having an innovative retractable roof, the cost to build the stadium was about $913 million dollars.

The idea of opening Rogers Centre was supported by Canadians who protested at Toronto City Hall. They were heard chanting "We want a Dome" to fit Toronto's unpredictable weather. Rogers Centre is a different experience for fans, as it the most modern ballpark compared to most other stadiums that feel more historical. At the start of each game, they sing both the Canadian and American National Anthem, as Toronto is only a short drive from the American border, coupled by the fact that Toronto is the only team North of the border. This can cause many of the visiting teams fans to be American. But just remember when coming to a Blue Jays game to remember your passport!

One unique feature is that when the roof is opened, you have a clear view of the iconic CN Tower hanging over you. The CN Tower can be seen from almost any spot in the building. Another great feature is that there is a luxurious 348-room Marriott hotel in Center Field. This means you can watch your games straight from the comfort of your hotel room. But plan ahead, these rooms are booked months in advance and are very pricey. You can still get a great glimpse of the game from the restaurant on the bottom floor. Another great feature is the large scoreboard called "JaysVison." Built by Daktronics, it is 33 feet in height, and 110 feet in length.

Most people think that Canadian Baseball fans are few in number and not very enthusiastic. Those people are dead wrong, and Blue Jays fans have proved that Canadians don't only watch hockey. Maybe it's just the echoes reflecting off the dome, but this place may be the loudest place in baseball- or maybe even sports. Baseball fans swarm into Rogers Centre when it opens before each game. Many people thought that baseball would not survive in Canada, as the Montreal Expos were moved to Washington in 2004 due to low attendance to games. This can be attributed to the fact that there is a barrier in both culture, and language in Montreal, so baseball was doomed from the start in Quebec. Meanwhile Toronto shares the same characteristics as many U.S. cities, and there is no language and culture barrier over the border.

Being a retractable roof, the field is composed of Artificial Turf. To limit maintenance switching between football and baseball, the architects of the stadium chose that instead of a full base path, there would be dirt "patches" surrounding each base. Rogers Centre is now currently the only stadium to not ave a full base bath. The artificial turf is made of rubber, meaning the ball bounces higher when hit. This gives a home field advantage to the Blue Jays, who are used to the height of the bounce, while the opposing team is not.

Rogers Centre offers the most unique experience baseball has to offer, and any baseball fan should stop here. It will give a refreshing change to the usual outdoor experience housed in most baseball stadiums. Plus many people believe the Blue Jays will be contenders in 2012, so there should be some exciting action from their young stars like J.P. Arencibia, and their slugger Jose Bautista.

Next Weeks Edition of Ballpark Guide: PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA

Citi Field

Citi Field (home to the New York Mets,) opened in 2009 is a vast improvement from the worn out Shea Stadium. Plans regarding a new stadium in New York started circulating in the '90s, when the introduced a model of a potential ballpark that included a retractable roof, fitting for New York's unpredictability in Early Spring and Fall. The plans fell through, as New York City would not provide the funds to a stadium with a retractable roof, which are very expensive.

In 2009 the Mets opened their inaugural season at Citi Field, to 3,154,270 fans. Since then, Citi Field has allowed the least amount of Home Runs in the MLB, and has been criticized as being to "pitcher-friendly."

Older fans may have a feeling of Nostalgia, as the arches in the front entrance give homage to the old Ebbets Field where the Brooklyn Dodgers played before they left to Los Angeles, and their stadium was demolished. The Stadium Also honors Jackie Robinson, a Dodger, who broke the color barrier, with a Jackie Robinson Rotunda at the front entrance.

Either way, Citi Field is recognizable to all MLB fans for many unique reasons. One instance being, that in right field the "Pepsi Porch" overhangs the playing field, so fans are literally on top of the action. Another being the "Great Wall of Flushing" (Flushing is the neighborhood in the borough of Queens they play in) which is twice the size of a regulation fence in left field. It has taken away countless home runs. Unlike the 37-foot "Green Monster" at Fenway Park, which is only 310 feet from home plate, the Great Wall of Flushing is 358 Feet from home plate. This means putting an uppercut on the baseball isn't necessarily going to mean you'll hit it over. The most iconic figure at Citi Field would have to be the Home Run Apple in center field, that pops up every time the Mets hit a home run.

Citi Field has a fan-friendly atmosphere as all the seats are very close to the playing field, so you won't get a bad view and miss out on any action. All seats are great, as even the upper deck has a steep incline that makes sure you can see the whole playing field.

Unlike Shea Stadium, where you had to go through a tunnel to go to the concession stands (which are great, but don't forget your wallet $$,) Citi Field has an open view all the way throughout the concourse, and TV's broadcasting the game in every corner. This ensures no one will miss the game winning hit.

Some say that Citi Field is just too ordinary, with a brick facade in front, which is very ordinary amongst ballparks today. But unless you see a game there and feel the atmosphere, and hear the roars from the airplanes flying over, you just won't understand what makes it so special. It may not have broken any ground architecturally, but Citi Field is a top destination to see a good ol' fashion ball game.

Next Weeks Edition of Ballpark Guide: Rogers Centre in Toronto, ON