News release from the TinCaps:
Parkview Field Ranked Among Top 10 Sports Venue Experiences in the United States and Canada
List Includes Not Just Minor, But Major League Venues across Sports
(January 8, 2015) — It’s no secret that Parkview Field has been regarded as one of the finest Minor League Baseball parks in the country since it opened in 2009. But according to the folks at Stadium Journey who’ve visited and reviewed more than 2,050 venues across all sports, the home of the Fort Wayne TinCaps isn’t just the No. 1 Minor League Ballpark Experience.
Stadium Journey has ranked Parkview Field No. 10 among Sports Venue Experiences in all of the United States and Canada. The magazine’s annual “Top 100” rankings were released Thursday.
“We endeavor to serve our community as best as we can,” TinCaps President Mike Nutter said. “So we aren’t doing this for rankings. But it certainly is a nice feeling to be recognized, especially by Stadium Journey, which covers facilities around the world unlike anyone else.”
Stadium Journey rated Parkview Field a 4.7 out of 5.0. The magazine’s “FANFARE Score” is a metric device for rating each stadium experience that covers food and beverage, atmosphere, neighborhood, fans, access, return on investment, and extras. Each area is rated from 0 to 5 stars with 5 being the best. The overall composite is the “FANFARE Score.”
Parkview Field received a 5 in food and beverage, atmosphere, fans, return on investment, and extras. The Downtown Fort Wayne ballpark was given 4s for access and neighborhood.
“A team with a facility as impressive as Parkview Field could easily just open the gates and let the fans roll in,” said Stadium Journey’s Paul Baker. “But the TinCaps organization does nothing of the sort. This organization strives to offer fans one of the best game day experiences anywhere.”
Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore was ranked No. 1 overall. The only other professional baseball venues ahead of Parkview Field on the list are the Pirates’ PNC Park in Pittsburgh (No. 4) and the Cardinals’ Busch Stadium in St. Louis (No. 5).
Lucas Oil Stadium (No. 11), Notre Dame’s Compton Family Ice Arena (No. 6) and Notre Dame Stadium (No. 16) also represent Indiana in the rankings.
“It’s an honor for Parkview Field to be held in the same regard as some of these world-class venues,” Nutter said. “It’s more impressive when you consider how many new facilities have opened since 2009. Getting Parkview Field built took some chutzpah, but I think it’s safe to say it’s working out for the betterment of Fort Wayne.”
Stadium Journey took note of how Parkview Field stands out from other facilities. For example, the Tuthill 400 Club built into the wall in center field is one-of-a-kind in that it’s a luxury group area also serving as the batter’s eye. The Ortho NorthEast (ONE) Treetops above the parking garage in right field also provide for a unique view of a game.Parkview Field hosted more than 650 non-baseball events in 2014, including major concerts featuring the likes of Florida Georgia Line, Nelly, Billy Currington, and Brett Eldredge. The venue also remains home to community staples like the Fort4Fitness Half Marathon and the Fort Wayne Philharmonic’s Patriotic Pops performance.
In 2014 — Parkview Field’s sixth season — the ballpark set new records for overall (411,028), regular season (406,715), and single-game (9,182) attendance. The TinCaps also made the Midwest League Playoffs for a sixth consecutive season.Season seven at Parkview Field opens on Sunday, April 12, at 4:05 p.m., as the TinCaps take on the Lansing Lugnuts. Season ticket packages are available now, while individual game tickets will go on sale in February. Tickets can be purchased online at TinCaps.com, at the Parkview Field Ticket Office, or by calling 260-482-6400.
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