| Blair County Ballpark is a new double-A park that actually doesn't follow the usual template of most new facilities built since the early 90's. While the park is unique in this sense, I don't like it as much as many of the other new parks. The park does have an interesting location as an amusement park is adjacent to the ballpark. This allows for a roller coaster to provide the back drop in right field. And if you are there on a night when the park is open, you'll see the roller coaster with "Go Curve" spelled out on the side. Fans enter the park on the upper concourse which runs behind the seating areas, out of view of the field. This upper concourse allows access to the upper deck seating, where the majority of the seats are located. The lower concourse runs underneath the upper deck and is in view of the field. It features numerous concessions stands offering sausages, pizza, buffalo chicken tenders, bbq sandwiches, and cinnamon roasted nuts as well as the standard ballpark fare. There is a large BBQ stand along the first base line, but strangely they only server burgers there. Prices are average for the minor league level while quality is a little above average. While the seating is very comfortable due to the spaciousness of the seats, it is a bit far from the field for such a new park, especially that in the upper deck. Over recent years bleachers have been added in left field along with some bar-type seating. There is also a large picnic area located down the 3rd base line. One aspect I don't like about BCB is all the picnic tables located along the lower concourse. This makes that area feel much more cramped than it needs to. When you have a large picnic area already, I'm not sure why you need to flood the concourse with tables as well. Along the first base concourse are games for the kids like what you'd find at an amusement park, which are actually kinda neat. A small gift store is located off of the upper concourse. Parking is $2 in the garage behind the outfield wall. Overall, Blair County Ballpark is a very pleasant place to see a game. And it's obvious that folks in Altoona think the same, as they continue to fill the ballpark year after year.
|
