This reporter has worked from 190 Minor League ballparks -- here are his favorites

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"What's your favorite ballpark?"

I get this question a lot. More than any other, and for good reason. I've visited 190 Minor League ballparks in my professional career, over the course of 15 seasons, many of them more than once. It all starts to blur together after a while, to the point where I often ask the same question of myself.

"What's your favorite ballpark?"

It's a tough query, because the variety of Minor League ballparks is reflective of the variety of the American landscape. Comparing a new downtown Triple-A stadium to a 90-year-old Single-A stadium is, like the cliché goes, comparing apples to oranges. This -- an oft-updated version of an article that originally ran in 2018 -- represents my best attempt at answering the question.

Ballpark Guides for EVERY Minor League team »

What follows is a level-by-level look at my favorite ballparks, along with a runner-up and three honorable mentions. Click on each ballpark's name to see its corresponding Minor League Ballpark Guide. Plan your road trip today!

Triple-A

Southwest University Park (El Paso Chihuahuas, SD)
Opened: 2014

El Paso is a border town and Southwest University Park encapsulates the blend of Mexican and American culture that typifies life in the West Texas city. The Chihuahuas name is a reference not just to the small dog, but to the Chihuahuan Desert located in both West Texas and a substantial part of northern Mexico. The Franklin Mountains loom beyond the park's left-field fence (less visible now due to development around the ballpark), the El Paso skyline is visible to the right and the sprawling, mountainous cityscape of Juarez, Mexico, hovers just beyond the home-plate side of the stadium. Eye-catching architectural components -- such as the three-story "Big Dog House" in right field -- make the park itself a memorable place to explore, and the multicultural fan base provides a livelier-than-usual Minor League gameday atmosphere.

But I almost chose...

CHS Field (St. Paul Saints, MIN)
Opened: 2015
The Saints, long an independent team, joined the affiliated ranks in 2021 following a reorganization of Minor League Baseball. Their home of CHS Field, in downtown St. Paul and near the Mississippi River, is a gem. Gorgeous views and creative architecture, combined with a raucous gameday environment, result in a guaranteed good time. An added bonus: Target Field, home of the Twins, is just a short drive away (and also accessible via public transit). Time the schedule right and you could see the Saints and their parent club on the same day.

Honorable Mentions: Truist Field (Charlotte Knights); Durham Bulls Athletic Park (Durham Bulls); Fifth Third Field (Toledo Mud Hens)

Double-A

FirstEnergy Stadium (Reading Fightin Phils, PHI)
Opened: 1951
FirstEnergy Stadium, 75 years young, is perhaps the premier example of a "best of both worlds" Minor League atmosphere, in which an old ballpark retains its throwback charm while offering a modern entertainment experience. Reading has been a Philadelphia affiliate since 1967, and the history and proximity between the two organizations results in a fan base that is passionate and knowledgeable. The same goes for the front office staff, which has featured far less turnover than is typical in the industry. A night at First Energy Stadium is imbued with the past but not weighed down by the no-distractions dogma of the baseball purist. This is a ballpark filled with color and characters, set against a bucolic Berks County backdrop, and recent renovations ensure it will remain a premier destination for decades to come.

But I almost chose...

Synovus Park (Columbus Clingstones, ATL)
Opened: 2025
Like FirstEnergy Stadium, Synovus Park is a true "best of both worlds" baseball experience. The "new" home of the Columbus Clingstones initially opened in 1926 as Golden Park; 99 years later, after a period of dormancy, it was massively renovated. The grandstand structure, flanked by a concourse with stone walls, remains intact. The field is brand new, as are an array of supplementary structures housing the team store, front offices, group and premium areas and more.

Honorable mentions: Dunkin' Park (Hartford Yard Goats), Riders Field (Frisco RoughRiders), Blue Wahoos Stadium (Pensacola Blue Wahoos)

High-A

McCormick Field (Asheville Tourists, HOU)
Opened: 1924

In 1926, after an exhibition game at McCormick Field, Babe Ruth declared: "My, my, what a beautiful place to play. Delightful. Damned delightful place." Nearly 100 years later, the Bambino's sentiment still applies. Nestled into a hilly landscape south of downtown Asheville, McCormick Field is an anachronistic charmer. Ruth is not the only legendary slugger who played there; in "Bull Durham," Crash Davis broke the Minor League home run record as a member of the Tourists and scenes from the movie were filmed at McCormick Field. The concourse, bursting with cartoonishly decorated concession stands, exudes the sort of funky charm for which Asheville has become known. Crowds are liable to be the biggest for "Thirsty Thursday," a promotional idea that was first conceived (and later copyrighted by) the Tourists.

But I almost chose...

Avista Stadium (Spokane Indians, COL)
Opened: 1958
Avista Stadium was hastily built prior to the 1958 season, serving as the home of the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate following that franchise's move to Los Angeles. Nearly 70 years later, the ballpark still crackles with a classic throwback energy. The covered grandstand is a great place from which to view the game, as is the Coors Light Caboose (modeled after a classic train car) in right field.

Honorable mentions: Parkview Field (Fort Wayne TinCaps), Modern Woodmen Park (Quad Cities River Bandits), Jackson Field (Lansing Lugnuts)

Single-A

Jackie Robinson Ballpark (Daytona Tortugas, CIN)
Opened: 1914
Most Florida State League ballparks aren't exactly Minor League ballparks, per se, but Spring Training facilities occupied by Minor League teams after their parent clubs depart at the end of March. Daytona Beach's Jackie Robinson Ballpark is the circuit's notable exception, as it is a classic facility located on an actual island with charm and style to spare. The majority of fans sit in a covered grandstand under a rooftop press box, with views of the Broadway Bridge spanning the Halifax River. The lively concourse, abutted by lime green exterior walls, includes an interactive museum devoted to the life and times of stadium namesake Jackie Robinson. The baseball trailblazer spent 1946 Spring Training in Daytona Beach, as the city ignored Jim Crow segregation laws to let him play his first games as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers organization. The ballpark was renamed in his honor in 1990; that same year, a Jackie Robinson statue was erected outside of the ballpark.

But I almost chose...

Atrium Health Ballpark (Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, CWS)
Opened: 2021
After years of playing on the outskirts, Kannapolis's Carolina League team moved to a new downtown ballpark in 2021. It's an idyllic setting, serving as the centerpiece of the city's post-industrial revitalization while offering out-of-town fans the opportunity to explore an area they might not otherwise think to visit. A cluster of stately red brick buildings loom beyond the outfield, offering a genteel counterpoint to the carnivalesque atmosphere within.

Honorable Mentions: The Diamond (Lake Elsinore Storm), Excite Ballpark (San Jose Giants), Valley Strong Ballpark (Visalia Rawhide)