ATLANTA -- Though SunTrust Park is still filled with cranes and construction workers who are preparing the stadium for its opening before the start of the 2017 season, the Braves spent a portion of Thursday providing a glimpse of what fans will see and experience when the park and the adjoining mixed-use development become fully functional.
The Braves will begin selling season tickets to the public on Tuesday at 9 a.m. ET. These packages, some of which include tickets that cost less than $20 per game, can be purchased online at braves.com/suntrustpark, by calling (404) 577-9100 or by appointment at the SunTrust Park Preview Center overlooking the new ballpark. Appointments at the Preview Center can be made by phone or by emailing [email protected].
Those purchasing online can take advantage of an interactive element that will help fans select the field view they want.
"All of the seats are closer to the field," Braves president of business Derek Schiller said. "At the end of the day, all of the amenities and the other entertainment options at SunTrust Park are great. But this is about a baseball experience and making sure that when fans come here to watch a baseball game, they have best possible baseball experience they can have. That starts that the views, and sightlines are the best that they can be."
The Braves have constructed SunTrust Park so that comparable seats will be an average of 30-50 feet closer to the field than they are at Turner Field. Also, to account for the region's heat and humidity, the park will include an awning that will shade 60 percent of the seats.
Fans will also have a chance to take advantage of the amenities at the Delta 360 Sky Club, a membership area that will sit behind home plate. Those who do not have access to the this club will also find dining and bar options in the Comcast Xfinity rooftop area that will include a lounge high above right field.
The Chop House, which has long been a popular feature at Turner Field, will be three levels at SunTrust Park. Ticketed fans can directly access this area from The Battery, the adjoining mixed-use development that will include entertainment, retail, dining and residential properties.
SunTrust Park will join Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park, Texas' Globe Life Park and Detroit's Comerica Park as the only Major League stadiums which will face southeast (from home plate toward the outfield). The ball obviously travels pretty well in each of those parks. Though the Braves have reviewed wind studies conducted at nearby Dobbins Air Force Base, they won't know exactly how the ball travels until the stadium opens.
The dimensions at SunTrust Park are as follows:
• Left-field line: 335 feet
• Right-field line: 325 feet
• Center field: 402 feet
SunTrust Park will not have the same symmetrical look as Turner Field. The left-center-field marker is 385 feet from the plate, and the right-center-field marker will read 375 feet. The wall will stand between six feet and eight feet, eight inches from the left-field line to right-center field. It will rise to 16 feet from right-center to the right-field line.
"We did that intentionally to build a little more character and a little more uniqueness into our playing facility, not only for the fans but also for the players," Braves vice chairman John Schuerholz said. "It's a fair ballpark. I like fair a ballpark. When a pitcher makes a mistake, a hitter ought to be able to hit a home run. If he makes a good pitch, he ought to be able to get an out."