5 Things That Set AT&T Park Apart from Other MLB Ballparks

Every major league ballpark is different with certain things that really set it apart from other stadiums. Whether it's food, the views or a myriad of other things, each ballpark creates a certain memory for visitors.

AT&T Park is no different. It is one of the most beautiful ballparks in Major League Baseball with gorgeous views no matter where you sit. Lower level gets you closer to the field and the nosebleeds give a sweeping view of the San Francisco Bay.

The beauty of AT&T Park is only one thing that sets it apart. While visiting a ballpark is really the only way to truly be able to compare it to other stadiums, these are five more things that make the home of the San Francisco Giants a unique place to watch a baseball game.

McCovey Cove

AT&T Park’s right field wall stands 24 feet high in honor of No. 24 Willie Mays, and behind that is McCovey Cove.

Officially called China Basin, McCovey Cove has been home to 61 Giants splash hits and plenty more memorable moments. Boats and kayaks come into the cove on game day in hopes of catching a home run or to simply take in a baseball game with friends.

Watch for Free

Ticket prices can be expensive, but there is another option for those who can’t afford—or don’t want to spend money on—admission to the ballpark.

There is an area in the right field archways where fans can watch the game for free for a few innings. Walk down the portwalk between the stadium and McCovey Cove and check out the commemorative plaques celebrating Giants milestones—most recently, Matt Cain’s perfect game.

Then stop in for a couple innings of the game. By a stadium where just about everything is expensive, this is a fun and free way to enjoy a game.

Statues and Figures

Each ballpark has its own statues and notable areas that set it apart from the other ballparks, and AT&T Park has several big figures around the stadium. Cable car No. 44 is placed in the walkway behind right center field. In the club level you can see the Peanuts figures in orange and black, right across from historical displays, bats, baseballs and bobbleheads.

There are five statues around the ballpark. Four are dedicated to Hall of Famers Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Juan Marichal and Orlando Cepeda, and the fifth is a seal dedicated to the minor league San Francisco Seals.

When you see photos of AT&T Park, one of the most noticeable things is the Coca-Cola Fan Lot with the giant glove and the Coke bottle slide for kids.

Food

It doesn’t matter what type of food you feel like when you go to a Giants game. If you’re hungry, you’ll find something.

The Anchor Plaza behind the video board has many different foods of San Francisco, whether it’s the Crazy Crab sandwiches, clam chowder or Cepeda bowls. If it’s a hot day, there will be quite the line for a Ghirardelli sundae.

A must-have at AT&T Park is an order of Gilroy Garlic Fries. While some other stadiums may offer garlic fries, these have become a staple of a baseball game in San Francisco.

Environmental Efforts

Watching a baseball game at the park is fun, and AT&T Park has committed itself to make the game healthy for the environment. The Giants strive to be the greenest ballpark in the country by keeping a big stadium to a small environmental footprint.

Concession stands use less energy and the irrigation system uses less water. Fans at the game can help by sorting their trash into separate receptacles, an action that has prevented excess trash from reaching landfills.

 

All photos from Ally Williams, MLB Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow her on Twitter to get in contact.