MLB Power Rankings: The 5 Most Overrated Stadiums
The word overrated means to overvalue something or exaggerate its existence. Even though the connotation of the word is somewhat negative, being overrated is not necessarily a bad thing.
In order to be overrated, you must simply be rated well in the first place. But when something or someone is highly rated because of attributes that don't directly influence the purpose served is when the overrated talks begin.
When we take a look at how baseball stadiums—not teams—can be considered overrated, we have to look at what a baseball stadium is used for.
Sure, many of the great ballparks, past and present, are great because of the history made and preserved. In some cases, historic stadiums literally take you on a journey from the present-day to the iconic golden ages of baseball.
But I'm not a historian nor do I live in the past. I don't go to a ballpark for its atmosphere or historic value.
I go to the ballpark to watch the game and support my team. I go for the game.
Don't spend too much time recollecting history when you can witness history being written. Right in front of you.
That being said, overrated stadiums aren't bad stadiums. Bad stadiums have their own category (i.e. reside in Florida) and aren't rated at all.
Here are the five most overrated stadiums in the MLB.
5. Fenway Park
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"Let's not and say we did."
That's how I feel about Fenway Park, home to the Boston Red Sox. I would rather say that I have been there, without actually having to go.
Don't get me wrong, Fenway Park is as historic and treasured as it gets regarding current MLB stadiums. Having been built in 1912, Fenway Park is the oldest stadium in the major leagues.
In left field, you have the intimidating Green Monster. In right field, you have Pesky's Pole. In center field, you have...a triangle.
Fenway may be beloved, but it is also overrated.
As you can see in the photo above, you are more likely to have some sort of obstructed view of the field than a picturesque panorama due to the steel columns holding up the upper deck. What about those outfield seats that force you to either stare right field all game or risk a stiff neck? Did I mention that those seats aren't even discounted?
Spending $52 for those seats should be a crime. But hats off to Red Sox Nation, they pack that place day-in and day-out.
However, Fenway's seating is extremely cramped, and a packed house every night must be bad on the lower back.
The experience is second-to-none, but the ballpark is overrated.
4. Kauffman Stadium
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Kauffman Stadium is home to the AL Central's Kansas City Royals.
Kauffman went under some recent renovations that added seats to the outfield and updated the scoreboard, which visually improved the ballpark. Kauffman is also pretty affordable, easy to get to and doesn't have and "bad" seats or sight-lines.
It even has water fountains in the outfield. How exciting.
So why might Kauffman Stadium be overrated, you ask?
Well, people usually consider the KC ballpark as underrated because they don't draw too well, and the Royals are usually pretty bad. Kansas City is also one of the smaller markets in baseball, which seems to automatically give any park "underrated consideration". If you agree with that, you are reading the wrong article.
Kansas City is known for its GREAT barbecue and small-town flavor, so why is Kauffman Stadium in the middle of nowhere?
Yes, having I-70 and I-435 surrounding the stadium makes it easier for travelers to get to, but this vacant area should be reserved for a rest stop.
Kauffman is situated right next to Arrowhead Stadium—home to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs and acres and acres of concrete parking lot. There is absolutely nothing to do around the stadium or within any sort of walking distance.
That and the Kansas City Royals have been dismal for the past two decades.
To put it simply, Kauffman Stadium is overrated because it could be SO much better (location-wise), yet people think it's some sort of hidden gem.
3. Yankee Stadium
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The "New" Yankee Stadium, which opened in 2009, is home to none other than the New York Yankees.
It is easy to classify the modern version of Yankee Stadium as overrated because the Yankee organization basically announced it to everyone.
Alright, they didn't really announce that their new stadium was overrated, but 12 days after the opening the park, the Yankees had to slash their highest-priced tickets in half.
The Yankees themselves overrated their stadium and ticket value and were subsequently forced to come back to earth by cutting ticket prices so the seats would be full.
You can find more information on the Yankee's price cuts in this New York Times article by Richard Sandomir.
This wasn't just a one-time thing for the Bronx Bombers, who apparently have had to cut prices on many tickets before big games. For an in-depth look at this, read this article by Ross Sheingold of the NYY Stadium Insider.
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2. Dodger Stadium
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Dodger Stadium has been the one and only home for the storied Los Angeles Dodgers.
I don't have much to say about the stadium itself, so I will cut right to the chase of why Dodger Stadium is vastly overrated.
The crowd shows up late and forces you to leave early. Combine that with seemingly around-the-clock L.A. traffic and a trip to Dodger Stadium can turn into a real headache.
Violent actions that took place earlier this year in the parking lot of Dodger Stadium was the unfortunate last straw for already-violent fans. There may not be many of those kind of Dodger fans, but actions taken by the select few violent fans unfortunately cast clouds over a classic stadium.
The "Dodger Dog" is also extremely overrated and is outdated by its hot dog counterparts in Chicago, Boston and New York.
I honestly do feel bad for all the good Dodger fans all over the country that were misrepresented by a select few.
1. Wrigley Field
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The most overrated stadium in all of baseball—by a landslide—is Wrigley Field, home to the Chicago Cubs.
Wrigley Field is the second oldest stadium in the major leagues, behind Boston's Fenway Park. Wrigley has the classic scoreboard in centerfield and beautiful green ivy covering the outfield walls. Wrigley is surrounded by the neighborhood known as "Wrigleyville," which can satisfy all your food and alcoholic beverage needs.
Everybody loves Wrigleyit's an absolute tourist attraction. But as a baseball stadium, Wrigley Field is vastly overrated.
Here's why:
- It is an adventure to find parking
- If you take the train, you have to wait for shuttle buses...with everyone else that took the train.
- They still serve Old Style
- Bad food selection
- Not enough bathrooms, yet you can always smell one.
- Men empty their collective tanks in one giant trough..together.
- Alcohol everywhere, which includes people that can't control their buzz or don't know how.
- It's not cheap
- Extremely cramped seating arrangements
- I pulled a full screw out of my seat one time, without even meaning to.
- It's literally putting the Cubs in debt
Speaking of the Cubs, they currently hold a 12-19 record this season at their very own "friendly confines". Last season, the Cubs were the ONLY team to have a better road record than home record. Their road record finished with a full five game ahead of their home record.
That feat didn't stop the people from flocking in, however, as the Cubs finished fourth in all the MLB in attendance numbers.
A stadium that continues to draw fans to watch a perpetual loser has to be overrated. The Cubs have yet to win a world series while calling Wrigley Field their home ballpark.
And they have been doing that for 96 years.
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