A newbie’s guide to watching the Atlanta Braves
It’s America’s favorite pastime. And if you’ve lived in metro Atlanta for more than a year but haven’t seen the Braves play at Turner Field, it’s far past time.
Whether you’re thinking about going by yourself, taking a date or making it a family affair, we asked a couple local baseball fans for their tips on how to get the most value out of your Braves experience:
Getting there
Many seasoned Braves fans will tell you the best way to get to the game is via MARTA — it’s cheaper than parking and will save you a post-game traffic headache. Exit the train at the Five Points station to catch a Braves shuttle bus. It departs from Steve Polk Plaza, on the east side of Underground Atlanta, and returns to the station’s Broad at Alabama Street entrance.
If you drive to a game, parking in most official Braves lots costs between $8 and $15. But some motorists have other tricks up their sleeves.
“We like to park for free about a half-mile away on a side street off Georgia Avenue,” says John McCosh, public relations manager for CredAbility, a credit counseling group.
If you choose to park in an unsupervised lot or on the street, officials caution you do so at your own risk “If I take a date,”McCosh says, “the only thing I would change is I’d pay for parking in an official lot.”
Being there
It’s hard to find a bad seat at The Ted (the stadium’s named after one-time Braves owner and CNN founder Ted Turner). Plus, there are more than 500 television monitors throughout the ballpark, as well as the giant, 29-by-38-foot BravesVision video board beyond center field.
Going to a day game? Whitney Callan, a client services coordinator with Fox Sports, recommends sitting in the terrace level on the third base side of the field to stay out of direct sun. She says it also helps if your seats are above the first few rows.
Having a good view of the game is a priority with both Callan and McCosh.
“If you sit down in field- or dugout-level seats, sit on the left side for odd-numbered aisles and right side for even-numbered aisles,” Callan says. “Otherwise, you have foot traffic constantly between you and home plate. For example, 117L is better than 117R and 116R is better than 116L.”
Or, adds McCosh, sit a bit higher for an even better perspective.
“If you can purchase tickets in advance, go to the ticket window at Turner Field and ask for the lowest row available around sections 408 or 409,” McCosh says. “That puts you around the front of the upper deck … a good view with an upper-deck price.”
Most regular tickets range from $6 to $95.
Eating there
Most people agree: You’re going to pay a premium if you choose to eat in the stadium.
“I don’t think there are any good food deals at Turner Field,” said Callan. “I love the Kevin Rathbun steak sandwich, but I have season tickets, so I can get it for $10 instead of $15. I would say eat at the Varsity or bring it with you.”
“We usually bring in a sub sandwich, a bag of peanuts and bottled water,” says McCosh, who figures he could add a bag of chips and still feed two people for about $20.
If you do plan to bring your own food, remember that aluminum or glass containers, alcohol, ice chests and hard-sided coolers are prohibited.
Upcoming Braves homestands
Sunday: Toronto Blue Jays
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: New York Yankees
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: Baltimore Orioles
June 26, 27, 28: Arizona Diamondbacks
June 29, 30 and July 1: Washington Nationals
Have your own tips for the best Braves experience? Share your suggestions in the comments.
– By Lauren Davidson, Atlanta Bargain Hunter
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77 comments Add your comment
F. W. Ren
June 11th, 2012
3:32 pm
@mpimentel
The Braves are charging premium prices for seats to games against the Yankees. They realize that people will pay top dollar to see a good product, but they continue to force feed the home team fans as cheap of a product they can get away with.
The Braves were the Kings of Baseball until the Yanks beat them in 1996, and they haven’t been the same in the playoffs since then, especially against the Yankees.
Sensationalistic
June 11th, 2012
3:34 pm
@Braves Games in my Theater Room: How do you know somebody is proud of their McMansion? They say they live in NORTH Fulton.
Seriously? Parking is 10 bucks. Unless I am missing out on some Whole Foods stand, I can’t imagine spending 90 bucks on a “snack”. The drunken fans make no lasting impact on your kids.
Your opinion on how “terrible people” live in the city is more destructive to your kids. You probably think that the panhandlers will give your kids polio.
TRUE Braves fan
June 11th, 2012
3:36 pm
@YankeesSuck – Braves don’t make up the cost of the tickets…MLB does! Ask MLB not to make the Yankees God or anything. But the other weekend in Tampa, the Braves series was just as expensive as the Yankees. So maybe MLB think the Braves are like God as well.
@Old School the wheelchair team is amazing at the ballpark. There should be a couple of wheelchair gentleman waiting in front of the main gate out in monument grove if you need one. If you don’t see one, they are busy, and just ask anyone wearing a walkie talkie to get a wheel chair for you. They are a great service to help out older fans.
@Braves Games in my Theater Room don’t blame the Braves for this. Blame the high school/college/mindless drunks that come drunk already to the game. Plus, you will find drunks at every other sports…if not worse at other sports.
The bad thing for this series is you will see many “Braves” fans who wear their Braves jerseys, hats, and carry their tomahawk all 80 home games, but will wear their Yankees jerseys these three games. They aren’t “real” Yankee fans either…just think its cool.
Carol
June 11th, 2012
3:39 pm
For all you Yankee haters, see ya at the game tonight. Yankee fans are true to the game and the team not the bandwagon.
Judge Smails
June 11th, 2012
3:40 pm
We park in the Blue or Green lots off Capitol Ave (is it still called that?) Pretty easy after the game to get out and back to 75/85 north. We usually tailgate with a small grill or will bring sandwiches and snacks. A few beers in the parking lot and maybe two while inside and it’s pretty affordable.
My wife will sneak a flask of wine from time to time. Makes for a little excitement!
MikeY
June 11th, 2012
3:43 pm
I actually walk to the games then take a taxi back. The walk is 3 miles but it is a good pub crawl. Taxi is about $15 but usually fast. Be sure to try Sister Louisa’s Church of the Living Room & Ping Pong Emporium, a great bar about 1.5 miles from Turner Field.
Tickets on stubhub are usually 55-65 percent of face value, and you can get great seats.
F. W. Ren
June 11th, 2012
3:45 pm
@TRUE Braves fan
The Braves make up the prices for the regular season tickets. Each team sets the price for their tickets during the regular season.
MLB has input/control over the playoff ticket prices.
TRUE Braves fan
June 11th, 2012
3:46 pm
@F. W. Ren Not True. This season is all new
Yankees fan
June 11th, 2012
3:49 pm
It’s a shame people have to put down Yankee fans just to make themselves feel big. Just want to see my favorite team play!
D.A. Nuggla
June 11th, 2012
3:53 pm
After reading all these, I am simply amazed at the number of naive and gullible people in this victory-starven city. If you wear a sign on your forehead that says, “I’m a fool” you will be treated like one. As someone once said, “nobody can take advantage of you unless you allow it”. I went to my last Braves game about 3 yrs. ago with my 12 yr. grandson, after driving 250 miles, and said I would never be back. I have not. Too many people think they have to get drunk on the drug known as ALCOHOL, and make it not enjoyable for those around them. There was a young couple behind us from AL who were both inebriated by the 3rd inning, and being very loud and obnoxious. I even overheard them discussing which was was sober enough to drive back to AL that night. If either one of them drove they could have killed some innocent people very easily. When alcohol is banned from the game, I will go back, but not before. Actually I enjoy sitting comfortably at home watching it anyway. Lots cheaper!
Pasquel Perez
June 11th, 2012
3:54 pm
Avoid I-285.
Let's Be Real
June 11th, 2012
4:02 pm
PROTIP: No one actually calls it “The Ted.” That’s just a forced marketing gimmick that never caught on.
bravesRtheonlyteamthatmatters
June 11th, 2012
4:07 pm
I’m a long time Braves fan since Grandpa and Grandma were still alive. I think the 2 biggest things that are hurting the Braves is they dont want the latino’s there if they did they would use there latino players to do advertising for that market not sure what we look like in attendance this year but someone told me there scared to sell them beer because they get rowdy ,but thats just what I heard… Anyways another thing is to GET RID of ARAMARK completely as there food provider. This is not working out . I look at Boston and St.Louis and they run rings around us in the hospitality dept.
Doofus(Goober and Gomer's Smart Brother)
June 11th, 2012
4:08 pm
Several people on here, based on their comments, apparently missed yesterday’s game and the previous four that have been given away. If you do go during the Yankees series, and even the Baltimore series right after, prepare yourself to be very frustrated and disappointed. Oh, and be ready for your wallet and bank account to be much, much lighter afterwards.
Native Atlantan
June 11th, 2012
4:10 pm
“Many seasoned Braves fans will tell you the best way to get to the game is via MARTA”
This made me LOL, literally. I haven’t taken MARTA to a Braves game since the shuttle used to drop you off in front of the gate at Fulton Co Stadium.
It’s faster and cheaper to drive down and park. Parking is ample and they do a good job getting traffic in and out.
Of course, most seasoned fans know the back roads to the east, west, and south to use to avoid traffic altogether.
Clay
June 11th, 2012
4:29 pm
I always buy my parking pass online when I buy my tickets. It’s a little less expensive that way and I never get caught off guard by there not being any parking available to the general public when I get there. We also take water and light snacks when we go. We will buy food there, but the price of water is crazy.
I had the steak sandwich the last time I was there a couple of weeks ago. It was good. I also don’t think it was $15 good due to the smallish size of the sandwich; but, it tasted good. Now I can say I’ve had one, so that’ll probably be it.
We’ll be there tomorrow…Yankees fans will make up a third to half of the fans there (at least they did a couple of years ago when the Yankees were last here). That’s why the Braves charged more for the tickets–because they can.
IHEARTCARROLL
June 11th, 2012
4:40 pm
My dad took me to a Braves game in 1970. All I remember is watching the pidgeons on the beams overhead and that somewhere miles away, someone was playing baseball.
I’ve taken my kids to a few games over the years. We sat in the upper deck right behind home plate on Sunday day games. Sat in the shade, let them run the bases after the game. Family of six and a parking pass for around $100. A bargain for lifelong memories.
Pasquel - Funny the first time
June 11th, 2012
4:40 pm
Your joke is stuck in a loop.
Bronc62
June 11th, 2012
4:47 pm
Hey..Miller Huggins …your Yanks are in second place also..dominate team they are..
Ekim
June 11th, 2012
4:54 pm
@tjf: There is not a train stop at Turner Field because the tracks aren’t there.
Doofus(Goober and Gomer's Smart Brother)
June 11th, 2012
5:29 pm
There was a line in a song years ago that said, “trains don’t go where there’s tracks no mo”. That’s all I remember. Anybody?
Let's Be Real
June 11th, 2012
5:37 pm
Taking MARTA to the game is more trouble than it is really worth. At $2.75 each way, if you have 3 or more people it’s cheaper to simply park at the stadium. MARTA never stages trains for the post-game rush so you’ll be waiting as long or longer on a crowded platform for a north line train to arrive than you will sitting in your car in post-game traffic.
tjf
June 11th, 2012
5:55 pm
EKIM opines in response to my question: “@tjf: There is not a train stop at Turner Field because the tracks aren’t there.”
So did it somehow violate the known laws of physics to lay tracks out there or dig a tunnel to the stadium as they did where there are in fact MARTA train tracks? I doubt they somehow magically appeared everywhere else.
At any rate, I’m informed that the City owns the parking lots and so didn’t want a MARTA train stop ther so they could scoff up the parking revenues. And that’s too bad if you want easy MARTA access to games (see: GA Dome/Phillips)
F. W. Ren
June 11th, 2012
6:05 pm
@TRUE Braves fan
http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/braves-join-new-trend-1350294.html
TaylorVol
June 12th, 2012
10:28 am
The $15 steak sandwich was awful. In fact, it made me physically ill on the drive home. It was practically raw and quite disgusting. My friend was in line to buy one, took one look at mine, and got out of line and bought a hot dog. The food is horrible and very overpriced. Even the soft pretzels are soggy from being wrapped in plastic. I will be bringing my own food next time.
Bob
June 15th, 2012
5:58 pm
If you are coming from the north on I-75, take Exit 246 Fulton St. Turn left and then the Blue Lot is directly to your right. The Blue Lot is $15 dollars and a little walk to the stadium, but it is super quick to get out of there after the game and back on I-75. It is a great parking option for people who don’t know their way around Atlanta very well! Also, definitely bring a small soft-sided cooler with some snacks and drinks. It will save you a lot of money!
Doofus(Goober and Gomer's Smart Brother)
June 15th, 2012
6:29 pm
It’s so funny to go back and read some of these posts that were prior to the Yankees series starting. Guess they are all probably suicidal by now since they thought the Braves stood a chance at even winning one game. Would hate to know I threw away hardearned money on one of those games.
Tip #111 Take plenty of cash (or card) with you if you go to the Os games. Also, don’t expect a win!