Downtown Is Always Better than Acres of Asphalt
I prefer the convenience, amenities and neighborhood feel of downtown stadiums, as opposed to the soulless expanse of asphalt parking lots that surround suburban stadiums.
First of all, I am cheap. And I don’t mind walking. And I have an unhealthy disregard for my personal safety.
You know where I’m going with this — I like free parking.
You know the type. I’ll spend 30 minutes cruising back alleys for that super-secret free parking spot.
A downtown stadium means I can ALWAYS find a free place to park (it’s a rental — I’m not vouching for what condition it will be in after the game).
A suburban stadium means I have no choice but to fork over $20 or more to park. That’s TWO beers! (OK, one beer at Yankee Stadium or Nationals Park.)
That just makes me grumpy.
Plus a great urban ballpark like Wrigley is an integral part of the surrounding neighborhood. Especially if that neighborhood offers fun places to eat, drink, and celebrate that sweet victory game — and a hotel you can walk back to!
At a suburban stadium, the only thing you are doing after the game is sitting in gridlock traffic, wondering if the five beers you drank will wear off before you finally make it out of the parking lot.