My family and I are not deep into the sports fandoms, but one experience we had that we would love to go back to again and again is a night at the ballpark with the Saint Paul Saints. I have been told that most smaller league teams have just as much fun, but I have a special place in my heart for the Saints. This particular trip was a few years ago as a special outing for a company I worked for, and I cannot wait to go again soon. Between the smaller stadium that made you feel like no matter what seat you got, it was a good seat, to the amazing food and beverage options available, to the hijinks of the staff and mascots, this was an experience that could not be beat. The kiddos had a good time and hubby and I thought it was a great way to spend a night as a family.
Best Seats in the House
Our seats were on the left field foul line near the fence. We were about halfway up the section and because the stadium is so small, we were really close to the field! I won’t say we could see every single detail of the game, but even being farther away, it felt like we were right in it. The open air seating also made the atmosphere amazing as the sun set. As you can see from this picture, many people also stood on the concourse around the outfield to enjoy the game, so even if you don’t like your seats as much as we did, you are welcome to stake out a different area as well. I did notice there was premium seating available as well as various boxes and special areas groups could book, but I would say to opt for simple seats and enjoy the experience of hanging out in a small ballpark. One thing that looked really fun for Hubby and I was the beer garden style “Craft Beer Corner” area they had at the time. We are not big beer drinkers, but this area looked like a bit of extra fun for a date night out.
Time to Eat
I was really impressed with all of the food options available! There were the classic ballpark favorites but also some locally sourced options that really put a spin on the fun of eating at the game. As this was several years ago, I am going to talk in general terms so as not to get your hopes up in case certain menu items have changed a bit. There were lots of fun kids options and W was able to get some of his favorites I didn’t have to beg him to finish eating. B was adventurous and split a fancy sandwich with me. It was huge for the price and we were both VERY full after. Hubby had a fun spin on a classic brat and loved it. We split a few snacks throughout the night as well and then came dessert. It was really important to me to get each of the kiddos something special not only to make a memory but to keep them happy through the end of the game and on the long drive home. W went for fresh mini doughnuts, which were amazing and warm and so so tasty. B got to try a new brand of ice cream sandwich that was his favorite flavor, mint and chocolate. They were over the moon, we were able to enjoy the end of the game, and Mom and Dad got a few bites of dessert as well! Even though we did end up paying slightly higher prices as we were at a ball park, they weren’t as bad as some places and the quality and variety were completely worth it.
Fun on the Field
If you know anything about the Saint’s games, you know that the game is only one small part of the fun. So here is a confession, I was enjoying this part of the fun so much, I forgot to take pictures. I know, I know, and I am sorry, but here is a picture of B trying to snap his fingers along with one of the songs. If you are not familiar with this brand of fun I will take a stab at describing it for you. There are staff members who wander the sections and set up competitions between the sections and teach you fun cheers. Between almost every inning there is some type of race, game, competition, or silliness on the field. They bring guests into almost all of these and they are always a blast to watch, even if you never get to participate. They have mascot races and really it is hard to describe all of the fun they end up creating. This is so much more then a night at the ballpark and you cannot imagine how much fun it it to watch people being silly and having a wonderful time.
Give it A Try, You Won’t Be Disappointed!
So here’s the thing, if you are a hardcore baseball fan, this may not be the thing for you, but if you just want to have a night out of fun for you and your friends or you and your family, a Saint’s game cannot be beat. The tickets are usually pretty inexpensive with almost all seats feeling like the best seat in the house. The food options are full of variety and really delicious with options for everyone in your group. The silliness of the staff and all of the activities they put on will have even the least baseball interested person cheering for the home team in no time. So give the Saints a try and enjoy a great night out with your favorite group of friends or family, you will not be disappointed! Have you been to a Saint’s game or do you think your local minor league team is better than my hometown team? Then let me know in the comments below!
