State
Mutual Stadium
Fittingly,
a Classic Ballpark for Rome
A city called "Rome" should have a sports facility that is
classic and that will stand the test of time. Truly, Rome,
Georgia is the home of State Mutual Stadium where the South Atlantic League Braves are
now playing their home games, and the new ballpark does indeed have an enduring
look.
The former Macon Braves have relocated to the other side of Atlanta.
Rome is about 70 miles northwest of Atlanta's Turner
Field, and as you would imagine, the team is an affiliate of the Atlanta Braves.
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Attendance at Rome's State Mutual
Stadium has been quite strong |
This facility and the Rome Braves team both made their debuts in April of
2003. Since then, crowds have been large and the reviews of the
park have been positive. It seems that northwest Georgia now has the team
and ballpark that they've been seeking for over a decade. While it's a
shame that affiliated baseball is no longer being played at beautiful, old
Luther Williams Field in Macon, the new home of these Braves is
something to talk about. Join us as BASEBALLPARKS.COM gives you a look at
this shiny new facility.
On Deck -- The Setting
I like ballparks that are placed downtown or near other
interesting architectural or scenic locales. That's not the case here, as State Mutual
Stadium was built on the outskirts of Rome, northeast of downtown. The
location does provide good access, at the intersection of two main routes in
town, and enough space was allocated for there to be sufficient parking.
The setting does allow for a nice view of mature, tall trees
beyond the outfield fences, which makes for a pleasant backdrop for the action
on the field.
First Base -- The Exterior
As you approach the park near the main gates behind home
plate, you cross an entry plaza featuring statues of kids playing
baseball. These adorable, motionless players are manning their positions
on a diamond that is embedded in the pavement. Very nice touch.
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| Appropriately
whimsical statues of kids playing baseball adorn the entry plaza of
Rome's park |
The exterior of the park itself is very impressive -- if
anything, it almost overpowers a facility of this size. Beautiful red
brick with green accents were used in abundance, and whether you're looking it
at from a distance or up close, it is very attractive.
Second Base -- The Design
Immediately upon entering the park, you are overcome with a
feeling of deja vu -- that is, you have this feeling if you've attended
any games at Applebee's Park in Lexington, KY. That's because the look of
the concourse under the stands and, in fact, the seating bowl itself both bear a
strong resemblance to the home of the Lexington Legends, also of the South
Atlantic League. There's a simple explanation for this: the same
architectural firm, Stadium Consultants International of Toronto, designed both
facilities. While SCI didn't bring any significantly different design
elements to Georgia's park, they did improve upon some not-so-great elements of
Lexington's stadium. For instance, the paths you have to travel from the
concourse to some of the seats at Applebee's -- and the way some seating
sections are kept separate from adjoining sections -- are downright
bizarre. Also, the concourse in Lexington strikes me as being far more
"enclosed" and dark than it needs to be.
In Rome, some of the strange pathways from under the stands
and the wasted space for extra fences and railings have, thankfully, been
eliminated. Also, the concourse -- while still not being an "open
concourse" where you can see the action on the field -- feels
more open and has more natural light than in the Legends' park. Still,
it's a little eerie how similar the two ballparks are.
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| Great sight
lines abound in the main seating bowl |
When you're in your seat watching the game, there are few
obstructions hampering your view. The sight lines are great and provide a
super view of the action. I like good-sized overhangs at baseball parks,
and while State Mutual Stadium has one, it's not that large.
Just like in Lexington, there is a restaurant located
directly behind home plate. Diners at The Three Rivers Club can eat their
meals in air-conditioned comfort inside, then walk through sliding-glass doors
into the main seating bowl.
Perhaps the very best element of State Mutual Stadium has
nothing to do with watching a baseball game. Along the concourse behind
home plate, you'll find a series of large panels that describe, in some depth,
how the sport of baseball developed in this part of the state. The
informational panels are well written and beautifully designed -- and it looks
like space has been left for more of them to be added in the future.
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The series of panels describing the
history of baseball in northwest Georgia is a brilliant idea. On
the right, the restaurant behind home plate is one of several elements
that are reminiscent of
Lexington's park. |
Speaking of information, the structure of the scoreboard
deserves mention. There is a high-resolution video screen over the
standard line-score area, and the custom-done computer graphics shown on the
screen are very impressive.
Third Base -- The Essentials
So we've looked at the interior and the exterior of this
ballpark ... but what about the things that really matter, like the food,
the prices and the diversions for kids? I'm glad you asked, because Rome's
park scores well in most of these "essential" areas!
The food choices are as varied -- and as good -- as any I've
seen at the Single A level of the minors. You'll find Mexican, pizza,
sandwiches, excellent dogs and burgers, and lots of sweets. Regarding this
last area, I discovered a frozen root beer float that was absolutely heavenly --
and I've never seen anything like it anywhere else. This alone makes a
return trip to Rome a good idea!
The parking costs $2.00, and while I'd certainly prefer free
parking at a minor-league game, it isn't that unusual to have to pay at a new
park. The tickets are probably a little higher than at other Single A
parks ($10, $7 and $5), but again, this is often the case at brand-new
sports facilities.
There is a nice "Kids Zone" down the right-field
line. In addition to games, there is a concession stand catering to the
younger fans with items for $1.
There is a nice souvenir store on the concourse. While
the prices seemed to be pretty reasonable, there wasn't quite as much variety as
I expected to find.
And even if you take in a game at this park, here's something
you might not learn: the construction of State Mutual Stadium was
completed under budget. And not by pennies. No, this ballpark
came in $1 million under budget due to Floyd County's keen oversight and a
generous light manufacturer. In this age of huge cost overruns, this is
very good news.
Sliding into Home -- In Conclusion
Here's the good and the bad of State Mutual Stadium.
First, the good. The best features are: the wonderful panels
showing the history of baseball in the area; the video screen; the adorable
entry plaza behind home plate and the fact that the park came in under
budget. And, well, the frozen root beer floats aren't a bad idea either!
It's hard to find a bad element, because there aren't
any glaring mistakes in this park. It would've been nice if this park had
been more "distinctive" -- i.e., if it hadn't turned out resembling
another stadium in the same league so closely. And a better design for the
press box (particularly the radio booths, where the home team broadcasters
almost have to crawl over the visiting-radio team to get into their tiny booth)
could've been accomplished ... but neither of these aspects hinder a fan from
having a good time at this park.
So to wrap it up, Rome finally has pro baseball in town, and
they have a classic facility in which to play it. It's well worth a visit.
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