For a long time, the upper deck of the park put patrons in a panic because of its steep incline and open air. The White Sox addressed this concern in unique fashion. Instead of completely redoing the upper deck, they created an optical illusion. The top rows were removed, and a roof was constructed. Having sat in the open-air old version and this year’s new version, I can say that it’s a comfortable upgrade. The incline is still completely intact, but the illusion of safety works. The name change has been worth it.

Many other changes have happened over the last few years on the South Side. Fences have been brought in down the lines, the batter's eye in center field has become a deck for fans to watch games from, and the whitewashed look has been changed to a charcoal color to give the stadium attitude. While the upper deck still has some minor problems, the lower bowl is be one of the premiere places to watch a baseball game.

My biggest gripe about the park has always been the angle at which they built it. The park is set so the view over the outfield fence looks out onto one of Chicago’s less savory areas. If the park were turned 45 or more degrees north, the downtown Chicago skyline could be seen. The reason for the odd placement for the park is simple. The wind maximizes the offense, and at the angle the park sits, the wind takes full advantage of it. Pitchers find the park a nightmare, but the field is second to only Coors Field in Colorado for homerun output.

The atmosphere is baseball first, and that’s what matters most. Sure, there’s the ever-annoying scoreboard that will keep the lowest common denominator fan entertained, but it does more good than harm. The Sox want a family-friendly atmosphere, and they’ve done a good job making it so.

The easy joke here would be, what crowd? It’s true, though. Since the strike that foiled the World Series chances of the American League best Chicago White Sox in 1994, fans have been reluctant to come back to the park. The strike shortened the honeymoon of the new stadium and the fans only seem to come out when their crosstown rival Cubs come into the park.

To many, this is a mixed blessing. While fans enjoy being a part of a sold out crowd, it’s comforting knowing that at anytime tickets for just about every game can be purchased the day of the game.

But one fact remains: White Sox fans want a winner more than anything else. When the team wins, the crowd comes. When the team loses, owner Jerry Reinsdorf cries himself to sleep on his humongous Bulls/Sox pillow.

The primary entertainment is baseball, of course, but for those that don’t go for the game itself, there’s something there for you, too.

The Chicago White Sox have always had a unique way of promoting their team. This goes back to the days of former owner Bill Veeck, the creator of the center field shower (which found a home in the new ballpark), uniforms with shorts, and the ill-fated Disco Demolition night. White Sox promoters continue to offer things for fans of all walks of life, both young and old.

Little ones can get hitting instructions from professional coaches. Fans can take a crack at the speed pitch, and there’s even a rain room that sprays mists to keep cool. And there are dozens of special events: Dog Day, Elvis Day and '70s day have all been big hits.

For $5.50 you can purchase a Miller Lite or Miller Genuine Draft from a vendor walking up and down the aisles. Yes, it’s pricey, but that price tag seems to be the norm at sporting events around the country. You might even notice someone looking like they’re wearing a Ghostbusters backpack. They’re not trying to bust ghosts - they are selling frozen margaritas. It’s not typical fare, but they service the crowd that doesn't necessarily like beer and would still like a drink. Also, beer fans should find a chance to check out the beer stands past the outfield seats. You’ll find a bevy of imports and other stuff if Miller products don’t fit you.

Walking around and getting hungry at U.S. Cellular Field will make any White Sox fan nostalgic. Many of the stands have been given names that bring up Sox players of old including Bill Melton, Nellie Fox, Harold Baines and Carlton Fisk. The food itself is considered Chicago’s best for sporting events. Pizza, Mexican and traditional baseball hotdogs and burgers can be purchased all around. I suggest brats with grilled onions.

Thursdays are a special at U.S. Cellular Field. They call it Dollar Dog day, where regular franks are $1, and Kosher dogs are $2.50. You can get only four at a time, but you can get in line as many times as you’d like.

There are plenty of dessert options, too. Ice cream, cotton candy and funnel cakes, among other items, can be found throughout the park. They’re reasonably priced, and are sometimes necessary on the hottest days.

A quick warning, though: If you’re sitting in the upper deck on a windy day, the purchase of a funnel cake might make the fans around you a little upset. The powdered sugar has a way of blowing onto unsuspecting patrons in front of you.

If you’re not into eating the selection the ballpark offers, on weekends, you can do it yourself. The parking lot opens a little early on weekend games, and fans are allowed to tailgate before and after games. You can bring your own grill and beer and have a party in the lot.

Let’s face it. Taking the family out to a major sporting event can cost you an arm, a leg and your first-born child these days. Tickets range anywhere between $12 for cheap seats and $40 for the very best. If you need to save some cabbage, you might want to check out a Monday or Tuesday game. Both games are half-price nights. Mondays are always half price, and on Tuesdays you’ll just need to bring a Pepsi product to the park to get your half-price ticket.

The White Sox had one thing in mind when designing this ballpark. They wanted to give fans a full-blown baseball experience. They also want to entertain and build a family atmosphere with as many kid and family promotions possible, ranging from Kids Run the Bases (where children get to run out on the field and touch every base), Elvis Night (where Elvis impersonators invade the park) to the oddly successful Dog Day (where a section of the ballpark is designated for people who want to bring their dog to the game). While the promotions aren’t quite as crazy as Bill Veeck's promotions back in the day, they surely have a unique twist. The biggest and best attraction, if the team is not winning, is fireworks displays every Saturday night after games. They put Chicago’s Independence Day fireworks to shame on a weekly basis.

Photo courtesy of the Chicago White Sox

Comments

Good Show! Written by Guest on 2008-06-06 15:56:10 U.S. Cellular field rocks!     And the upper deck seats are fine. Matter of fact, there's not a bad seat in the house!

Written by Guest on 2008-09-14 20:00:07 Nope, theres is not ONE SINGLE seat anyplace in there... awesome ballpark!!!

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