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FISHERCATS BALLPARK: Manchester, NH
inside A, the seats extend from foul
pole to foul pole giving fans great access
and plenty of room to spread out. The bullpens
are on the right and left field lines at seat
level. If you come early, you can often get
starters throwing on their off day. The only
reason it doesn't grade out higher is that unlike
Gill the players come through the dugouts
so if the player is dead set on not signing
can avoid doing so. We're 45 mins from Boston
so the Seadogs games tend to sell out, at the
same time, certain nights (like mon/tues games)
can be lightly attended where you should be able
to get whoever you want...
outside: gated lot but walking the road behind
the right field fence before, after and during games
can be a good take. I almost got hit in the head by
a Ryan Roberts bomb!
concessions: a little pricey, do NOT pay $10 parking,
park at the meters on elm for $2.00 in quarters...
LELAUCHER PARK, Lowell Mass
B+ Nice stadium, unlike FCB there is not as much front
row area so it can get cramped near the dugouts and
also, because the Spinners draw 4-5K, there is more
competition for autos and foul balls, and the bullpens
are not as accessible. Spinners however are very good
about signing... There is a path behind the outfield
wall to walk for balls but it seems to be scouted regularly.
Outside: good bus parks along 3rd base line
Concessions: pretty reasonable, plenty of kiosks and
good selection
HADLOCK FIELD Portland maine
Many of the comments for Lelaucher (re: the field dugout
area) apply here although there is a nice area behind the
1st base stand where auto collectors stand, they even
set up a little corral for fans to stand to get the opposing
team. There is a good crowd and it can get competitive but
the people in Maine are really friendly. Even though we were
wearing the opposing teams jerseys (Fishercats) the ushers
and fans asked us quite a bit about our new stadium. Most
understood that we're sox fans too... slugger the seadog
is one of the best mascots I've seen IMHO...
outside, not bad, if you time it right you can catch
the oppossing teams bus and I'm told players sometimes
walk from the Doubletree
Concessions: reasonable, hotels in the area (within
walking distance) can be a little pricey, great little
chinese place in the strip mall nearby which also
has margarita's and if you play guitar, check out
Friendly River Fretted Instruments, really nice
stuff in there
HOLMAN STADIUM Nashua NH
home of Atlantlic League's Pride, an older stadium
but it has it's charm, it actually housed the Nashua
Dodgers in the 40's and some of the historic Dodger
greats played here. since refurbed... It has a nice
deep bowl. It's kind of homey, it is lightly attended
(guessing they avg 500-1000 on a good night)
and you are VERY CLOSE to the players . If you
come prepared you should do VERY WELL... I'm
not saying to run up to someone 30 seconds
before game time with 10 cards but you should
be able to get at least 1 sig from every player if
you're polite. My impression was that the Pride
are so used to playing to small crowds that they're
very appreciative to the fans that do show up.
Try to catch monkey boy, he's not there all the
time but he's a mascot who wears a cheap monkey
suit and is one of the best mascots I've ever seen.
the kids go nuts...
Outside, visitor's bus on 3rd base line, Pride
players park on 1st base line and are often
milling around outside. I saw Butch Hobson
waxing the hood on his truck the other night.
It's so easy inside that I wouldn't have thought
of bothering him
concessions: a little pricey but offset by free parking
and programs. if you bring a kid and hang out
down the lines, you have an 98% of leaving with
a foul ball.
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