Joe Davis Stadium Huntsville, AL
Stadium Minor League History: Southern League 1985-present
Current Status: Home
of the Huntsville Stars of the Southern League (double-A)
What's Good: Built
in 1985, Joe Davis Stadium is too new to have any historical significance
and too old to have any of the conveniences and gimmicks of the new ballparks.
Instead, it's a basic, concrete, multipurpose facility without any real
character. The seating areas around the infield are comfortable enough,
however, and the portion of the seats beyond the cross-aisle is elevated
a few feet so that the view from there is not impeded by fans walking around.
There are a variety of food choices, and the colorful concourse area under
the stands seems to have a vibrancy that is lacking up in the dreary-looking
grandstand. The stadium is easy to find, and parking is very plentiful.
What's Not So Good: Though
nothing major stood out as particularly negative, there are still several
downsides here. First of all, since the stadium is also designed
for soccer and football, the structure is highly assymetrical, with the
stands on the first base side only reaching around the infield, while on
the third base side the grandstand extends all the way down the line, then
hooks around the foul pole beyond left field. This puts a good number
of seats away from the infield, although the GA bleacher section behind
the fence offered decent views and was less crowded. There is also
quite a bit of foul territory since the stands run parallel to the lines,
and this pushes the seating area away from the field. And visually,
while there are luxury boxes at the top of the stands behind home and down
the left field line, the space where they ought to be on the first base
side is empty -- creating an unfinished appearance -- and there is just
too much unpainted concrete throughout the stadium.
This Photo:
July 1, 2000 Huntsville Stars vs. West Tenn Diamond
Jaxx