Stadium Minor League History:
Northern League 1993-present
Current Status:
Home of the St. Paul Saints of the Northern
League (independent)
What's Good: For once, a place lives up to its hype. I don't know what it's like now, but when I visited in 1996, everything I'd heard about seeing a game here proved to be true. Despite corny stunts, goofy promotions, and a general air of wackiness, I enjoyed myself immensely because somehow the team made everything seem heartfelt, not cribbed from the textbook of a sports marketing class. The staff seemed to be genuinely happy to be there, and the attitude was contagious -- the fans also basked in the "fun is good" atmosphere. The food was decent, and there was a good selection of beverages (including local standout Summit beer), but it was still the collective spirit of the crowd that made this ballpark stand out.
What's Not So Good: While certainly a fun place, the stadium itself is pretty boring and sits in a pretty boring part of St. Paul. It's also usually difficult to get good tickets, since they draw so well.
This Photo:
July 14, 1996 St. Paul Saints vs. Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks