Oldsmobile Park Lansing, MI
Stadium Minor League History: Midwest League 1996-present
Current Status: Home of the Lansing Lugnuts of the Midwest League (single-A)
What's Good: To tell the truth, I wasn't expecting to like Olds Park very much. But I was pleasantly surprised, and this is a fine place to watch baseball. Probably the most interesting aspect of the stadium is that it is right in downtown Lansing, wedged in between two streets. This constricts the outfield dimensions a little bit, resulting in distances of only 305 down the lines (though it quickly gets longer). Down the line is a large, green, concrete wall, which isn't mere decoration but rather the point where the stadium hits the street. The field and seating area are also sunk considerably into the ground, and passersby above can view the game through the fence. Another aspect of the park I liked was that much of the concrete was painted, avoiding the drabness that plagues many recent ballparks while actually making the place look a little older than it really is. Like many new facilities, an open concourse runs behind the last row of seats, and extends all the way around to the outfield on both sides. This allows plenty of room for walking around and taking in the view from different angles. The food wasn't much to speak of (and beer was kind of pricey), but the souvenir store was well-stocked, and the staff was very friendly. Furthermore, there were no ushers or security people chasing fans around or telling me what section to sit it. I moved around constantly, took pictures from a number of different angles and vantage points, and never had a word said to me -- something I obviously enjoy and appreciate.
What's Not So Good: Although
I had no problems, the urban setting might make parking a little tight
on busy nights. The PA guy was kind of over the top as well, and
the music got loud sometimes. But these were no worse than at a lot
of newer ballparks.
This Photo: May
12, 2001 Lansing Lugnuts vs. Burlington Bees
