Game attendance was listed as 5,445, which is a sellout. The berm areas were not used, probably because the sod was only put in a couple weeks ago and needs to get roots down. The crowd didn't really get behind the Hogs till about halfway thru the game. I think it was the deer in the headlights look they had checking out this great (but not without its' flaws, more later on that) new facility.
It was a surprisingly well run operation from the parking to the concessions (lines were long, but the people behind the counter did well for such long lines and actually knew what they were doing!) to the on the field presentations. As far as the overall presentation, it was almost too professional and too slick. It really seemed like I was at an affiliated AA or AAA game instead of an indy ball game. It's almost like the presentation and the ballpark are too nice for this level of ball, but they did a good job of it overall.
Now about QT Park:
Overall, this is an awesome facility and it has to be right up there with not only the best park in the AA but up there with the best ones in the Indy leagues. I haven't been to any Atlantic or Can Am league parks yet and I will later this summer but, this one is much better than I expected.
Exterior look - B: The front of this place looks somewhat more like a big barn rather than a simulated airplane hangar. It doesn't look like a classic ballpark from the front, but it isn't bad. The ode to avaition statues and to the history of aviation in Grand Prarie in front of the entrance is a classy touch. Loved them making the main entrance as you walk in the front gate look like an airport runway (even with real runway lights!!!). However, as long as you consider just the front of this place, you're okay. What I didn't like was the sides and rear of the building having what looks like corrugated metal sides making it look like some warehouse building (supposedly to give it the air hangar look). My suspicion is they did that part on the cheap to save money and put what they saved into the other perks in the park.
Concourse: A. Once you get inside the park, that's where the money was spent. Nice, wide concourses and a really nice gift shop (they have AirHog barbecue sauce and mustard for sale too!). The concessions were moderately priced, in line with what Ive seen at most AA and affiliated games. ($6.50 for a 32 oz beer isn't bad, folks!) The people working were friendly and kept things moving as well as you could for a big crowd like tonight's. Lot of your generic stuff and a few menu items out of the ordinary, but what food I tried was pretty good. The inside of the left field sports bar is top notch. Large circular bar with a "chill bar" all around it to keep your drinks chilled while you sit there, lots of tables and several flatscreen TVs going. The idea is that the sports bar is open only for games and eventually will be a full time sports bar for the surrounding community to come to.
The overallview of the outfield is great. (with some obvious flaws, again, see below) Very nice top notch scoreboard and screen that you see in the new highdollar affilated parks. Seems like a kids' area is a staple at ballparks now, since kids nowadays seem to get hit with ADD three seconds after they sit down with mom and dad to watch the game and are bored already. It's a large supervised area with all kinds of stuff.
Seating: A+. Nice wide 19 inch seats for us eight rows up and above and 21 inch ones in the "club seats". Fairly roomy between rows too. Only sixteen rows so youre on top of it no matter where you sit. The view is just spectacular.
Now the bad.
The left side of the outfield area leaves a little to be desired. The sports bar exterior looks like a big metal shed. No markings or signs on it, and the clubhouse down the left field side look like the same thing. They look like a couple of storage sheds, very cheap and amateurish look to it. Maybe they'll get some signs on them to take away the plain look.
There is one major flaw(to me) with the sightlines behind home plate. Unless you are directly behind home, you can't follow a ball hit down the line into the corners because where the end of the berms are, instead of tapering them off, they built them going back out toward the foul line. It blocks the view if an outfielder goes after a ball over by the foul poles. I may be a little picky about it but it's definitely noticeable.
Two other flaws I noticed. Shouldn't the press box be directly behind home plate instead of off to the side on the right of home plate?? I imagine it's harder to describe the game when you announce from four sections to the right of home plate. I was told they wanted to have a suite directly behind home plate. I'm sure AirHogs management will get an earful about that from the visiting press in the future.
The other thing that bugged me to no end was, for the main seating bowl there are no lights above to light up the walkways or your seats. The only light comes from the main lights for the field and that's it. It's a little too dark back there in the last rows.
Overall, I still give the place an A-. I absolutely loved 85% of this park, and that 85% blew me away tonight. It's a great facility and definitely the tops in the AA (I still haven't been to Haymarket Park so I still reserve the right to change my mind if I visit there) by a mile. It's as nice as any of those new affilated parks springing up all over with all the amenities with a great view.
I only wonder if it's a little too much.
It's almost like some rich man's park with all the suites and club seating and all that, and it seems like the AirHogs are going after those types first to some degree. But this is the wave of new school wave of stadiums nowadays with flash and sizzle and entertainment, and the game kind of takes second place behind it all. What a contrast to twenty miles away, with the Cats who savor and promote their past and the history of the game in Fort Worth and remind us of what used to be.
But there's plenty of room in the Dallas area for both these types of baseball crowds.
I think the AirHogs are on to something. They might not have hit a home run tonight, but it was pretty close. Time will tell if they will succeed, but from my initial experience with them, it definitely isn't from lack of trying.
