US CELLULAR FIELD FAN REVIEWS &
EXPERIENCES

Submitted By: Will Grade:
CPros of the ballpark:
US
Cellular Field, or "The Cell", as often referred to by Chicagoans(or
still just "Comiskey" by the stubborn diehards) has come a long way
since it's debut 20 years ago.

When it first opened, the park was celebrated as being the first
baseball-only facility to be open in many years. However, timing is
everything and when Oriole Park at Camden Yards was released shortly
thereafter, it didn't take long for fans to decry a ballpark that
felt like a sterilized ballmall lacking any character with blue
seats, a ridiculously steep upper deck, and none of the retro charm
of the new era of "throwback" ballparks.

Part of the disgust could also be attributed to HOW this park came
about. White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf strong-armed the state of
Illinois to pay for a new park behind the threat of moving the team
to St. Petersburg and rumor has it that Reinsdorf rejected the
design of what became Camden Yards(though, admittedly, Camden
without the warehouse just isn't the same park).

Anyway, major renovations in the past decade have resulted in a roof
over the deck installed while chopping off some of the top rows of
that area, green seats, a Fundamentals area for kids built over the
concourse in left field, a spruced up concourse featuring some
attractive brick work and statues of White Sox legends, and more
which has resulted in more of a "true" ballpark feel.

The result is a ballpark that is perfectly acceptable as a good
place to watch a game IF you're seated in the field level area. The
concessions are always tasty, the park still features the "original"
exploding scoreboard, a wrap-around concourse that was ahead of its
time, and getting to and out of the park can be easy if you know the
area and where to park or take the Red Line train.Cons of the ballpark:
But
if you get stuck with an upper deck seat, not only are you treated
to a generally lousy seat, you also are struck there for the entire
game. In a knee-jerk reaction to a few on-field incidents involving
drunken fans, the White Sox limited all ticketholders of upper deck
seats ONLY to the upper deck. Not only does this policy prevent
these fans access to the "happening" area of the ballpark with the
better concessions, it creates a sense of segregation between the
upper deck and the rest of the stadium, a division of "haves" and
"have nots". As for the upper deck itself, other ballparks may have
equally high and far-removed seating, but possibly none other has an
upper deck and such a steep pitch. The idea was to bring fans closer
to the action, but the result was a feeling of being suspended in
mid-air while you are seated. Travel up and down the aisles in this
area can also be dizzying. You get acclimated after awhile, but it's
still awkward and the view lousy. Speaking of views, there is none
to speak of; downtown Chicago can be only be seen while travelling
the endless amounts of ramps that take you to the upper levels.
Otherwise, the interior of the ballpark is largely devoid of any
views of the surrounding area, though there is not much to see in
this part of the South Side of Chicago. The exterior of The Cell is
huge and imposing, but rather bland and featureless, though the
tribute to the 2005 World Series season adds some needed flavor.
While the scoreboard and fireworks after a White Sox home run are a
treat, the loud music and incessant pleas to "Make some noise" could
be toned down.Additional Comments:
US
Cellular Field will never much praise, but it is better than its
reputation indicates provided you score some field level seats. The
renovations have given some life and character to a ballpark sorely
in need of it, but not much can be done about the bad upper deck and
blandness that permeates the park.

Submitted By: Marcos Grade:
APros of the ballpark: This is a very beautiful
ballpark. The grass on the field is top notch. The Scoreboards are
the best I've seen. The Parking was $12.00 1 block from the Stadium
at a hotdog joint (gotta negotiate) The atmosphere is always high in
the beginning with the AC/DC. The Fans boo and cheer when the team
deserves but they always cheer for every home team player. The night
games are amazing. The lights are nice and the firework shows +
Fireworks for home homers are cool. The Soundtrack amazed me, I
heard country, hip hop, rock , regatta, salsa, Nu Metal. The food is
good. We received free Calendars and a Mark Buerhle Perfect Game
Poster. overall just a great place to watch a team play. FRIENDLYCons of the ballpark: Okay I will be blunt.. the bars
are nice, the Grandstand is a nice play to look at baseball
merchandise but if you walk 2 blocks east you will find yourself in
the ghetto... literally. Which i don't have a problem with but
unlike the north side the South Side is not completely gentrified so
if you don't know what your doing, you can get into trouble. So
don't think just because you've come from a Sox game your special
cause your not. The South Side of Chicago is not a joke!Additional Comments: Great Ballpark, Great Atmosphere,
Great City, Great Fans. Team is getting back to their place

Submitted By: Pat Grade:
APros of the ballpark: Here's a run down of some quick
pros.
Atmosphere- Before, During, and after the game the atmosphere is
really really good. Thunderstruck by AC/DC is always played before
the start of the game which pumps up the fans. Fans are always
cheering for the sox, and there is really no hostility towards
opposing teams that I have seen. Fireworks go off after a white sox
player hits a home run and after they win. Also every friday night
game, after the game there is a fireworks show.
Scoreboard- Best scoreboard I have seen out of any field in the MLB.
Food- Almost all the food is amazing. The brats and sausage are
really good as well as the pizza.
Seating- Every spot except for maybe the top corner of the upper
deck is great. Outfield is good, upper box is good, lower box is
really good, and the club seats (2nd level) are AMAZING. I got to
sit there one time out of the many that I have gone and it was
simply perfect.Cons of the ballpark: There really is not anything
wrong with the stadium. Maybe the fact that if you have upper deck
seats you cant go below, but that's a very minor one.Additional Comments: If you want to see a game with
amazing atmosphere this is the stadium for you. I have see quite a
few games here and they have all been GREAT! Especially the sox vs
cubs games, it has the feel of a yankees vs red sox game. SEE A GAME
AT US CELLULAR!

Submitted By:
Richard Santiago Grade:
APros of the ballpark:
The
ambiance and the fans. The white sox recently won a world series, so
they were fired up. The introduction of players as they got on the
field was awesome. The seventh inning stretch was also cool. And the
fans were very nice to me.Cons of the ballpark:
No
much. Though when I was there, Yankee Stadium was mentioned and the
crowd booed. This offended me as a died hard Yankees fan. Also, the
urinals in the bathroom were very low to the ground and looked like
toilets, with no privacy. The location of the ballpark wasn't the
best. I was on vacation from NY, so I thought I would walk there
from Chinatown, to shop and sightsee. That turned out to be a
mistake There is nothing to do out in south Chicago.Additional Comments:
Don't
know which Chicago ballpark I like better, but it seems to me that
Sox fans are more intence than Cubs fans.

Submitted By: Kevin Barnacle Grade:
APros of the ballpark:
Since
the renovations made to this ballpark, the ballpark actually looks
like a true baseball park. There's so much you can do here. The
FUNdamentals Deck in left field, if you have children I suggest
taking them there. there's the Fan deck in center field. The bullpen
sports bar in right field. The Atmosphere is great as well. Just
about every seat in the house is a good view. The food here is
really great. I suggest getting either a hot dog or a bratwurst.
Fireworks will go off every time a Sox player hits a homerun or when
the Sox win the game. Every few games or so the park will have a
fireworks display at the end of the game. When White Sox players are
introduced the song Thunderstruck by AC/DC will play, it is an great
song for a baseball game. It gets the fans charged up before the
game begins. The cell's scoreboard is probably the best scoreboard
in the MLB with its pinwheels lighting up with the fireworks as
well. The ballpark is just a great experience. Like I said before
you have to get the concessions here, its delicious. Also you'll
have to see Home plate of the former Comiskey Park across 35th
Street from the park. The foul lines of the former park stand out in
the parking lot.Cons of the ballpark:
The
upper deck seating is probably the main downside to this park. Even
though in the 2003 off-season where the Park took off about 8 rows
of 6,600 seats, the upper deck is still steep. I still have concerns
about the surrounding area around the park with the bad
neighborhood. I've heard rumors that the area has improved over the
past years, but im sure it can still get a little rough if your not
careful, but I rather walk around Comiskey then Turner Field in
Atlanta. Turner Field's area is little bit worse then Comiskey.Additional Comments:
I've
only been to the cell 2 times. Once on August 7th 2004 with White
playing the Indians. The Indians won this game I believe 2-1 or 3-2.
In the first game I sat in section 111 on the 1st base side. I
almost caught a foul ball. A man in front of me caught it, but
unfortunately for him the ball hit his ear and had to leave the game
for a little bit. The second time I went was a game in late July of
06 when the sox took on the Rangers. The sox also lost this game as
well. I sat in right center field in section 103. The section is
right next to the Visitors Bullpen. This was still good seat to view
the game.

Submitted By: Ryan McNeil Neal Grade:
BPros of the ballpark: I always give big marks to a park
that's accessible by public transit, and in that respect "The Cell"
comes through big. I really like the work the team has put into
improving the inner stadium. That upper deck overhang echoes the one
in Yankee Stadium without outright copying it, and the green seats
are a vast improvement over the original blues. The kosher beef dog
with sauteed onions is one the best tasting snacks I've had at a
ballpark. The concourses are clean and you can get all the way
around the park while still keeping a pretty good view of what's
happening on the field. The statues in centre are a nice touch, as
is the ivy covering the batter's eye. Some things are becoming
standard in every park - ribbon video boards on the tier facings,
statues of all-time greats, etc, but they still make for a nice
touch. I also like the idea of varying up the vantage points - by
letting fans watch from the top of the batter's eye and just beyond
the chain-link right field fence.Cons of the ballpark: The exterior architecture is pretty
damned boring (mostly uninspired glass and cement). While it didn't
affect me, I also found it a tad strict that upper-bowl ticket
holders aren't allowed down below. As if that isn't bad enough, the
ramps that you have to walk to get up there/back down seem endless.
The park could do with an escalator or two. I've heard stories of
the neighborhood being sketchy...to me it didn't seem sketchy, just
dead. The upper deck seemed a bit high, but certainly no worse than
that of Yankee Stadium, Jacob's Field, or The Rogers Centre. The
pep-squad that tries to get the crowd worked up is a bit of overkill
as well.Additional Comments: Some think Chicago is all about Wrigley,
but I'll take the South Side any day. Watching a game in this park
is as fun as any other modern stadium out there. "The Cell" had the
bad luck to be the last park designed before the retro boom, but in
many ways that's not such a bad thing. I like that management
decided to make efforts to re-think the park rather than let it rot
into obscurity. A championship banner a mere two seasons old never
hurts the ballpark experience either.

Submitted By: Harlin S. Neal Grade:
APros of the ballpark: Since the renovations to this ballpark,
I must say the White Sox did an EXCELLENT job in improving what was
once an oft-maligned park. Please understand that when Oriole Park
at Camden Yards in Baltimore first opened, new Comiskey Park
instantly turned from a modern baseball facility in a lot of
people's eyes to an obsolete monstrosity because it wasn't built to
look retro. Since the top 8 rows of the original upper deck have
been shaved off, new seats and other amenities have been added, and
more emphasis has been placed on the history and tradition of the
White Sox, U.S. Cellular Field, or "The Cell" as we Sox fans like to
call it, has done a "180" in presenting a great baseball
experience. Granted, it's also great when the home team wins its
first World Series title in 88 years. Still, the ballpark deserves
an "A" in my book, and it can only get better.Cons of the ballpark: As of now (5/8/06), not all the
kelly-green seats have been installed in the ballpark. The entire
ballpark was supposed to have green seats in it by Opening Day 2006,
but only the entire upper deck, club level, and lower level from
dugout to dugout are green instead of blue. No matter...everything
else is just GREAT!!!!! And the Sox say that by 2007, all the
renovation work will be completely finished.Additional Comments: At first, U.S. Cellular Field was
scorned for not starting with or following the "retro" trend in
ballpark design. But now, it seems like the place may end up being
more respected for doing just that. With so many new ballparks
opening with a "Camden Yards-like" design, it's almost as if we're
reliving the cookie-cutter mega-stadium trend of the 1960's and
1970's. "The Cell" does have somewhat of a retro look with a new
roof and other amenities that remind fans of old Comiskey Park
(including a granite "home plate" from the old Comiskey Park in the
parking lot immediately north of the Cell that was there since the
new park was built), and fans both young and old will definitely
appreciate this place. Don't believe the hype from other places
about how "bad" this park, or the surrounding neighborhood is. Come
visit U.S. Cellular Field...you'll be glad you did.

Submitted By: Bart Simpsons D.B Grade:
APros of the ballpark: When you first get to U.S cellular u
think wow! When you arrive there you see this stadium and get to
like it fast because of its modern structure. I had upper level
seats and you will be thinking "man I won't see anything up there"
but the seats were amazing. You could see everything and they aren't
the worst views. If you get to sit in the upper level you are lucky
because you get to see the beautiful view of the Chicago Skyline.
The concession stands were also great because if you try to find one
you'll find one immediately. There are also great ticket prices for
the games, for example half price Mondays, you can get lower
reserved and any other seat half price" What a deal!" There are also
many other deals like dollar hot dog Thursdays, Pepsi 2 for one
tickets, and Wednesdays win a free jersey. There are many more. The
fireworks were also amazing especially if someone hits a homerun
like Paul Konerko. Transportation is also amazing because there is a
highway next to the park and there is a train nearby.Cons of the ballpark: Since Chicago has one of the worst
traffic in the u.s traffic was an issue. The park is also located in
a kind of a bad neighborhood but the people there are actually nice.
The bathrooms were nasty because the urinals you had to use were
sticking out and you would feel ashamed if someone sees you lol.Additional Comments: Fans were amazing true sox fans. The
park keeps you entertained like the 7th inning stretch. When you
enter the park you get to see history of the whitesox players.
Everything was great, this is truly the best ballbark ever!

Submitted By: David Reich Grade:
APros of the ballpark: Everything. The fans are great, the
field looks great, and the experience at every game is great. The
tickets are not too much. Yo can sit in the lower level infield for
$45! If you don't care where you sit you can have outfield seat in
the lower level for just $27. The parking lots are surrounding the
field so it is easy to get from the car and into your seat. The fans
there never do anything bad. In fact I have some really nice
conversations with some in my section. I sit in section 110. I have
season tickets there. That is three sections away from the right
field foul pole down the first baseline. I can see the infield and
the outfield completely with no obstructions. The seats are not too
small. The food is very good. I had never gotten sick there because
I ate something that did not agree with me. Last but not least the
people who work at the field are great. I can go to the dugout to
try to get autographs, take a picture behind home plate, or just
walk around the concourse. The ushers are not mean at all. I have
heard complaints that Wrigley Field ushers don't let you do
anything. Not true here. The only thing is they don't want you
taking someone else's seat. In my opinion the people who work at the
field and for the White Sox care more about the fan than the dollar.
Nothing beats that.Cons of the ballpark: The Upper Deck is high and you cannot
walk to the lower levels if you have an Upper Deck seat.Additional Comments: Best field ever. Very fan and family
oriented. It is the fan that matters not so much the money. Go Sox!

Submitted By: LaMarques Carter Grade: APros of the ballpark: This park just keeps getting better and
better. This park has gotten a lot of bad vibes over the years, but
where are the positives?! It's more fan friendly now! Kids can test
their skills in the fundamentals deck, the fan deck gives fans a
beautiful panoramic view at center field, the audio system is sounds
a lot better, the firework shows are entertaining, the design itself
is wonderful, the roof gives the stadium that classic look and makes
the stadium seem a bit louder than before, and we're getting green
seats in the lower and upper decks. Let's not forget, THE WHITE SOX
WON THE WORLD SERIES!! I still love this ballpark because of the
growing quality which just gets a lot better year after year. This
stadium is one of the only few in baseball with a Hall of Fame
worthy enough to emulate Cooperstown. This park beats Wrigley Field
by a landslide in every category in the book, especially cleaner
bathrooms.Cons of the ballpark: Maybe Wrigley Field will draw more fans
because, after all, it is a tourist attraction, but what's NOT to
love about U.S. Cellular Field? Please don't bring up the upper deck
because that is much improved. Don't mention transportation because
there are many options. Someone please give me a good reason why
U.S. Cellular Field would be one of the worst parks to go to.
Please.Additional Comments: I've always loved this ballpark. At
times, before the renovations, I thought it could be improved, and
has it ever improved. Maybe it doesn't have the rich traditions like
Fenway Park or Yankee Stadium. Maybe it wasn't hot at the time like
Jacobs Field or Camden Yards. Maybe it doesn't have a roof like
Safeco Field or Minute Maid Park. U.S. Cellular Field is a
magnificent ballpark to catch a game, the World Series champs play
there, and it's much more fun and inviting that that dump site
called Wrigley Field.

Submitted By: Antonio Angeloff Grade:
APros of the ballpark: Oh man critics of this ballpark got to
shut up and eat a hot dog, this ballpark is beautiful! I visited it
in 2003 and they've made some ugly changes this year but I'll
descibe to you my 2003 experience. The ballpark debuted in 1991 and
received horrible reviews after Camden yards was completed in 1992.
But I must ask why? New Comiskey Park has a beautiful and
symmetrical style and is one of a kind. numerous suites, club level
seats, and a restuarant near the right field foul pole. The blue
seats blend in perfectly to the grey outline of the overhangs and
the blue outline of the field (which is now black and looks
awful!). a lot of concession stands and heaters in the club levels
and lower deck to keep you warm for those April games.Cons of the ballpark: Now in 2004, the park looks
horrendous. The grey overhang which covered about 5 rows of the
upper deck has been removed along with 8 rows of seats. Replacing
the overhang is an older style overhang similar to the previous one
they had in Yankee Stadium. Only one problem, they decided to paint
it black? Did Al Davis and the Raider Nation have same say in
this? The outfield walls and the outline of the field are now black
too! It looks awful! And wouldn't you know, more renovations are to
come. I think the commission that runs "U.S Cellular Field" ought
to huddle up in the dugout and make plans to restore the stadium to
its natural glory it had in 1991! And for crying out loud, change
the name back to Comiskey Park!Additional Comments: Their hot dogs were pretty good, if you
want to drink a beer and shoot a breeze with local Chicagoans, go to
center field on the "fan deck".

Submitted By: A Great Fan Grade: APros of the ballpark: Alot of parking, Comiskey has the BEST
SCOREBOARD in the MLB. The exterior facade is great with arched
windows. The 2002 renovations are really great. Cons of the ballpark: Nothing around the park except for
parking lots. Additional Comments: TO MAKE PARK BETTER: Delete sections
552-558 of the upperdeck (no one sits there anyway), so you can see
the great Chicago skyline from the left field concourse. They should
make the roof like Busch Staduim with archways so the park feels
more open. Then the Sox should make a homerun porch in right field.
Take down the advertising billboards in left field so you can see
the ITT building from the grandstand. Then make the wall brick
behind the catcher so comiskey looks more appealing on TV. They
should teardown the ramps on the outside and start all over, make
them smaller put more stairs and escalators in make facade on the
ramps nicer. Complete Bill Veeck drive to 37 street. Make a White
sox Museum were Old Comiskey was. Put a statue of Bill Veeck on the
Corner of the 35 and Veeck drive. Put in restaurants, apartments,
and shops where the parking lots are now and the make Parking
garages near by. Jerry Reisndorf should do this if he wants to bring
back the fans.

Submitted By: Dan Paynter Grade: CPros of the ballpark: It was a brand spanking new ballpark at
the time of my visit. It had good sight lines and you can walk all
the way around the park to check out all of the various seating
areas. The foods were the usual ballpark foods and it didn't have
much variety at the time (1992). Basically, this was a "New" version
of the Old Comiskey park. I think that's what they set out to build
and that's what they got.Cons of the ballpark:The upper deck is truly nosebleed high.
If you are at all afraid of heights, do not purchase tickets in the
upper deck. My main complaint was the bathrooms. Who designed these
things? The neighborhood it's located in looked a little suspect and
there was minimal parking. I think we parked at a church parking lot
for $8. Additional Comments: If you are visiting a park looking for
the something new or interesting in a baseball park, I doubt you'll
find it here. If you want to watch a baseball game in comfort and
see a good team, then New Comiskey is for you.

Submitted By: Jeff Nix Grade: FPros of the ballpark: I liked the history murals on the
inside of the stadium, and the landscaping is nice in the parking
lot.Cons of the ballpark: Anytime someone has to mention the
parking lot landscaping as a pro for a stadium you should know
something's wrong. Outrageous price ($24) for a upper deck seat.
The worst part is if you enter from across the street (as I did) you
feel like you are entering a Castle surrounded by a moat and not a
ballpark. Sounds like a neat idea, but it sucks if you have upper
deck seats because you can't venture down to the lower level to get
a feel for the stadium.Additional Comments: After the game I was trying to take
pictures and the usher were very rude and would not let me out even
in the upper deck, which is were my seat was located, to take a
different angled picture. I had to sneak behind a man in a
wheelchair and his family to get out to the walkway in centerfield
after the game as he was trying to get to a ramp. To quote The
Simpsons, "Worst modern era stadium EVER."

Submitted By: Mike F. Grade: APros of the ballpark: Opening Day 2004. There has been a lot
of criticism of the upper deck since the park opened. This year the
critics will find something else to complain about. They removed the
last eight rows of the very steep top section. They also covered the
area with a ornate iron canopy that covers the last 13 rows.
Although the upper deck is still steep the upper deck now has more
of an enclosed feel.
Although it is improved I would advise anyone who is not in the
first ten rows of the upper deck to take advantage of the 20,000+
seats with great sight lines at various prices in the lower sections
of the park.
I live in Oregon and have attended games here in the past with
positive experiences however I can now say after 13 seasons and a
name change they finally have the park looking FANTASTIC. The
concrete and metal look and feel is gone. By using softer gray tones
in paint and using decorative iron works throughout the park in
signage they have created a great new retro look that is a big
improvement. There is a new area with seating and a bar area in
Center Field that looked pretty cool but was way to crowded on
Opening Day. The concourse that circles the park is probably 50 feet
wide and allows the crowd to easily move around the concession
areas. There are also numerous TV's so you see the game while you
are waiting in line.Cons of the ballpark: They have this area that has a lot of
cool sports memorabilia called the Bullpen Sports bar. They serve
alcohol and food. In any other bar/restaurant or Sports Bar in the
city you can take kids for some reason they don't allow anyone under
21.Kids are allowed in the Private Stadium Club Sports Bar upstairs.
Although the scoreboard looks new they could use a little more
imagination in how they use the graphics. They are still using some
of the same images from four years ago.Additional Comments: Being from out of town I was surprised
to see that the White Sox have almost as many off price promotions
as my Triple A team. Half Price Mondays and Tuesdays on all tickets.
Sunday kids 13 and under tickets a buck. Dollar Hotdogs on Thursday.
Hey,I know it is not Wrigley Field but it looks like these guys are
trying.

Submitted By: Shoeless Jeff Grade: BPros of the ballpark: While definitely not an improvement
over it's predecessor - Comiskey Park I, the greatest baseball
stadium in the history of baseball (I'm dead serious), the White Sox
have made big strides in the last two years and have just announced
another. It looks as if one of my big wishes for Comiskular park has
just been fulfilled - green seating. This, the new canopy ('04), the
improved fan deck ('03), and the always superior sound and visuals
have made our park - all of the sudden - a very enjoyable place to
see our beloved chisox. Another big plus is the fans - unlike Cub
fans White Sox fans actually watch the game and understand what's
happening on the field. The pre-game intro is the best in baseball,
and the park is overall - parking & all - very convenient. That
convenience comes at a price though (read on) . . .Cons of the ballpark: The Cell is an island unto itself! The
property is like Disneyland - there's an attraction surrounded by an
ocean of concrete (parking lot). What others have said is true -
Chicago has a spectacular downtown skyline and the clueless
designers of this park really dropped the ball in not taking
advantage of it. Oh, you can enjoy the skyline from the gerbil-trail
ramps as you exit, but not while you watch a game. Also, so much of
the seating in the park is so far from the playing field. FACT: if
you're sitting in the FRONT ROW of the U.S. Cell upper deck, you are
sitting FARTHER AWAY from the playing field than if you were sitting
in the BACK ROW of the old Comiskey upper deck. Again though, big
strides have been made in the last few years. I'm no longer the U.S.
Cell hater I had been - and I've been to more games in the last few
years as a result.Additional Comments: It's not perfect, but if you're from out
of town and decide to take in a game you will not be disappointed in
U.S. Cellular Field. It only gets a bad rap from White Sox fans
because most of us were raised going to games at old Comiskey Park,
and any other stadium would pale in comparison. So, come on out.
Enjoy U.S. Cellular Field as you watch the White Sox batter your
team's pitching staff and take the AL central back from the
Twinkies.

Submitted By: Lamarx Grade: APros of the ballpark: Unbelievable! U.S. Cellular Field is
better than ever! I went for a game at the White Sox home opener,
and the exterior of the ballpark just took me away. I was amazed by
it's looks. The roof looks a lot better than the old one, and the
interior is nicely done! The atmosphere was still great. The park
was packed, and the fans were rockin! The audio system has improved,
too. The upper deck (yeah, where lots of us hate to sit) is
improved. With the top eight rows gone, it doesn't seem so high up
there. The upper deck wasn't really a bad place to sit, but with the
renovations, the upper deck is a lot better. The roof is a great
idea for the weather, and it also helps keep the noise inside the
stadium. I love the translucent walls in the upper deck concourse.
The fan deck is a lot better (I love the fan deck). It was a great
day for a game (and the Sox won, too).Cons of the ballpark: I'd still like to see some green seats
next year, and I'd like to see some shops and some bars around the
park sometime soon. Other than that, I don't have a problem with the
ballpark.Additional Comments: Okay, maybe U.S. Cellular Field is no
Camden Yards or Jacobs Field, but it isn't a Wrigley Field either
(Wrigley Field is a dump, and it is the worst ballpark I've ever
been to). U.S. Cellular Field has not only improved its looks on the
inside and outside, but the fans seem to enjoy it. Maybe if the
White Sox keep winning, more fans will enjoy the ballpark as the
season goes on.

Submitted By: Chicago Fan Grade: APros of the ballpark: Opening Day 2005 Sox vs. Trive was
great. I was very impressed with the new renovations and the
ballpark. The changes US Cellular has undergone over the years are
very underrated. The ballpark was alive from the moment i got
there. Plenty of tailgating pre-game, live music outside the
stadium, fresh dogs and sausages grilling up. The stadium is very
clean and very aesthetically pleasing. The new fundamentals deck in
left adds a nice little dimension to the park. The scout seats also
look very good and give the park more unique aspects. The move to
green seats is also very appealing. The one thing I enjoyed was the
fans. I sat in the middle of the Upper Deck with everyone else and
had a blast. Sox fans love their team and love being vocal about
it. From families with kids, to young people, to couple, and
everyone in between sox fans are a nice mix. The fans around me
were very nice to talk to. A young quite couple who defiantly knew
their baseball and sox. They talked with me about players,
off-season moves, spring training, and minor leaguers. I had a
blast.Cons of the ballpark: Not a big fan of walking down exterior
looping ramps from the upper deck. Its such a long walk, if you can
the escalator up, why not down? Food is very good and with good
variety but a little pricey. Parking is a little pricey as well,
should be $10 but it was $16 i think.Additional Comments: I found it a little strange so many
people badmouth the neighborhood around US Cellular. Bridgeport is
a nice classical Chicago middle class area. We walked around 31st,
33rd, Wallace, and Sheilds before the game and saw numerous new
houses and condos going for around $500k or more. Granted across
the highway is not a nice area but the Bridgeport area, while not
trendy and electric, has a very nice Chicagoan feel to it. Its
defiantly underrated. Also cheap pre-game eats, definably head to
Maxwell St Polish stand on 31st & Normal!!

Submitted By: Joe Nach Grade: BPros of the ballpark: Great sight lines and the lower deck is
one of the best there is. Bullpen sports bar in right is open
before, after, and during games. New renovation for 2003 make
stadium great. New scoreboard, new fan deck in center, new ribbon
video boards, new paint scheme. Great food one of the best. Club
level is like your at a Ritz Carlton. Concourses were redesigned
and look great, retro like. Good parking and access to red line.Cons of the ballpark= Upper deck way to steep and way to far
from the action. There is no overhang of the deck to bring fans
closer. The entrances to the upper deck are at the bottom. WHY???
Tickets prices have gone up while attendance has gone down. The
tickets in the upper deck should be $5 everyday to make up for the
mistake.Additional Comments: This stadium get a B instead of an A
because of Jerry Reinsdorf. In 1989 and 1990 when approached by HOK
to build this stadium he declined on the design exactly like Camden
Yards. HE didn't want to pay for a great stadium, all he wanted was
a large capacity and two levels of sky boxes. Well that's what he
got a cheap 1970's bowl shaped design and the better design was sold
to the Baltimore orioles the next year. And the rest is history.
Way to go Jerry I want you to admit you were wrong.

Submitted By: Anthony Lorenzo Grade:
BPros of the ballpark: There were a ton of improvements made
to US Cellular Field this offseason to get ready for the All-Star
game and make the stadium a better place to watch a ballgame. The
Fan Deck in center field is one of the best places in America to
watch the game from. It feels like your part of the action. The
concourse on the field level goes all the way around the stadium
which is great when you want to walk off that BBQ Pork sandwich.Cons of the ballpark= US Cellular Field has almost half of
its' seats in the upper deck which is at too high of an incline.
You feel like your going to fall over.Additional Comments: My friend and I had Upper Deck tickets
and wanted to take some pictures before the game from the field
level. This is no longer allowed at US Cellular Field due to the
two incidents that occurred over the past calendar year. My friend
and I went to Guest Services and explained our situation to James,
the head guest service employee. After hearing our story, we are
New Yorkers touring the Ballparks, he upgraded our tickets to Club
Seats with waiter service. James did not have to do that for two
New Yorkers, but his generosity and friendliness will be something I
never forget.

Submitted By: Harlin S. Neal Grade:
CPros of the ballpark: The newly-renovated lower bowl section
and concourses are excellent. There are some interesting nooks and
crannies in those areas that would draw fans to the place. Cons of the ballpark: That god-awful upper deck. That deck
has to either be completely torn down or seriously trimmed. I
personally have a few suggestions to improve that place...and the
upper deck is the biggest albatross that ballpark has. That's the
biggest reason why fans don't want to go to Comiskey Park, and the
attendance is down. Additional Comments: Here's what can happen. Cut off the top
8-10 rows of seats in the upper deck...no one wants to sit up there
anyway. You can also eliminate sections 506-509 and 555-558 totally.
With all those seats, you can make home run porches above the
reserved seats in the outfield. Or, just make one porch over the
right field seats. Also, turn those chairs from that ugly blue to a
more traditional green...make that place feel more like a baseball
park instead of a monstrosity. An old-time roof over parts of the
upper deck would also be good. I don't have enough time nor space to
further write on how I'd improve Comiskey Park. I love the White
Sox, and I'm sick and tired of them playing in the crappy play
they're in. Jerry Reinsdorf can take the blame for this joint...HOK
wanted to give him a Camden Yards style ballpark, but he didn't want
it. Instead, he only wanted a plain-jane stadium with 2 levels of
luxury boxes. Well, he got what he wanted, and it'll cost him more
to replace the dump than it did to build it. He got politicians to
twist arms in the Illinois state capital to either build him a new
stadium, or he'd move the White Sox to Florida. He got his place,
and it simply stinks. Well, that's it. This isn't the first time a
White Sox fan complained about Comiskey Park, and until it's
improved, it won't be the last. Simply put, Comiskey Park is a
monstrosity, and it'll constantly be ignored when it comes to the
new trend in building retro-looking baseball parks. Or better yet,
it'll be referred to the place none of the newer places want to look
like.

Submitted By: Lamarx Grade: APros of the ballpark: The renovations this park has been
through. The new designs are great, and I really love the fan deck.
The season before last, I came into this park and felt almost
nothing. The first game I went to last season was against
Minnesota.. I was a lot more excited. To make it a great evening,
Frank Thomas hit a walk-off home run. What I love about U.S.
Cellular is the fans. The crowd really knows how to get into the
game, and it's nice to see a lot of Sox fans know baseball. The
lower deck reserved seats are the best seats in my opinion. I love
the firework shows.Cons of the ballpark: The upper deck. I've been there three
times (even the highest seat in the house). The view isn't really
that bad. There is a nice view of the lake; however, that's all
there is to see. I felt like I was away from the game (needless to
say the Sox lost that game, and they only lose when I visit the
upper deck). They're taking the top eight rows down because of the
steepness, and it will actually look more interesting when it's
done.Additional Comments: U.S. Cellular Field isn't a bad park to
visit. Maybe if Reinsdorf was more of a shrewd businessman, he
would've found a way to get fans into the park a long time ago. It
would be nice to see bars around the park. As far as the renovations
go, I think the park will look great after part of the upper deck is
gone. I think the new look would help make U.S. Cellular Field a
better place to catch a game.

Submitted By: Brian Lee Grade: APros of the ballpark: AUGUST 2004.
I love the renovations they did to this park since it opened. The
look of the park has improved 100%.Gone is the suburban/cookie
cutter/football stadium look. It now has that old Comiskey Park feel
to it. This park has the best sight lines. The Fan Deck in center
field is the best place to watch a game. The new roof and the
smaller upper deck is a great improvement. The Bullpen Sports Bar in
right field is a fun place(21&over) with it's outdoor seating behind
the right field fence and it's outside patio above the bar. The food
is the best in baseball with its wide variety of anything you have a
taste for. The wide concourses make it easy to get around. The Club
Level concourse is like walking through a 5 star hotel lobby with
its comfortable chairs & couches, wood tables, carpeted floors & the
HDTV flat screen tv monitors. Also, hey allow tailgating in the
parking lots 2 hours before game time which is loved by all Sox
fans. The exterior of the park is breathtaking with its old-Comiskey
look.Cons of the ballpark: The only thing I could say is that the
way the park is facing, you don't get to see the world-class Chicago
skyline view.Additional Comments: In 2005...
The Fundamentals area will be located above the left field stands
and accessible from all levels of the park. This is a great idea and
a will look good. They will replace those awful looking blue seats
with green seats in 2005.Also,a Scout-Seating area will be replacing
the umpires tunnel behind home plate.

Submitted By: Jody Ezernack Grade: BPros of the ballpark: Not a bad seat in the house. With
unobstructed sight lines and plenty of aisles this is a great place
to watch baseball. Easy access to I-90\94 and I-55 as well as the
CTA Red Line and Green Line elevated trains.Cons of the ballpark: The alignment of the stadium is flawed
with the outfield facing away from the skyline of Chicago. From the
ramp to exit the stadium on the north end of the park one begins to
question why that view was not incorporated into the layout of the
ballpark.Additional Comments: Parking lots are generally full of
tailgaters before games who often return to their cars to finish the
beer before exiting the lot. Great place to watch baseball, but not
the same social atmosphere of Wrigley. Cheapest beer and food
prices I have seen anywhere. Neighborhood is quickly becoming hip
and the scheduled demolition of nearby housing projects will only
improve things.

Submitted By: Bguy Grade: BPros of the ballpark: They have made this so much better than
recent years. The Fan Deck in Center Field. The Food is the best out
of any other park I have been to. Its easy to get there and get out.Cons of the ballpark: As a Cub fan, I hate the white sox. I
dont like this field very much. Its an advertisement where a
baseball game is being played. As much as I dont get along with sox
fans, I must say they are the best, most enthusiastic fans I have
ever seen. If you wear the opposing teams or cubs apparel, they will
let you know it. Too much flashing lights and sounds, its
distracting. Change the name back to Comiskey. Chicagoans hate "the
cell".Additional Comments: They have begun to clean up the
neighborhood of Bridgeport around the park. You can now walk one or
two blocks west and see an area similar to wrigleyville with bars
and restaurants and decent houses. walk any farther and if your out
of town, it wont be very welcoming at all. dont even cross the Dan
Ryan. I dont like this park or their fans but they have made
improvements and their fans are at least into it.

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