WENT to an Iowa Cubs game

[spyboy1]

I'm going to an Iowa Cubs game Friday night. I've never been to one before so I just wanted to ask is there any strategy for getting there and parking, ticket situation, where to sit or any features of the stadium worth checking out?

I'm going to have my 3 year old with me so keep it clean.

[Seadragon76]

The Des Moines area has grown as of late with the addition of Jordan Creek Town Center (But, it's out west of the Des Moines area, so you may not make it there).

If you get seats near centerfield at Principal Park, you'll get a great view of the State Capitol Building and the skyline of Des Moines.

Other features include:

-Adventureland, which is a theme park outside of Des Moines. Well known regionally.

-Blank Park Zoo

Add-On: Iowa hosts Nashville tomorrow night.

[FiddySicks]

Who are they playing?

[HedleyLamarr]

Bring a TV, so you can hear Bob Costas' antics...

[Lee.]

You will likely be able to see Prior or Wood pitch, at any rate.

Enjoy Des Moines.

[NJTank]

Two Iowa Cubs threads what are the odds

[spyboy1]

We had the most All-American day at the ballpark you could ever imagine. Hollywood couldn't write anything as corny as this. It was like an episode of The Walton's or something.

We drove down to Des Moines, checked into the hotel and headed downtown in search of the ballpark. We did get caught up in traffic for some event at the arena, but eventually made it down to the stadium, parked the car and got in line for tickets. That took awhile but we eventually got into the park ($15 for the two of us), bought a really thick, professional looking program/scorecard for $1(!) and went to find our seats.

As we came up the steps to enter the seating area, we ran straight into the team mascot, and if there's one thing kids love, it's the mascots.

As we got settled in, the Cubs having already ahead 2-0, the batter hit one a mile, just foul. The next one he got right, sending it out of the park for a grand slam, giving the home team a 6-0 first inning lead.

After a few innings it was time to eat, so we took a walk and got a hot dog and some popcorn and watched the visiting team put up 5 runs in the sixth to suddenly make it a one run game. When finished, we went exploring once more, discovered the ballpark was build right on the banks were two rivers meet, and had our picture taken together.

We then ended up near the hand operated scoreboard on the outfield wall. It was exposed in the back and we talked to the operator a bit.. Then the inning ended and he gave my son the chance to put one of the numbers in! Too cool.

That's his digit there, the zero for the top of the 7th.

After that we we went to the team store where he bought some Iowa Cubs wristbands with his $5 to wear when he plays ball in the back yard. He's big on having the right "gear".

We went back inside to the seating area to watch the rest of the game from the box seats near the dugout. When the game ended, with the hometown Cubs winning 6-5, some kids were at the bottom of the aisle hoping to get the attention of the players leaving the field to get a ball. I thought we should try to get in on this and started walking down the aisle. We were about to row 4 or 5 when one player launched a ball towards the kids, but it landed short, took a big bounce off the top of the concrete dugout, over the kids, and I snared it one-handed and, before people could get worked up about me ending up with the ball intended for kids, handed it to my son as quickly as possible.

After that we settled into a front row seat to watch the post-game fireworks display with a view of the beautiful Iowa state capitol lit up at night in the distance. There's something really cool about fireworks at a baseball stadium. You aren't usually that close to them normally, the stands really hold in the noise, and it's kind of cool when they shut off all the lights in the stadium.

It was just too perfect a night to be believed.

JeffB

[STL FANATIC]

Baseball games have a funny way of doing that don't they? It's why I refuse to buy into the "it's just a game" mentality. It is and will always be more than that for me. (And other sports can do the same things in different ways too.)

Glad to hear you and your son had a great time.

[EatSleepJeep]

I'm glad you had a good time at our Sec Taylor Field(Sorry Principal, it's still Sec Taylor to the fans). It's one of the best parts about living in this town. The views are incredible, and the park has been kept up and updated very well. Plus, we're guaranteed to see Kerry Wood and/or Mark Prior every year.

The awesome scoreboard, every seat in the park, the bleachers in right-center(where did they get that idea?) were all new for last season.

My favorite quirk: Fouls that leave the stadium on the first base (Raccoon River) side get a splash sound effect and fouls leaving the stadium on the third base (parking lot) side get a breaking glass sound effect.

Lemme know the next time you want to come down, our season tix are two rows up from that dugout picture location. You're welcome to 'em.

[Breakwood]

That just reminds me of the Simpsons

'Topes Lose, 'Topes Lose

Sounds like a great trip...Minor League Baseball is awesome.

[FiddySicks]

Nothing, and I repeat NOTHING beats AAA baseball. Sounds like the Cubbies have a pretty competitive team this year and the Isotopes always put up a pretty good fight. Glad to hear you had a great time.

[Lee.]

Nothing, and I repeat NOTHING beats AAA baseball. Sounds like the Cubbies have a pretty competitive team this year and the Isotopes always put up a pretty good fight. Glad to hear you had a great time.

Nothing beats minor league ball in general. I had so many good times with the Northern League when I lived in Winnipeg (including the Duluth road trip), there's just a nice little simplicity/honesty you don't get with major league sports.

My one MLB game in 89, Twins v. Royals counts towards my minor league/AAA baseball experience. Although it was great, since I got to see Hrbek and Puckett; Hrbie hit a pop foul, it bounced off the safety netting, so Hrbie turned around and smacked it again (also foul). Good times.

[FiddySicks]

Nothing, and I repeat NOTHING beats AAA baseball. Sounds like the Cubbies have a pretty competitive team this year and the Isotopes always put up a pretty good fight. Glad to hear you had a great time.

Nothing beats minor league ball in general. I had so many good times with the Northern League when I lived in Winnipeg (including the Duluth road trip), there's just a nice little simplicity/honesty you don't get with major league sports.

I stand corrected and Amen to that one brother. Speaking of the simplicity of Minor League ball, ive always wanted to catch a few Cape Cod League games. Now thats baseball at its passionate finest.

[DG_ThenNowForever]

Nothing, and I repeat NOTHING beats AAA baseball. Sounds like the Cubbies have a pretty competitive team this year and the Isotopes always put up a pretty good fight. Glad to hear you had a great time.

You know, I think you're right. I've now been to a fair amount of MLB games, but have never had nearly as much fun when at Rochester Red Wings or Louisville Bats games. There's so much to be said for corny mascots, chintzy promotions, and the ability to stroll in three innings late and leave three innings early without feeling like you wasted your money.

I'm looking forward to seeing some Mariners games this summer, but (in as much as they can) those games will mean something. I've never paid attention to AAA standings because I always went for the experience. We'll see what happens this summer -- I hope I can capture even a bit of that all-American summertime experience at Safeco.

[FiddySicks]

Nothing, and I repeat NOTHING beats AAA baseball. Sounds like the Cubbies have a pretty competitive team this year and the Isotopes always put up a pretty good fight. Glad to hear you had a great time.

You know, I think you're right. I've now been to a fair amount of MLB games, but have never had nearly as much fun when at Rochester Red Wings or Louisville Bats games. There's so much to be said for corny mascots, chintzy promotions, and the ability to stroll in three innings late and leave three innings early without feeling like you wasted your money.

I'm looking forward to seeing some Mariners games this summer, but (in as much as they can) those games will mean something. I've never paid attention to AAA standings because I always went for the experience. We'll see what happens this summer -- I hope I can capture even a bit of that all-American summertime experience at Safeco.

If you can, try to catch a few Tacoma Rainiers games this summer. Tacoma (as far as I know) isnt too far from Seattle and they have one helluva team.

[Lee.]

Screw the Rainiers. I plan on hitting more than a few Canadians and Aquasox games this summer, too

[CS85]

AAA games are some of the best ways to spend a day at a ballgame. They're not as expensive or rowdy as MLB games, there's great seats, and you can still see players you recognize.

[spyboy1]

AAA games are some of the best ways to spend a day at a ballgame. They're not as expensive or rowdy as MLB games, there's great seats, and you can still see players you recognize.

That outfield "Party Deck" behind the scoreboard in Des Moines seemed pretty rowdy to me. I saw at least one drunk frat boy ejected. It was nice that they had a designated idiot zone away from the families sitting near the infield.

[CS85]

That's unfortunate, but at least, like you said, they weren't by the families.

I've been to a few Peoria Chiefs games, and those were a lot of fun. They have a fantastic ballpark, and parking isn't bad. Just a suggestion if you're looking for a great place to take the kids to see a ballgame.