Chase Field, formerly known as Bank One Ballpark or BOB, was my favorite stadium from 1998-2005. Even though it is a stadium that often has its roof closed, it feels more intimate than Seattle's Safeco Field. The BOB has super easy access from I-10 and I-17 and despite being right in Downtown Phoenix, parking is a breeze (on game nights when the Suns basketball team is also playing at nearby US Airways Center it gets a little tight). When coming into the BOB, most people end up at the corner of 4th and Jefferson Sts. Here, there's a plaza that usually has people cooking barbecues and its where the majority of fans enter for the game. The plaza is featured in the photo below, albeit empty:
An outstanding feature of Chase Field is just how good the sightlines are. I've sat in the nosebleeds above home plate, in right field just past the foul pole, field level on the first baseline, and on the luxury Infiniti Diamond Level in left field and not one of those seats were bad. My preferred seating area here is the Diamond Level, which admittingly is on the expensive side, but the views can't be beat.
One of the big knocks against Chase Field is also it's most recognizable asset, the pool in right field. When the Yankees were playing the Diamondbacks in the '01 World Series, the NY writers ripped on the pool in right and mocking the stadium, making the general point that it wasn't a true baseball stadium. Who are they to say what is and isn't a true baseball stadium? Another big knock against Chase is the perceived notion that there is no history there. What do you call the 9th inning, Game 7 comeback against the Yankees in that World Series? What about Randy Johnson striking out 20 Cincinnati Reds (May 8th, 2001)? What about Brandon Webb's shutout inning streak this year? Are those not historic moments?
This stadium is also full of memories for me. When I would go to Arizona for summer vacation and see family, it quickly became a sort of tradition to go to at least one Diamondbacks game at the BOB. And most importantly, it is the place where the Diamondbacks won the Series in the best postseason Series I've ever seen.
On a side note, there has been a lot of news this week in regards to the Michael Vick case. I do intend to address this next week, probably Tuesday, when he officially enters his plea agreement. In the meantime, here are some more BOB pics:
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