When I was working as a TV News Reporter in the Quad Cities, I always made it a personal policy to check out whatever minor league ballparks were within driving distance because quite frankly, there’s few things I enjoy more than a minor league baseball game. So when Paul informed me that many of you who read our work are from Cedar Rapids, it brought me back to a road trip I took in 2008 to your fair city.
Cedar Rapids is well known throughout the world as “The City of Five Seasons”, a place where the folks are friendly, the corn is tasty, and where good old fashioned American values still reign supreme. It’s also home to thousands of resilient, hard-working folks determined not to let the summer floods of 2008 define their existence. Even today, signs of the historic flood are everywhere in Cedar Rapids. But that’s not what I remember most from the seven hours I spent there two years ago.
By Matt Lindner
For those of you who haven’t made the trek through the corn on I-80 to Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium (yes that’s what it’s called, I looked it up.) take a weekend and make the 4 hour trek west from Chicago and fix that. For you are missing out on what can only be described as one of the few purely American experiences left – a minor league ballpark set amid a modern-day Norman Rockwell painting adjacent to a community tennis court where ironically enough, the local girls’ tennis team happened to be practicing during my visit.
One of the first things that grabbed my attention – and you won’t be able to miss it – is the giant Army tank parked right outside the stadium. As far as I know, it’s the only ballpark experience you can have that includes an actually includes a real tank, and in my humble opinion it’s pretty freakin’ cool.
According to iowacivilwarmonuments.com, the tank is there to honor all of the Iowans who have defended our freedom over the years, a very visible tribute to a group of individuals who are worthy of our thanks every single day.
Once you get inside, you’re greeted by one of the cleanest, most modern ballparks in all of the Midwest League. The wraparound concourse is spacious, the ushers are friendly, and the view is absolutely priceless on a warm summer day. Of the 5,300 seats in the house, there isn’t a single bad one to be found – and trust me, I tried. Since I was there by myself I made sure to sit everywhere the ushers would let me go in the ballpark and was not disappointed.
Since the Kernels play in Iowa and are named after the state’s most famous crop, corn is king. Just as you expected. For your olfactory pleasures, the team offers several flavors of popcorn at concession stands scattered throughout the concourse. The smell alone is worth the price of admission, but the first mouthful of BBQ flavored popcorn will take you back to a time in your life when you had no worries beyond who you were going to play with in the sandbox.
As for the game itself, the presentation was very similar to what you’ll find at most minor league facilities. There were your requisite contests in between innings with fans competing for prizes and a general laid-back atmosphere wherein the crowd seemed to care more about having a good time at the ballpark than whether or not the Kernels beat that evening’s opponent, which for whatever it’s worth was Ryne Sandberg’s Peoria Chiefs.
I’m the closest thing to a Kernels’ beat writer that The Sports Bank has, having filed profiles on top prospects Mike Trout and Randal Grichuk this season for MLB.com. The product on the field has been stellar, and the team actually has already secured a playoff berth, meaning you can catch games at the stadium until September.
Angels’ top prospect Mike Trout spent the first half of the season there – some scouts have said he’ll likely be playing in Anaheim Stadium by the end of next year. His former outfield-mate and fellow first-round draft pick Randal Grichuk remains and is also considered to be one of the brightest stars in the Angels’ stacked minor league system. Plus they’ve got a guy on the roster named Buddy Boshers. Buddy Boshers. How can you not root for a guy named Buddy Boshers?
The best part about going to a minor league baseball game in Iowa – or anywhere really – is that you’re not going to spend a ton of money and you’re guaranteed to have a fantastic time. In Cedar Rapids, you can get in the door for as little as $8 and the best part is you won’t spend a dime on parking. Even with gas, a family of four can still have an amazing road trip for a very reasonable price.
Regardless of whether you’re going out there for the quality of baseball on the field or just to have a good time with your family off of it, Cedar Rapids is worth a road trip if only to take a picture by the tank outside the stadium. So on behalf of Paul and all the writers here at The Sports Bank, thank you Cedar Rapids for visiting our site and enjoying our hard work.
And next time you see Mr. Shucks at the ballpark, please tell him I said hello.
Matt Lindner is a contributor to ESPN.com and MLB.com
You can learn more about what makes Cedar Rapids a great place to visit by visiting www.cedar-rapids.com.
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I echo the sentiments of Mr. Lindner. Thank you Cedar Rapids! I haven’t been, but hope to one of these days