Reason to Love Memphis #48: AutoZone Park
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You guys know we have the nicest minor league ballpark in the country, right?
It’s true – Baseball America named downtown’s AutoZone Park the 2009 “Ballpark of the Year”. The airy, brick stadium is home to the Memphis Redbirds, a AAA feeder league for the St. Louis Cardinals. And barbecue nachos – incredibly tasty, reasonably priced barbecue nachos.
I got this pile of pork, spice and cheese covered chips from the Rendezvous stand in the lower concourse for $8.50:
(Vegetarians and gluten-free people, take note – there are plenty of options – like blackbean burgers, wraps and veggie dogs – for you, too.)
Once you’ve secured food at AutoZone Park, find a seat. There’s plenty of space in the lower level, but I recommend sitting close to home plate, near the die-hard fans (especially the pack of guys that wore batting helmets for most of the game). They get way into the game, cheering for Redbirds runs and hurling creative insults at the other team.
Games at AutoZone Park are incredibly relaxing. It’s easy to grab a beer, brat and seat and space out watching the game. If sitting isn’t your thing, the park was designed with a lot of public spaces (like a boardwalk with games, courts with picnic tables and the grassy outfield bluff) that are perfect for stretching your legs. Because the concourse and the public spaces are open, it’s easy to keep an eye on the field no matter where you are.
The Redbirds play home games at least once per week from April through the beginning of September. The games are a fairly inexpensive good time – game-day tickets for lawn seating on the bluff are $8 per person, lower level seats start at $16 and club level seats are $21 (but all seats are significantly less expensive if you buy them in advance).
Go There:
200 Union Avenue
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 721-6050
