banner island ballpark

One of the finest ball parks in the Untied States for Minor League baseball. Easy to get to and lots of parking for season ticket holders. Since it is right next door to the Stockton Arena, for a major event there is not enough good parking available.

It is a wonderful Minor League Baseball Park. Anywhere in the park you have a great view of the ball field. Menu is typical ballpark/arena food. Pay extra to sit in the club and you can eat grilled food. BUT... if you have a question or concern about the food or the food service, the Ovations Management team will find any excuse to worm their way away from you and avoid thequestion(s).

In four words, “I love this ballpark”Purchasing tickets is convenient and done right from home. A map of the ball field pops up and you can choose where to sit and how many seats are available. http://www.milb.com/tickets/singlegame.jsp?sid=t524Traveling to and from the ballpark is easily accessible from the highway 5 freeway on and off ramps.For me, parking is the best part because there is no anxiety of fighting thousands of other baseball enthusiasts for the same spot. Here, the parking it literally right in front of the entrance!The field is recessed (“I think about 40 feet below street level”) and from your car to your seat, it’s literally 40-50 feet away!All of the seating at this ballpark is exceptional for watching the game and not being packed is the best part! Stockton Ports is where the Oakland “A’s” get their players from or go to rehabilitate after a protracted injury. The stadium was built in 2005 and can accommodate roughly 5,000 people. The folding plastic seats are comfortable but after a few innings, standing up is advisable which returns those “pads you call your rear-end back to it’s original supple shape!”The concession stands are mediocre at best with high priced burgers and hotdogs that look more like doggie treats than what the FDA would pass as human consumption. Beer is also expensive but hey, “it’s all part of the baseball experience!”Watching the game itself is fantastic and you get into the mood with everyone else having fun. Between innings, they have something going on from tossing T-shirts to winning contests. For those of us who enjoy sitting “behind the plate,” there is a safety net for those foul balls that tend to sail backwards saving someone from being beaned!Then there are the occasional foul balls that sail backwards over the stadium and into the parking lot where you parked your vehicle. “Knock on wood but I’ve been lucky so far that my vehicle hasn’t been struck… yet!”At the end of the game, getting back to your vehicle is a breeze…The highs:@ $12.00 per person, it’s a bargain for what you'll pay at AT&T Park.Ambiance of sitting in this ballpark is fantastic and you get that ballpark feeling without the huge crowd's. You avoid the “loud obnoxious beer induced fans.” Restrooms are clean and well maintained. The lows:$9.00 for approx. 12oz cup of beer with no foam is expensive.Can't bring in any food inside, which would be a step above what they serve here. Overall, it is the next best thing then going to a major league ballpark and still gets that baseball entertainment. “Play Ball”As always, here’s a little background into this ballpark.The Stockton Ports play in the Northern Division of the Class A – Advanced California League and is the Minor League affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. In 1860’s, baseball came to Stockton and by the 1880s Stockton began to field a team in an earlier incarnation of the California League. In 1888, the Stockton team won the California League pennant with a record of 41–12. That same team also gained a bit of notoriety as a possible inspiration of Casey at the Bat, a famous baseball poem by Ernest Thayer. Thayer was a journalist for the San Francisco Examiner at the time and the games were hosted in a ballpark on Banner Island, a place once known as Mudville.In 1941, the Stockton Flyers were established as a charter member of the California League. In June 1942, the league suspended operations due to World War II. In 1946, the Flyers resumed operations and were rechristened the Stockton Ports to recognize Stockton's status as an inland port city. The Ports went on to win their first California League pennant.In 1947, the Ports won the California League pennant again without a major league affiliation (they had a limited working agreement with the PCL Oakland Oaks). After going 24–18, they went on a 26-game winning streak and took first place, never to relinquish again during that season. The win streak (95–45) is one of the longest in professional baseball and is still a California League record. Years later, baseball historians Bill Weiss and Marshall Wright rated the 1947 Ports as one of the one hundred best Minor League teams of all time, ranked at No. 98.In 1972, the Ports disbanded and returned as an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners in 1978. In the 1980’s, the Ports won more games than any other team in minor-league baseball. In 2008, the Ports won their 11th California League Championship with 11 league titles. The Ports have the most among the league's active franchises, with the defunct Reno franchise having won eleven. On Sept. 14, 2008, Stockton won its 11th championship with a 9–3 win over the Lancaster JetHawks.In 2005, the Ports became an affiliate of the Oakland Athletics and began play at the Banner Island Ballpark. The 2009 season marked the team's fifth anniversary at Banner Island Ballpark.“PLAY BALL”

Banner Island Ballpark is a great place to see local baseball. The A's farm team, The Ports, play there. Great opportunity to see upcoming talent. The park itself is in a good location with excellent parking available. It's a great place for a family day/night of baseball. I'm pretty sure there really isn't a bad seat in this well-designed ballpark.

The Ports are a minor league baseball affiliate of the oakland A's. Banner island ballpark is a sweet little park. Very intimate and affordable and easy to get too. And unlike major league parks, parking is only $5. There is a variety of options for food, but burgers and fries from Casey's are the best. The deep fried asparagus is a must. A tip regarding weather: during the spring, the day games are great but during the Stockton summer heat, go for the evening games!

I see the ports when I'm in Stockton and I always have a great time. Tickets are fair priced and all seats are a great view.

It is a lot of fun. Much more reasonably priced than Major League Baseball. There is alot to see in addition to the ballgame. The park is well situated by the water and there is always a lot of people watching to do. Often fireworks are part of the show as well as goofy and fun between inning contests and events. Food a little pricey, nothing like MLB prices, however.

Tired of millionaire egos? Tired of $25 parking and $12 beers? Love baseball? This is the place for you. I was raised with the California league way back in the 50's in Sacramento. It was small town, wood bleachers, peanuts and fun. Well it still exists in the California league, except the Ports have better seats and as pretty a park as you can find. AND they have lawn seating for picnics while you watch. You really are watching players who love the sport, and play with a passion. This is where you'll see a good game in a beautiful park and park free, pay a reasonable price for hot dogs and beer etc. If you want to take your family without mortgaging the house and have a great day of America's game. Go here.

Great modern Ballpark family friendly,well laid out with clean facilities and great views from all over the park. Home of the Stockton Ports! As with all sport venues the food and drink are overpriced but they do have good value Promo nights..

Modern SINGLE LEVEL DECKING ball-field. Good food of many tastes. Batheroom kept clean. Sadly the closes tree or shade is not in the ball park.

The ball park is a mini-PacBell of San Francisco fame. Sits directly on the deep water port of Stockton (the farthest eastern deep water sea port). The tickets are cheap and they do great fireworks most every game. If you want to do a family outing it's very reasonable to rent one of the suite boxes as the per head cost (depending on numbers in your party) can be less than just buying individual tickets. Plus if you have small children they have a confined place to run and play. You can buy food for the box, which has always been very good at both Banner Island and the arena for a hockey game.

You get to see a great ballgame whenever you come. For me, the only downside is walking from the marina. Kinda confusing. Overall fine.

This is a great ballpark. The Stockton Ports is a Triple A class team and watching a game at the park is a blast. Their July 4th fireworks display is not to be missed.

Very nice ball park lots a fun, every seat is a great seat and comfortable has everything you could ever want to eat or drink

Up to date amenities!! Great hotdogs, beer, everything you want in a ballpark. families bring their kids and there are no bad seats. Enjoy going to the games, Walking distance from the University Plaza Hotel..