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The Essentials
A logical location and nice arrangement of the ballpark elements certainly help keep the experience of attending a game on a high level, but what about the costs and fan amenities? And is it true that the “signature element” of this park doesn’t even appear until the 7th inning each game?
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I noticed many fans park in the garage at the base of the office tower directly across 2nd Street from the park’s main entrance. I did, too, and the cost was $5 for the evening. There are other lots and garages within a few block walk, and depending on the day of the week and the time of day, it is possible to score a free spot on the street along Lake Street just west of the park.
Assuming you don’t opt to get 14 of your friends together and spend $1,300 to sit in the dugout-suite area, you’ll find individual-game tickets to be on the high side for Triple-A — especially if you like to sit in the infield. In a city that caters to high-rollers, the Aces have just the seats for them. Home Plate Premium seats cost $29 a game when purchased for individual contests, and Infield Premium run $23.
Fans can sit in the back rows of the field level for $15, while reserved seats well beyond the dugouts are $9. General admission tickets are $7 for adults and $6 for kids, seniors and those in the military. Compared to the other two Triple-A parks that opened this year, these prices aren’t that far off from Gwinnett County, and are noticeably above Columbus, Ohio.
Game programs are free in Reno and team yearbooks are $5. Prices in the souvenir shop (below right), which is strategically positioned to allow shoppers to enter the store from the rotunda entry even when there’s no game going on (below left), are in line, as caps are $17-22, and T-shirts are $17-20. Not bad at all …. however, it is annoying that sales tax is added to the price of merchandise in the store, unlike at most other Minor League parks which incorporate the tax into the price listed on the item. It didn’t appear that tax is added to food items at the concession stands, though.
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Speaking of food, the selection and quality are strong, although it might be a notch below Columbus and Gwinnett County. There are a number of fairly nice items (a tasty smoked-brisket sandwich is $6, but it was simply too chewy), but there was nothing that I would categorize as being a signature food item. The dogs and sausages are quite good (grilled hot dogs are $4.50 and brats are $5.50), and the standard chicken tenders and burgers are more than adequate. Items you don’t often see at parks include veggie burgers ($7), chipotle lime chicken tacos ($7), an Italian meatball grinder ($5.50) and a dessert item called Smores Dippers for $5.50.
For another viewpoint on the food at Aces Ballpark, I turned to the erudite Dave Preston, a dining and wine critic who’s known as Nevada’s Guru of the Goodlife. He reported the following to me:
The quintessential hot dog and beer is the cuisine a la maison in about every ballpark in the land. And I set the bar high having indulged at just about every major league park and many minor league parks in the land. I defer to the legend, Nathan’s is my tube tantalizer of choice, with mustard and relish and onion, of course! And my quaff is a local’s suds, perhaps a micro brew. At Aces ballpark, they have met the challenge and added brisket and pulled pork sandwiches, which are a change-of-pace for one’s palate; credit given to “up-scaling” the bill-of-fare. But as all-American as the game, so allied my taste; give me the tube steak and tap. I just can’t imagine Babe and Lou and Joe downing pulled pork in the clubhouse after the game.
Tough to add anything to that! Interestingly, the Aces partnered with Levy Restaurants to handle the food operations at the ballpark. Levy, which was named one of the ten most innovative companies in sports by Fast Company magazine, manages the concessions at six Major League parks. I think this arrangement in Reno helps the offerings in the premium seats and Hall of Fame Club a little more than the standard fare at the concession stands.
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Finally, let’s examine the most fun elements of the ballpark. Young fans are well taken care of, to be sure, and this is great to see. Well beyond center field is a play area that incorporates a springy floor, a jungle gym and a baseball theme. Perfect. Just to the right are inflatables and a souvenir stand geared to kids.
And kids always love mascots, particularly big fuzzy ones. The Aces’ mascot is Archie, so named (I assume) because one of Reno’s signature features is the arch over Virginia Street pronouncing that the metropolis is the “biggest little city in the world.” And is it just me, or does Archie (below left) strongly resemble the furry creature called “Hungry” in commercials for Weight Watchers?
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And speaking of “signature features,” Reno’s ballpark definitely has one, and is it ever super! As soon as the visiting batters are out in the top of the 7th each game, a giant baseball inflates above the batter’s eye beyond center field, amid a swirl of smoke (above center). That baseball then “sings” Take Me Out To The Ballgame, as its mouth moves along with the words.
I asked HNTB’s Diesko where this fascinating feature came from, and he gave all of the credit to the Ace’s team president, calling the singing ball “Stuart Katzoff’s brainchild.”
Summary
Indeed, by keeping it light and by focusing on the fans’ needs, Aces Ballpark deals the people of Reno a handful of aces.
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Diesko said that Reno wanted a stadium “that was first a great ballpark but that worked for other events such as concerts, festivals, Hot August Nights and whatever else they could bring to their fans. They saw the potential of a great site and challenged (us) to develop a ballpark that fans and families would love over and over again.”
Not only is Reno justifiably proud of its new ballpark, they are quite pleased with having a team at the highest level of the Minors. “We are one of only 30 cities in the country with a Triple-A ball club,” said Reno Mayor Robert A. Cashell, Sr. “Having this caliber of a baseball team in town means much more than 72 games a year. We envision an area surrounding the ballpark that will create more opportunities for all to enjoy with shops and restaurants. The new stadium is another redevelopment success we should all be very proud to share with our friends, family and neighbors.”
Indeed, a city is smart to tie its new ballpark to further development, and I hope Reno’s plans come to full fruition. In a city that relies on a steady flow of visitors — over 5 million a year — an ever-increasing variety of entertainment and shopping options is important. And the locals certainly like it, too.
Almost as much as a handful of aces. Of course, Reno’s new team will always settle for a full house.