While I’ve attended 15 of the 30 current MLB ballparks and 17 MLB stadiums in total, some of the highest-regarded parks remain on my bucket list.
From my youngest memories as a baseball-obsessed kid, one of the obvious quirks of the game that appealed so much to me were the purposeful differences observed in each MLB stadium, providing a unique atmosphere and game environment in each stadium.
Lucky enough to grow up near Chicago, it was special to see this play out at two distinct stadiums throughout my childhood, one of which has hosted a mind boggling amount of baseball history and royalty.
As my life moved on into my adulthood and marriage, my wife and I have made it a goal of ours to see all 30 MLB stadiums together, viewing it as a perfect additional activity to partake in on a trip and a chance to immerse ourselves into a permanent fixture of a given city’s culture.
Though I’ll always be biased towards Wrigley Field as a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan, I’ve gotten the privilege to see many other ballparks that have left me with a memorable experience that has only reinforced my love for the game.
While it will always be hard to top the legendary classics such as Wrigley Field and Fenway Park, modern stadiums such as T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Truist Park near Atlanta and Oracle Park in San Francisco are well worth the heaps of praise they receive.
Although I’m halfway through on my personal quest to see all of the stadiums, many of the most beloved and notable parks remain on my bucket list, with some being quite a bit more difficult to get to now that I’m located in Northern California.
With that said, I greatly look forward to every new experience at a ballpark, with a small handful of stadiums standing out as destinations my wife and I aim to get to for a game sooner rather than later.
1. Petco Park (San Diego, California)
Often ranked near the top of MLB stadium rankings, Petco Park has served as the home of the San Diego Padres since 2004, replacing the cookie-cutter multi-purpose Qualcomm Stadium as the team’s home ballpark.
In addition to picturesque views of the San Diego skyline and what is essentially a guarantee of perfect weather, Petco Park features plenty of unique quirks and characteristics – most prominently its inclusion of the historic Western Metal Supply Co. building in left field.
Though I’m of course not speaking from personal experience, the rather open layout of seating offers clear sightlines throughout the park, which can include a view of the San Diego Bay and San Diego Zoo, depending on where you’re sitting.
The stadium also includes plenty of communal areas for fans looking for a more nomadic experience at the game, which is a great offer even though I’m one to stay in my seat.
There may not be decades of history or tradition here, but there’s no doubt that San Diego offers a serene viewing experience for baseball fans that I’m eager to take in myself.
2. Coors Field (Denver, Colorado)
As a frustrated Cubs fan, I can relate (to an extent) to an amazing ballpark being both a gift and a curse – as fans will always show up to a great ballpark no matter what the product on the field looks like.
The Colorado Rockies certainly proved that in 2025, when they drew over 2.4 million fans to rank 9th of 15 National League teams and 16th of 30 MLB teams in attendance despite a ghastly 43-119 record.
And you really can’t blame those in Denver for still making their way to Coors Field, which stands out as a pristine and unique viewing experience for out-of-town fans and locals alike.
Despite its relatively massive capacity that was certainly put in full use in the early years of the park, you don’t often hear complaints of Coors Field having any emptiness, with each nook and cranny of the park including its own set of picturesque views.
In addition to “The Rockpile” seats high up in center field that lie over 600 feet away from home plate, the park also features a row of purple seats in the upper deck to denote exactly one mile above sea level.
I feel like I’d need several games at this park to get the full experience, one that Denver-area locals have made a pastime out of, as there’s no other view in the MLB like a summer sunset over the Rocky Mountains.
3. PNC Park (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Widely regarded as one of the best stadiums in all of MLB, the appeal is quite obvious when watching a game played in Pittsburgh on TV. From its more compact, intimate seating to a majestic view of the Pittsburgh skyline and the Roberto Clemente Bridge, it’s clear that PNC Park is not just another stadium.
Though fans have rarely been able to see a competitive Pirates team since the Bucs moved from the now-demolished Three Rivers Stadium ahead of the 2001 season, my bucket list is very far from the only one with PNC Park highly ranked.
The tight configuration within the stadium feels like it would be especially apparent when attending a game at the park, with batters closer to fans in the front row behind home plate than they are to the pitcher at just 51 feet.
Unlike Coors Field, Pirates fans haven’t come out to the park with the same consistency that Rockies fans have, with Pittsburgh ranking 26th in all of baseball in attendance despite getting a boost in games that Paul Skenes starts.
Though the Pirates may not be a nightly draw in Pittsburgh, the rather low attendance makes it both easy and affordable for those visiting the city to see a game in one of the sport’s premier parks.
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