Lake Erie Crushers (Stadium Review and Experience)

I had the privilege to go check out the Lake Erie Crushers game on Thursday (THIRSTY THURSDAY DOLLAR BEER AND BEVERAGE NIGHT!). The Lake Erie Crushers are based out of the Avon area and are part of the Frontier League. This entry is to review the experience by Accessibility, Stadium, Concessions, Value, and Fun Factor. Go visit their website at http://www.avonprobaseball.com/.

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Stadium Accessibility - A : Driving to the stadium was very simple and actually really non congested. They have their own separate roads that lead from the main roads to the baseball stadium. Traffic was really easy to get through and the parking exception. Not only was it easy to find a spot but it was very cheap at three dollars (compare that to ten dollars in downtown Cleveland). They even had a big light up sign to tell me where to turn. The reason that the Crushers did not get the A+ was there were no signs getting off the highway. That can lead to many people without GPS or map quest getting lost by merely turning off the highway the wrong way (or is that just me?).

Picture of All-Pro Freight Stadium

Stadium - A- : The Crushers reside in All-Pro Freight Stadium (I know does not really roll off the tongue well). The Stadium looks beautiful from the outside and even better from the inside. The overall feel gives you a mix between the big leagues and a small town team. The seating is perfect for a Frontier League team and all seats seem to have perfect view lines (no I did not sit in every seat in the Stadium). The walkways although contained because of the small stadium feel did not get congested in the least bit. My ONE complaint with the stadium was THERE WAS NO DIRT! It made it feel kind of like a knock off stadium without the standard dirt infield. I know that you save on grounds crew but to have synthetic grass with rubber as your infield, it just seems weird. Grounders also took different bounces on the surface so that effects the game. Yet, over all All-Pro Freight Stadium is a beautiful and a diamond for the Frontier League.



Concessions - A : Standard ballpark concessions at a cheaper price. They have Miller, Bud, and Labatt on tap so standard beers. The only thing to look for is the difference between Supreme Nachos and just Nachos. Nachos are three dollars while Supreme Nachos are four dollars and fifty cents. The only difference: with regular nachos you only get cheese. With the Supreme Nachos offer salsa. You decide. Otherwise they have a couple of big concession stores with a bunch of smaller stands. Accessible, affordable, and standard are all attribute that make their concession program great.



Price - A+ : The standard ticket price will run nine dollars a ticket and with the stadium no matter what those nine dollars are worth it. With only three dollars for parking a family of four (without taking advantage of a promotion) can go to the park to see a game for thirty nine dollars. That price is extremely great not to mention the seats on the grass hill in the outfield. It provides a little picnic area and tickets are only six dollars out there. The options are endless and even though it is just Frontier League, the price makes up for it.



Fun Factor - B+ : Watching the game is extremely fun. Obviously the players are at a decent talent level and can play with a lot of effort. Yet it is Frontier League baseball and it is hard to get very emotionally involved. The best part about watching sports is the excitement that emotions take the biggest part of. But at times it can become just watching a pick-up game. Also, there is no screen on the scoreboard which makes it hard to have as good of a time with the in between inning activities. For purists it is a blessing but in this visual entertainment age the sound was not enough for the game. Yet, the Crushers bring true baseball that is very enjoyable for all sports and baseball fans.



Overall - A : The overall experience was extremely fun for a cheap price. I recommend it to all baseball fans and even casual fans due to the minor league feel. It has a couple of let downs but overall the Lake Erie Crushers deliver in a great way that impressed me to the fullest. Go visit http://www.avonprobaseball.com/ or go down to the park! GO CRUSHERS!