I'm in Portland, OR on vacation and got to see the Las Vegas 51s (the Los Angeles Dodgers minor league farm club) play the Portland Beavers (The SD Padres' affiliate) at their stadium called PGE Park (PGE is Portland's gas and electric company). Here's some pics of my experience (my first time in a Minor League park), rooting for The Other Boys In Blue while getting some Beaver action, lol...
BTW, I sat 8 rows from the visitor's dugout (infield reserved). Cost me $13.50!
Here's the outside of the stadium, located in downtown Portland, right across from the light rail station (no parking hassles!)
The inside of the stadium.
The scoreboard. It's so old school...the numbers are placed there by hand! Behind the fence is the MAX Light Rail station and you can see the trains travel by. You can also see the game for free behind the fence!
The National Anthem, sung a cappella by this little girl...it was sung *after* the home team took the field...
James Loney! He went 1 for 4 with a single. BTW, EVERY SEAT IS IN FOUL TERRITORY and a lot of foul balls end up...on the roof!
Yes, minor league parks also have luxury boxes!
The video screen, on the right field. There are no outfield seats.
The Portland fans...the stadium seats about 20,000. One of the locals tell me the games usually average like 7,000-10,000. Today was "MLB Pride Day" - people were encouraged to wear MLB team gear...so I wasn't out of place with my Dodger gear at all. Most of the fans were Mariners fans, since Seattle is just 150 miles away. One girl wearing aRed Sox cap asked me if Derek Lowe was still with the Dodgers...she said she missed him and he was his favorite Red Sox player.
At Dodger Stadium, we have the "Guess The Hat?" the Coca Cola Trivia with A. Martinez, the GM Car Race and "Guess The Attendance?" in the minor leagues, they play family picnic games like ball tosses, throw the balloon in the bucket, etc.
I get to see some Beaver up close. The local team mascot is wearing a Mariners jersey for MLB Pride Day...but they did give away a trip to SD to see the Padres as a random ticket prize.
The Beaver leading kids singing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" for the 7th Inning Stretch. There's no organ, they just sing it a a cappella. Also, hearing hip-hop and reggaeton music blaring in the stadium P.A. for at-bat music sounds a little out of place in Portland...
I paid $8.50 for my food - a large hot dog AND a beer! Their "premium" beer cost $3.50!!!! They stop selling beers after the 6th inning though. Also, they have sauerkraut in the condiments bin!!!!!
L.A. fans go to the Stadium just to play beach ball, Portland fans go to PGE Park just to have a smoke...seems like there are more people in the smoking area than in the stands!
With the Beavers down by 5, a local fan starts a rally cheer. He really wants to see more Beaver action.
Yhency Brazoban...He pitched the 9th, struck out two (the third hitter was out on a pop fly). He was throwing 92-93mph fastballs and the local fans were like "WHO THE FUCK IS THIS GUY?!?!" I told them he was a Major Leaguer on rehab and they were like "Ohhhhhhh!!!! Okay...I see." LOL.
The 51s Win, 6-1!...Larry Bigbie hit a solo homer.
James Loney signs my Dodger cap.
Me doing a Dodger Rob (tm) with Matt Kemp (who did not play in the game), taken by a dude who obviously does not know how to work a digital camera...D'OH! I told him I was just visiting town and saw him hit the wall on Opening Day. Asked him how he felt. "I feel just fine, man!" he said, moving his shoulder. His little brother was also in town and visited him...This chick also gives him her number, lol...what a stud. I also met a few Dodger fans wearing Dodgers gear, most are transplants from Los Angeles...there was even a couple wearing Aliens gear. So we represented!
I leave you with a quote from a famous Dodger :)