Baseball in America Tour - Saving Tradition
“We upgrade for comfort, but sometimes we trade the magic of authenticity for something too polished.”
When I look back at my time visiting the Left Field Lounge at Mississippi State ten years ago, it's hard to believe how much has changed by 2024. The iconic tailgate trucks, makeshift bleachers, and laid-back community atmosphere that made the Left Field Lounge so unique have now morphed into something quite different. The biggest change is the addition of the Left Field Lofts—luxury apartment-style suites that overlook the field. These Lofts come fully equipped with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a patio, offering an incredible view of the game, but at a steep cost. We're talking $45,000 for the full season or $3,250 for a weekend series during SEC play. It’s definitely a far cry from the scrappy DIY vibe that made the Lounge so special.
While some remnants of the old Lounge are still there, like the bleacher seating and tailgate atmosphere in certain parts, the overall experience feels more polished, almost too curated. It’s bittersweet because, while the upgrades are impressive, I can’t help but feel that some of the magic has been lost along the way.
Clemson’s "Cheap Seats" have undergone a similar transformation. They’ve incorporated those famous buses into the upgraded stadium, but, just like at Mississippi State, it doesn’t have quite the same scrappy charm it once had. The fan experience at both places has become a blend of history and modernity, but there’s no denying that some of the original grit and authenticity has been replaced with a more commercialized, corporate feel.
It’s a reflection of what’s happening across many ballparks—balancing the pull of tradition with the demand for modernization. I understand why it’s happening, but I still find myself missing that raw, unfiltered fan experience that made those places so memorable for me back then.
Originally Published August 18th, 2014
I have gained a very unique perspective during this trip. I have witnessed firsthand what is happening at ballparks all over the country—what is working and what isn’t. I am beginning to understand the business side of running a baseball stadium and why the majority of minor league teams have a “baseball entertainment complex” in mind when they pursue and get a new ballpark. I can immediately tell which teams understand the word hospitality, which ones are working toward educating all of their team members, and the ball clubs that have no idea what the word means. Within five minutes of arriving, I fully understand the level of entertainment I will be receiving.
I haven’t conducted a study, and this is purely a guess, but I would say that 75% of minor league teams have variations of the same “fan” experience—the stadium, the mascot, the routines between innings, and the videos on the scoreboard. Many are incorporating bouncy houses, basketball courts for kids, and water features to run through, etc. You get the idea. I’m not saying this is a bad idea; I actually like it. Martie Cordero from the Omaha Storm Chasers changed my opinion. Ninety-nine-point nine percent of baseball fans will never do what I am doing. They will just go to their local team's game and thus will think this is unique to their team.
For the minor league teams, it has to be entertainment with the entire family in mind. The baseball game might be the centerpiece, but most young kids will get bored after half an inning. They need additional entertainment so their parents can either watch the game or socialize with friends. Ballparks have become part amusement park for all the different ages. The more people you can draw, the more money the team makes. It isn’t really about the baseball game. As one team president put it to me the other day, “Our fan isn’t going to remember how we did last July, like they do about the top club. Bottom line is revenue generation.” Get the fan hooked on the fun mascot and the great-looking gear!
I won’t argue that this needs to happen in the minor league game. Players I have talked to have stated that winning feels different; you still root for your team, but it’s just different. Most fans feel the same way—favorite players come and go during the season. However, I feel there are venues that should not cave to the pressures of the “baseball entertainment complex” mentality. Places like Helena and Bakersfield need to continue to embrace what they have, improve where they can, but not forget about the traditional baseball experience. There are many more beautiful minor league experiences that have perfected this. If you are ever in San Jose, make sure to get to a Giants game. I loved the fact that they upgraded without killing the history—they utilized the old park. Vancouver is upgrading but not tearing down what they have; they are trying different things before going the route of a new place.
As I’ve traveled around the country, I have seen firsthand that, as a country, we have become somewhat homogeneous in the majority of regions with all the Starbucks, Wal-Marts, Applebee’s, Olive Gardens, etc. Sometimes I look around and have to ask myself where I am because it could be Milwaukee or Seattle, given the ubiquity of the stores. I’ve mentioned all this for a reason: the best fan experience I have had—at Mississippi State’s Left Field Lounge—is going to be changing. This makes me sad. The Left Field Lounge (as goofy as this may sound) is breathtaking. There has been nothing like it. Clemson and Southern Miss were similar. The powers that be—probably lawyers and administrators, fearing a lawsuit and wanting more revenue—have decided to present a plan that, on its face, is very nice. They came up with the “Left Field Lofts.” As nice as this is, MSU will now become as sterile an experience as the rest of the teams that have created these clean and organized complexes. Fans will still come and support their teams—LSU fans come to mind—but what it does is take away the tradition and independence that these fans had. Mississippi State fans love their baseball team, and their allegiance won’t change, but it’s hard for me to believe that their rabidity won’t diminish.
Clemson incorporated the “Cheap Seats” bus into their new field. It is a fun experience, but it’s not like it used to be. Southern Miss has “The Roost”; to me, they now have the go-to experience if things change at MSU. The author John Grisham wrote about a time when a player from another team stood in wonderment and was speechless, besides mouthing “unbelievable” over and over, when he first saw and was brought back to “The Left Field Lounge.” I had the same experience. [Click here for Grisham’s story.](insert link) I am an outsider, not an alum. I understand the allure of something new, but it will become the same experience with a slightly different twist as places all over the United States. I would urge the “power” brokers to reconsider changing Dudy Noble. Mississippi State has set all the attendance records in modern college baseball, and I personally think that will change. Fenway Park improved when upgraded; Wrigley Field needs upgrades, and it can be done. However, in my estimation, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the way Dudy Noble is. We worry way too much about things that could happen, and then we change them into sterile experiences. The Left Field Lounge is one of the most authentic experiences I have ever been a part of. The MSU fans are some of the most welcoming. I didn’t pay much attention to the game until the end; I made some friends that I still stay in contact with. I will come back to MSU no matter what happens.
I just want some tradition to be preserved. I was looking forward to bringing some of my northern friends to MSU to witness one of the best spectacles in sports and to meet some of the most fun-loving fans. It will be a harder sell without the Left Field Lounge...