Take me out to the ball game at the brand-new Bee’s Ballpark at America First Square in South Jordan.
Photos by Scot Zimmerman
Play Ball!
I enjoy baseball and going to the Bees games. I’ve watched games at Derk’s Field, which was demolished in 1993, and then at Smith’s Ballpark, which was built at the same location at 1300 South and West Temple. This week took me to South Jordan and the Ballpark at America First Square, the Salt Lake Bee’s new stadium, part of a larger mixed-use entertainment district within the master-planned Daybreak community owned by Miller Sports + Entertainment. HOK designed the ballpark, and Okland Construction built it.
The new home for the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees of the Pacific Coast League includes a 12,000- square-foot clubhouse, training and player development facilities, and multiple batting cages in addition to the seating, services, and amenities for fans.
A curved concourse leads around the stadium lined with places to eat, shop, and sit and dine. Portions are covered and other areas of the concourse are in open air.
Here is a vendor’s area with picnic seating along the open-air concourse.
On the top level is a party desk and sit-down dining open to special ticket holders.
I spent three games walking around and taking pictures, and it would be hard to choose seats for the next time I catch a game, because there isn’t a bad view to the playing field. The first base seats look over the Bees dugout to the scoreboard and sunken bullpens below ground
level.
The ballpark is promoted as a family destination. Before and during the game I saw children as young as two trying their hand at the putting course.
I talked to family of season ticket holders who prefer seats by third base because they like to watch the infield action. They described how easy it is to take TRAX to the game. The line runs to the east of the stadium and there is an entrance on that side.
Center field seemed to be a locale for baseball enthusiasts who like picnicking, socializing, and trying to catch fly balls.
Kids with mitts line the centerfield wall, hoping to snag a homer or have the outfielder toss them a ball. Homeplate to the centerfield wall is 420 feet. It may be more likely to catch a ball in the right or left field seats where the distance from the plate to the wall is 345 feet.
The upper concourse in centerfield is where UTA’s mini train takes little ones for a ride. Below is access to the wall, Beddy’s Berm, and on the lower right, the Salt Lake Bee’s Team Store.
Here’s the interior of the team store, a popular destination in centerfield for merchandise that shows support for the team.
The Bee’s mascot visits Beddy’s Berm, a grassy hill in right centerfield that fills up fast with picnic blankets and sells as the lowest cost tickets
On the upper concourse is a small playing field where young people who would rather play ball than watch it use short, small bats and run around an abbreviated field.
I’m heading back to first base and the clubhouse. From here you can see how the cantilevered roofs at each end add shade and cover from the elements. The verdict on the new stadium from those who stopped to talk to me: “It’s a great place to watch baseball.” I would encourage those of you who like an occasional day at the park to experience it.
