COMMERCE BANK PARK

Commerce Bank Park - Harrisburg Pa

TEAM ::: HARRISBURG SENATORS
LOCATION ::: HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
MY FIRST GAME ::: JULY 3,1995
OPPONENT ::: READING PHILLIES
LEVEL ::: EASTERN LEAGUE 'AA'
FORMERLY KNOWN AS ::: RIVERSIDE STADIUM

Rascal, the Senators Mascot

RATINGS

BALLFIELD ::: C
SCOREBOARD ::: B
FACILITIES ::: C
FOOD ::: B
MASCOT ::: A

Behind Home Plate, Commerce Bank Park, Harrisburg

MY TAKE ON THE PARK

COMMERCE BANK PARK IN HARRISBURG HAS MAYBE THE MOST UNIQUE LOCATION IN ALL OF BASEBALL. LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER ON CITY
ISLAND, THE PARK IS IN AN AMUSEMENT PARK WHICH ON THE WEEKENDS ALWAYS HAS SOMETHING GOING ON. WITH THE POPULAR LOCATION THOUGH, THERE ARE SOME DRAWBACKS TO THE LOCATION OF THIS VERY SUCCESSFUL FRANCHISE.

From the 3rd base side, Commerce Bank Park

WHEN THE PARK IS LOCATED ON AN ISLAND THAT MEANS ONE WAY IN AND ONE WAY OUT. IT MAKES IT EVEN TOUGHER WHEN ONE OF THE EXIT RAMPS PUTS YOU ON A BRIDGE THAT FEEDS INTO THE CITY.

WHEN TRAVELING TO A GAME IN HARRISBURG, LEAVE EXTRA TIME TO PARK. IF PARKING IS FILLED, THERE IS PARKING IN THE CITY AND A SHORT WALK OVER THE BRIDGE GETS YOU TO THE STADIUM. PARKING IN THE CITY IS AT CITY RATES HOWEVER SO IT WILL BE MORE THAN THE $3 THE SENATORS CHARGE.

HEADED TO THE PARK, YOU ENTER THE PARK AREA FROM THE OUTFIELD AND THE FIRST STOP IS A HUT WHICH ACTS AS A TICKET WINDOW, ALL SEATS CAN BE PURCHASED HERE BUT IF YOU WANT GENERAL ADMISSION, WALK DOWN THE STAIRS AWAY FROM THE LINE AND VISIT THE G.A. HUT FOR $5 TICKETS. YOU CAN ENTER THERE AS WELL.

From the 3rd Base side- Commerce Bank Park

UPON ENTERING THE PLACE REALLY DISAPPOINTS. METAL BLEACHERS THROWN TOGETHER DOWN THE 3RD BASE LINE, A DIFFERENT STYLE OF METAL BLEACHER TOWER DOWN 1ST AND A SMALL ALL METAL GRANDSTAND SECTION BEHIND HOME
PLATE, COMPLETE WITH POLES.

THE STADIUM WAS BUILT IN THE "METAL BLEACHER" PARK ERA SO AT THE TIME (SEE POTOMAC AND THE OLD NEW BRITAIN) THIS STYLE WAS IN.

BECAUSE THE SEATING IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE, YOU MAY WANT TO GO TO THE CONCESSION AREA. THERE ARE NONE PAST THE THE MAIN GRANDSTAND SO YOU WILL HAVE TO WALK TO THE AREA BEHIND HOME PLATE IF ON THE 3RD BASE SIDE. IF YOU GO BETWEEN INNINGS, IT IS VERY CROWDED. ALSO, THE AREA UNDER THE MAIN GRANDSTAND A CONCESSION STAND SITS AND LOOKS 100 YEARS OLD. THE FACT THEY HAVE YELLOW LIGHTS UNDER
THERE MAKES IT LOOK EVEN WORSE.

THE GAME IN HARRISBURG IS HANDLED WELL WITH THE SCOREBOARD UPDATES AND
LIMITED PROMOTIONS. WHEN YOU GET TO THE CONCESSION STAND, THE FOOD ISN'T BAD ESPECIALLY OVER BY THE BACKYARD TYPE GRILL AREA.

AS FOR THE SOUVENIR STAND, THE TEAM HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 20 YEARS AND THE SOUVENIR STORE IS
STILL IN A TRAILER.

Looking at the seating behind home plate, Commerce

SADLY, A TRIP TO HARRISBURG IS NOT A PLEASANT ONE. AN UNCOMFORTABLE STADIUM MADE WORSE BY SUMMER NIGHTS ON THE RIVER WITH THE SWARMS OF
BUGS.

THE GAMES ARE GENERALLY CROWDED BUT WHEN YOU GET TO THE TICKET HUT BEFORE THE GAME, NOBODY EVER SEEMS TO KNOW WHERE TO GET TICKETS.

THE CITY OF HARRISBURG OWNS THE TEAM WHICH SADLY KIND OF PUTS THE WHOLE PLACE IN PERSPECTIVE. HARRISBURG HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT RENOVATIONS AND
A POSSIBLE MOVE TO A TRIPLE A FRANCHISE AT THE CURRENT LOCATION. HAVING
BEEN TO THE PARK WHEN 5000 PEOPLE ARE IN ATTENDANCE, I WOULD IMAGINE IT WOULD BE A 3 HOUR ORDEAL TO GET OUT OF THE PARKING LOT AFTER A TRIPLE A GAME.

MY NEXT TRIP BACK TO HARRISBURG WILL BE WHEN A NEW STADIUM IS BUILT, AND MOST LIKELY NOT ANY SOONER.

Managers meet at Home Plate - Commerce Bank Park