Jeff Ranks the Rogers Centre

Here are Jeff’s scores from our visit to Rogers Centre in Toronto:

Food & Beverage – 4.5
Italian Sausage and nachos were way above average, and tasted fresh. Good selection, better choices available.

Stadium Condition – 4.0
Clean, wide-open concourses. This stadium is not of the newest generation, but it’s in good shape, and there was a lot of thought put into the construction.

In-Game Experience – 3.5
Nothing special or unique, which is not a bad play (we’re here to watch baseball after all), but also not up to the standards of some of the other parks.

Proximity – 4.0
Some good bars/restaurants. Steak everywhere.

Overall – 4.0
I liked it.

Final score: 20/25

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Brad Ranks the Rogers Centre

Here are Brad’s scores for our visit to Rogers Centre in Toronto:

Food and Beverage – 5.0
The Rogers Centre had the best selection of food I’ve ever encountered at a baseball game. While none of us tried the hot dogs, we all had the barbecued chicken nachos, which were simply the best ballpark fare we’ve eaten on the trip.

Stadium Condition – 2.5
An average score for an average stadium. The stadium has been around for 20 years, and it looks 20 years old. Nothing more. Nothing less.

In-Game Experience – 2.0
Not much going on here. Some of the in-game scoreboard stuff was interesting — like Lyle Overbay doing his best bobblehead imitation — but there really wasn’t anything to write home about, however, seeing a baseball game played indoors for the first time was special.

Proximity – 5.0
You know what they say – Toronto is the New York City of Canada. Okay, they don’t really say that, but with a multitude of attractions and destinations within walking distance, it did have that Big Apple feel.

Overall Experience – 4.0
Four out of five for our neighbors to the north. Even though the stadium itself is pretty average (albeit cavernous) the food surprised us, and I think we all knew going in that the nightlife would be top-notch. Who knows – if we were able to witness the roof opening, maybe it would’ve bumped up the score.

Final score: 18.5/25

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We had a good time, as we should, buddy.

Toronto is a fun city. You just need to get to know her.

Our night spent exploring what the city had to offer, coupled with the Tigers first win of the season, was definitely worth our time.

Among our favorites was the Fox & Fiddle, which provided a rustic atmosphere to enjoy a Sleemans, as well as an illegal smoke on the patio, if that’s your thing.

Perhaps our most enjoyable part of the night was watching Steve and Paul work their magic on a couple of lasses at Fionn McCools. We hope their efforts were worth it in the end.

Anyway, we’re off to Rogers Centre to take in today’s game between the Blue Jays and Tigers. Check back later for our review.

Here’s to two in a row.

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Our plans for 2009.

When we got back from New York City, we were pretty dead set on traveling to Chicago and Milwaukee next summer.

But thanks to an impending wedding and an incoming baby, it appears that, like most everybody else in the universe, we’re cutting back in 2009.

Rather then spending a few days on the road, we’re looking at two options: Toronto or Minnesota.

Being based in Detroit gives us the distinct advantage of being within a couple hours of these exotic locales, so either way, we’re not sacrificing a lot of time.

And since we will be in the city for less than 24 hours, it gives us a chance to try out our new strategy.

What is that new strategy, you ask?

Well, let’s just say it’s hard to write about your baseball stadium-hopping adventures when you’re trying to fit in with the college crowd at a bar in Greenwich Village. Catch my drift?

So this summer, not only will we be acting like responsible adults, but we’ll be watching our pennies for the good of newly married couples and newborns everywhere.

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