I had never been to a minor league baseball game before, so I was curious what it would be like. It was my girlfriend & I's 6 year dating anniversary and she's really into Oakland A's baseball, so we thought it would be nice to see the Rivercats play in West Sacramento. I remember watching the stadium being built when I used to live in the area, so now it was time to see a game for ourselves.
We arrived about an hour and 15 mins before the game started-- enough time to tour around the stadium, see what was up, and get something to eat. The parking was easy and picking up our tickets at will-call took no time at all.
When we got inside, a few Mexican mariachi players were performing in costume (because it was Cinco de Mayo), which gave the pre-game time a more festive and relaxed feel. It was also Little League day, so many kids were enjoying the day out on the grass slope behind right-center field.
As I walked around the stadium, I couldn't believe how clean the concrete flooring was. No dried up gum spots all over the concrete like at the Oakland Coliseum. The bathrooms were kept quite clean too.
We got our food about 20 minutes before the game started. I couldn't believe how short the lines at the concession stand we chose was. There were a whole line of concessioneers watching us look at the menu and only us waiting to order.
We then took our seats on the 3rd base side (just about lined up head-on with the right-field foul line). Game started promptly at 1:05pm and my first impressions were if I was just concentrating on the infield and not to anything else going on in the stadium, I would think that I was at a major league ball game. The pitches are just as fast, the rate and quality of play is just as good, but in a friendlier, scaled-down atmosphere, where the prices are more affordable, but the experience of the game is just interesting as going to a major league game.
Though I have to remember that minor league doesn't mean *only* players fresh out of high school or NCAA ball. Many of the athletes at triple-A level are major league players who were merely called down to "improve their game" before being called back up. Or they were injured in the majors and are playing minor league ball while they're rehabilitating.
Being that the RC's are an Oakland A's affiliate, it was nice to see Jamal Weeks back on the field. We had remembered seeing him in Oakland a year or two ago, and wondered where he went.
The exit out the parking lot was controlled, relatively easy, and with little drama we were back on Interstate 80 heading westbound back home in the Bay Area.
Yes, I would recommend a Rivercats game to anyone who loves Major League Baseball, but is curious to see what play is like for these guys who are just one small notch away from being called up to the "big time".