FromThisSeat Blog

 

Welcome to the FromThisSeat Blog.

Here our editors will bring you plenty of news coverage on tickets, ballparks, stadiums and arenas as they pertain to the NFL, NHL, MLB and NBA.  If you have any questions or suggestions pertaining to the articles, feel free to 'Contact Us' via the navigation bar.

Photo of the construction at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. 

Image Credit: Nicholas Henderson (CC BY 2.0)

The Texas Rangers will debut at Globe Life Field on Monday, March 23, 2020 for a Spring Training exhibition game vs. the St. Louis Cardinals. The 2020 Major League Baseball schedule has yet to be released so the new stadium’s official opening game will come a week or two later. The Texas Rangers are expected to open the 2020 Major League Baseball season on the road to give the organization an opportunity to correct any of the new stadium’s shortcomings following the exhibition game. The exhibition game could be considered as a soft opening.

Exterior photo of SunTrust Park, home of the Atlanta Braves.

Image Credit: Counse (CC BY 2.0)

According to an article by the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, the Atlanta Braves are expected to host the 2021 MLB All-Star Game at SunTrust Park. Atlanta Braves CEO Derek Schiller says he expects Rob Manfred to make the official announcement very soon. Rob Manfred went on record last year and stated that the Atlanta Braves were a strong contender to host the 2021 Midsummer Classic.

 

TD Garden Seating Chart, Boston Celtics. 

As the replacement of the old Boston Garden, one of the most historic arenas in the history of professional sports, the TD Banknorth Garden had big shoes to fill. The venue is one of eleven professional sports arenas that is home to both an NBA team (Boston Celtics) and an NHL team (Boston Bruins). Our staff wanted to provide a thorough breakdown of the TD Garden seating chart so that fans will have a better idea about which tickets to purchase for Bruins and Celtics games.

Photo of an almost empty Oracle Park during a San Francisco Giants home game.

Image Credit: Mike D - Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

What goes up must eventually come down. Oracle Park, formerly AT&T Park, would frequently draw some of the best attendance numbers in Major League Baseball since opening in 2000. Between 2010 and 2017, the San Francisco Giants boasted a seven-year sellout streak amid three World Series crowns in 2010, 2012, and 2014. The San Francisco Giants are now averaging just over 32,000 fans per game after averaging nearly 40,000 per game during the same time span in 2018. Major League Baseball as a whole, are also seeing a decline in overall attendance.

Exterior photo of Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville, Tennessee.

Image Credit: Mike Kalasnik (CC BY-SA 2.0)

The Nashville Predators and Nashville’s Metro government have signed a new lease agreement that will keep the Predators at Bridgestone Arena through the 2049 NHL season. The signing of the new lease will eliminate the operating subsidy from the local government’s general fund. The current lease between the two was signed in 2012 and was set to expire in 2028. The lease extension is expected to be approved by the Nashville Sports Authority in the coming weeks.

Exterior photo of Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, California.

Image Credit: Mark Mauno (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Earlier this week, the city of Long Beach turned over a 556-page analysis of records in an attempt to prove they’re a worthy home for the Los Angeles Angels. The Los Angeles Angels currently play at the Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Orange County but have chosen to opt out of their lease there. The proposed stadium would be constructed on the current site of Long Beach Arena as well as a nearby lot called the “Elephant Lot”. Long Beach Arena was the former home arena of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings.

Photo taken from the outfield of Oakland Coliseum during an Oakland Athletics game.

Image Credit: Kai Schreiber (CC BY-SA 2.0)

The Oakland Athletics have called Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum home since 1968. The stadium will change its name for the fifth time from Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum to RingCentral Coliseum thanks to a naming rights agreement between the Coliseum Authority and RingCentral, a communications network for corporations. Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum was previously known as Network Associates Coliseum, McAfee Coliseum, Overstock.com Coliseum, and O.co Coliseum.

Exterior photo of the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. Home of the Minnesota Wild.

Image Credit: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)

The Minnesota Wild have signed a lease extension with the Xcel Energy Center and will play at the St. Paul arena through the 2035 NHL season. The news was announced at a media event held at the Xcel Energy Center; St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold were both featured speakers. The team’s previous lease agreement with the Xcel Energy Center was set to expire in 2025.

Photo of the pavilion area outside of Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Image Credit: David Wilson (CC BY 2.0)

Its been 150 years since America’s first professional baseball team began play in Cincinnati, Ohio; the Cincinnati Red Stockings. In honor of the 150th anniversary, the Cincinnati Reds dedicated an area near Great American Ball Park last weekend that will be called the “1869 Red Stockings Pavilion”. The pavilion will be located just outside of the Cincinnati Reds Hall-of-Fame which sits along Joe Nuxhall Way.

Exterior photo of Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Image Credit: Achim Hepp (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Financial services giant Lincoln Financial Group and the Philadelphia Eagles have extended their naming rights agreement for Lincoln Financial Field. The new agreement has been extended through the 2032 NFL season and is worth a reported $170 million or roughly $12.1 million per season. The extension was announced during a ceremony earlier this week that was held on the playing field at Lincoln Financial Field.

Photo of the cannon display at Nationwide Arena, home of the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

Image Credit: Doug Kerr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

The Columbus Blue Jackets’ cannon debuted at Nationwide Arena during the 2007 NHL season. The Columbus Blue Jackets’ franchise name was chosen in 1997 as the winner of a region-wide “name the team” contest. The name “Columbus Justice” was the runner-up. “Blue Jackets” is in reference to the color of the coats worn by the Union Army and pays homage to the major contributions the state of Ohio made during the Civil War. A decade later, the Columbus Blue Jackets organization was looking for ways to build upon its identity. The Blue Jackets were still a very young franchise at the time.

Photo of the tailgating lots outside of New Era Field, home of the Buffalo Bills.

Image Credit: Adam Moss (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Its no secret that the Buffalo Bills have some of the most unruly fans in the National Football League. Ask any fan of the New England Patriots or New York Jets that have been brave enough to venture into New Era Field as a visiting fan. In fact, they’re almost as bad as Philadelphia Eagles fans. The Buffalo Bills are now taking measures to deter unruly football fans from tailgating in the bus lots at New Era Field. The measure will require all limos and fan buses to purchase a tailgate package for their occupants as well as tailgate within a designated area called “Tailgate Village”.

Photo of the Anchorman Race at Petco Park during a San Diego Padres home game.

Image Credit: Pam Tobie 

Major League Baseball is no stranger to mascot races held in between innings of games. The Washington Nationals host the Presidential races. The Milwaukee Brewers host the sausage races. The Atlanta Braves allow a lucky fan to race “The Freeze”. The San Diego Padres have debuted the “Anchorman Race” at Petco Park. As you know, 'Anchorman' was a 2004 comedy starring Will Ferrell as a quirky San Diego newsman named Ron Burgundy. An 'Anchorman' sequel was released in 2013.

Photo of the playing field at FirstEnergy Stadium. Home of the Cleveland Browns.

Image Credit: Erik Drost (CC BY 2.0)

In 2018, the Cleveland Browns posted their best record in 11 seasons with a record of 7-8-1. After adding standout wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and free agent running back Kareem Hunt to the roster this off season, Cleveland Browns ticket prices have doubled on ticket resale websites like StubHub, Vivid Seats, and SeatGeek. According to Vivid Seats, the median ticket price for a Cleveland Browns home game is $148 for the 2019 season. For the team’s opening home game vs. the Tennessee Titans, an upper level ticket will cost between $100 - $126 per ticket. How the Cleveland Browns are graded following this weekend’s 2019 NFL Draft could also impact ticket prices and fan expectations.

View of the playing field at Ford Field during a Detroit Lions home game. 

Image Credit: Kevin Ward (CC BY-SA 2.0)

The Detroit Lions will be replacing the artificial field turf at Ford Field for the 2019 NFL season. Crews will begin installing the turf on Wednesday, May 1; a project that will take roughly four weeks to complete. That process will include vacuuming the old turf’s infill, cutting and removing the old turf, laying down the new turf, and installing the new turf’s infill. Football fans will be unable to notice a difference in the design and appearance of the new turf system.

Photo of the Westside Club at Oakland Coliseum during an Oakland Athletics game.

Image Credit: D.L. - Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

The Oakland Athletics have signed an exclusive agreement with concessionaire Aramark who will provide the hospitality services at Oakland Coliseum. Aramark will be responsible for the food and beverage offerings for the stadium’s three primary areas; general concessions on the main and upper levels, dining on the club and suite level, and catering for special events. The official press release that announced the partnership stated that Aramark’s goal was to create an updated menu that included Bay Area food and drink offerings, and is served via fan-friendly amenities and technology.

Photo of Citizens Bank Park taken from the upper level during a Philadelphia Phillies game.

Image Credit: Peter Bond (CC BY-SA 2.0)

2026 will mark the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In lieu of the celebration, the Philadelphia Phillies will host the 2026 Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park. 2026 will mark the fifth time the city of Philadelphia has hosted the MLB All-Star Game. The city last hosted the Midsummer Classic in 1996 and 1976 when the Philadelphia Phillies played their home games at the old Veterans Stadium. The Philadelphia Athletics hosted the Midsummer Classic at Shibe Park in 1943 and 1952.

Photo of the exterior of U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Home of the Minnesota Vikings.

Image Credit: Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Daniel Escamilla, a San Francisco resident, has been charged with providing fraudulent checks to the Minnesota Vikings for a luxury suite rental at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Hennepin County Attorney's Office charged the 39-year-old Escamilla last week with three counts of theft by swindle and one count of theft by false representation. His first offense occurred on September 5, 2018 when Escamilla contacted the Minnesota Vikings about renting a suite for a Minnesota Vikings - San Francisco 49ers game on September 9, 2018. Not only did Escamilla write a $37,000 fraudulent check for that home game but he wrote an additional fraudulent check totaling $190,000 for the Minnesota Vikings - Buffalo Bills game. At the moment, the Minnesota Vikings are at a loss of $70,000 in their dealings with Escamilla. 

Interior photo of the atrium at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, home of the Indiana Pacers.

Image Credit: Josh Hallett (CC BY-SA 2.0)

CNO Financial Group has owned the naming rights to the Indiana Pacers’ home arena since the venue first opened in 1999 as Conseco Fieldhouse. The arena’s name was then changed in 2011 to Bankers Life Fieldhouse. CNO Financial Group announced last year that they would not be renewing their naming rights agreement with the Indiana Pacers for Bankers Life Fieldhouse, which expires in June 2019. The Indiana Pacers’ ownership group, Pacers Sports & Entertainment, are currently pursuing a new naming rights partner with the help of Van Wagner Sports & Entertainment.

Photo of a sold out Buffalo Bills game at New Era Field.

Image Credit: P.A. Fraterrigo (CC BY 2.0)

It's no secret that the Buffalo Bills play in the most outdated stadium in the National Football League. Some Buffalo Bills fans wouldn’t have it any other way. However, Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula would be leaving a lot of corporate revenue on the table by not building a new stadium for the team. Pegula recently stated that a new Buffalo Bills stadium would be a “scaled-down” version of the newer stadiums being built throughout the National Football League.

Photo of a poorly attended Cincinnati Reds game at Great American Ball Park.

Image Credit: Redlegsfan21/Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

The Cincinnati Reds set an all-time single-game attendance low earlier this week when they hosted the Milwaukee Brewers at Great American Ball Park. The game was a Monday night series opener and drew fewer than 8,000 fans. The story took a bizarre twist considering the Cincinnati Reds set a single-game attendance record just a few days earlier when they hosted the Pittsburgh Pirates on Opening Day. The Opening Day matchup vs. the Pirates drew more than 44,000 fans at Great American Ball Park.