Teams: San Francisco Giants

TL;DR?  Here’s the long-form piece in a nutshell:

Largely by virtue of its bayside location, splashdown home runs, and postcard views, Oracle Park is widely considered one of the two best ballparks of the post-1990 building boom, alongside its contemporary in Pittsburgh.  But Oracle Park is more than a ballpark with water views.

It’s a fantastic park even not considering the view, which is fortunate because unlike in Pittsburgh, the water and city landmarks aren’t visible from the lower bowl seating.  Oracle Park’s amenities are just as good as its famous aesthetics and location.

Consider all that makes the Giants’ park outstanding independent of its locale: (a) some of baseball’s most delectable food and craft beer, (b) unique social spaces like The Garden, (c) one-of-a-kind premium spaces like the Gotham Club, (d) historical tributes like The Vault, (e) family-friendly features like the Fan Lot, and (f) baseball’s third largest videoboard.

Just as importantly, San Francisco’s privately financed palace could be construed as the most successful ballpark of the era, generating the most enduring attendance boost of any ballpark in modern history.

Stemming from its tight footprint, a handful of fairly serious logistical shortcomings prevent me from ever ranking Oracle #1, namely the unacceptably narrow concourses and quirky seating geometry affecting 7,000+ seats down the left field line.

But Oracle Park will continue to be one of America’s most magnificent ballparks for years to come.