Upon moving to the City of Asheville, I had my first opportunity to watch the local Asheville Tourists play baseball at McCormick Field. The high walls at McCormick field are similar to those at the University of Arizona in Tucson. The Asheville Tourists are a High A affiliate of the Houston Astros. High A affiliate baseball generally involves ballplayers playing in the first several years of professional baseball. The play was entertaining, if not chaotic at times, but the cost of a ticket ($12.00 ) was quite reasonable for the entertainment provided. The finger food and beer sold upon entering the stadium were priced reasonably for those who needed some sustenance.

The only downfall of the evening was finding adequate parking access. The field had a small reserved parking area and little else for the 1500 patrons attending the game. I needed to park on a side street along Buchanan Ave some distance from McCormick field. Nothing outside the stadium is well lit. Walking along Buchanan Ave felt somewhat intimidating in character. I did not notice any police patrols around the perimeter of the stadium. Perhaps being born in the Northeastern United States, I am naturally aware of the dangers of crime wherever I go. I walked safely to my car but visually scrutinized the area along the way.

The security issue outside the stadium aside, I enjoyed watching the game and look forward to viewing additional home games in the future.