First Horizon Park — Attraction in Nashville-Davidson

Good bye Nashville Sounds baseball... There was so much to complain about .. where do I start, but I did enjoy the fireworks at the end of the game. For me this opening night Sounds game was the first time at the new park. Growing up here we would occasionally drop in to the old ball field over the years and enjoy an old fashioned baseball experience where baseball, fans and family was the focus. Good times had by all. This was the main complaint in this new era of the Sounds at FTP. They built a new park, but lost focus and forgot those main ingredients killing the spirit and soul in the process. This didn't feel like a baseball game, sure there were guys throwing balls around & hitting balls in a field, but the atmosphere was dreary, food was horrible, the scoreboard is horrible, and parking is a disaster. People walked around like lost zombies looking for their next snack or drink both inside and outside. This park put more effort into the social drinking design and OTHER games (Cornhole, shuffleboard, ping pong, etc) at the outside bar social picnic area just diluting the baseball experience even more than it already was. I think the phrase that applies is Epic Fail.

I did leave with one piece of good advice for this review if you actually want to try the new millennial baseball park and just have to go once like we did to "see for yourself"... Just buy $10 grass seats and just sit where you want. It's like open seating (not really, but it is) as there are plenty of empty seats and no one working there cares where you sit. Worst case, someone shows up with tickets and actually wants the seats written on the stub and you move over a few seats. That ain't going to happen because this isn't a real baseball game, after all. I chuckled just now thinking the phrase "Sounds season ticket holder" .. That is so humorous in a LMAO kind of way! I digress.... But to close my point, don't pay for higher priced seating or you will be disappointed yet again. Just buy the "grass berm seats" as they are all being purchased by the large drinking crowd who are all hanging in the open sports bar carnival where no one even knows there is a baseball game going on.

Farewell Sounds, Farewell...

09/22/18 7:00pm First Tennessee Park: We caught the Nashville SC at FTP. Despite it raining from start to finish, we had a great time. The park was very clean, easy to navigate, and had a pro-stadium feel. Seating was typical of an average stadium, as well as the beverages and food (polish sausages were great, foot-long corn dog was okay, popcorn was buttery and salty, nachos were tasty, Philly cheese steak was good). Although we did not get to enjoy the extra amenities targeted at family and children (it was pouring out), we did adventure the full circle of the stadium and it looked like a mountain of fun waiting to be had. The sound system was average but clear. The jumbotron was super clear; I caught myself a few times watching the screen more than the field. Parking near and around the stadium was plentiful (average was about $10); we found a public street and parked for free. There were several restaurants nearby for pre and post-game fun. Only ten minutes from the interstate made getting to and getting back easy. I should note that, of the 7200 tickets sold, only 2400 fans braved the weather. This low volume of stadium guests may account for easy parking and travel. The streets surrounding the stadium were closed by Nashville Metro police…who were super friendly and curious, despite having to stand in the rain for the duration of the game. Typical of game day, navigating around the closed streets post-game was no treat, but was expected. We decided to give only four stars because of the staff…while few were pleasant and engaging, the majority who we encountered were abrupt, unpleasant, rude, impolite, and, frankly, jerks. We made our way to two different large (very large) concession stands a total of five times during the evening. While so doing, we encountered 13 different staff members (cashiers and assist-staff). My son and I waited in different lines each time in hopes of speeding up our purchasing, and each time both of us walked away with the same opinion…let’s not go back to him/her again. Had it not been for these staff members, it would have been a...

This is the first time I'd been to the new ballpark. It's beautiful! Setup very well. Don't forget to bring either a clear bag or tiny clutch! Entry was fast and efficient and the parking garage conveniently adjoined the park so I wouldn't bother parking anywhere else. Grab a photo when you first enter in front of the mural. Then you can grab a snack right away or wait until you get closer to your seat. We grabbed a snack at the snackbar by the entrance. I honestly wasn't expecting much because that's not my kind of food but it was surprisingly delicious. I ordered the jalapeno chicken tots and sweet potato waffle fries. Both were fresh and really, just amazing.

As you proceed in, there is a large hangout area where you can chill and have a cocktail or frozen drink or play games with the kids including mini-golf! Or do like we did and send them to golf while you chill. 😉 Afterward, proceed to your seat. They don't feel as smashed in as some. I will say, it might have just been that particular evening but there was absolutely no air movement and it was hot as Hades! The fall is probably very pleasant but this evening was hot, humid and my clothes were literally sticking to my body it felt like.

Okay, so maybe I wasn't actually looking too forward to being drug to the ballpark but it was really very fun. The big screen they have is fabulous and it made me happy just looking at it - it's in the shape of a gigantic guitar! How creative and I didn't know they could do that! They had a lot of fun things going on throughout the game, both on the screen and surrounding us (we sat behind the homeplate and it was a great seat).

We had kids with us so we left bottom of the 8th and it was easy to get out. We stopped and let the kids play on our way out. Note that mini-golf closes during the 7th inning. Whether you are just visiting Nashville or reside here, it's a great way to spend...