Reading Municipal Memorial Stadium is now called First Energy Stadium
Reading Municipal Memorial Stadium is now called First Energy Stadium
Reading Municipal Memorial Stadium (the full name is too long for my heading above) is the home of the Reading Phillies of the Eastern League. The Phillies are the AA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies.
There are as many different opinions about ballparks as there are baseball fans. Some like everything old and nostalgic, while others like everything new and clean. Here is a ballpark that combines the best of both.
Opened in 1950, Reading Municipal Memorial Stadium is, at it's heart, a classic minor league ballpark. An understated brick facade welcomes you into a tomb-like concourse under the stands. Step through the portal to a beautiful field and look around at the colorful stands under the protection of a nice roof.
Grandstands stretch down both foul lines, but in left they wrap around to a deck that reaches from the left field foul pole towards center field. You can sit at high tables and enjoy the fine fare from the barbeque area where a fine assortment of good food is available. The deck is made of wood, so it fits right in and is really quite comfortable. It sure is nicer to eat at a table while watching the game and then head back to your seat rather than dripping sausage and peppers into your lap.
The scoreboard features Reading's locomotive logo, which sounds a train horn and spews "smoke" whenever the Phillies score. I also loved the hair stylist at the top of the stands, who will give you a haircut while you watch the game.
More than any single characteristic, the whole place just feels right. The crowd was great and enthusiastic. The place was two-thirds full forty minutes before game time. Maybe the planets all aligned properly, and my biorhythms were up, but I thought this was one of the nicest places I have ever seen a baseball game.
