Where to Sit For a Baseball Game - A Comprehensive Guide (2024)

The weather is about to start heating up and that could onlymean one thing – baseball season – one of our favorite times of the year hereat RateYourSeats.com. With this time ofyear often comes a common question - Where is the best place to sit for abaseball game?

It’s understandable why this is so commonly asked since baseballstadiums are the most unique of any sport. After all, baseball is the onlymajor sport where the size of the playing surface changes depending on wherethe game is being played. With that comes a variety of different experiencesdepending on where you choose to sit.

Below you’ll find some hand-picked areas within any ballpark that givefans these unique experiences every day.

It is important to keep in mind that these suggestions are for MOSTstadiums. Every stadium is different andwhat may be a drawback for some may not be in others.

Scout Seats Behind Home Plate

Cost: $ $ $ $ Expensive

Best for: Avid fans, Impressing guests

For me, the closer I can sit to a baseball game thebetter. The seats directly behind homeplate are typically referred to as “scout seats”. This name comes from the fact that scouts often sit in these seats to get the best view of the players they're watching.

These premier sections usually have the best amenities with many stadiums offering in-seat wait service, club access, and padded seats with extra leg room.

Sitting here you’ll have a view of the entirefield and a clear view of the video boards that sit in the outfield. Some say the downside to these seats are thatyou have to watch the game through a net that protects fans fromfoul balls. For my money, once thegame starts, I don’t even notice the netting, so it's not really a deal-breakerfor me.

My favorite part about these seats is that it is easy to followthe details of the game. I love thestrategy of baseball. Sitting here, I am sucked into the game, watching thebreak on every pitch, looking at the managers as they strategize, and maybeeven disagreeing with the umpire every once in a while (O.K., maybe more than once in a while).

However, for most fans (myself included) itis a rare occasion to get an opportunity to sit in these sections. Since this areaof the ballpark is so desirable, tickets are not the friendliest on the wallet.

If you are more of a casual fan, or are taking a family, there are probablyother areas in the ballpark that will better suit your needs. At the same time, if you are looking for theabsolute best way to take in a ballgame, these seats are sure to impress.

Behind the Dugouts

Cost: $ $ $ Expensive

Best for: Being close to the game, Getting a ball, Seeing the players

If you are looking to get a good view of your favoriteplayers, seats located directly behind the dugout are the perfect place tobe. These seats are ideal to watchplayers as they come on and off the field between innings. Often times when the team is coming off thefield on defense they will toss a souvenir to lucky fans sitting behind theirdugout.

These seats are excellent for watching the game as well. Dugouts are located alongside the infield atmost stadiums, so fans sitting here will have a comfortable view of thepitcher’s mound and batter's box where most of the action happens.

One thing to be aware of when looking topurchase tickets in this location is which dugout you choose to sitbehind. The side of the home and away dugouts do vary depending on the stadium. If youneed help determining the location of your team's dugout, visit the Seating Guide page for the venue or contact us.

Major League Baseball is looking to eliminate one of the major downsides of these seats - foul balls whizzing and injuring fans as they watch the game. As of 2020, many majorleague teams extended protective netting that now extends all the way down the lines. The trade-off for this is thatnow fans sitting in these seats will have to watch through this net.This netting will vary from stadium to stadium with some extending all the waydown and others stopping a little bit short.

Even if you don’t have tickets in these sections you canstill take advantage of these seats before the game. Most stadiums will let fans go down to thedugouts and field level up to about 45 minutes before first pitch. This allows kids an opportunity for autographs and to interact with their idols.

Outfield Sections

Cost: $ - $ $ Affordable

Best for:Socializing, Catching a home run, Fans on a budget

By far the most unique sections at baseball stadiums are in the outfield. These are the sections that give us the Green Monster at Fenway, the Bleachers at Wrigley, and theArcade Seats at Oracle Park, just to name a few.

Of course, being behind theoutfield wall also makes them some of the farthest seats from the actionhappening in the infield. This doesn’t mean these seats can’t still beexciting. Instead, there are times when these sections are the most entertaining.One reason for this is the excitement surrounding a home run at abaseball game. When this happens, it’sthe lucky fans in the outfield seats that get to catch the ball as the rest of the crowd reacts.

There have been many times that I've sat in the bleachers at Wrigley Field with the wind blowing out and a ball that would be pop up anywhere else became a home run. Ienjoy the outfield seats for this reason, as they are the only sections where the action on the field comes to you.

Each game only a few fans will be fortunate enough to catch a souvenir. If you are an early arriving fan, most teams take batting practice on the field before the game sending balls flyinginto the outfield seats for fans to grab.

The Downside to Sitting in the Outfield

As exciting as fantasizing about catching a home run may be,there are drawbacks to sitting in outfield sections. To start, players can only hit the ball sofar. If you’re sitting in sectionsfurther back in the outfield you can kiss those dreams of catching a long ballgoodbye.

Also, many outfield sections atbaseball stadiums are bleacher seating which means fans won’t have individualseats, but instead a spot on a bench.

Video boards are also typically located behind the outfield sections, soin order to see it fans must turn all the way around.

You should also be awareof shade options on a hot sunny day as most outfield sections are typicallyleft unprotected from the sun. You canuse our shade and cover tool if this is a concern for you.

Finally, for somestadiums, fans in the outfield sections can be considered a rowdy bunch. Due to the proximity to the bullpens andoutfielders, unruly fans occasionally will shout at players, creating an environment that may be uncomfortable for families with small children.

Low Rows in the Upper Level

Cost: $ - $ $ Affordable

Best for: Fans on a budget, Scenic views, Avoiding the crowd

For most stadiums, you will find some of the most affordableseating in the upper levels of the stadium.This is mostly due to the proximity of these seats to the gamebelow. If you are looking for tickets in thesesections a simple rule to keep in mind is that the closer the seats are to homeplate, the better.

For me, upper levelseats can really allow fans to take in the atmosphere of a ballgame. Being higher up, you are able to see the fullfield, the crowd below, video boards, and (depending on the stadium) some greatscenery as well. If you are a casual fan that doesn’t need to be close to theaction and are just looking to take in a ball game these seats may be perfectfor you.

A good way to determine ifyou’re getting a good seat for the price is to look at the Deal Rating listed with each ticket on RateYourSeat.com. This rating takes a look at the price of the ticket and the view you'll have, and will return a number between 1-100 with the best deals have a rating of 100.

For most stadiums, entry tunnels will come in on the bottomhalf of the upper level. So ideal seatswill be in the lower rows of the sections.However, be aware that some stadiums will have railings at the bottom thatcan get in the way of your view if you sit too close to them.

While thesetickets may be cheaper, they also may leave you feeling removed from the crowdand the game. Some upper decks aremassive and can be left empty which is why the ticket prices are on the lowerside.

At the same time, if you are not apeople person, and don’t enjoy being in crowds, these seats could be the perfectalternative.

Other downsides for these seats include limited/worse foodoptions, steep steps, and few opportunities to catch a foul ball.

What About Aisle Seating?

One question we also get asked a lot about is aisleseating. Aisle seating is great if youare sitting in the infield as it allows for quick in-and-out access betweeninnings. Trips to the bathroom or for that second hot dog can be made faster because of this convenience.

However, you should be aware of which aisle you are sitting on in outfield sections. If you are sitting on the sideclosest to the infield you may get frustrated with fans walking up and down theaisle in front of you, blocking your view as they cross.

Unlike other sportswhere people are only allowed to use the aisles during stoppage of play, somestadiums let fans use them at any time. For this reason, we always suggest theaisle seats on the outfield side of the section.

Be Prepared for Weather

Two of the most common questions we get asked is “Whereshould I sit to be covered from rain?” or “Where can I find shade?”. These are great questions because weatherelements can really have an effect on your experience at the ballpark.

The answer to these questions are alwaysunique to the stadium. Older stadiumslike Wrigley Field and Fenway Park typically have large overhangs that coverand protect a lot of seats from Mother Nature.The downside to this is all the poles that are used to support thoseoverhangs which could lead to obstructed views.

Newer stadiums have done away with these polesand large overhangs. While seats mayhave better views, they are also left exposed to the rain or sun depending onthe weather. The best way to check tosee if your seats are protected from the elements is to use our Shade and Covertool. Using this tool, you can ensure that you’ll be covered for whatever weather concerns you may be having.

Where Do You Like to Sit?

Have thoughts about seating for a baseball game? Let us know!Tweet at us @RateYourSeatsor Contact Us and send us your experiences at the ballpark.

See Also:

Where to Sit for a Hockey Game

Where to Sit for a Football Game

Where to Sit for a Basketball Game

Where to Sit For a Soccer Match

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