There are a few baseball movies that are part of American culture, including Pride of the Yankees, Field of Dreams, Major League and Bull Durham. Bull Durham is a fictional story set at a very real minor league baseball park in the city of Durham, North Carolina. The Bulls play there every summer, and are currently the Class AAA affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.
The team plays in Durham Bulls Athletic Park, or DBAP, which is located in downtown Durham. Durham is home to basketball powerhouse Duke University and part of The Triangle, along with Raleigh and Chapel Hill. Despite the collegiate sports fever in the area, the Bulls draw well for a minor league team.
Visiting Durham Bulls Athletic Park
The ball field is conveniently located in downtown, immediately off the major highways serving the area. The area is safe and there is plentiful parking in garages for $4, and a large amount of free street parking.
As with most minor league parks, tickets are inexpensive and promotions cater to families. Prices for tickets range from $7 to $9. The higher priced seats can be packaged with prepaid concessions, but there is no financial benefit to doing this, a $19 package is just a $9 seat with $10 in concessions. The park is small, so weekends can sell out, but most weekday games have an available seat for a last minute decision.
You won’t find Annie or Nuke Laloosh from the movie at the park, but Wool E. Bull is there, and if you look closely, outside the park you can find Crash Davis’s name on the sidewalk, along with real past Bulls heroes.
Food and Drink at the Ballgame
Food prices are a bit steep, less than a major league game, but higher than you will find outside the ballpark, fairly comparable to a movie theater. For instance, a large soda is $3.50, but on those hot Carolina days and nights, the souvenir cup with free refills for $6 is a great deal.
The park has a nice selection of food, including barbeque at The Pit Stop. Be warned that this is Eastern North Carolina barbeque, which has a vinegar-based sauce and a bit of a kick.
Fun at the Durham Bulls Game
Minor league games bring of the kids, and the between inning frolic is entertaining for those youngsters selected. The games are entertaining. The teams are well matched, with a collection of youngsters on their way up to the big leagues, and veterans hanging on for one last chance at glory. Occasionally, a bone fide major leaguer will be on a rehab assignment with either of the teams.
Winning is always preferred, but not especially important at a minor league game. In this case, checking out the park made famous by the movie starring Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins is an added benefit to an entertaining sports event on a warm evening in the South.
Source:
Durham Bulls website
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