A Fine Diamond on the Waterfront

Exterior view of Harbor Park, Mar-2001.

The expansive seating area from the first-base upper deck, Sep-2012.

From the stands, one can look out at ships and shipyards along the Elizabeth River.

Chronological Tour: Stop 61

• Location: Park Avenue off I-264, Norfolk, Va. (map it using Google Maps)
• Opened: 1993
• Home team: Norfolk Tides, International League (1993-present)
• Capacity: 12,069

Rating: 4 baseballs

When it came time to upgrade, the Tides got a gleaming new facility right along the Elizabeth River, where if the game gets boring, the fans can watch the shipping traffic go by as well as take a look at what new construction and repair are on dry dock. On a return visit in 2012, I found the stadium to have held up nicely as it completed its 20th season of service.

In a five-team affiliation swap, the Tides became a Baltimore Orioles affiliate in 2007.

Getting to the Game

Hampton Roads Transit inaugurated a light rail service, The Tide, in 2011. The seven-mile-long line has a stop at Harbor Park.

In addition, a ferry brings passengers across the Elizabeth River to the field. The ferry landing is next to the first-base entrance.

Watching the Game

The main scoreboard is in left field, surrounded by a picnic area, with an additional video board in right-center field. The starting lineups are handwritten on a backlit whiteboard behind the plate. Between the displays and the public address announcement, there is no difficulty gathering game information.

Enjoying the Game

With the park located directly on the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River, fans, especially in the upper deck, are treated to river views. Since Hampton Roads is a working waterfront, shipyards dominate the view, along with the occasional train crossing the river or running along the opposite side of the river.

The only grass seating area at the park is in the picnic area in left field, which is generally reserved for private parties.

A restaurant, Hits at the Park, is located down the first-base line. Food offerings on the concourse are fairly typical, and priced a little above average for Triple-A.