HIRAM BITHORN STADIUM

Hiram Bithorn Stadium hosts 22 Expo games in 2003, but it is not really a major league ballpark. With a capacity of just over 18,000, it is more like a large Triple A stadium, but there are still enough interesting aspects worth noting.

The stadium is located at the intersection of two highways, 18 and 23, and is next to a very large shopping mall, which makes for a lot of traffic in the area. The parking here is only $2, which is cheaper than most minor-league stadiums. The lot, however, is difficult to enter and exit, so be prepared to wait a few minutes after the game.

Outside, note the wavy roof

Inside the stadium, there is a large concourse, but it can get crowded when the stadium is sold out. The concourse contains a few food options, but nothing particularly special or native to Puerto Rico. The KFC chicken strips are a good deal for ballpark fare at $4. There is a small candy store as well, which you won't see in other parks. Beer is only $3, which is a welcome change since it can get very hot while watching a game here.

In the main seating area, there is a small walkway, below which are about 10 rows of seats and above which are about 30 rows of seats. These upper seats are still very close to the field, but are covered by the wavy roof, and there is no lighting underneath, which makes it very dark and difficult to score the game.

The dimensions are very short down the lines, only 315 down the left field line and 313 to right. But center field is 399 feet, so home runs are not as prevalent as they might be. There are 3 retired numbers on the right field fence, Roberto Clemente (21), Orlando Cepeda (30), and Ruben Gomez (22) - all famous major league Puerto Ricans.

One interesting note - there are 3 anthems played here - Canada, Puerto Rico, and then the Star Spangled Banner, each sung by a different individual.

Ticket prices are expensive, but as there are plenty of logistical costs, and a small capacity, that is not surprising. If you are able to go, the $25 seats are probably the best, although the bleachers are probably OK as well. See the picture below for the detailed pricing structure.

Overall, this stadium is not really a great place to watch Major League Baseball, but who cares? It is in Puerto Rico and worth a trip.