RIVERSIDE STADIUM

Riverside Stadium is actually misnamed - it should be called - Rivermiddle Stadium as it is located on City Island, right in the middle of the Susquehanna River. This is certainly a unique location among the parks we have visited, and it really adds an element of charm to an interesting ballyard. 

You can drive across the Market St. Bridge and park for $1 or leave your car on the other side of the river, and walk across the Walnut Street Bridge, the oldest surviving bridge over the Susquehanna and now a pedestrian-only bridge. Either way, you will enjoy the setting - the park is located on the other side of a small hill, and between the park and the river is a small eating area with food on sale at the Riverside Village. Other park facilities around the stadium include volleyball courts, softball fields, hiking trails, and the "Pride of the Susquehanna" riverboat, so you can make a day of it if you wish, bringing a picnic basket and relaxing before checking out the game.

The first gate you will walk to will be the third-base gate, which has a ticket window. You may want to walk to the main ticket window, which should have more selection. Avoid sitting along the third-base line if you can, the setting sun is blinding for the first half of the game or so. In fact, I would recommend buying the General Admission tickets and choosing your seat - the low seats along the lines don't give a particularly good view.

View from first base - note the dugout

The dugouts here are at field level and very high, which causes the front row seats behind the dugouts to be quite high, which offers a different view than you might be used to. The seats behind home plate are covered by an overhang, but all other seating is open. 

Behind the seating are the concessions, which are set up a bit differently - you pick up the food first, and then pay at a separate cashier. The food itself is typical for a minor league park, but the hot dogs were only $1 and were reasonable. 

The stadium, built in 1987, is constructed of steel and aluminum and is not remarkable in any facet of its design. I guess the biggest complaint I had about the park was the mayfly infestation that occurred after the sun set. When you looked into the air, it appeared to be snowing, but it was actually thousands of mayflies. Of course, this is no fault of the park, but it can certainly be annoying removing mayflies from your clothing for the last 3 innings.

Overall, its location is superb and the fans are genuine. In fact, Riverside Stadium was featured as the spring training stadium in the film Major League II. I had some problems with the seating, but those can be alleviated with GA seats. I really enjoyed myself here and hope to return someday. If you are in Philadelphia and wondering where to go, try a couple of days in Harrisburg and see a Senators game - perhaps the stadium will be properly named by then!