DeVault Memorial Stadium

The press box and some seating at DeVault Memorial Stadium, Aug-2001.

Watching the game from the hill above the third-base line.

• Location: Euclid Avenue west of Commonwealth Avenue, Bristol, Va.
• Opened: 1969
• Home team: Bristol Tigers (1969-94), Sox (1995-present), Appalachian League
• Capacity: 2,000

Rating: 2 baseballs

The park, built in 1969, is in a city sports complex that also includes an immaculate football field. Seating at the football field is better than at DeVault, where most of the general admission seating is on cinderblock risers. As a result, several of the promotional giveaways are seat cushions. The left-field line does have bench seating, and there are several rows of reserved seats in front that consist of stadium seats. Some fans also sit up on a hill above third base.

As is typical for the rookie-level Appalachian League, reserved seats are $5 and general admission is $3 – one of the best entertainment bargains around. Still, I have to reserve my better ratings for superior facilities in the Appy.