TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – On Saturday, I represented World Baseball Network at Sewell-Thomas Stadium, the home of the Alabama Crimson Tide. I conducted a ballpark review of the facility and here are the grades for its many features.
Ballpark Amenities and Exterior:
The ballpark gets its name from two Alabama athletic legends. The first is MLB Hall of Famer Joe Sewell. He played for the Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees from 1920-1933 and won two World Series titles after graduating the University of Alabama in 1919 as a letterman in both football and baseball.
Sewell was also a coach in his time with the Alabama Crimson Tide. He coached the baseball team to an SEC Championship in 1968.
There is a statue of the baseball legend in the main entrance of the ballpark.
The second namesake of the stadium comes from former Alabama Crimson Tide head football coach and athletic director, Frank Thomas. The stadium opened as Thomas Field in 1948 with Sewell’s name officially being added in 1978 to give the stadium its current name.
The historical marks of Sewell-Thomas Stadium don’t end there. The Babe Ruth McAbee Hall of Fame is located in the ballpark and features lots of history associated with Alabama baseball.
The exhibits include Alabama Crimson Tide alumni who played in Major League Baseball and a display for Dave Magadan, the 1983 winner of the Golden Spikes Award.
The museum is a great way to give baseball fans something to explore during the game and is a great way to show the Crimson Tide’s baseball history.
Another great amenity is the playground located just beyond the left field fence. The area has play structures that are directly underneath the scoreboard.
During Saturday’s game against the North Dakota State Bison, there were home runs that went into the play area as well as some catches made along the fence.
The playground does well in keeping children occupied and gets them involved in watching the game at the same time.
The right field terrace is another cool feature of Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The area serves as a place for students and other fans to watch Alabama games from a cool multi-tiered grass seating area.
I was a fan of this idea as it is unique and different from standard stadium seating.
The ballpark underwent a complete renovation in 2015, and the exterior of the facility has an exquisite look to it for a college stadium.
I loved the brick and cement look of the building and the extensively big concourses. It gives off the appeal of a modern ballpark in the NCAA world.
Finally, as every ballpark should, a team store is available for fans to purchase their favorite Alabama gear.
I found there to be a pretty good number of amenities at Sewell-Thomas Stadium compared to other college ballparks I have been to. There is history, a museum, unique seating, and a playground which makes a baseball trip to Tuscaloosa a fun one.
The exterior design of the stadium was also updated in the 2015 renovation and the exterior gives the entire park a nice look.
GRADE: 9/10
Concessions and Food:
I tried some of the food that the Crimson Tide had to offer at the stadium including the hot dogs, pizza, and funnel fries.
The hot dog was great and despite the pizza being a little greasy, it still was a big slice and definitely worth $10.
The funnel fries were an exceptional addition to the concessions menu. Sure, different ballparks around the world may have them, but you do not see them everywhere. Sewell-Thomas Stadium even offered them in a large size.
Some other big concession items included chicken tenders, popcorn, and even sunflower seeds.
It was an extensive menu that also impressed me for a baseball ballpark at the college level.
GRADE: 8/10
Personal Favorite Feature: The Scoreboard in Left Field
The scoreboard at Sewell-Thomas Stadium is an eye-catcher. It has an old-school look with the clock and digital numbers underneath it for the run totals.
The line of flags on the top of it even gave it the look of a throwback scoreboard. However, it came with a modern video board that also appealed to the modern features of the ballpark’s design that were discussed earlier.
To me, this made it a cool part of Alabama’s home field.
Final Thoughts:
Sewell-Thomas Stadium is one of the most impressive venues I have attended at the NCAA level. It has great amenities and good food options.
It has a historic appeal to it while maintaining a modern look. College baseball fans should add this stadium to a bucket list if you happen to pass through Tuscaloosa in the state of Alabama.
FINAL SCORE: 9/10
WBN NCAA: https://worldbaseball.com/league/ncaa/
Photo Credit: Wiki Commons
