Sure, they’re the Atlanta Braves—and, come 2017, the Cobb Galleria Braves Presented by Applebee’s® (or something to that effect)—but naturally, the Classic City is host to a rather sizable collection of fans of Georgia’s most storied sports franchise.
Still, a summer trip to the Ted can be prohibitively pricey, especially if you don’t know the tricks of the trade. Flagpole polled a selection of Braves devotees for their tips on how to Chop—for cheap.
(Ed.: Don’t actually chop, of course. It’s racist and outmoded and just generally pretty dumb.)
“The best place to park and tailgate is the blue lot,” where a spot will run you $15, says one fan. “If you wanna get in cheap but have a decent view of the game, buy upper-deck seats, but instead of sitting there, go to the Chop House in the outfield,” he continues, referring to the fan-favorite, Budweiser-sponsored bar and restaurant positioned smack in center field. During games, the spot is a haven for 20-somethings looking to booze it up and socialize to the sweet sound of the crack of Justin Upton’s bat.
“Show up early and secure your spot against the railing,” another enterprising fan agrees. “Never leave your spot without getting someone to fill your spot, otherwise some dude-brah will come along and yank it.”
“The cheapest beer is all the way up top” on the nosebleed-ish 400 level, the first tipster continues, adding that sometimes, it’s worth it to splurge. “The best hot dog is behind home [plate] a little to the first base side. I can’t remember the name of that hot dog spot, but they have a footlong hotdog with pulled pork on it.”
Finally, he says, “Always check the Braves website for the steal of the week. You can sometimes score great tickets through that, that sometimes get you free merchandise. That is also a good way to score a deal on all-you-can-eat seats.”
If you don’t feel like dealing with the evil empire that is Ticketmaster, says another source, “Stubhub can be a cheaper alternative. Fees apply, as always.” (Dirt-cheap day-of-game tickets can usually be found via one of the many scalpers who prowl the area surrounding the stadium, though you didn’t hear it from us.)
In terms of saving bread on edibles, the fan continues, “You can grill in the parking lot and bring leftover food in. You are also allowed to bring in plastic bottles.” Of course, outside booze is strictly forbidden. (Folks have been known to get crafty in this regard, but beware: Security will often sniff you out, literally).
“It’s a lot cheaper to get tickets on days other than Friday or Saturday,” says the fan, “although the Friday night fireworks are rad.”
MARTA can be an indispensable asset, as well. Leave your car at one of the suburban stations on the north-south line, like Doraville or Lindbergh, that offer free parking for up to 24 hours with a validated ticket and take the train into the city. Though there’s no Turner Field stop, MARTA offers a free Braves shuttle bus that leaves from the Five Points station starting 90 minutes before game time. Or, if you feel like getting some exercise, exit at the Georgia State stop on the east-west line and hoof the mere one mile to the stadium.
As you see, there are plenty of ways to do a Braves game on a budget. Most of them can be distilled into a few key maxims: Be patient. Think sharp. And, perhaps most importantly: Pregame.
Start the evening with “PBRs (or a bag of wine, depending your mood) at someone’s hotel or apartment near a MARTA rail,” one fan says. “Then, jam beers in your cargo shorts, take MARTA to the stadium, crack open your fizzed-up brews, chug like you just won the 1995 World Series and head into the game. Can’t go wrong.”
The Braves’ next home series is Tuesday and Wednesday June 3–4, when they play the Seattle Mariners. Y’all know what to do.
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