Our summer vacation this year took us to Georgia. I already gave you a summary of that wonderful family vacation here. And after the husband wrote about the new home of the Atlanta Braves, which is SunTrust Park, I decided to write a follow-up post to give people, especially those who have not visited the park yet and are planning to, tips and tricks on how to enjoy the new home of the Atlanta Braves to the fullest.

SunTrust Park opened last year, but since we opted to have our vacation in my home country, the Philippines, we didn’t get to go and see any games during the inaugural season. If you remember, we were invited to the last game and farewell closing of the old park, Turner Field, in 2016 and the hubs was even the one who carried the North Carolina flag in the closing ceremonial parade. And now, with this visit to the new stadium, my hubby’s history of seeing the Braves play goes all the way back to their original home built in 1964-65, Atlanta Fulton-County Stadium, where the Braves began their history in 1966 when they relocated from Milwaukee. So one of his claims to fame is having seen the Atlanta Braves play in all three of their homes.

These tips are based on our own experience, but please feel free to add tips based on your own experiences as well.

Purchase Tickets and Parking Passes in Advance

We always purchase our tickets and parking passes in advance online at Braves.com. For us, it’s the most convenient way since you don’t have to fall in line at the park not to mention, you don’t have to worry about them once you’re already there. The hubs recommends parking in the Red Deck for from there you walk directly into the stadium and you can park four hours prior to game time so you can go in and explore. But B11 is also a good spot, right across the street, but only for weekend games can you park four hours prior to game time; for weekday games parking is allowed only two hours early.

Allow Time to Explore The Battery and SunTrust Park

When you don’t have to worry about your tickets, then you have more time to explore and enjoy SunTrust Park as well as The Battery. There is so much to see and enjoy at The Battery alone. There are restaurants for the foodies and shops for souvenirs, etc., and many fun activities for the kids. And there are awesome things to see inside SunTrust Park too like the Monument Garden, a site on the concourse behind home plate which is full of interesting Braves’ relics and historical documentation. So make sure you come early before the game so you can enjoy more stuff other than just the game.

Avoid Sun/Heat

This may not be for everyone, but it is important for us. We watched two games versus the Toronto Blue Jays this summer. On the first night, the hubs chose seats near the Blue Jays dugout and the sun was shining brightly on that part of the park. It was already late in the afternoon, but knowing Atlanta, it was hot. We had to stand and wait a while longer at the back before taking our seats when the sun had drifted away from shining directly on our seats. But the game hadn’t started yet so we didn’t miss any excitement while waiting. Good thing, the hubs chose seats near the right field the next night which was perfect. Next time, we already know which seats to take.

Know the Prohibited Items

With all the Braves fans coming to watch the game, there is no question about the long queue at the entrances. So for a hassle-free and quick entrance to the park for you and your family and to avoid delay for the fans behind you, make sure not to bring anything that is prohibited. I remember bringing pepper spray on our first trip to Turner Field before and the hubs brought a pocket knife before too which delayed our entry.

Enjoy Every Moment

Watching the Atlanta Braves play in person is definitely a lot better than watching it on television so enjoy every moment. And don’t forget to Chop On! 🙂