One of the best things to hit downtown Birmingham in the past five years is the addition of the Regions Field Birmingham Barons baseball stadium, am I right? I have to say, the first time my husband and I went in 2013 (when it first opened), I kept thinking, “Bravo, Birmingham! Am I really still in Birmingham?!” And it’s just as fantastic now as the first time we went. Since Regions Field opened, we have added two little ones to our family, and it’s fun now experiencing all the family-friendly fun with them.
Family-Friendly Fun and Things to Know ::
- Children two and under get in FREE, but they will need to sit in an adult’s lap (and not take up an additional stadium seat)
- There are diaper changing stations in every restroom (Score!)
- The stadium is wheelchair and stroller accessible (Yes! Strollers are allowed)!
- There’s a Code of Conduct at Regions Field (that sound you hear is every mom breathing a sigh of relief)! Regions Field strives to provide a fun, family-oriented experience for all patrons. Because of that, the following are prohibited:
- Foul or abusive language or obscene gestures.
- Intoxication or other signs of impairment.
- Obscene or indecent clothing.
Take Me Out to the Ballgame . . .
The stadium opens one hour before the first pitch, giving you and your family plenty of time to grab a hot dog and play in the Chick-fil-A Family Fun Park (which stays open until the end of the 7th Inning). The climbing playground and slides are free of charge, but you will need a ticket (or wristband) to ride the inflatables. Wristbands are available for purchase at the kiosk next to the fun park entrance. My kids especially loved the GIANT Lillie Mays (one of the Barons’ mascots) inflatable — you can climb in one leg, bounce in her tummy, and climb out the other leg! In addition, there’s a batting cage, an enormous inflatable slide, as well as another bouncy house.
Speaking of Lillie Mays . . . she and Babe Ruff (the other Barons mascot) frequent the field and stadium playing games and giving out t-shirts and other merchandise. Be sure to meet them up close and personal outside the The Barons Sports Depot after the 7th Inning Stretch for a photo opportunity!
Take Me Out With the Crowd . . .
Did you know not only can you plan a large event (think church groups and office groups), you can also host your child’s birthday party at the Barons?! You KNOW your child will get a kick out of seeing his or her birthday announcement on the Jumbotron!
Speaking of crowds: if your kids don’t do well in large crowds and stadium seats, but need more space to spread out to watch the game, head over to the greenspace beyond second base. There’s a wonderful hill to slide down, run around, and still watch the game.
Buy Me Some Peanuts and Cracker Jack . . .
Don’t get me started on all the ballpark food! Be sure to bring your appetite because there is truly something for everyone: sandwiches, hot dogs, nachos, a large assortment of beverages, frozen lemonade, ice cream, and more. My kids, of course, went crazy over the ice cream — it is August after all!
Root, Root, Root for the Home Team . . .
When all was said and done, my kids cried when it was time to leave — they’d had a magical night at their new favorite spot in the Magic City cheering on the home team. We will be sure to return soon.
