Akers revisits his hometown ballpark, Herschel Greer Stadium, where the Triple-A Nashville Sounds have played since the 1970s. The team is lobbying for a new park, just like other cities around the country:
This leaves Tammen, who will give a speech at this year’s winter meetings about “how to make the best of an old ballpark,” in limbo—patching leaks and fixing seats, but holding off on major renovations in hopes that a new stadium is on its way. As it turns out, limbo is an excellent, or at least fascinating, place for a ballpark. Greer Stadium’s concourses are cramped, damp, and lit by eerie fluorescents; concessions are limited to burgers, hot dogs, and—most nights—peanuts. There are no amenities but cold beer, green grass, and cheap tickets. Its problems are plain enough, but Greer Stadium is one of the finest minor league parks in the country, precisely because it is good for absolutely nothing at all but watching baseball.
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