BASEBALL IS BACK!! Clippers' Home Saturday Opener!!! ⚾ 🧢 🌭 🎆 🧨 🎇 🗽 🦅 🇺🇸

Summary

Celebrate America's 250th year and the Columbus Clippers' 50th season by watching Franklin County's best team play the best game in the world at one of the ten best baseball stadiums in the United States in their 2026 home Saturday opener!

The first pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. The gates always open an hour before the scheduled first pitch. I'm usually at the ballpark a half an hour before the scheduled first pitch. Clippers' games usually last around two and a half hours.

Being a few minutes early will help us secure good seats.

Parking

I personally always like to park in the McConnell Garage. If nothing else is going on in the area, this should be $7. However, I've also seen it be as high as $22. I can't say for certain what it will be for this game, but once I know, I will post in the comments.

Alternately, there are other lots in the area you can try which will probably be a few dollars cheaper. Here is a map of all the garages and lots surrounding the stadium. Keep in mind that many of these are outdoor lots and your car will be out in the elements.

If you decide to look for a different lot, I would mildly recommend either the Buggyworks Lot or the Broadbelt Lot, but I have never parked in either of these myself. Although it won't apply for this game, keep in mind that street parking is also free citywide in Columbus on Sundays and holidays.

Where We'll Be

Here is a map of the ballpark.

We'll be sitting on Level 3 of the Left Field Building (aka the "AEP Power Pavilion"), which features a 110 foot bar with six open patios overlooking the field. This area is covered and will be out of any sun or rain that may transpire.

If you enter the park through the Center Field Entrance (which is at the intersection of Nationwide Blvd. and Neil Ave.), there will be a door to your immediate right after you enter that leads to a staircase up into the Tower.

This door is not well-marked, and if you've never been to Huntington Park before, you may wonder if you're actually allowed to go in and up the stairs. Yes, you are.

We'll be on the Tower's "Level 3". I have uploaded to the Photos section of this event page, below, a picture of the sign you want look for after you ascend the stairs, so you'll know you're on the correct floor.

Tickets

Do not buy your tickets ahead of time. They will literally be twice as expensive if you buy them on Ticketmaster.

Instead, go to the ticket window near the Center Field Entrance. Buy a Standing Room Only ticket (don't worry, you won't be standing), which will cost you a flat $8 with no other taxes or fees.

These tickets never sell out, and this is the cheapest way to get into the park.

Carry-Ins

Per the team's website: "Soft-sided coolers are permitted in the general seating area [which is where we'll be], but not hard-sided coolers; also no alcohol, glass bottles, or cans will be permitted. SMALL bags or backpacks of food items and beverages in plastic bottles are ok. Reusable water bottles are permitted, but must be empty upon arrival. Diaper bags are allowed."

I always bring a disposable plastic bottle of water and refill it as I need at the park. Bottled water at the game is something like 4 or 5 dollars. So if you want a bottle of water, I recommend bringing your own bottle instead of buying it at the park.

Food & Drink

The area we'll be in has burgers, hot dogs, salads, soft pretzels, ice cream, and other sorts of things you would expect at a baseball game. I've posted pics of the menu in the Photos section, below.

The burger and fries are $14 plus tax, and they're not bad. (This is what I usually get.) The beer is really overpriced. It's like $9, or $20 for a pitcher. If there's some people to help me drink it, though, I'll buy a pitcher of Michelob Ultra.

While we'll be on the penultimate floor of the Tower, the top floor (which has a great view, but is fully exposed to the elements) has a Dirty Frank's hot dog stand. I've never gotten anything from there, though I've been told it's good.

The Donatos pizza stand is also a very short walk away from where we'll be. I love Donatos, but the pizza is so expensive at the ballpark. It's like $9 for a personal-sized pepperoni. It is good, though.

Peroration

Let's (watch them) play ball!