The view from above is pretty sweet indeed.
It was not a run-of-the-mill visit to the old ballpark the last time out to see the Syracuse Chiefs.
My dear wife Karen had some big news for me with her text.
Her co-worker and our friend Marlene invited her to the SMG suite for a Friday night International League game against the Indianapolis Indians.
I wrote about what it was like to be in the lap of luxury for my weekly Mark It Up community column at Syracuse Public Media site waer.org.
Me on the seating deck, Karen inside the box.
You can read it and see more of my photos by clicking the link below.
http://waer.org/post/its-bird-its-plane-its-chiefs-luxury-suite-0
Have you ever sat in a suite in a stadium or arena? What sort of amenities would you expect attached to the word luxury at an event like this? Would you sit inside the box or in the seats out front?
Mark Bialczak 
Score! We love any seats at a game and mixing it up is a lot of fun. The suites at Dback stadium are SaWeet!
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You’re going to tell me you’ve been in the suites in the Diamondbacks Stadium,, Angie McFly?! You are too cool for me to hang out with! <3! Our Terps lost two straight to Virginny by the way. Sob.
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Weeeeeelllll, not exactly in them, Mark, but really, really, really close to them, LOL! Dave talks about renting out the pool for an event. Can you imagine?! Sorry for the loss. I feel your pain.
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The pool! Yeah, I like your husband unmet, Angie McFly. And our pain on the Terps, right? 😉
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When the day comes at the pool, Mark, I’ll give you an invite! Baseball fans don’t always have to suffer, right?
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Right on, Angie McFly!
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Jealous!
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How I was feeling about your Jazz Fest, DE. And you had the whole dang weekend. 🙂
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you are so lucky, mark~ !
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I know, right, Beth? 🙂
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For several years, my sister and her wife received tickets from a business associate each summer for a box to see the Phillies. I think they always enjoyed this once-a-year luxury–food, drinks, and great seats. One year they invited my husband and me to go with them. Since I don’t care about sports at all, my husband took our older daughter, and they had a great time.
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You maybe should have gone for the spectacle, Merril. Just saying!
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But I knew my daughter would enjoy it much more–and it was nice father-daughter bonding time.
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You’re a good mom, Merril.
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Thanks! 🙂
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I think i’d like it best inside that box because there would be fewer people screaming. That said, you’d be proud of me… I sat through a TV baseball game last week at my boss’ house. 🙂
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Well, I’m always proud of you, but that would make me sit there and say, where did the real Rachel go? 😉 Good job. Did you hate it?
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I have, Mark! A couple of times to watch hockey at the Saddledome! It’s amazing. Cold drinks in the fridge. Caterers coming in with hot hor d’oevres. Social time with everyone else while the Zamboni resurfaces the ice between periods. LOVE IT!
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You are one lucky duck for the hockey suite, me dear friend! Way to go, Diana. Cool beans with the Calgary Flames!
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Yeah that’s when I used to book advertising so the big wigs at the paper would invite me to concerts and suites for hockey games and such. Fun times!
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Yeah, ad people have lots of perks. You and my dear wife Karen can talk. 😉
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Hot dogs?
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Yup. You order from a menu, and that’s what we had.
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I only enjoy watching hockey and basketball, and even that’s kinda rare. I’ve never had boxes for either. I have been in the suites at what was the Hoosier Dome, to watch the Colts — what’s it called now? Lucas Oil? Might be different now. And I’ve been in the suites at the Indy 500, which was awesome, because air-conditioning and free beverages 🙂 Race day is too hot for Joeys. lol
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The suites at Lucas Oil and the Brickyard sure sound groovy to me, Joey. AC and free beverages says it all. 🙂
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The most upper crust I ever got was occasionally getting to enjoy front row tickets down the line at the old Busch when my aunt would get the seats from her lawyer. Not sure what I’d think about sitting in a suite… it probably wouldn’t feel ballparky enough for me…
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It was different, that’s for sure, Bill. I think I’d like the front-row tickets down the line!
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I am always a stadium ‘girl’ at heart and it is most ‘real’ and feel like I am in the middle of the action when we are in regular seats. I have grandson, Skyler’s softball game to go to tomorrow. His Daddy was a catcher in college but ‘blew’ his knees. This is a rather dangerous side effect to catching, I guess. Hope you will always have fun no matter where you are or go, so glad you have a team mate like Karen! She’s the best!
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She is a great teammate, for sure, Robin. Sorry Skyler’s dad had catcher’s knee. OUCH! Enjoy your grand’s game tomorrow, my friend.
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SWEEEEEEEET!! Mrs. B looks quite comfortable up there. 🙂 I got to go up to the Fenway Park Corporate Box back when I was working at a bank in Boston. It was so awesome eating, drinking, watching the game from an inside big screen (and air conditioning) and going out to the viewing deck. You can’t help but to feel important. 🙂
Big question for you, are you en route to the Cape at this very minute??? I am excited for you and the beginning of your wonderful vacation!! 🙂
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My Mrs. B is working a half-day. I am meeting her for lunch at Taste of Syracuse (because we gotta) and the we pack the car and off to the Cape. Yes, we will be in contact, Mrs. B. 🙂
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Score…literally. The closest I got was maybe the VIP section of a club.
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Oh, I like the sound of a VIP section of a club, Marissa. A lot.
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Me too! Oh the places I ended up in when I was young!
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I can imagine. Young, beautiful and a rock musician. What a dangerous combination, Marissa!
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Blushing…
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At her old job, my wife used to occasionally get us tickets to a suite for MSU hockey games. It was indeed suite.
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Oh, that sounds like a lovely place to watch a hockey game, Scott. Nice!
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Suites are cool and all that but give me the seats any time.
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Seats are good any time, I agree, Benson. I had to see what the suite was like, though. Might never get another crack at it. 🙂
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Sure. I can dig it. I wouldn’t turn down a suite either. I wouldn’t mind sitting in one at Victory Field.
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I get the chance occasionally go to the Louisville River Bats and sit in the suites. The ballpark is fairly new and breathtaking, and no trip is complete without a fried bologna and onion sandwich!
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Now there’s some local cuisine for you, Skippah! The Chiefs are River Bats meet several times a year. I know I’ve seen them here. Love that team name. Here we have Coneys, a spicy hot dog, and salt potatoes, small spuds boiled with brine and served in melted butter. Yuuuuuum on the SP but I like the regular hot dogs. I would try your fried bologna and onion sandwich in a second.
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It’s the calling card at the stadium, I actually think it has been featured on a few food network shows. Too bad they suck this year and the big club sucks even worse, but I’m going to see them Sunday and nothing beats a day at an MLB park.
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At the end of June MDW Karen and I are going down to see my Mets play the Reds at Citi Field. I am sooo looking forward to it. Enjoy your day at the big park, Skippah.
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I’ve never had the chance to sit in box seats Mark. Nor have I had much of a desire, although I certainly wouldn’t turn down an invite. My ex once won a trip to Vancouver for two and a suite at a four star hotel (that’s what triggered the memory – the suite) for a week. We went flew out first class and stayed in this suite big enough for 6 people – two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room a kitchenette – a separate viewing lounge with a monstrous TV that went wall to wall and big leather recliners. Whew! I felt a bit uncomfortable to be honest – it just seemed so much more than any one would ever need. The waste of resources to give a suite like that to one person just made me shake my head. Think about all the starving kids in the world or the poor even in your own community who would be so grateful for even a hundred dollars to buy food. And then look at the thousands paid for one night for one person to sleep. I’m not envious and wouldn’t blame anyone who had that kind of money for using it any way they wish – it just seems so unfair. But honestly i’m a bit of an idealist dreamer but with a realist skin. 😀 Fun post Mark.
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Yeah, the economic unbalance is unsettling unless you believe that you need the rich to generate the economy to filter down to the poor. Now that’s idealism for you, Paul. Sigh.
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Beautiful view, Mark! 😀
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Thanks! Good to see you, Shooby Doo! I hope you are well back in Mumbai. ❤
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Oh, yes! I’m well! 😀
And from now on I’m going to call you PM. (No, it doesn’t stand for Prime Minister. It stands for Puppa Mark. Because you’re just like my dad. And I call my dad ‘puppa’.)
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And so I am your PM. I am honored, Shooby Doo. 🙂
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Hahah, I’m pleased that you’re honoured, Mr. PM. 🙂
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Sweet, Mark! Thanks for saving us a seat.
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Plenty of good seats were available, as they say, Ann. 🙂
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I think I’d like to sit in the seats, unless it was cold then the box would be better!
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I agree, the seats are my first choice, Hollie. When the temperate on the stadium thermometer flashed 44 and I couldn’t feel my hands, I went inside the box for a spell and wished the beer could change into wine. Ha! (Yeah, I could’ve broken down and went to the stands and bought some, I know.)
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