"The Jack" reminds you of everything that is pure about baseball. It is the iron and concrete, the echo of the crowd off of the old grandstands, the ghosts of baseball's past that sit next to you while cheering for your favorite player, and so many other things that immediately brought me back to my childhood. The Daytona Tortugas are a Single A Advanced affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago Cubs before that. While taking a walk around the field, we quickly noticed the "Wall of Fame." Some of the 190 names that have made it to the Show are Javier Baez, Kris Bryant, Chris Archer, Jeff Samardzija, Kerry Wood, and the great Ryne Sandburg to only name a few.
We had the pleasure of sitting down and talking with the Tortugas General Manager, Josh Lawther. We grabbed a drink and headed for the nearest picnic table. It was a perfect back drop to talk baseball. The setting sun was hitting the Halifax River just right, making the steady breeze blowing in from the ocean an almost hypnotic experience. I could tell right away that Josh was passionate about his club. We dove into the history as well as the future direction of the Tugas.
Parking - 9
Out of Park Experience - 10
Hello...this is Daytona Beach, do I need to say more? You have quick access to the Dayton Speedway, plenty of food and libation options on Beach Street, and you are a short drive away from the Daytona Beach Boardwalk. There is something to do in this town no matter what the season is. You won't have a problem making a day of it at this park.
Ticket Price - 10

Team Store - 5
If there is one area that can be improved on at this park, this is the area. It looks like they took an old concession area underneath the home plate grandstand and converted it into their team store. The front of the store is exposed to the elements with a mesh net covering another side. The apparel is located outside the concession booth for the public to browse through different t-shirst, sweatshirts, and jerseys. I didn't like that the on-field hats were kept inside the booth and not accessible to shoppers. These hats are like snowflakes (no two are alike) and need to be handled before purchase, especially when considering the big difference in quality between US and China made hats. (I will explain this in a future article) I had to settle for a China made 59Fifty for the comfortable price of $28. The shop was convenient and the prices were fair, but it was difficult to shop and the selections were few. Hey...we can't all be perfect. I did like the fact that they had a merchandise guy walking around the park promoting the brand. I have not seen this in a lot of other parks, but I like the convenience.
Team Hat / Logo - 10

Ball Park Bling - 9
The Jack also features a nice playground set for kids behind the first base grandstand and plenty of room for kids to run and chase foul balls next to right field. The most important things to remember at this park, is that you are here to watch a game and to watch the game the way it was years ago. It is the perfect balance between young and old.
Seating - 8
During our talk with Josh Lawther, we asked him to point us in the direction of his favorite seats. Without hesitation he told us to head for the top row of the 3rd baseline bleachers. Not only is it the highest elevation to watch the game and get a breeze, but the view of the bridge going over the Halifax River on its way to the ocean is absolutely breathtaking. If you consider yourself a ball hunter, this is also a great location. Have your glove ready because it is a magnet for a left hander foul.
I would also recommend checking out the grandstand. They are actual seats compared to the bleachers and great protection during the rain. The only negative is the direct beams from the sun. This area is very bright so either bring your sun glasses or move to the bleachers out of the sun. You can also try the Bullpen in right field if you are feeling thirsty and want to have a conversation with the team's pitching staff.
Food - 9
We were lucky to be invited to the park on Belly Buster Monday. We had unlimited access to pizza, ice-cream, burgers, fish tacos, and much, much more. There was very little wait and plenty of seating to sit back and enjoy the ambiance. We did purchase a soda for $3 and a Wendy's Frosty, which by the way is considered a separate category on Ethan's food group chart. If you come on a regular day you will find the food prices are much like their tickets, low in cost and plenty of options to choose from. The Tugas also cater to the fans of the visiting clubs. For example if the visiting team is the farm club of the Yankees, then they will feature a signature New York dish. Based on the Frosty alone, Ethan scored the food a high 9.
Bathrooms - 7
The bathrooms were what you would expect of a ballpark that has been around longer than your grandpa. They were old and allowed you to do the basic necessities that a bathroom should. I will say that they were clean and the smell wasn't too pungent, although I would not spend any more time than necessary hanging around in them.
Hype Man / Mascot - 7
The Tugas did not use an on-field hype man for this game. If you have read my past blogs, you know how I feel about that combination. Mid-inning entertainment has been around for decades and the proper pairing seems to bring the crowd together the most.
Kid's Thoughts - 8.4
Since this was Ethan's favorite stadium so far, I will let him sum up the experience. It was great to see this from the eyes of my dad. So many parks we visit seem to put the baseball game last and focus so much on everything else. The Tortugas did a good job of balancing both. This park was original. I loved seeing the stadium and the history that happened in it. The park seemed to be alive with the river, the trees, and the electric attitude of the fans. In my opinion, this is a season ticket ballpark. I wish I was a little closer so I could say hello to Jackie more often.
good post
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