I took a break from work this afternoon (Wednesday) to attend my first live baseball game of 2026. Yes, we are a touch over 2 weeks since the Groundhog fella in PA decried, “6 more weeks of Winter.” However, the weather forecast for today in Hampton Roads, VA Beach, and Norfolk specifically was mid to upper 60s with a gusty wind and lots of cloud cover. In my opinion, pretty good baseball weather. So, Rachel and I took the short drive over to Norfolk to check out Live Game 1 (of many) featuring the Old Dominion University Monarchs vs. Manhattan University (NY) Jaspers.
I will tell you, the weather forecast was spot on this afternoon as we arrived in Norfolk. The wind was gusting, pretty steadily “pitching” the American flag in right center field. Clouds covered the sky. The sun tried to peek through a few times but it was not match for the clouds omnipresence in the sky. We found parking in a public lot across from the giant scoreboard and outfield bleachers area and headed over to the field entrance, which was set up in the outfield area of the ballpark.
Bud Metheny Complex, now Ellmer Family Baseball Complex is still being renovated and upgraded, so fans entered the ballpark via the outfield area. Two sets of bleachers have been set up – on in right center, one in most left to left center field, with seats and bleacher seating and standing counters. Rachel and I started in the right field seats, in direct path of the wind (turns out). We made it in time to hear the National Anthem and to see the first pitch of the game being thrown – two of the most important moments for me at every live game I attend.
Not having the flexibility to move around the ballpark, let alone not being able to sit behind home plate, or behind your team’s dugout was sort of strange. I’m not sure I have ever attended a game that put seating restrictions on fans because the stadium or ballpark was under construction in another area. Safety first, and as a baseball fan, it was only a temporary distraction. Heck, I have sat in the bleachers at Fenway Park hundreds of times, in addition to Yankee Stadium, Citi Field, Truist Park, just to name a few on the MLB landscape. I bet it is weird for the players too, not having fans sitting within close proximity of the game action, so the fans are probably not the only ones out of sorts. But, in the end, there is a game to play, and that they did.
The Monarchs and Jaspers traded runs early until an offensive, explosive inning or so produced not one, but two big flies – one for each squad. First, ODU hitters loaded the bases and with one swing of the bat, unloaded them. That was Grand Slam #1, courtesy of ODU’s Tyler Zedalis. In Manhattan’s next at-bat, top of the 4th, the Jasper bats could not be silenced. And Grand Slam #2 provided the loudest boom of the day, a laser shot that cleared the bleachers, ricocheting off a brick building about 30 feet from the fence. I watched it leave the bat of Manhattan’s Vincent Samuel and followed it as it rolled under the left field bleachers in a blink of an eye. When the dust settled on the 4th inning, the score had jumped from 1-1 to 8-5, with Manhattan in the lead.
Students, families, Alumni partially filled the stands this afternoon. There were a few concession stands, pop-up style, set up for fans just passed the bleachers. The wind died down a bit when Rachel and I moved from right field to left field but was pretty consistently gusting for the time we stayed at the game. It was great seeing live baseball action – long flyballs, a few home runs, some gap doubles, strikeouts, runs scored, and hearing the roars and moans of the crowd. After getting home and taking the Weims for a walk, I checked the score of the game. Manhattan prevailed today over ODU by a score of 10-7. You can read the recap here – ODU vs. Manhattan.
This was my second game at the once named Bud Metheny and now Ellmer Family Baseball Complex. Old Dominion University is really easy to get to from my home in VA Beach, so I will definitely be back in 2026 for more games. The weather was decent, not great, but I will certainly take 65 degrees over 6 this time of year. Overall, it was a very exciting Norfolk baseball experience at Ellmer Family Baseball Complex, home of the Old Dominion University Monarchs.
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