From the first stop in Jackson to my second stop at Vanderbilt University, I was having an awesome day Tennessee road tripping east to Nashville from Memphis. And I was hoping the weather on Wednesday was going to continue to be amazing so I could take the opportunity to see First Horizon Park, home of the Nashville Sounds. And with any luck, see a live game. Well, everything worked out just right and I would now love to share my Nashville Sounds baseball experience with you.
From my hotel in nearby Brentwood, TN to the Nashville Sounds ballpark, on an average day via the highway is about a 20 minute drive. During rush hour traffic, my Google Maps estimated over an hour if I went the highway, and about 35 minutes if I went the scenic route. So, I took the scenic route north from Brentwood, passed amazingly beautiful estates and properties, and successfully arrived at First Horizons Park with 45 minutes to spare until First Pitch, 6:35pm (CST). I found parking next to the park, walked down the steps, across a small side road, and was at the entrance of First Horizons Park. First thing I noticed – the giant guitar scoreboard.
As I had secured a general admission ticket earlier in the day, I was free to walk around First Horizons Park and really take in the whole Nashville Sounds experience. I started in the right field fan area, made my way through the family seating area in center field, and over to the left field fan area – all the while just staring in awe at how incredible this fan experience was. Nashville is known for many things, including country music hit makers, and you could really get those vibes walking around the stadium. Here are a few photos of my walk from right to left field.
I walked towards the main concourse area to check out the views from each dugout area, as well as some of the food options. I loved that First Horizons Park, like many newer ballparks, allows fans to walk the entire perimeter of the stadium. This allows fans, like me, the chance to take in all that the ballpark has for fans to experience. And First Horizons Park was a fan experience like few I have ever witnessed. There was going to be a baseball game played on Wednesday night, the Nashville Sounds were hosting the Gwinnett Stripers. But while the game would be going on, fans could partake in one or any or all of the following at the ballpark – mini golf, ping pong, free throws at a basketball hoop tent, wiffle ball, outdoor lounges, rooftop bars, and the list goes on and on. The best way to describe what I experienced is like visiting the coolest house in your neighborhood that has every amenity imaginable (pool, patio, outdoor bar, outdoor entertainment center) and has the Nashville Sounds game on in the background. In my opinion, the fan experience at First Horizons Park is one of the best in all of professional baseball, that is not an exaggeration.
Eventually, although I wasn’t counting down the moments because there so much to see and experience, the National Anthem and First Pitch and game got underway. The Nashville Sounds are the AAA Affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, who are in first place in the NL Central Division. The Gwinnett Stripers are the AAA Affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, who are in first place in the NL East Division. Not surprisingly, the Sounds and Stripers are enjoying successful seasons and players on each roster will look to help out their parent club as the summer heat takes a bite out their respective big league rosters. I found a spot behind home plate in the concourse for the first inning or so, enjoyed a few hot dogs, and settled in for some top level MILB action.
When I arrived around 5:45 or so, the sun was still setting and 2 plus hours of daylight were still on tap. After parking behind home plate for dinner and the first few innings, I decided to take another lap or two around First Horizons Park to check out the mini-golf, ping pong, and lounges. The ballpark was now nearly 80% filled in the seats and in the family grassy area and in the open spaces. It was loud but not because fans were booing a call or cheering a home run. There was so much activity going in addition to the game being played, it was an electric environment. I made 3 laps and just soaked in the game, the entertainment, the energy, and the incredible fan experiences at First Horizon Park.
I watched well into the 6th inning from about 10 different spots before making my way to the exit, my rental car, and back to my hotel in Brentwood. I had one more day of work, this time at the Nashville service center (ABF Freight) and was happily 3 more baseball experiences richer because of my Tennessee Baseball Road Trip. Starting in Southaven, Mississippi then driving through Memphis to Jackson then Nashville, it was an amazing road trip of beautiful countryside views of Tennessee mixed with baseball pitstops along the way. My stop in Jackson at Rockabillys Stadium was incredible. Touring Vanderbilt University, despite the major construction going on, was incredible. And taking in the Nashville Sounds experience at First Horizons Park was memorable to say the least. Overall, it was an over the top, awesome Tennessee baseball road trip experiencing just a small sample of the Tennessee baseball experience in Jackson and Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
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