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The VARIETY File

The VARIETY File

The VARIETY File

NHL Teams Won’t Be Wearing Theme-Night Jerseys Next Season

Author Kayla Morgan

Next season, NHL teams will not be donning special jerseys for pregame warmups on themed nights. This decision comes as a response to a few players who declined to wear rainbow-colored Pride jerseys during the season that just ended, which led to unwanted disruptions.

Recently, the league’s Board of Governors supported Commissioner Gary Bettman’s agreement that these refusals overshadowed the teams’ efforts in hosting Pride nights, where some jerseys were even auctioned off. In fact, all 32 teams held Pride or Hockey is for Everyone night.

NHL will continue theme nights

Teams will continue to honor and celebrate Pride as well as other theme nights, such as military appreciation and Hockey Fights Cancer. Although players won’t wear the specially designed jerseys during warmups, they are still anticipated to create and produce jerseys that will be autographed and sold to raise funds for a good cause.

After the Board of Governors meeting in New York, Commissioner Bettman expressed in an interview with Sportsnet that he proposed the idea of teams discontinuing the use of special warmup jerseys. His reasoning was that themed nights were losing their impact due to the distracting discussions surrounding players who chose not to participate.

Keeping the focus on the game

“That’s just become more of a distraction from really the essence of what the purpose of these nights are,” Bettman said. “We’re keeping the focus on the game. And on these specialty nights, we’re going to be focused on the cause.”

During NHL All-Star Weekend in February, Bettman came to the league and teams’ defense, emphasizing their approach to handling the situations. He stated that being “open, welcoming, and inclusive” meant embracing tolerance for different viewpoints.

“You know what our goals, our values and our intentions are across the league, whether it’s at the league level or at the club level,” Bettman said at the time of the conference. “But we also have to respect some individual choice, and some people are more comfortable embracing themselves in causes than others. And part of being diverse and welcoming is understanding those differences.”

12 Of The Most Unique MLB Stadium Attractions

Major League Baseball has a deep respect for their game’s rich history. Attending a ballgame can be a great experience that allows fans to marvel at baseball culture. Furthermore, most MLB parks have designed stadium attractions that make them unique amongst the 30 venues in the league.

From museums to bodies of water to fan-zone fun, the MLB stadiums across the country each have something that is representative of their character. Often you will find baseball enthusiasts track how many ballparks they have been to. In addition, it is common for fans to build trips to other cities to have a new MLB park experience.

MLB is the only professional sport in the country where each team has its own dedicated stadium. For example, in the NFL, the Jets and Giants share Metlife Stadium. Many NBA team share their home arena with the NHL team in their city. In professional baseball, each of the 30 teams has their own home field that is theirs alone. This enables the organization to build more character specific to the club.

The interior of an MLB ballpark is all about the players. Though there is a mysterious aura about the clubhouse, given that they are underground. The common thread in modern-day construction is centered around the ballclub. The intent is to make each clubhouse comfortable, hi-tech, and private for the players and coaches. The rest of the stadium is all about the fan experience.

Inside The Park

Here, we will look at some of the most unique MLB stadium attractions. Each is representative of their city and team history. They provide character to the ballpark. In many cases, these features make the park a landmark in their home state.

If you want to take in an MLB game in a ballpark you have not visited yet, here are some attractions to consider.

  • The Pool at Chase Field - Arizona Diamondbacks

    Behind the outfield wall at Chase Field, there’s a pool area. From here, you can see the entire game. At the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, you can take in a National League West game while going for a swim. The area accommodates 35 people.

    A general view of action between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Philadelphia Phillies during the game at Chase Field Phoenix, Arizona.

    Christian Petersen/Getty Images

  • The Green Monster Seats at Fenway Park - Boston Red Sox

    You surely know all about the infamous Green Monster left field wall at Fenway Park, but did you know you can sit on top of it? There are 269 seats available for Red Sox ticket purchase. This area is a common spot for lucky fans to catch a home run ball.

    A view of the Green Monster at Fenway Park

    Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

  • The Museum at Yankee Stadium - New York Yankees

    Hundreds of signed baseballs by Yankee greats, plagues, and statues are just some of the incredible monuments in the museum at Yankee Stadium. Some of the exhibits rotate, but “Yankees by the numbers” jerseys, World Series rings, and trophies are always on display.

     

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  • McCovey Cove at AT&T Park - San Francisco Giants

    If you want to kayak up against the outfield wall of a picturesque stadium, McCovey Cove in San Francisco is your spot. While its common to see boats overshadowing right field, this is also a common spot for those looking to catch a memorable home run ball.

    McCovey Cove at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California.

    Michael Heiman/Getty Images

  • The Ivy at Wrigley Field - Chicago Cubs

    “There’s magic in the ivy and the old scoreboard,” Eddie Vedder sings in his Cubs tribute song “All The Way.” The legendary ivy covering the outfield walls at Wrigley might arguably be the most iconic ballpark look of all.

    Outfielders of the Chicago Cubs chase after during the fifth inning at Wrigley Field The ball was lost in the ivy.

    Brian Kersey/Getty Images

  • The Park at Petco Park - San Diego Padres

    Technically it’s called Gallagher Square, but the Park at Petco Park is located outside the outfield walls but inside the gates of the stadium. You need a ticket on gameday to access this space, which has mini fields and a statue of the late Padres great Tony Gwynn.

     

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  • Touch Tank at Tropicana Field - Tampa Bay Rays

    A tank containing real live stingrays rests within the outfield of the stadium. This is a 35 foot, 10,000 gallon exhibit that is in partnership with the Florida Aquarium.

    Fans gather around the touch tank in Tampa at a Rays game.

    Julio Aguilar/Getty Images

  • The Train at Minute Made Park - Houston Astros

    15-foot-high and 56-foot-long replica of an 1862 steam locomotive goes for a ride each time the Astros hit a home run. Sitting 90 feet above the field, you will hear this train go for a 40 second ride back and forth. This area of the park used to be Union Station, which is why the train was brought in as an attraction in 2000. It is driven by Bobby Dynamite.

  • The Bobblehead Museum at loanDepot Park - Miami Marlins

    Along the main concourse in center field, there’s the Bobblehead Museum at loanDepot Park in Miami. This is the home of over 500 bobbleheads that are enclosed behind glass. While many of these are MLB and minor league players, a section includes entertainers and special giveaways the Marlins have done.

    The Bobble Head Museum at Marlins Park in Miami.

    Jason Arnold/Getty Images

  • Bernie Brewer's Slide at American Family Field - Milwaukee Brewers

    When the Brewers hit a home run, their mascot Bernie slides down a giant yellow slide out of his outfield treehouse. Fans can take a ride down as well. Tickets are available for purchase for some pre-game fun ($150-$175).

  • The Fountains at Kauffman Stadium - Kansas City Royals

    The city fountains are well represented at the home of the Royals. The fountains in outfield are 322 feet wide. They can change colors and offer a magnificent display. Select 200 level seats near the fountains can be purchased. There are eight programmed fountain shows, where 600 nozzles can launch into 150 combinations of effects.

    A general view of the fountains in the outfield at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.

    Jamie Squire/Getty Images

  • The Rockpile at Coors Field - Colorado Rockies

    You can sit high above centerfield in Colorado. The Rockpile offers $4 select tickets. It’s a bleacher style seating, giving you a true Rocky Mountain feel.

    A general view of the Rockpile in center field at Coors field in Colorado.

    Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Kayla is the midday host on Detroit’s 105.1 The Bounce. She started her career in radio back in 2016 as an intern at another Detroit station and worked her way here. She's made stops in Knoxville, TN, Omaha, Ne and other places before returning to Detroit. She’s done almost everything in radio from promotions to web, creating content on social media, you name it. She’s a true Michigander, born and raised. So, you can catch her camping or vacationing up north to exploring the downtown Detroit or maybe even catching a sports game. During her free time, Kayla enjoys watching movies, roller-skating, crafting, and music festivals. She and her husband together dip into many of the great things Michigan has to offer. Together they also like to travel. A few hobbies of hers include wine and beer tastings, crafting, hiking, roller skating, movies, home improvement projects, gardening, and festivals. She’s always looking to take on more local events happening in the community. She loves connecting with the community. When writing, Kayla covers topics including lifestyle, pop culture, trending stories, hacks, and urban culture.

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