Austin F1 track will benefit Texas

The Circuit of the Americas race track being built in Austin has, like any other major project, proponents and detractors.

As a Texas racing fan who doesn't live in Travis County but likes the exposure special events bring to Texas, here's a few comments about the track and its funding.

The $25 million that is offered to the F/1 track is from the Major Events Trust Fund. The state offers $$$'s to groups trying to bring in the Super Bowl ($32 million to Arlington for the 2010 Super Bowl), NCAA Final Four ($13 million to Houston) and other special events. It's an ADVANCE against the increase in sales taxes in the area that will be generated by the event. The money is to be PAID BACK and everything above the amount generated will be put into the state's general fund - and that pays teacher salaries.

The track in Austin will have a FAR great impact on the Texas economy than any single football or basketball game, rodeo or horse race.

I have been to Austin twice to lobby on behalf of teachers this term. My OWN future employment as a teacher is on the line here, too.

If the Powers That Be (Lt Gov David Dewhurst, St Sen Dan Patrick, Comptroller Susan Combs, et al) continue to sell the line to voters this money is taking away from education and other funding, then shame on them. They need to make the tough decisions to fund education (which they have failed to do!). Their jobs and decisions aren’t easy, but they sought their positions and we elected them to do so!

I'm sure Gov. Perry is all over the track project about creating jobs in Texas - it will create 1,200 - 1,700 jobs of varying degrees, short term and long term.

For more information, Joe Raymond wrote a great piece in the Austin Post and I've pulled some of my info from his piece (and used it to further research my writing) ...

http://www.austinpost.org/content/f1-metf-fact-vs-fiction

Space Shuttles land but not in Houston

Houston, Tranquility base here, the Eagle has landed ... Apollo 11

Houston, we have a problem ... Apollo 13

Houston, you won't be getting a retired space shuttle ... NASA Admin Charles Bolden

The campaigning is done and the decisions have been made. The retired NASA Space Shuttles will be going to the Intrepid Air and Space Museum in New York City, the Smithsonian (actually the Udvar-Hazy Hangar in Chantilly, VA), the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and perhaps the biggest surprise, to many air and space fans, the California Science Museum in Los Angeles.

The placement was geographical, but it also comes down to numbers. The sheer numbers of people who live nearby. The number of people, national and international, who visit the selected areas. Those numbers can't be overlooked by the losing areas, even Houston.

You can't argue with the Smithsonian or Kennedy selections.

The Intrepid leads the way as a carrier based museum (ones in San Diego, Corpus Christi, Charleston, and even Mobile with it's retired battleship, look to it as the leader). It has a sleep aboard program and education center and a number of planes on display. The water-based facility built a special site for its retired Concorde (one of the two in the US). That location was justified as nearby Kennedy International Airport saw the most SST flights of any US destination.

The California site could be questioned. Opened in 1998, it is the youngest of the aviation sites considered. Current plane displays include the Bell X-1 used as the prop in the movie "The Right Stuff"(yawn), a reproduction of the Wright Glider, an F-20 prototype (a plane that never made it into production), a DC-8, and an A-12 Blackbird (okay - cool!). Although near the Douglas and several other aviation plants, it is hardly the in the same collection or historic league as Seattle, Dayton, or Houston (or Chicago, Pensacola, or Huntsville, AL). Reports are it attracts 1.4 million visitors annually, and there is no charge for admission.

To be fair, the Shuttles should be spread out. At least one should be west of the Mississippi. Had it gone to Seattle and the Museum of Flight, it would have joined a retired Air Force One, a retired Concorde, and a number of assorted military and commercial planes, including 747 Number One and 727 Number 1,000. The Museum is a well established attraction and has the backing of Boeing.

The US Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, OH would have been a logical choice. As the home of the Wright Brothers and only miles from Neil Armstrong's home town, it would be a more central geographic choice. It has an aviation history and it's an established attraction with an airplane collection second only to the Smithsonian (and that could be debated). The Air Force connection with the shuttle program is deep. Reports were the Air Force already had $14 million in its next budget to house a shuttle.

Houston's Space Center Houston attraction is more Disneyland entertainment than full of history, more playful hands-on than thoughtful mind-challenging. It is one of the youngest. While the Johnson Space Center is the training home of NASA, the 750,000 visitors pale with the numbers visiting the other three sites. There are a couple of space capsules, the lunar rover and lots of rocks, and a Saturn V rocket (lying on the ground).

All are justifiably disappointed.

Most were hoping Shuttle placement wasn't politically motivated, but it is hard to look past the politics. California has the political clout (as does New York) and Texas does not (and apparently, neither did Washington or Ohio). It also has a payback factor. Had this decision been made a few years ago, with a Texas president in the White House, would things have turned out differently?

Then again, look how the NASA domain is spread out and why.

The Johnson Space Center is in Houston largely because of Senator (and the Vice-President) Lyndon Johnson, and representatives Albert Thomas, Olin Teague and Sam Rayburn (who was Speaker of the House).

The other facilities, situated hither and yon, were part of a political payout and compromise in the late-1950's and early-1960's ... including Huntsville (AL), Stennis Space Center (MS), Langley and Wallops (VA), Ames, Dryden and Vandenberg (CA). These choices were made more because of the strong political influence, to spread out tax dollars, and create jobs, than the often heard "strategic protection purposes."

There's even a NASA facility in Fairmont, WV.

One just has to wonder ... had Sen. Robert Byrd still been alive (and Sen. Jennings Randolph for that matter), one of these space shuttles might have landed today in Huntington, Morgantown, or even Elkins!

Okay - enough grumbling that I can't make a 45 minute trip to see a shuttle up close. I'm packing my bags. One shuttle is near my daughter in Southern California, the other near my parents in Florida. I've never been to the Smithsonian or Intrepid museums. Maybe this WAS the political motivation after all - to keep us traveling with high fuel prices!

Super Bowl XLV Recap

Some thoughts on Super Bowl XLV from afar ...

It was a good game for someone who had no bets, no squares, and no vested interest in either team.

I'm glad it finally warmed up enough for the Metroplex to put on a good show. I'm sorry the snow and ice and cold interfered with the football parties and lessened the economic impact. Maybe the NFL won't pick such a northern spot for this February shin dig and put it back in Houston (or hello - San Antonio's Alamodome ... the party place of Texas). Oh wait - the NFL has already tabbed Indianapolis and NYC for future games ... in February??? Wonder how ice and show will affect the game in Indy and the Meadowlands (the latter being played without a roof!!!)??? Brrrrr ... might as well give Green Bay one, too! They had better weather this past week than Dallas ... errr ... Arlington. Plus Green Bay has snow plows!!! It would save travel expenses for Cheeseheads!

I liked half-time music show ... but I've liked them all (McCartney, Stones, Prince, Petty, Springsteen, The Who) since the wardrobe malfunction in Houston. The lighted uniforms and staging was great. Special "surprise" guests were good. Will.i.am did a great job getting all those songs in such a short time.

But we all know we watched the game for one reason - commercials!

Car ads took the first 7 spots on my list.

Topping my favorite commercial list was the two minute long Imported from Detroit by Chrysler. No, I'm not an Eminen fan and I probably won't go buy the new Chrysler 200 (although it would fit well in my projected age demographics). The spot was well photographed, well written, well photographed, well produced, and did I say well photographed. And here's my personal bias - growing up in the Motor City, I had been to every place in the spot. It touched me. Looking on Facebook, it seemed to be a hit with most of my friends from high school as well. We can only hope it translates into sales and helps Motown!

Spots 2 through 7 on my like list were also car companies ... VW's Darth Vader, BMW's Made in the USA, Mercedes Benz's Car Gathering with P. Diddy, Lexus' Escape to New Luxury, Chevy's Facebook Cruze and Hyundai's Change all being touching/funny/creative and worth the money spent ... and my time to watch them.

I've bought cars through CarMax and maybe those spots will work with the used car king. As much as we like cars, most of us hate playing the negotiating game. CarMax does give me a good feeling, but maybe not all the ones chronicled in the commercial.

Doritos had some good and bad spots. Their "Resurrection" spot was cute but licking it off fingers and pants was "ewwww."

Pepsi was obviously playing to the "guy crowd" with their three Pepsi Max spots. I liked the automatic ice chest launcher even if it included the time-honored-never-fails sight gag of guy-getting-hit-in-crotch-is funny ... plus the bonus "geeks/underdogs rule." The couple on a date where she's thinking of "everything" and he's thinking of "one thing" was so cliche and was another guy put down. But we can laugh at ourselves (especially during Super Bowl ads). I'm not so sure their spot with the arguing couple taking out the fellow jogger with a thrown can is all that funny? Especially in this day and age of random assaults and attacks on women. Sorry. Not good.

What can you say about the king of Super Bowl advertisers - InBev/Anheuser-Busch? No amount of advertising is going to make me drink their Bud Light but they had a couple of chuckles in their spots. I'll enjoy the Clydesdales in an ad every time. I don't know what they were saying in the Stella Artois commercial but anything in a "furrin language" sounds good to most of us.

Speaking of "guys" and "worn out cliches" ... there was GoDaddy.com teasing us with sex (and a sexy Joan Rivers!). No, I did NOT go to their web site to see how it ends ... even though my domain names are registered through them (I do appreciate their sponsorship of Mark Martin and Danica Patrick in auto racing).

The commercial that WILL make me go to their web site is HomeAway.com. As a travel person, that sounds somewhat intriguing.

Props to Papa John for getting us all to "like" them and having our FB and email addresses in their computer. They did not run a spot in the actual game but had it gone into overtime we'd all be getting free pizza!

Finally, I enjoyed sharing the Super Bowl with my folks in the warmth of Florida instead of tromping around Arlington (as I might have been). We had great munchies, cold drinks, and a very good time!

Astros Editorial ... Food and Tickets

Tuesday nights are PowerAde nights at the ball park. All $7 seats are $1 with a 32 oz PowerAde label (Astros have done this promotion for 5-6 years).

BUTTTT ... if you don't have a label, the cheapest seats you can buy costs $12.

I always have a pocketful of labels - and I share them.

Last night, a young couple (with two small kids in tow) were asking "HOW MUCH?" at the ticket window when told their trip to the ball game was gonna cost way more than they imagined. It should have been $16 - two $7 seats and two $1 seats for the kids - but I'm guessing they were quoted at least $24 (at that $12 price for adults, the Astros are letting kids in free).

I could hear them comment to one another "so where do you get PowerAde labels?"

I tapped the guy's shoulder and handed him 4 labels and said, "ask her for the $1 PowerAde seats." I have rarely seen a total stranger so appreciative. Ohhhh thank you she gushed. Yeah, it was a genuine gush. The lady hugged me. The guy turned triumphantly to the ticket window and got 4 seats for $4 (he put the $20 bill back in his wallet and handed the ticket lady a $5 bill instead). He shook my hand. She hugged me one more time (not to self, bring labels and give them to families with moms - they give great hugggz!).

I'll probably never see them again. I hope they go to the two remaining Tuesday night games left on this year's schedule I know I'll be there to see the Brewers and the Cardinals), but school's starting and it'll be hard for families to do that. I

Personally, i'm miffed the Astros won't sell the $7 seats without a PowerAde label on Tuesday nights. I did the same thing LAST Tuesday night for some folks.

Here's a good promotion idea ... have the PA/Coca-Cola people (or Aramark) set up a cart on the sidewalk. Sell the product from iced bins for $2 ... even better GIVE it away. And oh yeah ... let 32 ounce PowerAde be the ONLY thing you can bring into the stadium and JUST on Tuesday nights. How cool would THAT be? But that might cut into concession profits (FYI - that's sarcasm).

For those who don;'t know, the Astros are the ONLY team in MLB who ban ANYYYYYYYYYY type of food or drink from being brought into Minute Maid Park. Unless you have a baby or you produce your medical needs certificate, the only "food thing" you can bring into the park is an empty water container to refill at the drinking fountains.

How tough are the gate guards about enforcing the "no food" policy? We went to the Tuesday game after returning from our California trip. My wife had two packets of Southwest Airlines peanuts.

"You can't take food in," he said as he went through my wife's puse.

What food? We were shocked that she had any food in there.

"These," he said ... and held up the two offending packets of peanuts.

Ummm ... yeah ... I'm sure that's gonna keep me from spending the $4.25 on ballpark peanuts.

More like food Nazis!

Walking by last night, there was a Quaker Oats Chewy bar, a Kashi bar, a 50 cent tube of Tom's peanuts, a small (like individual Halloween size) bag of plain M&M's and 3 PowerAde bottles sans labels. I just shook my head.

I've been to several other stadiums with vastly different procedures ...

At the Ballpark in Arlington, you can bring in whole pizzas, whole bags from Whataburger, and a cooler filled with plastic bottles of drinks (as long as the cooler fits under your seat and the drinks are non-alcoholic). Save the money for ice cream and beer.

In St. Louis, the bottles of Dasani water - iced in the tub - are $1 outside the park ($4 inside - the sign on the cart says so), and the one pound bag of Cardinals peanuts cost $2.($6 inside). I had a bag of White Castle Burgers and Waffle Fries (yes, this WAS before the diet, but I'm sure I'd take them in next time I'm there).

Going to Wrigley Field, be sure to get a hot dog or two to take in with you.

And the Astros wonder why they have trouble connecting with the fans? They wonder why people come out only when the team is winning? Really ... they wonder??? Okay - the food thing won't fix all their attendance issues. They do offer all you can eat. Coca Cola value nite ... $1 hot dog nites ... those are good steps.

Little things mean a lot. And this little thing could mean a LOT of fans in the future.

Major League baseball Food Policies

Food policy for thought

Those who buy peanuts and Cracker Jack outside Minute Maid Park can’t bring them in

By DAVID BARRON Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle

June 9, 2009, 12:59AM

As Major League Baseball does all it can to get recession-strapped fans through the turnstiles, a day at 29 of 30 MLB ballparks includes the option of bringing your own sandwiches, snacks, bottled water, soft drinks or, in some cases, all of the above.

That leaves the Astros, and their stance on the matter is stated in their A-to-Z fan guide for Minute Maid Park.

“Visitors may not bring food or beverage items into the ballpark,” it says.

Banning outside food at Astros games “has been kind of a tradition in Houston,” said Astros owner Drayton McLane, who purchased the team in 1992.

But in cities such as Chicago, Cincinnati, Milwaukee and Philadelphia, bringing food to the ballpark is the tradition of choice. And at least four teams — the Nationals, Mariners, Giants and Orioles — consider their

food policy so essential to fan enjoyment they featured it in MLB’s 23-page outline of “affordable ticket options” for 2009.

In Seattle, “There is a healthy market of hot dogs, kettle corn, peanuts, etc., on the streets surrounding the ballpark on game days,” said Mariners spokeswoman Rebecca Hale. “I’ve seen people come through turnstiles with stacks of pizza boxes, and once I saw several college-age boys carrying a six-foot sub sandwich through the gate.”

Garlic fries are a part of the baseball experience at AT&T Park in San Francisco, but the Giants have allowed fans to bring in food since their Candlestick Park days.

“It gives (fans) a choice, and it gives them options, especially in this economic climate,” said Giants spokeswoman Shana Daum. “Now more than ever, I think they appreciate it.”

When baseball returned to the nation’s capital, the Nationals were glad to dispense with the bureaucracy of culinary red tape that has been a constant of Astros baseball.

“We think that we have affordable food options, especially when compared to different sports and entertainment venues,” said Nationals spokeswoman Chartese Burnett. “But we don’t want to make that assumption. If folks want to bring in something, we feel they should be allowed to do so.”

Baltimore began the trend toward retro-themed baseball parks with Camden Yards in 1992, and fans have always been allowed to bring food and non-alcoholic beverages to the ballpark, said spokeswoman Monica Barlow.

“This is definitely a popular policy with our fans, especially in these economic times,” she said.

Most MLB teams list their policies on outside food and drink on their Web sites. Details generally can be found by clicking on the “A to Z Guide” under the stadium tab.

As for the Astros, Pam Gardner, the team’s president for business operations, said the team has opted to provide less expensive tickets rather than following suit with other teams regarding food and beverage rules.

“Our financial model, dating back to the Astrodome, was dependent on a number of revenue areas, including food and beverage,” Gardner said in an e-mail. “We elected to make our appeal to fans in the form of a $7 (for adults) and $1 ticket (for children) every day. I don’t think you will find many teams offering a $1 ticket.”

Indeed, only the Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers advertise seats for a buck each. (The Brewers call them “Uecker Seats” in honor of broadcaster Bob Uecker, who made several bucks bragging for assorted commercials about his seat locations.)

The Colorado Rockies advertise their cheapest tickets at $4 each, and the bottom price for Nationals, Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals games is $5.

Aramark in the mix

Gardner also noted that the Astros’ relationship with Aramark, which operates concessions and/or premium food services at 13 MLB parks, including Minute Maid, “is predicated on their exclusivity on food and beverage.”

An Aramark spokesman would not comment on the company’s relationship with the Astros but said such policies are established by MLB teams “primarily (as) a matter of security and food safety.”

Even though fans cannot bring food or water into Minute Maid Park, Gardner notes that the move to downtown Houston in 2000 has provided considerably more dining options for fans than the barren landscape of the Astrodome parking lot.

“Each MLB team designs their model to work in their particular market,” she said. “In our case, our move downtown was intended to provide a variety of choices for fans, including bringing a picnic to enjoy on Halliburton Plaza or taking advantage of the dozens of restaurants around the ballpark. Purchasing food in the ballpark is a choice, and we strive to provide great quality and competitive prices .”

Gardner and McLane noted the Texans and Rockets ban outside food and drink. Rockets policies are in keeping with those of other NBA teams. The Texans allow tailgating on the Harris County-owned lots surrounding Reliant Stadium. The Astros do not allow tailgating on team-controlled parking lots surrounding Minute Maid Park.

Packages available

Like their MLB counterparts, the Astros offer ticket and concession package deals throughout the season. That list includes an all-you-can-eat promotion on Thursdays; the Diamondbacks, Braves, Reds, Dodgers, Pirates and Rangers offer similar plans for each home game.

In addition to lower prices for outfield deck tickets, the Astros list several incentives in MLB’s 23-page summary of fan economy offers. I ncluded are a Friday night food/ticket/cap package for four fans sponsored by Coca-Cola and 10 “Price Matters” ticket/food combo promotional dates (six dates remain).

Because Houston’s baseball culture has never in recent memory included the option of bringing food to ballgames, fans at a recent Astros game were generally unfazed by the notion that Houston has MLB’s most restrictive rules in that regard.

“It never crossed my mind about bringing something in,” Darren Blanton said. “It wouldn’t make any difference to me.”

Jeremy White of Pasadena, in the middle of downing a plate of nachos on the upper-deck concourse, said less restrictive policies wouldn’t change his plans.

“I’d still come to the game if I wanted to come to the game,” he said. “Maybe it would be nice to bring a bottle of water, but I normally get a soft drink or a beer every now and then.”

But some fans come to the park for sports, not dining.

“We come to watch baseball,” Jeff Solomon of Houston said. “I’m not here to eat.”

david.barron@chron.com

CHEW ON THIS

Here are the rules for outside food and beverages allowed by the 30 Major League Baseball teams. All details are available from team Web sites with the exception of items noted with an asterisk, which were confirmed by telephone inquiries to the respective ballclubs. In the case of the Rangers, information is included on a recorded phone message, but not on the Web site. All teams ban alcohol, glass bottles, cans and hard-sided coolers and do not allow food to be brought into suites or club seating areas.

Angels

*Food is allowed if carried in a soft-sided container such as a paper bag or plastic bag.

Bottled water will be allowed in the ballpark as long as it conforms to the specifications listed below: It must be in a "store bought" clear plastic bottle. It must be no larger than 1 Liter (33.814 US fluid ounces).

http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/ana/ballpark/guide.jsp

Astros

Visitors may not bring food or beverage items into the ballpark.

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/hou/ballpark/guide.jsp

Athletics

*Food and drinks in plastic bottles are allowed.

Blue Jays

Rogers Centre allows guests to bring food into the stadium as long as the items are wrapped, bagged or left inside a container to avoid spillage. Food containers must be soft-sided and small enough to fit under the guest's seat.

Plastic bottles holding 600 milliliters or less will be permitted.

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/tor/ballpark/a_z_guide.jsp

Braves

Food, drinks (non-glass, non-aluminum) and soft-sided coolers (with the plastic liner removed) are permitted.

http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/atl/ballpark/guide.jsp

Brewers

Guests may bring food items into Miller Park using appropriate containers. Soda, water or juice must be contained in factory sealed plastic bottles.

http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/mil/ballpark/ballpark_guide.jsp

Cardinals

*Food is allowed in clear plastic bags.

Non-alcoholic beverages including water and soda in open cups or in clear plastic bottles no larger than 2 liters are allowed.

http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/stl/ballpark/ballpark_guide.jsp

Cubs

Visitors may bring food or drink items into the ballpark, which are packaged in acceptable containers.

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/chc/ballpark/guide.jsp

Diamondbacks

Any food item should be brought in a clear plastic grocery-style bag.

Only non-flavored/non-carbonated water in sealed, plastic bottles, empty plastic water bottles and sealed, single-serving juice boxes are allowed.

http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/ari/ballpark/ari_ballpark_guide.jsp

Dodgers

Food is permitted from outside the stadium provided it is not in bottles, cans, coolers or thermoses. Unbroken, factory sealed plastic bottles of water and other non-alcoholic beverages of a liter or less are permitted.

http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/la/ballpark/ballpark_guide_list.jsp

Giants

Fans are also allowed to bring their own food and non-alcoholic drinks to the ballpark. Sealed plastic bottles and soft-sided juice containers containing non-alcoholic beverages are allowed in AT&T Park. Unsealed plastic bottles and soft-sided containers will be subject to inspection and may be confiscated.

http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/sf/ballpark/ballparkguide_list.jsp

Indians

Small single-serving juice boxes and food items are permitted. Plastic beverage containers are prohibited.

http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/cle/ballpark/guide.jsp

Mariners

Food brought into the ballpark must be wrapped, bagged or inside a container. Items such as apples and oranges must be quartered.

No outside beverages, including water/ice, may be brought into Safeco Field. Exceptions are made for guests with medical needs, baby bottles and unopened, soft-sided, single-serve containers (such as small milk cartons, juice boxes, etc.). Guests may bring in empty plastic sports bottles and fill them at any of the 66 drinking fountains located throughout the ballpark.

http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/sea/ballpark/sea_ballpark_guide.jsp

Marlins

*Sandwiches and other small food items are allowed if sealed in clear plastic bags.

Hard fruits are permitted if cut into small portions. Permitted items include sealed plastic soft drink and water bottles.

http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/fla/ballpark/policies.jsp

Mets

*Fans can bring in a “reasonable amount” of food, sandwiches and unopened bags of snacks, carried in plastic supermarket bags. Fans also can bring in sealed plastic water bottles and cardboard juice boxes.

Note: The Mets’ Web site says outside food is not allowed, but a spokeswoman said the above description is the current policy and that the Web site will be amended to reflect this.

Nationals

All food items must be contained in single serving bags within a soft-sided container or cooler. Metal, plastic or glass containers of any kind (except for factory-sealed, plastic water bottles, no larger than one liter and juice boxes) are prohibited. Only one bottle of water per person will be permitted.

http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/was/ballpark/a-z_guide.jsp

Orioles

*Food is allowed, preferably carried inside a soft-sided cooler.

Non-alcoholic beverages in plastic bottles will be permitted into the park.

http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/bal/ballpark/guide.jsp

Padres

All food items should be wrapped, bagged, or left inside a container to avoid spillage. Food that might be thrown as a projectile must be sliced or sectioned (i.e., oranges, apples and other fruits). Food containers must be soft-sided and small enough to fit under the guest's seat.

Factory-sealed, bottled water that is 20 ounces or less and soft-sided single juice and milk containers are the only outside beverages permitted into Petco Park.

http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/sd/ballpark/petcopark_a-z.jsp

Phillies

*Fans can bring in food and plastic, unopened bottles of water.

Pirates

Guests are permitted to bring bottled water and food that may fit into a 16 x 16 x 8 soft-sided bag. Water bottles should not exceed 24 ounces in size, and must be clear, plastic, sealed and disposable. Children's juice boxes and items necessary for medical purposes are permitted.

http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/pit/ballpark/pit_ballpark_guide.jsp

Rangers

*There are no food restrictions. Drinks are allowed only in cardboard or plastic containers. Coolers must be soft-sided. No Styrofoam containers are allowed.

Rays

Food items and water are allowed. All food brought in must be contained in a clear plastic bag. Bottled water must be sealed and no more than one liter in volume.

http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/tb/ballpark/ballpark_guide.jsp

Red Sox

No food can be brought into the ballpark and only sealed bottled waters of 16 ounces or less are allowed.

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/bos/ballpark/guide.jsp#F

Reds

*The Great American Ball Park allows fans to bring in snacks, homemade sandwiches, food and fast food, but not beverages from fast food restaurants.

Guests are welcome to bring in soft drinks and water provided they are in clear plastic bottles and the safety seal has not been broken. Insulated foam cups/containers from restaurants, convenience stores or gas stations, etc. are not permitted.

http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/cin/ballpark/cin_ballpark_gabp_azguide.jsp

Rockies

Guests can bring in food items, any fruit or vegetable grapefruit-sized or smaller, plastic beverage containers and insulated cups or thermoses 22 ounces or smaller.

http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/col/ballpark/ballpark_guide.jsp

Royals

Guests may bring food and water into the stadium, provided the water is in a plastic bottle or cup and the food is packaged in soft-sided containers that do not exceed the maximum size of 16-by-6-by-8 inches.

http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/kc/ballpark/guide.jsp

Tigers

Guests are permitted to bring food and sealed clear bottles of plain, unflavored water into Comerica Park. Juice boxes are also allowed for children.

http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/det/ticketing/ballparkguide_list.jsp#food

Twins

Fans may bring food items into the Metrodome, provided they are in small paper or plastic bags.

*Outside beverages are not allowed into the stadium.

http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/ballpark/ballpark_guide.jsp

White Sox

Guests can carry in food in a small, see-through plastic bag and are each allowed one sealed plastic bottle of water, one liter or less in size, but no other beverages of any kind.

http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/cws/ballpark/cws_ballpark_guide_dir.jsp#Carry-inItems

Yankees

*Food is allowed if wrapped in see-through plastic bags or sandwich bags.

No bottles or cans are permitted with the exception of transparent plastic water bottles. The water bottle must be full and factory-sealed. It cannot be a container from home, and it must only be filled with water. Exceptions may be made for empty plastic sports bottles, baby bottles, health-related materials and unopened soft-sided single-serve containers (such as small milk cartons, juice boxes, etc.).

http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/nyy/ballpark/guide.jsp