With the MLB season beginning April 1 and the Arizona Diamondbacks holding their annual Chase Field exhibition on March 30, it’s time to look at what the team has planned to begin the season.
This is the first of a series on ballpark previews for the 2021 MLB season. We’ll be focusing on the ballparks hosting games this week.
The Diamondbacks will begin the Chase Field 2021 following MLB’s operating guidelines, which include socially distanced seating pods of 1-5 seats, mandatory mask usage in all common areas and at all times when not actively eating or drinking, cashless and touchless merchandise purchases, and cleaning procedures that comply with all CDC requirements and recommendations.
On the food front, the Diamondbacks will be offering mobile ordering, including these delicacies:
- Poblano Cheesesteak (Shaved Philly Ribeye, American Cheese, fire roasted poblano chile, barbecue aioli, battered onion straws)
- Beer Cheese Bratwurst (Beer bratwurst, pub beer cheese, griddled onion, brown mustard, pretzel roll)
- 505 Green Chile, Chicken Bacon and Ranch Tots (Grilled chicken, tots, nacho cheese, bacon, 505 green chile)
- Ultimate Bacon Pub Burger (Chuck patty, pub beer cheese, bacon, battered onion, barbecue sauce, pickles, potato roll)
- Danzeisen Dairy Chocolate Mint Chip Stack Shake
In addition, the team will offer Fry’s Grab n’ Go stands throughout the main concourse stocked with small bites, drinks and pre-packaged goods, while distillery Cutwater Spirits will offer an assortment of ready-to-enjoy canned cocktails, including limited-edition cans of its classic Vodka Mule featuring D-backs marks.
There are two casualties of the 2020 pandemic at Chase Field: the operators of Friday’s Front Row Sports Grill (within the ballpark) or Game Seven Grill (on the plaza) will not open for the season. The Diamondbacks say they will work with new third-party operators for the 2022 season. In addition, the The Sandlot kids’ area will be closed to start the season, but the team says that decision will be revisited as the season progresses.
All in all, the Diamondbacks will welcome up to 16,000 fans for the home opener, or 25 percent of capacity, after Gov. Doug Ducey lifted state restrictions on capacity and mask usage.
Photo of 505 Green Chile, Chicken Bacon and Ranch Tots courtesy of the Diamondbacks.