MLB at Rickwood: 5 helpful tips for watching the game

Thousands of fans are expected at Birmingham’s historic Rickwood Field for MLB’s June 20 matchup between the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants in tribute to the Negro Leagues.

Here are five things you may need to know to get ready for gameday:

Parking options

Parking at Rickwood Field and the surrounding city streets will be prohibited from June 18-June 20, according to the MLB website. The site instructed visitors to park at Birmingham’s Legion Field on Graymont Avenue.

Legion Field’s parking and shuttle service, which will take people from the lot to Rickwood and back after the game, is free with proof of a purchased game ticket, according to the site. ADA vehicles will be available to those who require them.

The site says Legion Field parking lots will open at the following times, one hour prior to public gates opening at Rickwood Field.

· June 18 – Parking lots open at 2 p.m. CT

· June 19 – Parking lots open at 3 p.m. CT

· June 20 – Parking lots open at 2 p.m. CT

The shuttle ride from Legions to Rickwood should take around 5 minutes, according to the site. Shuttles will run until the first pitch.

For directions to Legions Field visit https://www.mlb.com/events/rickwood/ballpark.

What you can bring into the stadium

Rickwood’s bag policy mandates the following.

· Clear bags no larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″ are permitted.

· Purses/clutches no larger than 4.5″ x 6.5″ are permitted.

· All other bags are prohibited at Rickwood Field, with the exception of medical and diaper bags (must be no larger than 16″x16″x8″).

· All bags are subject to search.

The following items are prohibited from the stadium.

· Aerosol cans (i.e., hairspray, mace, pepper spray, etc.)

· Animals (except certified service animals or service animals in training)

· Banners or signs larger than 16″x16″ or containing commercial, political, offensive, or obscene messages

· Baseball bats

· Beach balls or other inflatables

· Drugs or other illegal substances/paraphernalia (including medical marijuana)

· Firearms or other weapons (i.e., knives, brass knuckles, etc.)

· Fireworks

· Glass bottles

· Hard sided coolers

· Laptops (exceptions for official working personnel)

· Laser devices or pointers

· Noisemaking devices (i.e., air horns, cowbells, etc.)

· Selfie sticks

· Skateboards and rollerblades

· Smokeless/chewing tobacco

· Obscene, indecent or offensive clothing

· Outside beverages (except clear, factory sealed water 20 oz. or smaller, soft-sided single juice or milk containers (one per person) or ADA required liquids in a sealed container)

· Professional commercial-grade camera equipment

· Toy guns or knives (including water guns)

· Unmanned aerial vehicles (drones)

Empty reusable water bottles are permitted, according to the MLB website.

Disability accommodations

“Accessible amenities and resources that will be available at Rickwood Field include an accessible shuttle service from Legion Field, a dedicated accessible gate entry, increased accessible seating, a sensory activation vehicle and sensory kits, accessible restrooms, and a mobility assistance team,” the site reads.

Payment options

Rickwood Field will only be accepting electronic forms of payment. But reverse ATMs will be available for those who have cash, according to the site.

When and where to watch the game

If you can’t get to the ballpark, the game is scheduled to begin at 6:15 p.m. CT on June 20. It will be broadcast nationally on FOX for anyone who wants to watch at home.