Recently my wife gave me the gift of a lifetime. She got tickets for my toddler at Truist Park and I to attend an Atlanta Braves game! Come along with us on this journey as I answer a few questions you may have about taking your toddler to this baseball park.
Toddler at Truist Park: The Battery and Turf Area
Before you even get to the game, one of the best features of Trust Park is the Battery. There are so many amazing food choices, baseball shops, and fun activities for the whole family. Our toddler’s favorite area is the turf area near the left field gate. There is plenty of space for kids to run around, throw a ball, and have fun with their parents even on non-game days. It’s well worth the trip to Truist Park just for the Battery alone. Our family celebrates special occasions there on a regular basis and it’s great for kids.
The only thing about the turf area is that we’ve found it’s very packed on game days and holidays. I would recommend avoiding close to game time or on holidays. But it’s the perfect little “park” area on a day that it’s not busy. The water fountains were a favorite for our guy. They also may have special guests like the mascot. You just never know!
The Battery is also very walkable. If you just walk around the main area and stop in the baseball shops, get some ice cream, and maybe even take a few virtual golf swings you will enjoy the area. The music plays throughout and keeps the energy going. This has easily become one of our places to visit in Atlanta whether it’s with our little one or for a day date or celebration.
Great Food Options at The Battery
Some of our favorite restaurants that we enjoy with our toddler are Superica, Yard House, and Antico Pizza. These places have dishes the little ones will enjoy and they are on the way from the parking garage to the game which makes it very convenient to get in and out. By the way, I would recommend that if you are attending the Battery on a non-game day you can park in the garage.
But if you attend on game day, be sure to purchase a parking ticket in advance. This will save you a high-ticket cost or a very far walk. We’ve experienced both the hard way and now we either have someone drop us off or purchase a parking ticket. Rideshare is also a great option, and likely the cheapest if you live relatively close to the stadium.
Entering the Game
One thing that impressed me right away was the accessibility and security. There is a line for strollers at the right field gate. We arrived at the game at peak time and although the line was a little long it didn’t take much time to get through. There were plenty of metal detectors that made the entry smooth. We didn’t even take our stroller because I was by myself and I didn’t think to look up whether they had a place for strollers before the game but I definitely could have.
The food is good for toddlers as well. They have pizza that they will definitely enjoy. Just be sure to account for the time it takes to remove the grease! Grab some utensils from the concession area to cut into pieces for them because they will definitely be way too big to eat on their own. Our toddler is learning to eat slightly bigger items but no toddler is a match for the pizza at Truist Park.
Choosing Your Seat
If you’ve been to a baseball game at Truist Park, you know that there isn’t really a bad seat in the house. The only thing I would recommend is that if you go with your toddler in the hotter summer months try to get a seat with more sun protection than not. It wouldn’t be a good idea to be in the outfield if you can help it on one of the hottest days or your time may be cut short with a little one. Of course, also bring your hat and plenty of sunscreen!
From the fireworks to the outfield races and the amazing music selections a Braves game is a fun experience for you and your toddler even if they don’t win but of course we always hope they do!
Sort of Watching the Game
Our toddler is not as much into the game but he is into the experience. We walked around looking for food and that was another exciting experience for him. Depending on your child’s age, they may enjoy every other aspect other than the game at first. Give them a chance to walk around with you and point out the things that you may look over but might be the highlight of their day! If the Braves hit a home run or win the game, they set off fireworks so if you can time it right this is also a fun sight to see for the little ones.
Leaving the Game
If you’re like us, you always consider the possibility that with a toddler you may not be able to stay for all 9 innings plus of the game. I may even recommend it. We stayed for about 7 innings which was longer than I thought we would. Our little guy did great and went on and on about the baseball game! Trust Park makes it easy to get home. I would just say if you are going by yourself, and you decide to take your stroller, give yourself time to check your stroller out before heading to your parking or rideshare area (if they have a car seat).
Truist Park and the Battery is the kind of place that you will want to come back to. Be sure to take lots of photos and please share your favorite experiences in the comments!
