Lake Elsinore Storm Stadium Ranked Among Best Minor League Venues

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — A recent review of minor league ballparks shows that Lake Elsinore Storm Baseball Stadium ranks high among the nation's quirky, unique, and, yes, even beautiful Minor League attractions.

What is it about a minor-league ballpark like Lake Elsinore's Diamond Stadium? The low cost of tickets, the thrill of the grass, the shine of the light towers, and the in-between inning antics all add to pure fun. Stadium Talk recently shared a list of the top Minor League Ballparks in the country, with Lake Elsinore's Storm Baseball Diamond Stadium ranking #2 out of the ten ballparks mentioned.

According to a statement from the city of Lake Elsinore, Diamond Stadium is continually voted one of the finest ballparks in the Minor Leagues.

"In the 15 years of Storm Baseball, 75 former Storm players have reached the upper echelon of professional baseball. The 2008 season saw 13 former Storm make their Major League Debut," they wrote. "Storm Baseball home games are played at the Diamond, a state-of-the-art facility continually voted one of the finest ballparks in all of the Minor Leagues."

Lake Elsinore Storm Stadium was opened in 1994, according to the survey. It is a massive yet marvelous feat of engineering, built with over 100,000 red bricks.

"This gem of a stadium may qualify as the minor league version of Camden Yards," Stadium Talk said. "And its 36-foot right-field wall is reminiscent of Fenway Park's 'Green Monster.'"

The stadium can reach over 7,800 people and houses the Single-A team for the San Diego Padres baseball team.

Inside, find the Diamond Club Restaurant and Bar, which hosts receptions, parties, and special events. As a bonus, the stadium offers a grassy hill for kids to run, play, and "chase foul balls" while their parents enjoy baseball and good old-fashioned family fun.

Local Southwest Riverside County families, such as mine, have raised their kids attending sporting events at Diamond Stadium, and feeds are filled with fond memories of hotdogs, mascot Thunder's hilarious performances, and more.

As for Lake Elsinore Mayor Steve Manos, this honor is one the city is proud to bring home.

“For nearly three decades, the Lake Elsinore Diamond Stadium has played an important role in the lives of people of Southwest Riverside County. From graduations to concerts to special events to our amazing Lake Elsinore Storm Minor League Baseball team... the City of Lake Elsinore has always recognized how important reinvesting in this world-class asset continues to return incredible value for numerous generations of our residents and neighbors. We are honored to receive this recognition and proud to be the home of Storm Baseball.”

Read more about the best ballparks in the nationon Stadium Talk.