A Date in Braves Country
Born and raised in the state of Georgia, I am a die-hard Atlanta Braves fan! GOOO BRAVES!!! I thought what better place to visit on my date than Atlanta’s favorite pass time, Braves Country! Turner Field is vote one of the best ball parks in the country and has many attractions to enjoy while cheering on its home team; Chipper Jones being my favorite attractions! But when enjoying my many years rooting for my home team, I have never taken the time to really understand the physical environment and how accessible it is for individuals with disabilities.
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| (Crowding?) |
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| (Accessibility?) |
Before going to Turner Field for my date, I decided to do a little research about Turner Field’s handicap accessibility. Based on the Disabled Guest Information portion of their website, I found a list of the field’s accommodations that are offered. The field offers handicap seating with unobstructed views on all levels, which is nice and helps accommodate everyone’s pockets too. Also they have handicap parking available in the Green Lot, located across the street from the field. They also have 2 wheelchair drop off areas, where wheelchair services are available to assist an individual if requested.
Turner Field is also equipped with seven elevators and ramps as an alternative to the MANY flights of stairs. The stadium is also equipped with handicap access in the restrooms and at the concession counters.
During my visit for my date at Turner Field, I found that the information I previously researched about the accessibility for guest with disabilities to be true. The stadium is a very open area with ample room for moving around making it an ease to move from place to place. The accessibility of the stadium must also help with the comfort level a person with a disability needs to enjoy their experience. The wheelchair seating at Turner Field was very accessible and legible. And as the website stated, it had a great view!
Although offering legibility and accessibility, I found one physical environment concept to be compromised…crowding! I do however believe that this issue was due to it being Chipper Jones night at the stadium. This sold-out, standing room only event did make it more crowded than usual since it was Chipper’s last season. On the other hand, crowding is something that should be understood when going to an event such as this one. The positive aspect that a crowd like this carries is the access to sociality, if you are not wearing the opposing team’s jersey. This assignment has given me a very slight insight on what a person with a disability experiences on a daily basis. It has opened my eyes to a new understanding of my physical environment and how it affects different individuals. Braves Country has always been dear to my southern heart but now it has a whole new look. Turner Field should be proud of their facility and how fans of all types are able to enjoy America’s favorite pass time! (They could consider lowering the concession prices though…can you say EXPENSIVE!!!)
This why we CHOP!!!
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