PETA’s 2008 Top 10 Vegetarian-Friendly Ballparks

Top athletes—including slugger Prince Fielder, NFL Pro Bowler Tony Gonzalez, NBA star Raja Bell, MMA fighters Mac Danzig and Dale Hart, NBA legend John Salley, and Olympic great Carl Lewis—look to meatless meals to boost their health and stop cruelty to animals. And judging from the ever-growing array of delicious vegetarian meals available at major league parks, fans are following their lead. 

In addition to getting classic standbys like peanuts and popcorn, baseball fans are enjoying mouthwatering options like fresh-grilled veggie dogs, veggie burgers, and faux chicken as well as hearty burritos, vegetable wraps, and tasty regional foods. Not only are these choices full of flavor, they’re also 100 percent cruelty- and cholesterol-free—talk about a triple play!

PETA is pleased to announce the list of the Top 10 Vegetarian-Friendly Ballparks for 2008. Click on each ballpark below to learn more about its vegetarian options. And the winners are …

• 1. Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia Phillies)
  If there were a free agency market for delicious vegetarian food, the Phillies would have dominated it this past off-season. CBP added mock-chicken sandwiches and “crab-free crab cakes” to an already stacked lineup, including Philly faux-steak sandwiches, veggie dogs, flame-grilled Gardenburgers, hoagies with roasted veggies, tomato-basil soup, various salads, “The Poppy” sandwiches (roasted eggplant, roasted red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes), and PB&J. Chickens, cows, and sea animals everywhere are putting their wings, hooves, fins, and claws together in honor of Kevin Tedesco, the team’s concession manager, who has spearheaded the Phillies’ veggie surge.
• 2. AT&T Park (San Francisco Giants)
  The Giants solved their problem with growth-promoting drugs this past off-season. Fans can do the same by choosing from the wide range of healthy, hormone-free vegetarian options at AT&T Park. Options include veggie dogs, Gardenburger, portobello mushroom sandwiches, macho nachos (hold the cheese and load up on beans and veggies), grilled corn on the cob, salads, vegetarian minestrone soup, fruit salad, grilled vegetable sandwiches, vegetarian pot stickers, vegetarian cha cha bowls (filled with black beans, rice, shredded zucchini, and pineapple salsa), vegetable fried rice, edamame, vegetarian sushi (California rolls and vegetable rolls), broccoli-tofu platters, Szechuan green beans, taco salad, and a vegetarian adobado (a bowl filled with rice, beans, shredded zucchini, and mango salsa).
• 3. Safeco Field (Seattle Mariners)
  By naming Safeco Field the most vegetarian-friendly American League park, PETA is happy to provide a bright spot in an otherwise dismal year for the Mariners. Safeco offers veggie burgers, veggie dogs, baked potatoes, veggie sushi, fruit salad, pasta with marinara sauce, PB&J, edamame, veggie burritos, and veggie taco salad.
• 4. PETCO Park (San Diego Padres)
  No one knows when a freak injury is going to happen—just ask Padres catcher Michael Barrett, who broke his nose when he fouled a 95 mph fastball into his face. But Padres fans can prevent more common ailments, like heart disease, various types of cancer, and obesity, by ditching meat and enjoying some delicious, healthy vegetarian options instead. The park’s meat-free menu items include vegetarian sushi rolls, veggie burgers, veggie dogs, fruit salad, roasted-tomato hummus with pita chips, roasted corn, fruit cups, smoothies, and a delicious array of salads. Although PETA has serious issues with PETCO, PETA loves the Padres and their stadium for providing healthy, humane fare to fans in “America’s Finest City.
• 5. U.S. Cellular Field (Chicago White Sox)
  Talk about a year of pleasant surprises on the South Side! After a disappointing 2007, the White Sox are tops in the AL Central both on the field and in the concession stands, touting terrific vegetarian choices. ChiSox fans can select veggie dogs, Gardenburger, PB&J, vegetarian taco salad, veggie tacos, nachos with salsa, fresh fruit cups, or corn on the cob.
• 6. Busch Stadium (St. Louis Cardinals)
  If Tony LaRussa weren’t such a great manager, we might offer this vegetarian dog-and-cat rescuer a job at PETA! Nonetheless, we’re thrilled that Busch Stadium has one of the most stacked vegetarian lineups in baseball (probably thanks to Tony’s influence). Cards fans can chow down on veggie burgers, vegetable stir-fries, fire-roasted veggie burritos, whole roasted corn, Mediterranean tapas, fresh fruit, vegetable crudités, or mouthwatering Harvest vegetable wraps (spinach tortilla wraps layered with grilled portobello mushrooms, roasted zucchini, roasted red peppers, lettuce, and diced tomatoes).
• 7. Comerica Park (Detroit Tigers)
  Apparently, even Tigers love veggie burgers, because Comerica Park has cracked PETA’s Top 10 for the first time ever! The Tigers are offering veggie burgers, vegetable stir-fries, vegetable fried rice, fruit trays, Mandarin salad, fish-free California rolls, and meatless taco salad.
• 8. Coors Field (Colorado Rockies)
  Deciding whether or not to trade Matt Holliday before he becomes a free agent in ’09 is a tough call, but choosing Coors Field’s tasty meat-free offerings is a no-brainer. Rockies fans can sample Boca burgers, vegetarian burritos, fruit cups, various salads, veggie wraps, and veggie paninis.
• 9. Turner Field (Atlanta Braves)
  The only things hotter than Chipper Jones’ bat in the ATL this season are the tasty, cruelty-free food choices in the concession stands. Braves fans who are able to Tomahawk Chop their way to the front of the concession line can choose from veggie burgers, veggie dogs, assorted salads, wraps, and fresh fruit cups.
• 10 (tie): Tropicana Field (Tampa Bay Rays)
  Did the Rays’ great selection of cruelty-free food give them enough good karma to get to the top of the baseball heap? Maybe that’s a stretch, but Floridians who love baseball and animals are thrilled at the Rays’ turnaround and the delicious vegetarian food available at the Trop. which includes veggie burgers, various pastas, vegetable crudités, tomato bruschetta, grilled vegetable platter, fruit salad, and strawberries flambé.
• 10 (tie): Chase Field (Arizona Diamondbacks)
  Considering Phoenix was ranked the 12^th fattest city by Men’s Fitness, it’s great that Chase Field offers D-Backs fans delicious low-fat vegetarian food. Fans can get swimsuit-ready for the stadium pool with tasty, low-fat Gardenburgers, fruit and veggie platters, vegetarian burritos, and veggie subs.

Fortunately, these aren’t the only ballparks that have stepped up to the plate when it comes to serving delicious vegetarian options. Here’s a list of honorable mentions and a rundown of the meat-free items on their menus!

Honorable Mention

• Miller Park (Milwaukee Brewers): veggie dogs, veggie wraps, baked potatoes, fried noodles with vegetables, PB&J, various salads
• Minute Maid Park (Houston Astros): veggie dogs, fresh tossed salads, vegetarian wraps, baked potatoes, PB&J, fruit smoothies
• Shea Stadium (New York Mets): veggie dogs, veggie chili, fresh fruit cups, wraps, salads
• Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles Dodgers): veggie dogs, grilled veggie wraps, fruit salads, California chopped salad (spinach leaves, veggies, vinaigrette, nuts), hummus and veggies, whole fruit
• Yankee Stadium (New York Yankees): grilled portobello marinated with balsamic vinaigrette, salad, sliced fresh fruit plate, grilled asparagus platter, pasta station with marinara, Oriental station with vegetable stir-fry, potatoes
• Metrodome (Minnesota Twins): veggie burgers, fruit bowls, Blimpie salads, subs, fruit smoothies
• McAfee Coliseum (Oakland Athletics): veggie dogs, assorted wraps, assorted salads, fresh fruit
• Rangers Ballpark (Texas Rangers): vegetarian burritos, corn on the cob, fruit cups, salads, made-to-order pasta, full salad bar, fresh fruit
• Dolphin Stadium (Florida Marlins): Boca burgers, fruit platter, veggie crudités, potato latkes
• Wrigley Field (Chicago Cubs): Gardenburger, kids’ meal (apple juice, baby carrots, apple slices, PB&J Uncrustables), Greek salad, organic trail mix

Get started on your vegetarian diet today by ordering a free copy of PETA’s “Vegetarian Starter Kit.” It’s loaded with useful tips and information on going vegetarian, plus mouthwatering recipes. Order one now! 

Thanks to Johanna McCloy and Soy Happy for their hard work getting vegetarian items added to menus at ballparks nationwide!