Gameday
Are you ready for gameday? Well, you better be, because there’s a LOT going on at Truist Park when the Braves are in town. And it all centers around The Battery, which has more options to get you into the mood for some baseball than you are probably expecting.
If you’re not familiar, The Battery is the complex surrounding Truist Park that has it all: restaurants, bars, shopping, hotels, residences, spaces to hang out, spaces to be entertained … everything. There’s indoor and outdoor dining for quick bites or full meals, walk up bars for you to grab a beverage to stroll around with, retail shops, games, a mechanical bull, a splash fountain for the kids, a cigar bar, and so much more. So be prepared to show up early and/or stick around late – there’s a lot to do!
What to do in the battery
Starting your baseball day early in The Battery is a great idea. But do the math: if you want to be inside the stadium at gates open, which is two hours before first pitch (except for weekday games), then you may want to start your day at the Battery as much as four or five hours before game time. So for a 7:20 Friday/Saturday game, you may want to be at The Battery around 3-3:30 if you really want to explore it. And make no mistake – you could go earlier and not run out of things to do.
And what are some of those things?
Eat
Well, you can eat. For local bites and brews, stop by Terrapin Taphouse & Fox Bros. BBQ., and the chips and salsa from the El Felix Taco Truck are a great deal for $3. Or consider heading to Antico’s, a well known-Atlanta staple, for a classic Italian pizza. It may sound generic, but their Margherita pizza is the top choice. But there are plenty of other options, and there’s little doubt that you’ll be able to find something for everyone. Check out the list of dining options in the Battery here.
Shop
Next, you can shop. There’s a variety of stores at the Battery, but one worth checking out is the Baseballism store. You’ve probably seen them in other cities (and online), but in each local store they usually have some ballpark-specific goods. So if you’d like that 404 souvenir, this is a decent place to look. Here’s the full list of the Battery’s shops.
Grab a drink
Of course you can also grab a drink from one of the walk-up bars, and open-container wandering is perfectly fine at The Battery. Whether it’s a Terrapin Beer (like the Braves-inspired Los Bravos), or a margarita, or an ice-cold Atlanta-headquartered Coca-Cola, it’ll probably hot out, so make sure you stay hydrated.
Other things to check out
And while you’re roaming around, there are other things to do/see. The Braves have a drumline, the Heavy Hitters, who perform prior to each home game, and there’s also live music in the Battery before every Saturday game as well. Going to a Sunday game? Braves alumni host autograph sessions prior to each Sunday game in the Battery, and it’s free!
There is a ton of stuff packed into a relatively small space here, which is good, because it means that you can check it all out. But that will definitely take some time, so we would suggest that for one game you head to the ballpark really early to give yourself the time to do it right.
But… don’t completely overdo it in The Battery. Save some room for eating and drinking in the ballpark!
Batting practice and autographs
Gates open two hours prior to first pitch on the weekend, but just 80 minutes prior for weekday games. This leaves a short window for catching batting practice or getting autographs. You’ll have until one hour prior to first pitch to hang out at field level before they start checking tickets and clearing people out, so that’s your window to try to snag some autographs.
Now, if you really want to see the full batting practice, there is a special ticket for a VIP batting practice experience that will get you into the park three hours before gametime, and you’ll be able to watch 45-60 minutes of the Braves BP and 15-30 minutes of the visiting team’s BP from the warning track (on the field) behind home plate (note: if the visiting team chooses not to take BP, there’s no refund. So if you’re here to see the visitors, be aware of that). But this isn’t cheap: it runs anywhere from $105-145, depending on the game, and that doesn’t include your game ticket. So it’s up to you to decide if that’s worth it. For more info or to buy tickets, click here.
Things to see inside the park
What to eat
Want to sit down for a meal? Make the Chop House your first stop inside the ballpark. It’s a full service restaurant and tables are first come, first get. There’s also a great bar with high tops if you’re wanting just a beverage or quick bite before the game.
Looking for specialty food options? You can find vegan, vegetarian and pescatarian options at the ChopHouse, Terrapin Taphouse, or the Slutty Vegan (near section 145/146).
Where to grab a drink
Terrapin Taphouse
Just inside the Chop House gate on the 100 level is Terrapin Taphouse & Fox Bros. BBQ. Terrapin has a large selection of beer, including several that are brewed on-site, including their Los Bravos!
Blue Moon Beer Garden
Xfinity Rooftop Lounge
Kids Activities
Traveling with kids? There’s no shortage of activities to keep them occupied. If it’s a hot day, there’s a free splash pad in the Battery just outside the Chop House Gate. But just inside the ballpark to the right of the Chop House Gate is The Sandlot, one of the most impressive kids areas you’ll find at any stadium. It has an actual zipline (see the pictures), arcade games, batting cages, and there’s even a kid’s themed concession stand and Braves Clubhouse store just for kids.
Activities start at $2. You can easily spend a lot of time in this area, so if you think you might go back and forth from this area during the game, we suggest grabbing seats in sections 152-155 to be close by (or for shade try the higher rows of sections 144-145). Note that the activities in Sandlot are FREE for Sunday games. But while free sounds nice, expect long waiting times and a very crowded space.
TSI TIP: The kids meal at the concession is easily the best deal (for both kids AND adults) at $10 for a hot dog, bucket of popcorn and a fountain drink.
Blooper the mascot
Keep an eye out for the Braves mascot, Blooper, who wanders around Truist Park during home games, but makes scheduled appearances in the Sandlot. Most appearances are prior to first pitch, plus one usually in the 4th inning. Appearance times are posted on the wall outside the entrance to Blooper’s Clubhouse. If you’re celebrating something special, you can get a scoreboard message and an in-seat visit by Blooper for $150.
Things to buy
Just outside the entrance to the main Braves Clubhouse is a Braves Foundation kiosk where you can grab a unique souvenir. They have mystery autographed balls for $75.
First game certificate
Want to document your first game at Truist Park? First Game Certificates are only available online by filling out a short form, but it doesn’t have to be done on game day.
Bottom Line
You won’t be hard pressed to find plenty to eat, drink, and do before a game. We suggest you make time to explore the Battery before entering the ballpark, then enter the ballpark when gates open for time to walk around and take in all the venue has to offer. And if you’re someone who enjoys a good ballpark hot dog, don’t miss the kids meal available only at the Sandlot concession stand. It’s the best deal in the house.
