Turner Field guide: Amid changes, fun times planned at old ballpark

PREVIEW

Atlanta Braves’ opening homestand

7:35 p.m. Friday, 7:10 p.m. Saturday and 1:35 p.m. Sunday vs. the New York Mets. 7:10 p.m. April 13-14 and 12:10 p.m. April 15 vs. the Miami Marlins. Turner Field, 755 Hank Aaron Drive S.E., Atlanta. Tickets start at $6 at atlanta.braves.mlb.com.

GWINNETT, ROME BRAVES AT A GLANCE

Several of the Atlanta Braves’ offseason trades helped restock its minor league system with prospects. For fans who want a glimpse of the future today, two of those farm teams are easy for metro residents to access.

The Gwinnett Braves, in Atlanta’s northern suburbs, play not even 45 minutes from Turner Field. And the Rome Braves are less than two hours north of Atlanta, up I-75 between Cartersville and Chattanooga. Gwinnett competes in the Class Triple-A International League while Rome plays in the Class Single-A South Atlantic League.

Here’s the essential info to plan a visit:

Gwinnett Braves

Stadium: Coolray Field, 2500 Buford Drive, Lawrenceville

Upcoming home games: Home opener: 7:05 p.m. Thursday. Also: 7:05 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:05 p.m. Sunday vs. the Durham Bulls. 6:35 p.m. April 13-14 vs. Norfolk Tides. 6:35 p.m. April 15-16 vs. Charlotte Knights.

Upcoming promotions: Fireworks follow every Friday night home game. Sundays are Family Fundays, with pregame catch in the outfield for 20 minutes starting when gates open. Kids 12 and under get to run the bases after the game. 7:05 p.m. May 2 is Star Wars Night, when fans can get pictures with favorite characters, enjoy lightsaber battles and more. 2:05 p.m. May 3: Bark in the Park.

Tickets: $8-$18; general admission lawn seating, $6.

Information: 678-277-0340, www.gwinnettbraves.com

Rome Braves

Stadium: State Mutual Stadium, 755 Braves Blvd., Rome

Upcoming home games: Home opener: 7 p.m. Thursday. Also: 7 p.m. Friday, 6 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday vs. Asheville Tourists. 7 p.m. April 13-14 and 1 p.m. April 15 vs. Savannah Sand Gnats.

Upcoming promotions: Friday: beach bucket giveaway. Saturday: fireworks. May 8: Atlanta Braves alumni appearance. May 23: superhero night, including appearance by Batman.

Tickets: $6-$10, $4-$5 general admission.

Information: 706-368-9388, www.romebraves.com

With SunTrust Park under construction in Cobb County, the Atlanta Braves underwent an offseason roster deconstruction like few since the team moved south in 1966.

When the Braves opened their season Friday against the New York Mets, the roster was strikingly different from the one that started strong but tailspinned late last season.

While the roster renovation was set in motion by management’s determination to rearm in time for the new stadium’s opening in 2017, there are still two seasons to play at Turner Field.

Because of SunTrust Park taking shape up I-75, fans inevitably will find fewer major changes at Turner Field, but there will be plenty that’s new at the “Home of the Braves” since 1997 nonetheless. With 81 regular season games about to commence, there is much planned to keep fans entertained deep into the summer.

Here’s a guide to fun at the old ballpark:

Gates will open three hours before game time (7:35 p.m.) this Friday, and Ed Roland and the Sweet Tea Project will give an hourlong pregame performance starting at 5:15 p.m. in Fan Plaza.

On the field, a special pregame ceremony celebrating the Braves’ 50th year in Atlanta will start at 7 p.m. (with fans encouraged to be in their seats by 6:45). Expect video highlights and appearances by retired Braves greats Hank Aaron, Phil Niekro, Dale Murphy, Fred McGriff, Sid Bream and Chipper Jones, former manager Bobby Cox and Bill Bartholomay, the executive who was key in moving the Milwaukee team south.

Atlanta Opera tenor Timothy Miller will perform “God Bless America” during the seventh-inning stretch.

Fireworks follow the game.

Everything from Chick-fil-A and Waffle House to Sweetwater Brewing and Rathbun Steakhouse will be back, and there are several additions to the concessions menu:

• Wing Diner at Section 102 will offer tossed-to-order wings in mango habanero, buffalo or lemon pepper sauce.

• Funnel cake sundaes will be served in souvenir Braves helmets at Section 129.

• Fielder's Choice: Keep it light at this cart at Section 102, with selections including entree salads and grilled sandwiches.

• King of Pops: The popular frozen pops will be available at sections 105, 233 and 402.

• Red Hare has designed a new beer, National Common, to pair with the park's famed H&F Burgers. Purchase a cup at all three H&F locations (sections 104, 150 and 151).

• New Amsterdam Bar: Liquor-only bar pours at Section 222.

• The former Taco Mac Family Zone in Fan Plaza is now Hope and Will's Dugout. Presented by Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, the area features a treehouse with a slide, Xbox games, claw machines and a small baseball field where kids can run and play.

• Returning family-friendly spots include: Coca-Cola Sky Field along the left field corner of the upper deck, featuring a base path for kids, a picnic pavilion, a striking view of Atlanta's downtown skyline and a Jolly Green Giant-scaled Coke bottle; and Scouts Alley in the left field concourse where kids can play four interactive games that test their pitching and hitting abilities.

• Band of the Year: Each Saturday, 90 minutes before first pitch, fans can enjoy a pregame performance in Fan Plaza by Band of the Year contestants. The Alex Guthrie Band, 2014 Band of the Year winner, kicks things off Saturday.

• Summer Concert Series: Initial bookings include British pop singer Charli XCX (June 10) and R&B stalwarts Boyz II Men (June 20), both appearing postgame, with more to be announced.

• Postgame concert: Contemporary Christian artist Tenth Avenue North performs May 24, after the Braves-Milwaukee Brewers game.

• Friday night fireworks return, following every Friday home game of the season.

• Alumni Sundays: Starting two hours before every Sunday home game, fans can queue up for autographs of former players in Fan Plaza.

• Kids Run the Bases: After every Sunday home game, children 14 and under can run the bases (line up at the Hank Aaron Ramp, Section 129).

• Magnetic schedules will be given out Friday night and Saturday.

• There will be four of the popular bobblehead giveaways to the first 20,000 fans each game: Javy Lopez (May 20), David Justice (June 9), new Baseball Hall of Fame inductee John Smoltz (Aug. 14) and Julio Teheran (Sept. 10).

• On Freeman Sleeve Day, May 3, a special package ($27 outfield to $46 terrace infield) includes a game ticket and a pair of Freddie Freeman arm sleeves, with a portion of every ticket going to support the first-baseman's designated charity, the Melanoma Research Foundation.

• The first 20,000 fans on July 18 will receive a NAPA Auto Parts cap.

• A World Series replica ring will be given to the first 20,000 fans on Aug. 8.

• On Aug. 29, the first 20,000 fans will receive a MLB Network Tote Bag.

• Bark in the Park: Bring man's (and woman's) best friend with you on May 3 or Sept. 20 by purchasing a special ticket ($32). Packages include a Braves-themed dog bowl and access to a specified pooch-friendly play area.

• Paint in the Park: On April 12, Aug. 16 and Sept. 13, fans who've purchased a special ticket package ($75) can partake of a postgame painting class (with cash bar available) hosted by Sips n Strokes.

• Military Appreciation Nights: Marking the 40th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, the Braves will honor those who fought during that conflict on May 6. In honor of Memorial Day, the Braves on May 23 will salute the men and women who serve in our nation's military and remember those who have fallen while serving. Active military and veterans also will be honored on Aug. 15.

A special ticket package ($23 Upper Box to $28 Outfield Pavilion) will be available for all three appreciation nights that includes a Braves camouflage shirt and Braves military coin.

• A Fourth of July fireworks show will follow that night's game against the Philadelphia Phillies.

• The Braves' annual Alumni Weekend, Aug. 7-9, will celebrate a half-century of Atlanta Braves baseball and the 20th anniversary of the 1995 Braves World Series champion team. On Aug. 8, the Legends Game will pit players from the '95 World Series team against alumni from many seasons. Former Braves players will sign autographs in Fan Plaza for an hour before the Aug. 7 game. Check for times closer to the weekend at braves.com.

The Braves Museum and Hall of Fame is offering two new exhibits paying tribute to the Braves’ five decades in Atlanta:

• "Homes of the Braves," featuring photographs and information on all five ballparks the Braves have called home in Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta, along with the shovel Hank Aaron used for the groundbreaking of SunTrust Park.
• "50 Years in Atlanta," artifacts and photos highlighting great Braves moments.

The museum also offers Turner Field tours, available at 9 and 10:30 a.m., noon and 1:30 and 3 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and 1 and 2:30 p.m. on off Sundays (no tours are offered on Sunday game days or on days of afternoon games). $17, $13 ages 10-13, $9 ages 3-9 at www.braves.com/tours or at the main ticket window. Free parking is available on non-game days in the Turner Field Green Lot, corner of Hank Aaron Drive and Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard.

• Upgraded Wi-Fi: Turner Field has upgraded its services to have 10 times the user capacity and a speed 30 times faster than last season.

• iBeacon Challenge: Piedmont Healthcare is sponsoring a #livingbetter challenge to fans, encouraging walking, via the MLB.com Ballpark App (available only on iPhones running iOS 7 or above; Bluetooth needs to be turned on). As participants move around the ballpark and check into the beacons, fun facts and stories about the team and Turner Field will pop up. The first fan checking into at least five of the 11 points of interests wins a prize at Fan Central (Section 126).

• Coca-Cola $12 Tuesdays: Discounted Club Pavilion tickets are available every Tuesday.

• All You Can Eat Seats: For group tickets starting at $55 each, fans can enjoy unlimited smoked barbecue sandwiches, chicken wings, all-beef franks, potato salad, peanuts, popcorn, chocolate chip cookies, Coca-Cola drinks and draft beer.