Sports
Braves: If you go
April 7, 2014 - Atlanta - New exhibits in the stadium’s Braves museum include a Braves-in-Cooperstown display. Forty years ago Tuesday night — April 8, 1974 — Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s career home run record by hitting No. 715 over the fence in left-center field at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. New exhibits in the stadium’s Braves museum include displays celebrating the 40th anniversary of Aaron’s No. 715 and the 100th anniversary of the (Boston) Braves’first World Series championship in 1914. A Braves-in-Cooperstown display will honor 2014 National Baseball Hall of Fame inductees Bobby Cox, Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux. Ground crew members kept the infield covered in advance of Tuesday's season home opener at Turner field in Atlanta. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM
- Arrive early: A large crowd is expected and fans are encouraged to arrive early. Parking lots will open at 2 p.m. and the gates to Turner Field will open at 4 p.m. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m.
- Parking reminder: Fans must pre-purchase parking passes via www.braves.com/parking. Braves parking lots will be "permit only."
- MARTA shuttle: If you don't have pre-purchased parking, consider using alternate transportation to Turner Field. The MARTA Braves shuttle begins running 90 minutes prior to first pitch from the Underground Atlanta/Five Points MARTA station to Turner Field. Shuttles back to MARTA continue until one hour after the final out.
- Bus service: For those fans who may want to get to at the ballpark before shuttle begins its game operation, MARTA recommends catching any one of three other available bus routes — No. 32, No. 49 or No. 55. All three lines may be caught at the Five Points MARTA station and stop at points adjacent to Turner Field (i.e. Hank Aaron Drive, Pollard Boulevard).
- Ticket windows, kiosks: Will open at 9:30 a.m. for fans seeking to purchase any remaining reserved seats, standing room only tickets ($20) or to pick up pre-purchased tickets. They will remain open until the end of the 6th inning.
- Take a seat: Be in your seat by 6:15 p.m. for the special pregame ceremonies honoring the 40th anniversary of Hank Aaron's record-setting home run No. 715.
- Gate giveaway: A commemorative poster of Aaron will be presented to the first 45,000 fans.
- Pregame concert: Kristian Bush, half of the award-winning duo Sugarland, will perform in the Fan Plaza.
- Banner day: The Braves will unveil their 2013 NL East championship banner.
- National anthem: Kristian Bush has double duty as he performs the national anthem.
- 7th inning stretch: The popular Timothy Miller from the Atlanta Opera will sing "God Bless America."
- Get your app ready: At the Ballpark app has a check-in offer. Every 40th person to check in will receive a $40 Racetrac giftcard in honor of the 40th anniversary of Hank Aaron's No. 715.
- Batting practice apparel: The Braves will reprise an old look with new caps for their pregame work. Similar to those the team wore in the 1970s, the caps have a red, lower-case "a" outlined in white and blue on a white background. To match the current color scheme, the bill and back half of the cap are a darker blue than the 1970s model. New batting practice jerseys are navy on the front and sleeves with a red back.
- Phone charging stations: Five charging stations, each with multiple outlets, have been installed around the ballpark for fans to juice their smartphone batteries.
- Concessions lineup changes: Sweetwater Brewing takes over the beer island in the center of the fan plaza. Rita's Italian Ice will have four stands on the concourses.
