The huge ballpark with more than 50,000 seats that the Toronto Blue Jays called Sky Dome when it first opened in 1989 had no shortage of ground-breaking features.
It was not only the first retractable-roof baseball stadium, but it also had a hotel that was practically built into the park, allowing visitors to watch a game from the comfort of their own room.
Similar changes were made to baseball parks' environments when the Baltimore Orioles opened Camden Yards three years later.
Visitors were welcomed by the famous warehouse in right field and the joyous game-day atmosphere on Eutaw Street, which served as a model for dozens of other Major League Baseball teams over the course of the next three decades.
Other teams have sought to improve the ballpark experience since the opening of these two stadiums by building "baseball villages" right next to the field.
As a result, there are now several hotels close to ballparks, some of which feature rooms with a complete view of the diamond.
There are now many options for watching a game without entering a ballpark, even though Rogers Centre (today's name for Toronto's Sky Dome) continues to be the club known for turning up the room-service experience by adding a side of baseball to it.
But are accommodations with stadium views worthwhile?
In order to discover out, I choose to experiment with a ballpark-view stay in St. Louis, one of the most legendary baseball cities in America.
Initial impressions of the hotel Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark
It is immediately apparent when entering the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark that the hotel enjoys its close proximity to Busch Stadium.
Despite being next to the Gateway Arch, the city's most recognizable landmark on the Mississippi River, the hotel's design is focused on the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team.
There are baseball cards and pictures of famous people who have contributed to the Cardinals' historic history, which includes 11 world titles, displayed in the foyer.
While checking in, you'll probably notice dozens of fans roaming around in red (the team's color), adding to the game-day atmosphere.
As soon as you walk into your room, you'll see more of the same.
The walls display anything from old-fashioned game-day memorabilia like a 10-cent program from the 1953 Cardinals season to black-and-white pictures of retired players.
If the curtains are closed when you first enter your room (as they were for me because of the oppressively hot weather that exceeded 100 degrees when I was there), immediately turn on the air conditioning and open them to take in as much of the breathtaking view of Busch Stadium as you can.
However, keep in mind that there are additional locations you'll want to visit while playing the game.
How to participate in the game best
Although you could easily stay in your room the entire game, it would be a mistake not to start the day at this Hilton outpost's biggest amenity: its rooftop bar.
The Three Sixty bar provides the perfect game-day ambiance as it overlooks both the Gateway Arch and the ballpark, as well as Baseball Village's nearby attractions (think: bars, restaurants, entertainment venues, and more).
The 360-degree views from the bar are expected to be appealing to baseball enthusiasts as well.
I advise arriving here to settle in about 30 minutes prior to the start of the game and remaining for the first two innings.
With the venue's choice of regional beers, inexpensive wines by the glass, and traditional and elevated dishes like burgers, wings, pizzas, a charcuterie board, and General Tso's steamed buns, you could sit on the cushioned chairs and couches by the transparent railing and take advantage of a sort of happy hour.
Or, like I did, you may enjoy an equally stunning view from one of the stools that line the edge of the rooftop.
As the game started, I could make out the players, the spectators, and the activity on the field, but it was more difficult to make out specifics like whether a pitch was correctly declared a strike.
If I had one criticism of the rooftop bar, it would be that it played loud music long after the game had started.
I suppose the acoustics in the region would have allowed some of the ballpark's atmosphere to reach us on the roof if it weren't for the music playing over the speakers, given the tall buildings around.
The absence of food at the bar the night I arrived because of a corporate event nearby and strong winds on the roof was another potential drawback.
But since I had already made the decision to go back to my room for a portion of the game, this didn't really become a problem for me.
I made the decision to get some food to go from the lobby bar, where the game was shown on the large screen (it was now in the second inning), before going back.
I was more than satisfied because the lobby bar's selection of appetizers and meals cost substantially less ($10 to $14) than what I would pay if I were eating in the stadium.
Even though eating fish tacos and pretzel knots in a hotel room isn't quite the same as eating a hot dog at a stadium, I couldn't complain about the extra Hilton Honors points I was getting from the food I had charged to my room.
After returning to my room with my supper, I watched a few more innings there.
The perspective was unbeatable, despite the fact that it was probably lot quieter than what I would experience in a ballpark.
Put the game on your in-room TV to have some crowd noise in the background if you want a little more atmosphere while you watch.
It was time to watch the game inside the stadium after I finished my supper.
After all, if I was going to go all this way only to watch a game, I might as well take in some of it from the ballpark.
I could then experience it to its fullest while crossing off baseball stadium No. 15 from my travel wish list of seeing all 30 of the league's active parks.
I therefore took the seven-minute stroll across the street to the ballpark to witness more of the game.
You can better understand how close the hotel is from a seat on the top deck of the stadium because you can see it just beyond left field.
While I enjoyed the views from my room and the hotel's rooftop, nothing quite compares to taking in at least some of the action from the stands.
Even if you're not a die-hard baseball fan, you really can't ask for a finer night, what with the crack of the bat and the roar of the crowd.
However, for those who are less concerned with the atmosphere of the ballpark, the hotel is a fantastic choice.
Those who want to leave early to avoid one of my least favorite aspects of attending a sporting event—the post-event walk, traffic, and ride home—as well as families with young fans, guests with early morning flights the next day, and others are also perfect candidates.
What to expect in terms of price
You might not pay that much more for a room at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark hotel with a ballpark view than you would for a basic room, even on a game night, depending on when you stay.
This might be as a result of the fact that the majority of other rooms provide similarly appealing views of the Gateway Arch.
On a night when the Cardinals face their National League rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers, you'll see, for instance, that "stadium view" and "arch view" rooms have the same beginning price of $340.
However, be aware that similar facilities in other league locations may charge extra for lodgings with stadium views.
It is so at the Toronto Marriott City Centre Hotel by Rogers Centre, where rates practically quadruple when you reserve a view of the field that is, admittedly, much closer to the action than the hotel in St. Louis.
In conclusion
There is no real substitute for watching a game while sitting inside a ballpark, according to this ardent baseball fan.
You won't be able to recreate the atmosphere of the game from a hotel down the street, for sure.
But staying at a hotel like the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark provides you the opportunity to fully appreciate the experience of everything that goes into game day.
Whether you want to simplify the logistics of your trip or bookend the game with pre- or post-game beverages with a view, watching players round the bases from a hotel can be a terrific way to enjoy America's national sport.
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