By: TJ Hartnett

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

On Saturday March 25, the Braves opened up SunTrust Park to a few thousand fans to get a first look at the new stadium before the games start on the 31^st with an exhibition game against the Yankees.

I was one of the happy few who was admitted. Stakes are high for the Braves with their brand-new complex – one that not only includes their new ballpark but also contains The Battery Atlanta, a mixed-use development of shopping, dining, office buildings and apartments.

The decision to move from Turner Field and into Cobb County was not without its’ controversies, so Braves president John Schuerholz and the rest of Atlanta’s top brass surely want this new venture to stun its patrons.

I can say without reservation that it does not disappoint. The park itself is beautiful, the outside covered in brick, Braves and SunTrust Park logos. Mercifully, there are also entrances on all sides of the park so people should be able to get into the park a little more swiftly than they could at Turner Field’s outfield-only entrance.

Once you get inside there is plenty to see. The walkways are wide and populated with food and shops and sights to see. One of the first things I walked by was the new Braves Monument Garden, a fairly blatant rip-off of the Yankees’ Monument Grove in New York – but it’s a gorgeous little walkthrough area with jerseys, busts and other cool sights from Braves history’s greatest. Unfortunately, the main path through the garden was closed off, but I glimpsed enough to be impressed.

The field itself is a beauty and while the outfield dimensions haven’t been altered much, there were a few notable changes. My eye was immediately drawn to the tall evergreen trees and waterfall in the center of the outfield. Clearly inspired by Colorado’s similar setup, it’s a cool feature of the new park.

The right field wall has been elevated; don’t expect to see robbed homeruns out there going forward. However, that change was made in the name of the fan experience. You can now hang out underneath the relocated Chop House (above right field) where you sit at ground level and can watch the game from practically on the field. Needless to say, Nick Markakis is not going to feel lonely in right this year and opposing outfielders are going to have hecklers basically breathing down their neck.

It’s not just those lucky enough to get a seat down there that have a great view. The park is built in a way that every seat feels close to the action, and it is clear and effective. The levels are all stacked as close to the field as possible, and it really doesn’t seem like there will be a bad view in the house.

SunTrust is 10,000 seats smaller than Turner Field, which is also noticeable but it creates a more intimate feel.

Football is meant to be played on a huge scale, but baseball works best when you can truly feel the game. It’s closer to the kind of atmosphere that Wrigley Field maintains and I can’t wait to see it packed out.

The Battery is also a sight to behold. It remains largely unfinished, but the broad strokes are there and it looks great. Once the finishing touches get put on I think it’s safe to say that people will be enjoying the area regardless of whether there is a game, or even if it’s baseball season.

The Braves put on this little open house to showcase their new jewel and it really impressed me. I’ve been to a handful of MLB stadiums and while Turner Field was nothing to be embarrassed about, it became dated quickly. SunTrust Park is going to rank among the finest ballparks in the game.

Now let’s play ball.