After finally visiting Japan for the first time and seeing NPB games in 2019, this leads to a more in-depth feel and opinions on the structures themselves as with any baseball pilgrimage fan may do.
In this series of stadiums, I'll cover the Kanto portion first where I saw MetLife Dome. Keep in mind, this is all opinion and observations I saw while going around the area.
History:
MetLife Dome was originally an outdoor stadium when the team moved from Fukuoka in 1979. Over the years a roof was added and Daisuke Matsuzaka's posting fee money helped renovate the building over the years with upgrades. The template still remains the same in field dimensions though bullpen box seats were added. Some would say the changes are just lipstick on a pig.
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Pros and Cons:
Pro: There is no bad view from the seat
With only one level of seats and no upper deck/tier, the action to the field is pretty close for baseball standards. If you have an outfield Oendan seat, it's even closer.
Con: You cannot take a whole lap around the stadium
Everyone enters MetLife Dome through the outfield and depending on your ticket, you either go to the first or third base side. There can be different vendors on each side of the stadium while some overlap on both. At the home plate area, you'll be cut off.
Pro: Outdoor surroundings are transparent
The player dorms are literally nextdoor to the stadium and a walkway is public around it (but not goig inside).
The indoor training facility is here to the right, there is even a door where someone could see a player taking batting practice.
MetLife's Dome's exterior can look like a carnival with lots of food concessions and even stands to buy goods. What makes this great is how you don't need a game ticket to have food or other experiences. Just by walking through the area you can have a Lions experience and have quite a few things that are served in the stadium.
The Lions store used to be on the backside behind the indoor skiing facility, but it's now on the front after opening in July of 2019. It's much easier to buy merchandise than before.
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Con: Oendan seats are not seats at all
Ever find it awkward to sit on a hill? Fans who prefer the cheering section don't get their own chairs and will sit on a slope. That being said, no one is obligated to purchase these tickets.
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Con: Outdoor elements can hit the field, walkways
MetLife Dome is not a true dome where the roof is like an umbrella, similar to T-Mobile Park in Seattle. Walking around the outside in the rain will likely lead to being soaked while possibly waiting in line for food. If the wind blows in the right direction, some fans could get wet in the seats.
On a hot day, the humid head will kick in and the place can feel like an oven. Bugs are also notorious for entering the field and stands and can attack from anywhere in the summer.
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Con: The scoreboard is not utilized properly
Probably one of the larger gripes for me is how the scoreboard has technology to be better, but the graphics are very minimal with stats and names. Even showing the opposing team, they won't always match with a photo of the opposing pitcher. As seen here, a black screen is in the middle on purpose and it only flashes the pitch velocity.
Given there could be more details and stats visible, it needs to be better compared to the rest of the field.
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Pro/Con: The Tourism is mostly gone
While there may be foreign fans of NPB around the country, MetLife Dome does not expect them to arrive in Tokorozawa. The English services aren't there and majority of the people don't speak it.
That being said, going to MetLife Dome means it's an authentic experience because you're with locals of mostly West Tokyo, which in the suburbs and away from the main tourist attractions. It just forces you to be on your game with Japanese as there were only a handful of expats and visitors.
Personally, I got a thrill of this being I don't like to do the most tourist thing when traveling where I practiced enough to get around.
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Food/Drink:
The Lions have several stands and food trucks outside MetLife Dome to get a ballpark experience without going to the games. Even tents will sell flags and uniforms so that you don't need to enter the store. Player-themed bento boxes are the most unique thing inside, based on the region or where each player is from. An example shown above is how Sosuke Genda is from Oita prefecture and it's known for a type of fried chicken.
I also purchased a Kona Takahashi themed banana crepe. Lions Yaki (Lions themed Taiyaki) is also available if you purchased tickets on the third base side. They have one main flavor and a special depending on who the opponent is, though it's a long line.
Like any ballpark, it can be costly, but most prices are not gouging except the Bento Boxes. If anyone is in penny pinching mode, a Family Mart is across the street where you can purchase anything and bring it inside the stadium. It's an organized line to get in and out.
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Fan Atmosphere:
It's pretty relative to what is happening in-game, but the Lions use a bass drum sound with minimal sticks unlike other fanbases. The drum sound echoes well throughout the building and people will make noise beyond the Oendan. Is it loud? Not likely in decibels, but given people are there for the game and not distracted by other external things is a plus.
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Access:
Seibu Holdings has a business model to build property and force others to use their trains to get there. MetLife Dome is a primary example of this with Seibu Kyujo-Mae Station being the only direct train station to get to a game. Keep in mind, if you purchased a ticket and need to print it at a 7-11, it has to be done away from MetLife Dome as there are none within the vicinity. Surprisingly the rush and crowds to leave and enter the train station aren't too crazy.
If anyone is taking a tourist to Tokyo, this location is out of the way a good 30+ minutes by train if you're in the main hubs. It's pretty much off the beaten path.
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Extras:
Tokorozawa is home to where the artists of My Neighbor Totoro stood in Hachikokuyama Park. Within MetLife Dome's vicinity is another preserved area called "Totoro's Forest" in English. If anyone is a fan of this movie, it's worth a stop or a short hike through and the authentic park isn't far away either by train.
If anyone has children, you can also visit Seibuen Yuenichi, which is an amusement park also owned by Seibu Holdings.
Tokorozawa has plenty of nature with two lakes within the vicinity of MetLife Dome. It's not a bad hike to walk through and see both Lake Sayama and Lake Tama, though it's hilarious you can't make an exterior lap around the dome itself. A certain walking path can see the backside.
With Tokorozawa being the first area of an air base in Japan, Kokukoen also has an aviation museum and memorial park to walk through. Farm (ni-gun) games are also free if they're at Seibu II, the adjacent farm stadium to MetLife Dome. Be sure to check the schedule if anyone wants to see free baseball.
There are also post-game activities within MetLife Dome on the field. Fans can hangout and throw a pitch off the mound if desired.
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Overall: C+
Given I'm an Oakland A's fan who is used to seeing games in the Oakland Coliseum, which is often rated the worst stadium in MLB, this is a big step up from it. This isn't a flashy building and there is some age to it, but it isn't the dump of the Coliseum.
A few changes to the scoreboard graphics would have given this a B, but the minimalist style hurt the grade because I scorekeep the games and am forced to use my phone for other resources. The authentic feel of being off the beaten path and with locals is what I've enjoyed about this.
Like A's games, you're there primarily for baseball and nothing but the game itself. Sure, some buildings are better looking, but this isn't some unbearable annoying place to navigate.
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