One of the many things I’ve learned the past 8 years working with elementary school kids is not to yuk on someone’s yum. We can like and dislike certain foods without offending each other. I’ve extended this credo to how people watch baseball.

After attending my first Cubs game of the season after a handful of minor league games and a brief discussion with a friend about ballpark concessions and the ease of obtaining them at different ballparks.

Wrigley and Fenway Park are wonderful old ballparks with plenty of quirks, nooks and crannies. However, these peculiarities don’t always lend themselves to easy access for fans wishing to nosh or imbibe during a game. In both cases (and other ballparks) concession stands (and restaurants) are usually located on the concourse-which in the older ballparks-located in the underbellies of the parks where you can’t see the field of play.

As a result, fans have to actively choose between watching the game or standing in a line. Back in the day (pre cashless), things were simpler for fans that wanted to get food/drink and not miss the action because vendors came to the seats. For a few years, one could order nourishment, and it would be delivered. Recently, that practice hasn’t been as effective as conceived.

Even at well attended minor league games, it’s far easier to grab a drink or hotdog without missing an inning of action (even with the shorter games). While there are many drawbacks to the more modern ballparks and their funky designs, I don’t know anyone who doesn’t appreciate the wider aisles and concourses. With concourses overlooking the field (and circling the ballpark completely) it’s far easier to do two things at once.

All of the key publications have reviewed and catalogued the menus at the two local ballparks-with a focus on the new items. The other day, I heard a couple saying they could finally get a Chicago dog at Wrigley. I’m not sure what they were talking about as there have been hotdog stands for years with all of the fixings for a Chicago style dog. As I’ve chronicled in the past, I no longer consume encased meat-and the basic steamed/boiled dog at Wrigley never did it for me. I’m also less interested in sampling fusion food via a ballpark. I’ll leave that to proper restaurants.

If I’m visiting a city and ballpark for the first time, I try and seek out something that more specific to the city or region, but if only I like the concept. For example, I’m in no rush to try scrapple of any ilk at any ballpark in Pennsylvania or New Jersey no matter the clever draw.

Most of the newer parks that I’ve been to in recent years have added sit down restaurants inside the ballpark with packages for the game. Most are pretty pricey, but they offer fans a more comfortable option should the game suffer a rain delay. Unfortunately, some of these are more exclusive (understandably) and regular Joe’s are left congregating in the crowded concourses.

The White Sox and other teams have done a terrific job of introducing new items each year and like an amusement park, they strive for the unusual and create an immediate demand, no matter how unbasebally they may be.

Conversely, I had several older relatives that would never veer from the traditional ballpark fare. Several claimed a hotdog was best enjoyed at a baseball game. Since (in Chicago) hotdog joints are ubiquitous, it must be the comfort food effect. I don’t know anyone who buys packages of salted peanuts for home consumption, but there’s no better deal than the nuts purchased outside the park and who among us doesn’t want to stick it to the owner, just once?

For the most part I think baseball teams do a pretty good job of following food and beverage trends. They are masters of working the margins. As it stands, I expect to finally be in Midland Michigan for a game this weekend. So far, I haven’t seen anything terribly interesting or local on their concession listing.

One thing I’ve gleaned after attending a hundred or so minor league games, the youngest kids cost parents the most money because they have to sample the entire menu. Parents use food as pacifiers-if the kid’s mouth is full, it’s harder to cry/complain. My suggestion, only buy food that you are willing to eat, eventually. Never buy the cotton candy if it’s warm out!

If you’re up and heading to a stand, you can get me an ice cream.