Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57
Parque Zaragoza 2608 Gonzales St. Austin, TX 78702
Year Opened: 1948 Capacity: 500
Weirdos Bring Baseball to Austin
The Austin Weirdos began operations in the Pecos League in 2022 and called Parque Zaragosa its home field. The club was to have played elsewhere for its inaugural season but was unable to secure a location. Perhaps that is why Zaragosa feels a bit different compared to several other ballparks in the league.
However, Weirdos management wants to make Austin it's home for the foreseeable future and perhaps add a little flare to the proceedings that could include pre-game concerts, a grill, and a mascot for all games. If you are a fan of bare-bones baseball, then this will be your cup of tears for now.
Food & Beverage 1
It is BYOB for all home games, but the team offers cans of beer for a small donation. The beer, along with small bags of chips, is situated on the bed of a pickup truck. However, there is nowhere else where food or drinks are available inside the stadium. An ice cream truck made an appearance in the parking lot, much to the delight of the fans. Management would like to include a grill down the 1st base side for future games, but bring food or eat before attending a Weirdos game.
Atmosphere 2
The ballpark consists of one small wooden grandstand that is covered but does not wrap around like a traditional baseball structure. It is said that it was erected over 70 years but feels somewhat older than a 1940’s era edifice. There is an old wooden sign that reads the name of the stadium that appears to be rotting away.
The rest of the ballpark feels more like a city field that consists of large trees behind the visitors’ dugout and an incomplete fence down the right field line. The home team will set up lawn chairs to view the game, while the away team will prop themselves up on the thick tree trunks protected by its shade of leaves.
There are also a lot of open spaces down the right field side where a few fans bring their lawn chairs to enjoy the contest, much like a collegiate game during the school year. The team sells a sharp-looking and very well-made cap that is both trippy and spacey. However, no other merchandise is available at the game.
Neighborhood 4
The ballpark is located in East Austin which is known for its various outdoor patio restaurants that are all located on Cesar Chavez Street. Visitors can choose from Mexican, barbecue, Peruvian, microbreweries, and even pizza.
De Nada Cantina offers tacos wrapped in homemade blue corn tortillas, some of the town’s best Margaritas, and plenty of cool mists to cool you off. Across the street, is Central Machine Works, a microbrewery beer hall that serves New York-style pizza that’s located in a converted machine works factory with a massive outdoor patio. The lager and pilsner are ideal for a hot summer evening.
Tillery Kitchen & Bar (Mediterranean) and Jacoby’s (American) are two other outdoor patio options. One of the city’s best places for brisket and smoked sausage is La Barbecue which does not run out by the early afternoon. Llama Kid has a lively outdoor eating section with delicious Peruvian cuisine.
The Weirdos play during June and July, and that provides the opportunity for a chance to check out Austin FC at Q2 Stadium or the Round Rock Express a few miles north at the Dell Diamond. If you’re lucky, the Texas Longhorns could be hosting a regional game at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in the early part of June.
Fans 2
The Weirdos are a brand new team at the time of our review and the fanbase is not quite there at the moment. The ones who do come out enjoy the game from underneath the covered grandstand, but the team knows it will need a little more marketing to attract a few more fans to home games.
Access 4
There is a small parking lot directly in front of the stadium, along with parking behind the outfield wall along the street. The outfield parking is protected by a massive net. Once inside the venue, the small grandstand is easy to access along with port-a-johns down the 1st base side.
Return on Investment 2
The price of a ticket is $10, standard in the Pecos League from what we have seen in our travels to other venues (it’s the same in Weimar for a Hormigas game). The team does offer donations in return for a can of beer outside the entrance of the stadium. The only merchandise the club sells are ball caps that are $30, but they are very stylish and represent the city quite well.
Extras 3
The Weirdos earn points for their stylish uniforms and caps, beer donations that help out the players, and the ice cream truck that pays a visit to the parking lot to offer some sweet treats.
Final Thoughts
Parque Zaragoza was not the intended place to call home for the ball club. Management acknowledged that adding a grill for food, pre-game concerts, and a mascot would improve the experience. However, the team’s branding is on point with the city’s slogan, “Keep Austin Weird.” If they can find a way to make the ball games a bit weirder in the future, perhaps they will tap into that market.