Fans watch Game 1 of the 2001 World Series poolside. Photo: Mike Nelson/AFP via Getty Images
Taking a dip in Chase Field's swimming pool is a bucket list item for many Arizonans who've watched D-Backs fans splashing in the outfield for the past 28 years.
💧 So much so that the novelty inspired a series of April Fools' Day jokes from ASU Athletics yesterday, in which they "announced" a pool viewing area at Mountain America Stadium, hot tub seats at Mullet Arena and a lazy river in the left field of Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
Jokes aside, Chase Field (then Bank One Ballpark) was the first ballpark to feature a pool when it opened in 1998, and remains the only U.S. professional sports facility with one today.
And unlike many gimmicks, this one hasn't lost its luster.
Flashback: Its proximity to the baseball action (415 feet from home plate) garnered lots of intrigue ahead of the Diamondbacks 1998 debut.
Arizona Republic reporter Thomas Ropp did the math and found out the pool was well within the stroke of most major leaguers — "you'd be well advised to concentrate on the game rather than your backstroke," he warned.
And columnist Bill Goodykoontz (who's still on the ballpark pool beat at The Republic) wrote that it'd be easy to splash a visiting outfielder — "I'm not suggesting this, of course."
You tell us: Have you ever watched a game poolside? Ever got hit with a baseball while perfecting your cannonball?
Hit reply and share your story so we can all envy your very-Arizona good fortune.
