Although Panama is located in Central America , during the winter months soccer takes a back seat to the Panamanian National Baseball League. With 10 teams in the league, each province has representation. I've been lucky enough to attend numerous games here in Panama City and highly recommend it to anyone who visits. It is an experience unlike any baseball game you can experience in the States.
Most recently I attended semi-final game 7 between Chiriqui and Los Santos. It was a game that would decide who attended the National Championship for the 2006 season. Baseball in Panama is followed by people from all corners of the country and is enjoyed at the game, in bars and at homes by people young and old. For this last game we left our regular bar in a Chivas Parrandaras. This is an old Blue Bird school bus that has been converted into the ultimate party mobile. The seats have been moved out of the center onto the sides and the equivalent of stripper poles have been erected in the center. The windows have had their glass removed and both doors are gone. We boarded along with a bartender and an eight piece band. The experience had begun.
The baseball stadium in Panama City is located just outside the stadium. In 2004 it was renamed Estadio Rod Carew after the Panamanian ballplayer who is a now in the Hall of Fame. It is the national stadium and on this night it was packed. The size of a small MLB stadium, Panama 's gem of baseball is an imposing sight at night, illuminated and surrounded by thousands of cars and people. There are two tickets available for purchase, a $2 bleacher seat and a $4 normal stadium seat. We elected to buy the concrete bleacher seats, as you spend as little time as possible at a Panamanian baseball game actually in your seat.
Beers are $1 and beer venders walk around in neon green shirts hawking the ice cold "cerveza" from buckets hanging off their arms. The fact that beer is so inexpensive and comes in clear plastic cups leads to celebratory beer projectiles after good plays or home runs. Just thinking about the fact that I could drink a six pack at the stadium for less than the price of a beer at a game at home made the experience worth it. We entered the stadium with the band in tow and quickly set up in the heart of the Chiriqui fans.
The game was a blast, everyone was dancing, the band was playing, beer was flying and the team we were rooting for won 11-3 to enter the national championship series. After the game on the ride home, the excitement was still palpable with the band droning on and two buckets of beer on the floor of the bus. If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend attending a Panamanian baseball game.
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