7 smokin’ hot new BBQ-fusion baseball eats at minor league ballparks

“For many fans, minor league games offer a more intimate and accessible experience compared to Major League Baseball,” according to fanarch.com. A setting like that is a great place to try menu items that may otherwise exist off the beaten path. OVG Hospitality, the food and beverage division of Oak View Group, has shared a few of its rookie menu items, and they seem to foretell a summer of fun for fans of the Rome Emperors, the Altoona Curve and more.

Served at Momentum Bank Ballpark in Midland, Texas, home of the Midland RockHounds, this Tex-Mex icon is fully loaded with smoky pulled pork, melty cheese, tangy barbecue sauce and green onions with a dollop of sour cream.

Another from Momentum Bank Ballpark, this sandwich pays tribute to the one true meaning of barbecue in Texas: Brisket. It’s slow cooked, piled high and topped with barbecue sauce for a real taste of the Lonestar State.

Served at Peoples Natural Gas (PNG) Field in Altoona, Pennsylvania, home of the Altoona Curve, these fries are infused with Old Bay seafood seasoning and topped with velvety Monterey Jack cheese.

Also at PNG Field, these fries pay tribute to a classic local sandwich. You may have heard of it? The Philly! This version includes the steak slices, cheese sauce and the option for sauteed peppers and onions.

New at Harbor Park in Norfolk, Virginia, home of the Norfolk Tide, Lumpia is a snacky Filipino roll-up in a crispy spring roll filled with savory beef or veggies with a sweet and sour dipping sauce.

Also at Harbor Park, this classic barbecue plate includes the classic components and a choice of three sauces: Sweet Baby Rays, honey mustard and chef-made vinegar mop.

Featured at Advent Health Stadium in Rome, Georgia, home of the Rome Emperors, this is a double bacon cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato and onion, served with a side of fries. There’s also Julius’ Catch, a triple fish filet sandwich, also served in a mini batting helmet.