Whoever Said Pasta Isn't The Perfect Ballpark Food Is A Liar

A fun evening out rooting for your hometown team can seem like an extravagance in today's economy. Besides dynamic pricing, you have draft beer, unique hot dogs, and ice cream in plastic helmets — all at a premium. A draft beer cost an average of $6.87 last year, and a hot dog ranged from $2 to $7.50, depending on which ballpark you're at.

A Baltimore-based couple saved some money by bringing spaghetti to Camden Yards, home of the Baltimore Orioles. While it's not the best snack for a summer baseball game, you have to give credit where it's due — it's pretty genius, not to mention frugal. One half of the couple, a reporter for The Baltimore Banner, wrote about the experience. She mentioned that security guards didn't bat an eye when she and her boyfriend entered with two Ziploc bags full of spaghetti. It turns out that Camden Yards is pretty chill about bringing your own food and drink. As long as it's in a 1-gallon freezer bag, and the drinks are nonalcoholic and sealed, you're good to go. The couple even got a shoutout on Twitter from the Orioles, and one more guy was spotted with a Ziploc of spaghetti by the Orioles' TikTok account. No word yet on if these people are just being frugal or are "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" fans.

Spaghetti in a Ziploc is pretty novel, but for those not in the know, spaghetti at baseball games is considered perfectly normal, for one city in particular. If you attend a game at Great American Ball Park, home of the Cincinnati Reds, you'll probably see folks wandering around with spaghetti piled high with yellow cheese and chili. Cincinnati-style chili is served over spaghetti several ways — topped with cheese, chopped onion, beans, or all of the above. The chili itself is divisive — it often earns mixed reviews from out-of-towners who aren't familiar with it, or are expecting a chili con carne; instead, it's closer to Greek bolognese. However, it's definitely a worthy ballpark food — not super healthy, kind of gross to look at, but delicious nonetheless.

Let's say you don't plan on attending a Cincinnati Reds game to experience a four-way anytime soon but still want to enjoy some pasta from behind the dugout. First, check the stadium's outside food and drink policy — most MLB stadiums have no problem with outside food and drink, so long as you follow the stadium's guidelines. For your sauce, aim for something thick, like a marinara or alfredo, or even something less saucy like pad thai. But, you'll want pasta or noodles that can handle the sauce so there's less risk of drippage. Happy snacking, and play ball.