Despite living in Fresno for eight months, I’d never seen the Fresno Grizzlies play — until recently.

Fresno Bee reader Brian Stepanek suggested I check out a Grizzlies baseball game as part of On a Budget, a monthly series where Fresno Bee reporters try reader-suggested foods, drinks and activities around Fresno County on a $25 budget.

“I know they have some killer food deals some days,” Stepanek wrote, asking whether it’s possible to buy a ticket, food and drinks for less than $25.

Fresno Bee reporter Erik Galicia and I headed to Chukchansi Park to cheer on the minor league team and see how far we could stretch our $25 budget.

Here’s what we discovered:

What is Fresno Grizzlies home game like?

Location: 1800 Tulare St. in Fresno

Erik and I arrived at Chukchansi Park, the official home of the Fresno Grizzlies since 2002, at 6 p.m. on a hot, sunny weekday evening.

We spent $12.50 apiece on tickets, and spent $10 to park our car at a parking lot near to the ballpark’s entrance, where there were plenty of empty spaces.

During our visit, Chukchansi Park was dotted with fans decked in red-and-white Grizzlies gear as they cheered on their favorite sports team and snacked on hot dogs, fries and shave ice.

The four-level, three-tier ballpark in downtown Fresno features “incredible sight lines from every seat” as well as “dramatic views of the downtown skyline” and nearby Sierra Nevada, according to the Grizzlies website.

Erik and I snagged seats behind home plate. It felt like I was practically at the ball field, pitching and running bases.

About two years ago, I watched the Milwaukee Brewers play the Arizona Diamondbacks at the massive American Family Field.

It was nice to enjoy a ball game at a smaller venue with a more intimate and fan-friendly experience.

What we got at baseball game on a $25 budget

With 50 minutes to go before the game, we decided to hit up the official Fresno Grizzlies merchandise store.

The store,like the rest of the ballpark, is cashless so if you are planning on buying food, drinks and souvenirs, you’ll need your credit or debit card or exchange your cash for Grizzly Bucks.

The ballpark also accepts Apple Pay, Google Wallet and other mobile payment options.

The Fresno Grizzlies souvenir shop had everything fans could want, from baseball caps to foam fingers.

After debating our choices, Erik and I decided to buy Grizzlies-branded baseball balls for $10 each to commemorate our first Fresno ball game. He chose a black one, while I chose a pink one.

Then we hit up the food court. There were various concession stands but they all offered the same kind of food options: hot dog, fries, popcorn, corn dogs and pizza.

I ordered a jumbo all-beef hot dog for $6 and a bag of Lays potato chips for $4.

Realizing the evening would get hotter, I added a bottle of water to my order for $5. My total came to $29.80, including tax.

Erik bought a hot dog and bottled water for $11.92

Before the game started, Erik cooled off with a sweet treat: piña colada-flavored shave ice for $7.

The frozen dessert was so good and refreshing that he went back for another helping.

In between innings, Grizzlies mascot Parker — a giant yellow grizzly bear wearing a red Grizzlies shirt — kept the crowd entertained with fun games such as “Simon Says” and a race involving kids on inflatable dinosaurs.

Erik and I both decided to buy another drink during the seventh inning stretch. I got a lemonade for $5.50, and Erik bought a Pepsi for the same price.

Here’s what Erik had to say about his experience:

“I very much enjoyed my first experience at Chuckchansi Park. It was a hot evening but the Hawaiian shaved ice stand offered refreshing flavors. I went with fruit punch and piña colada. The water bottles are pricey so bring your own from home.”

Does Chukchansi Park have food, drink and ticket deals?

Want to cheer on the Fresno Grizzlies for cheap?

On Tuesdays, you can buy two-for-one field box tickets for $25 and get two Maya Cinemas Family Day movie tickets for free.

The Grizzlies also have a Wednesday ticket deal — offering two tickets, two tickets for Island Water Park in Fresno two hot dogs, and two sodas for $39, the stadium said on its website.

At Chukchansi Park, you can take advantage of a $3 value menu at Bear-B-Q to stay on budget.

For $3, you can get a hot dog, popcorn, a pretzel, ice cream, a sandwich, nachos, soda or a bag of chips.

Is attending a Grizzlies game at Chukchansi Park affordable?

Overall, attending a Fresno Grizzlies baseball game is an affordable experience.

The tickets are decently priced, and Chukchansi Park has plenty of cost-conscious food options. However, spending money on souvenirs and drinks may quickly put you over your budget. .

At the Fresno Grizzlies’ merchandise store, enamel pins featuring Parker cost $9 each, while colorful bear claws are $10 each apiece. Red lanyards sporting the Grizzlies logo are priced at $12.

Branded baseball caps range in price from $25 to $40, while T-shirts cost $24 to $45 and pullovers are $85.

Food options on the menu include a burger and fries for $15.50 or chicken tenders and fries for $12.50. You can get a corn dog for $5.50, fries for $5.50 and garlic fries for $7.50.

A slice of pepperoni or cheese pizza costs $8 and a 7-inch Bavarian pretzel is $8.50.

Drink offerings include bottled soda for $6.50 and fountain drinks for $5.50 to $8.75.

Those seeking alcoholic options can get a 12-ounce can of beer for $5 or a Michelada cup for $7.

Draft beer costs $8 to $10 depending on the size.

You can also order a beer in a baseball bat-shaped glass for $25, or a cocktail bat for $32.

Craving dessert? You can get shave ice in flavors ranging from cherry to cotton candy for $7, or spend an extra $2 for a Hawaiian-style treat with vanilla ice cream topped with shave ice, sweetened condensed milk and syrup.

Other options include novelty ice cream for $7 and a dairy-free frozen dessert for $8.

Grizzlies fans who want to get the most bang for their buck should head to the ballpark on Wednesdays to take advantage of the “What a Deal Wednesday” promotion.

Where should I go next?

Have any ideas on where I should visit next in the Fresno area on a budget?

Send me recommendations at fgalan@fresnobee.com or by filling out the form below

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