As a fan, I am not too excited; I see higher ticket prices and taxes being paid for our future, thanks to those massive new big-league ballparks and the subsequent tax subsidies.
There are 30 MLB stadiums. The oldest is Fenway Park, located in Boston, MA. The youngest is Globe Life Field, located in Arlington, TX. Globe Lie Field is also the smallest. The largest is Oakland Stadium, located in Oakland, CA. The most famous, arguably, is Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL.
Even if it is not happening yet in your home city, however, that sentence may yet come true because more cities across the country are starting to consider trying to get new big league baseball stadiums, new teams — teams moving from town to town — and these tax subsidies, paid for mainly by the taxpayers, and businesses in the cities — and my mind, the areas in which these new stadiums are built, are genuinely footing the bill. I am continually shocked by what seems like a surge in the construction of new stadiums across the country.
It seems every pro sports team is trying to build a new stadium. The Atlanta Braves are talking about building an entirely new stadium on a suburban Atlanta site, not even on Atlanta proper, at more than $650 million.
Reflections on Stadium Renewals
I was devastated several weeks ago when the Atlanta Braves lost some excellent players for the year. Still, the natural nail in the coffin was when they decided not to renew their lease for their current stadium, Turner Field in Atlanta, which has been open for about 16 years since the 1996 Olympic Games were held in Atlanta. Twenty years ago, retractable-roof stadiums were the hot thing, and you could make the case Rogers Center had saved baseball in Milwaukee.
Safeco Field is located in Seattle, Wash., is the home of the Seattle Mariners, and is the third retractable roof stadium built for baseball. Yankee Stadium was built in 2009, replacing the original Yankee Stadium, now a public park called Heritage Field.
Designed by Noble V. Herzberg, the Atlanta-based SunTrust Park was initially built for the American Leagues Angels, who had played in Dodger Stadium since it was first built in 1962. Oriole Park in Camden Yards was built in 1992, replacing Memorial Stadium, and was the first of the retro-styled stadiums built.
The Baltimore Orioles call the venue home and is the 9th-largest ballpark in the United States, with a capacity of 45,971. Globe Life Park in Arlington is the fifth largest ballpark in America and can hold a maximum capacity of 48,114 fans. The stadium is home to the Texas Rangers, though the Rangers are leaving in 2020 to take over at the newly constructed Globe Life Field, which puts Globe Life Park Arlington Days in the running for the largest ballpark.
Additional Noteworthy Stadiums
Busch Stadium is the seventh-largest in the United States, at 47,170, and is the home field for Major League Baseballs Oakland Athletics. The Oakland Raiders of the National Football League also play their home games at Busch Stadium. New York City FC of Major League Soccer also plays its home games at Yankee Stadium.
At the top of the list is San Francisco’s AT&T Park, the Giant’s home. Rounding out the Top 5 are Busch Stadium, thanks to the fantastic views of the Gateway Arch and downtown St. Louis; Dodger Stadium, thanks to the classic sights of Chavez Ravine and the fact that it feels incredibly contemporary, despite being the 3rd oldest ballpark in all of Major League Baseball; and PNC Park in Pittsburgh, with perhaps the most jaw-dropping views in all of baseball, featuring views of the iconic Roberto Clemente Bridge and Dodger Stadiums downtown.
Walking around PNC Park and admiring the general views of the stadium has helped it become a fan favorite. The Pittsburgh skyline is visible from the stands, making it one of the more visually impressive stadiums for Major League Baseball fans. PNC Park is known to give the visitors a feeling of being a part of Pittsburgh’s city, thanks to the modern architecture. PNC Park was built and opened in 2001, with a seating capacity of 38,000.
Miller Park provides the “Wisconsin experience to every visitor who sees the Milwaukee Brewers. The ballpark, which is baseball-only, Kauffman Stadium, is also the only ballpark in Major League Baseball named for an individual, and because Kansas City is a Fountain City, the largest privately funded fountain in the world is located on Kansas Cityas right-field wall. Minute Maid Park, baseball’s #4 on the list, is located in Houston, Texas, and is Houston as a first retractable-roof ballpark.
Trends in Stadium Design
There is an increasing demand for retractable-roof stadiums, and designers cater to the baseball crowd. Marlins Park is an outgrowth of a growing competition amongst significant league sports owners to secure quality, brand-name venues. Marlins Park, the current Major League stadium for the Miami Marlins, could be better described as the Jewel Boxa of steroids. Recently named T-Mobile Park (originally known as Safeco Field), it is one of MLBas largest yards.
The outfield seats that hang above them are a nod to the eras past at ballparks such as Tiger Stadium and Ebbets Field. It would have made sense for a baseball stadium in Denver to feature a retractable roof, but fortunately, the Sox home park is exposed to Colorado skies year-round.
Rogers Centre still gives the sense it did when it was built back in 1989, too, and the experience you have at Rogers Centre is one of classic baseball. This stadium devotes significant space to Chicago Cubs history, with a nearby History Museum attached.