The Beatles ended their concert career at Candlestick Park, so it’s appropriate Paul McCartney played the last event in the 54-year-old stadium’s history. The concert, which drew 49,000 to the former home of the San Francisco Giants, was a rollicking sendoff to From SFGate: It was rocking inside the soon-to-be-demolished wind tunnel that long was […]
Archive | Endangered Ballparks
Paul McCartney to play last event at Candlestick Park
The final event for Candlestick Park, which opened in 1960 as the home of the San Francisco Giants, is scheduled for this week when Paul McCartney fittingly closes the places out with a concert. Why is it fitting McCartney close the place? The last Beatles concert took place on Aug. 29,1966 at Candlestick Park. Most […]
Astrodome demolition proposed by Texans, rodeo
The Houston Astrodome would be torn down to make way for green space and a unique park under a proposal from the NFL’s Houston Texans and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The iconic Astrodome, the first covered ballpark in Major League Baseball, has been mostly unoccupied since the Houston Astros moved to Minute Maid […]
Final days of Knights Stadium
With the property sold and a business plan in place, all that’s left is to tear down Knights Stadium, former home of the Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International League) in coming months. Cato Corp., a Charlotte-based clothing retailer, has indeed closed on the purchase of the now-empty Fort Mill, S.C. ballpark site for $841,284. The […]
New Tiger Stadium plan would preserve historic playing field
The latest plan for the former Tiger Stadium site would preserve the historic playing field while adding new development, including a new headquarters for Detroit PAL, the former Police Athletic League. Detroit has struggled to find a use for the ballpark site after quicky (and some would say recklessly) tore down Tiger Stadium in two […]
Niagara seeks operator for Sal Maglie Stadium
With the local school district walking away from operating Sal Maglie Stadium, the city is looking for a private firm to manage the home of the Niagara Power (summer collegiate; NYCBL). The ballpark, once home to minor-league baseball (including a short stint hosting the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons), is also home to Niagara University’s baseball program. […]
Fundraising continues for Hamtramck Stadium restoration
Though Tiger Stadium dominates discussion of Detroit’s endangered ballparks, there’s another old ballpark also worthy of attention: Hamtramck Stadium, former home to the Detroit Stars of the Negro National League. We’ve written about Hamtramck Stadium before; in 2012 it received a designation on the National Register of Historic Places. Built by businessman John Roesink in 1930 as […]
Chandler moves ahead with Compadre Stadium demolition
The Chandler (Az.) City Council last night approved a zoning change allowing housing development on a 65-acre site that include Compadre Stadium, former spring-training home of the Milwaukee Brewers. Compadre Stadium opened in 1986 as spring home of the Brewers, replacing the team’s home in Sun City. It was only home to the Brewers until […]
Future of Midway Stadium: 2015 demolition, redevelopment
We have a plan for Midway Stadium after the St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) depart: the ballpark will be torn down next year and redeveloped by a company controlled by the Minnesota Twins ownership. United Properties, the real-estate firm controlled by the Pohlad family (which owns the Twins), will work with the St. Paul […]
Future of Al Lang Field under review — again
With the city of St. Petersburg mapping a new waterfront development plan and the Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) seeking a new stadium, the future of historic Al Lang Field will be mapped out in coming months. The Al Lang Field site has been used for spring training and professional baseball since 1923, but the present […]
Knights Stadium site sold
As planned, a clothing retailer has bought the former home of the Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International League), Knights Stadium, and plans to tear down the ballpark to make way for a shipping center. Cato Corporation bought the 32-acre site in Fort Mill, S.C., for $841,284, which covers the ballpark and surrounding parking. The company, […]
Griffith memorial stolen from Tinker Field
A bronze memorial to former Washington Senators owner Clark Griffith at Orlando’s Tinker Field has disappeared, leading to worries that the historic piece was sold for scrap metal. The memorial sat in the ballpark concourse, directly past the front gates. Griffith, as owner of the Senators, brought his team to Tinker Field for spring training […]
City of Palms Park has new tenant: Edison State College
In a move that will keep the ballpark open for at least a decade but likely precludes a return of spring training, Edison State College is bringing back baseball and playing at Fort Myers’ City of Palms Park. Edison State College officials decided a year ago to bring back baseball, and the entire school is […]