It was once envisioned as a home for independent baseball once the NFL and NBA moved out, but today the Silverdome is in sad shape, with its contents to be auctioned. The Silverdome opened in 1975 with a ten-acre Teflon roof supported by forced air, a model also used in the Metrodome and B.C. Place. […]
Archive | Endangered Ballparks
One last look at Cooper Stadium
We’re in the middle of our Target Field/Midway Stadium day-night doubleheader, but we thought you’d like to see this shot: the ongoing demolition and repurposing of Cooper Stadium, former home of the Columbus Clippers (Class AAA; International League). As you’ll recall, Cooper Stadium, which opened in 1932, has sat empty since the Clippers moved to […]
State action could save Houston Astrodome
By designating the Houston Astrodome as a “state antiquities landmark,” the Texas Historical Commission could prevent Harris County from tearing down the famed facility. There are no current plans to tear down the Astrodome, which has sat empty since 2009. Last year Harris County voters rejected a $217-million bonding proposal that would have turned the […]
Georgia State: We want Turner Field as football stadium
Georgia State University is pitching Atlanta officials on a redevelopment of the Turner Field area, with the ballpark converted to a football stadium and construction of a new ballpark on the old Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium footprint. The new 2,500-seat ballpark would use the layout of the old Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium field and incorporate the “Henry […]
Goodbye to Cooper Stadium
The former home of the Columbus Clippers (Class AAA; International League) is no more, as the wrecking ball took down the 84-year-old ballpark this week. Cooper Stadium, which opened in 1932, has sat empty since the Clippers move to a new downtown ballpark, Huntington Park, in 2009. Even before the Clippers moved there was a […]
Saving Bringhurst Field in Alexandria
With Alexandria (La.) officials proposing to tear down Bringhurst Field, home to baseball there since 1933, locals are seeking to save the historic facility. That Bringhurst Field is in bad shape is a given: part of the grandstand was shut down two years ago because of safety issues. And Alexandria has not embraced either pro […]
Thuman Munson Memorial Stadium on the upside
After calls to tear it down, Canton’s Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium is not only thriving, it’s turning away teams wanting to play at the former pro facility. Situations like this are a good reason why old ballparks — or any old building, for that matter — should never be torn until a solid alternative use […]
Compadre Stadium finally set for demolition
Vacated by the Milwaukee Brewers following 1997 spring training, Chandler’s run-down Compadre Stadium could be demolished this summer, as a developer has proposed housing on the site. Compadre Stadium has always presented an interesting issue for Chandler officials. Despite the boom in spring-training facilities in the greater Phoenix area, Chandler officials never really pushed Compadre […]
New plan for Tiger Stadium site: youth baseball, mixed-use development
With the first proposed plan for the Tiger Stadium site that makes any sense, the city of Detroit is seeking bids for a mixed-use development that would maintain the historic playing field for youth baseball. A major player is already involved: Detroit PAL, a nonprofit youth sports organization, has committed to building a 10,000-square-foot headquarters […]
Metrodome demolition almost completed
It took years to build and mere weeks to take down: Demolition of the Metrodome has proceeded to the point that for all intents and purposes the former home of the Minnesota Twins is no more. Officials with the Minnesota Vikings and the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority say that most of the Metrodome has been […]
Eugene’s Civic Stadium lives — for now
Civic Stadium, the longtime home to pro baseball in Eugene, won a temporary reprieve after the Eugene School District agreed to sell the ballpark to the city — provided boosters can raise $3 million for renovations. The school board solicited bids for the historic facility. The city submitted a $4.5 million bid and proposed keeping […]
New mayor lays out plan for Tiger Stadium site
New Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan wants to see a new vision for the old Tiger Stadium site and will direct city staff to issue an RFP for redevelopment of the area. The plan is to preserve the historic playing field — albeit with smaller dimensions, according to Tom Lewand, the city’s new Executive of Jobs […]
Tinker Field receives reprieve after community outrage
The demolition of Orlando’s Tinker Field is on hold, after politicos and community leaders expressed outrage that the historic facility was set to meet the wrecking ball with little notice. Mayor Buddy Dyer announced that plans to demolish the former home to spring training and Minor League Baseball in Orlando would be put on hold […]