The visiting Washington Nationals and some fans had a bit of a surprise during last night’s game: an infestation of bees cause the Marlins to close down a few sections of seats near the visitors’ dugout at Sun Life Stadium. The visiting Washington Nationals and some fans had a bit of a surprise during last […]
Tag Archives | mlb
Mets in line to land 2013 All-Star Game?
Given the comments made today by Bud Selig about the New York Mets and Citi Field, it would be a surprise if the ballpark didn’t land the 2013 All-Star Game. In his annual All-Star Game briefing with the national media, Selig made the following comment: “We went back to Yankee Stadium because it was the […]
Olympic Stadium / Montreal Expos
We dig into the archives for a look back at Olympic Stadium when it hosted the Montreal Expos. Year Built: 1976 Capacity: 46,500 Dimensions: 325L, 404C, 325R Ticket Prices: VIP, $40; box seats, $30; terrace, $20; general admission, $15; bleachers, $10 (all prices CDN) Parking: There are several public parking lots within a block of […]
Metropolitan Stadium / Minnesota Twins / 1961-1981
Metropolitan Stadium became a major-league ballpark on April 21, 1961, when 24,606 fans showed up for the Twins’ home opener. It took some time for Metropolitan Stadium to make the 40,000-seat level promised to Calvin Griffith when he moved the Senators — 1964, to be exact — but at the beginning the Met was regarded […]
Yankee Stadium (old) / New York Yankees
If you seek the ultimate sense of baseball history and enjoy being around passionate and remarkably knowledgeable fans, it can be no surprise that Yankee Stadium will top your list. If your expectations include the most-modern conveniences and a pampered existence that go beyond the essence of the game itself, then it’s time for an […]
Shea Stadium / New York Mets
By any measure, Shea Stadium is the ultimate testament to 1960s stadium architecture. Its unyielding symmetry elevates form over function. The outside view of Shea Stadium is very attractive with a circular layout and an open center field: it does look better from a distance as an abstract sculpture, as anyone who has flown in […]
Petco Park / San Diego Padres
Petco Park is large scale in a number of ways. Padres sluggers are not especially enamored with the ballpark’s dimensions, especially when they glance at the extreme power allies. While straightaway center is a reachable 396 feet, the power allies extend to 402 in left and a whopping 411 in right. These are especially challenging […]
Minute Maid Park / Houston Astros
The folks in Houston aren’t afraid to think big. The original home of the Houston Astros, the Astrodome, was hailed a modern wonder of the world. Curiously, Minute Maid Park doesn’t seem to be quite as impressive an undertaking as the Astrodome, at least when you approach it from downtown Houston. True, the plan is […]
Holman Stadium / Dodgertown
A look back at Holman Stadium and Dodgertown when they served as the spring-training home of the Brooklyn Dodgers/Los Angeles Dodgers. Year Opened: 1953 Capacity: 6,474 Architect: Designed by Norman Bel Geddes (famous theatrical designer and architect of the Futurama building at the 1964 New York World’s Fair); engineered by Captain Emil Praeger Dimensions: 340L, […]
U.S. Cellular Field / Chicago White Sox
Commonly referred to as Chicago’s other baseball team, the American League White Sox reside at 35th Street and Shields and play at U.S. Cellular Field (Comiskey Park until 2003). While “The Cell” does not have nearly the romantic history of its rival in Wrigleyville or the “Old” Comiskey Park, it’s a vastly underrated ballpark. FACT […]
Goodyear Ballpark / Cleveland Indians
Goodyear, located on the far western edge of the greater Phoenix area, isn’t the first place to come to mind when brainstorming for the ideal spring-training locale. But the new spring home of the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds combines state-of-the-art training complexes with one of the more pleasant ballparks in the Cactus League, in […]
Fenway Park / Boston Red Sox
It’s not every day when an icon manages to meet your expectations, never mind exceed them. But Fenway Park, the Mecca for everyone interested in balkparks on any level, not only meets expectations but shatters them. It is true that at Fenway the grass is greener, the hot dogs are tastier, and the fans more […]
Tropicana Field / Tampa Bay Rays
Let’s get this right out of the way: Tropicana Field is not the worst facility in the major leagues. The Metrodome clearly is. By far. Now, having said that, it’s also clear that Tropicana Field is the second-worst facility in the majors. In many ways it’s directly comparable to the Metrodome, as both hated domes […]