Monday, September 24, 2007
Baseball's worst stadiums
With the last game just being played at RFK Stadium in Washington DC, one of the major's worst stadiums is a thing of the past. While I did not shed a tear in seeing the final game played at this stadium, each venue has some features that give it a bit of charm. I will miss the easy access by car and the large parking lots for prime tailgating. The seats in the upper deck gave nice sightlines and were not too far from the field of play. RFK emerged in the era of cookie-cutter multiuse stadiums, but the slight roll in the roofline presented a nice visual change from the simple round shapes of Veteran's Stadium, Three Rivers, Riverfront, Atlanta Fulton County, and (the old) Busch Stadium. On the negative side, this stadium was falling apart, had little architectural interest, had terribly accommodations for the players, very few luxury seats, terrible concessions and bathrooms, and little visual appeal. I look forward to attending games at the new stadium that is being constructed in a run-down part of town. It will be some time before the promise of a new stadium results in a thriving neighborhood, but it will be interesting to see the Nats play in a venue that is fitting of a Major League team.
In commemorating the end of baseball at RFK (assuming the new stadium is indeed finished by next April), the Washington Post listed the 5 worst stadiums in the Majors. I can't say that I disagree with their list:
1. Shea Stadium
2. McAfee Coliseum
3. Tropicana Field
4. Dolphins Stadium
5. US Cellular Field
I think that the first 4 are locks for this list. For the final spot, I was surprised to see a venue that was built within the last 15 years. As was noted in the article, US Cellular Field was built just before Camden Yards set off the era of throwback baseball stadiums. A year or two later and the stadium on the South Side of Chicago may have had a much different look. Surprisingly, though, what stadium would take the place of the home of the White Sox? The Metrodome would be the only one that might qualify. Most other teams have opened new stadiums within the last 15 years, although new doesn't necessarily mean that it is a good stadium. Of the stadiums that were opened before US Cellular, many are classics (Wrigley, Fenway, Yankee, Dodger)...others have interesting discerning features (SkyDome with its roof, hotel, view of Space needle; Kaufmann with its fountains). Interestingly enough, of the 5 listed above, the Mets will be opening a new stadium in 2009, the A's are moving forward with plans for Cisco Field, and the Marlins are getting kicked out of Dolphins Stadium. It looks like Tampa Bay will have a stranglehold on the best stadium, unless the Marlins end up playing at a high school somewhere in Miami-Dade county.
In commemorating the end of baseball at RFK (assuming the new stadium is indeed finished by next April), the Washington Post listed the 5 worst stadiums in the Majors. I can't say that I disagree with their list:
1. Shea Stadium
2. McAfee Coliseum
3. Tropicana Field
4. Dolphins Stadium
5. US Cellular Field
I think that the first 4 are locks for this list. For the final spot, I was surprised to see a venue that was built within the last 15 years. As was noted in the article, US Cellular Field was built just before Camden Yards set off the era of throwback baseball stadiums. A year or two later and the stadium on the South Side of Chicago may have had a much different look. Surprisingly, though, what stadium would take the place of the home of the White Sox? The Metrodome would be the only one that might qualify. Most other teams have opened new stadiums within the last 15 years, although new doesn't necessarily mean that it is a good stadium. Of the stadiums that were opened before US Cellular, many are classics (Wrigley, Fenway, Yankee, Dodger)...others have interesting discerning features (SkyDome with its roof, hotel, view of Space needle; Kaufmann with its fountains). Interestingly enough, of the 5 listed above, the Mets will be opening a new stadium in 2009, the A's are moving forward with plans for Cisco Field, and the Marlins are getting kicked out of Dolphins Stadium. It looks like Tampa Bay will have a stranglehold on the best stadium, unless the Marlins end up playing at a high school somewhere in Miami-Dade county.
