Old vs New

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » February 28, 2007, 2:12 pm

I’m curious to get people’s opinions on the old vs new stadium. There has been an explosion of new stadiums w/in the last 10 years for all sports. Some people seem to get all nostalgic because of their memories and defend their places w/ fervor. I’ve even heard people defend the dump that is shea stadium. And I’m sure people like their college football stadiums where you sit a mile away from the field because building tiers is too expensive, but I’ll pass.

Personally, I love the new stadiums, even in the case of replacing Yankees stadium. The new stadiums are just so much nicer w/ much better seating and amenities. Sure, it makes the cost go up quite a bit, but the experience is just so much better. I try to get down to philly to see at least one phillies and eagles game because the stadiums are fantastic (especially citizens bank park). And I always go to a yankees-Orioles game at camden yards at least once a year because that too is a great stadium. I’ll be checking out the new mets stadium once it’s opened because that looks great as well. I’ll even be going to the new devils and red bulls stadiums regularly once they are built as well. The kicker, I really thought to myself “holy shit” when I looked at the proposed Cowboy stadium, the thing looks downright wicked.

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » February 28, 2007, 3:14 pm

I really like the look of many of the newer projects. I just wish they could go back to naming them in honor of something other than a corporate sponsorship...

Animale · Post by **Animale** » February 28, 2007, 3:38 pm

Depends on the place I guess. I'd like to think that many of the old places could be remodeled to provide a lot of the benefits you describe (at least the baseball only stadiums). For example, look at Fenway Park under the new ownership. They've added seating all over, completely remodeled the seats behind homeplate and the vendor area underneath. Basically, they've taken the limitations that the location gave them, and have turned it into, more or less, a brand new experience that retains the uniqueness - and convenient location, of Fenway Park.

Now if we look at the Oakland A's, who want to move out of McAfee Stadium (a football/baseball park owned by the city of Oakland). Understandably, McAfee isn't a great park for baseball due to its dual use. However, it's location is outstanding - close to public transit etc. etc. The new park the A's are proposing will undoubtably be a great baseball experience, but damn the location sucks. I'll basically be unable to go to a game at the new digs without driving for 1.5 hours through the worst traffic in the Bay Area. Completely unbearable.

I can definitely see the upside of this trend though in the SF Giants stadium. By moving from Candlestick, which was cold, windy and in a poor location, into AT&T Park, which is in a GREAT location with what is probably the best stadium I've been to (other than Fenway).

Conclusion, depends on what stadium you are leaving. If its a good stadium in a good location, I think salvaging the place with a remodel is probably a good idea. However, if you are in a football/baseball stadium or are in a mediocre location, improving those two things will only enhance your team, even if your product on the field sucks balls.

Animale

Zamtuk · Post by **Zamtuk** » February 28, 2007, 3:53 pm

Killing off Yankee Stadium is pretty much killing off the last respectable thing that baseball has aside from Fenway and Wrigley. I fucking hate MLB and hate the Yankee's even more, but taking away a huge chunk of history like that should be blasphemous to anyone who loves the game.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » February 28, 2007, 4:09 pm

Arizona now has three beautiful stadiums.

Bank One Ball Park (called something else now) is an excellent stadium (the one with the pool in the outfield).

University of Phoenix Stadium (stupid name) is one of the top ten stadiums in the world according to whoever would actually vote on something like that.

The Cardinals and Diamondback stadiums have retractable roofs and thankfully air conditioning.

It used to suck something aweful to sit in Sun Devil Stadium on metal bleechers, and watch a game in 100+ degree heat with the sun in your face.

I'm all for new stadiums although Fenway's Green Monster and Wrigley Field's building top seats in the outfield do add a lot of character and I'd hate to see them go. New York's stadium is bleh.

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » February 28, 2007, 5:18 pm

Zamtuk wrote:Killing off Yankee Stadium is pretty much killing off the last respectable thing that baseball has aside from Fenway and Wrigley. I fucking hate MLB and hate the Yankee's even more, but taking away a huge chunk of history like that should be blasphemous to anyone who loves the game.

The building is old and it's not even really the same stadium as it was back then. The stands are completely different, the field has been completely shifted, and nothing is in the same place as before. If you want an original stadium, Yankees stadium isn't one. I'm not going to care about the history when I'm sitting in my more comfortable club seat and my car is in a better protected parking lot.

Xyphir · Post by **Xyphir** » February 28, 2007, 7:14 pm

As much as I am for nostalgia, baseball is a business first. I've been to several MLB fields (Yankee Stadium, Turner Field, Camden Yards, PNC Park, Three Rivers Stadium, Sky Dome, and Coors Field) and the new ones were top notch compared to Yankee Stadium and Three Rivers. Three Rivers was horrible. It was a huge cement complex with astroturf. I was on the field for a concert (Pink Floyd! WooWoo!) and it was about two inches of the stuff and very hard. I couldn't imagine how rough it was on athletes. PNC Park is light-years better than Three Rivers. One of the features I LOVE is all the seats face home plate. This should be mandatory in all baseball fields! As much history as Three Rivers had (The Immaculate Reception, Two World Series, Roberto Clemente), it was ancient and really had little redeeming values as a structure. In comparison, the Astro Dome, which was called the 8th wonder of the world, was demolished just a few years ago. The Sky Dome needs to be the next to go. That place is just awful.

Coors Field is probably my favorite that I've been to. I've certainly been to it the most (~30 times). I love how they've created an open feel to the stadium. There are no obstructions to the field (aside from pillars) at the concourse level, and the view of the Rockies is phenomenal when the sun is going down.

Old stadiums don't have much on the newer stadiums as far as comfort and conveniences go. As much as it gives me shivers to see a game at Yankee Stadium, with the monuments to Ruth, Gherig, and DiMaggio in the outfield, I'm there to watch the game and root for my team. I'd like to be as comfortable as possible doing it too. Demolishing Yankee Stadium doesn't ruin baseball any more than when they tore down the Polo Grounds, or any other historic park.

Pherr the Dorf · Post by **Pherr the Dorf** » March 1, 2007, 2:21 am

Winnow wrote:Arizona now has three beautiful stadiums.

Bank One Ball Park (called something else now) is an excellent stadium (the one with the pool in the outfield).

University of Phoenix Stadium (stupid name) is one of the top ten stadiums in the world according to whoever would actually vote on something like that.

The Cardinals and Diamondback stadiums have retractable roofs and thankfully air conditioning.

It used to suck something aweful to sit in Sun Devil Stadium on metal bleechers, and watch a game in 100+ degree heat with the sun in your face.

I'm all for new stadiums although Fenway's Green Monster and Wrigley Field's building top seats in the outfield do add a lot of character and I'd hate to see them go. New York's stadium is bleh.

I agree on everything but the BoB, that is a park with zero asthetics and crap sight lines.