Baseball Park Construction Trends in the 1990s
The current trend in baseball park construction is a retro design, reminiscent of the early years, combined with modern technology. This trend, dubbed “The Construction Era” by Frank Deford of Sports Illustrated, is prominent in three new American League parks: Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Jacobs Field, and The Ballpark at Arlington. The current idea for ballpark construction is to locate the retro style parks in the heart of urban areas. The whole movement was initiated by the construction of Oriole Park at Camden Yards, and it’s radical new design concept.
It all started on April 6, 1992, the inaugural game at Baltimore’s new stadium: Camden Yards. That day 47,930 people packed out the new stadium to witness what Frank Deford of Sports Illustrated, called “ The single most influential athletic creation since artificial ice”(#2).
This was the birth of the current trend in construction of ballparks. The goal of the designers of Camden Yards was to create the first fan, and player friendly ballpark. The designers wanted to capture the feel of an old fashioned ballpark combined with twentieth century technology. The designers accomplished this in many radical new ways.
First they started with the outside of the stadium. They chose a brick front, which enhanced its retro look. Secondly they incorporated the B&O warehouse in the backdrop, which by the way is “the longest building on the east coast: 1,016 ft long by 51 ft wide”(#7). The warehouse is used as the Orioles main offices, a restaurant, a gift shop, and a club.
Second of all, the designers incorporated the Baltimore skyline with its open style “park” as opposed to the bowl style prevalent in the 1970’s.
Thirdly, th...
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...clusion the “Sports Construction Era” ballparks are a radical change in the way we experience a major league baseball game. The radical changes benefit both the baseball club and the fans. Finally the new style of construction employed by these three “pioneer” cities has been such a success that they have become the standard for the future of major league ballpark construction throughout the country.
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These social connections and sense of community created by the team for the fans, is a key factor in fan experience (Fairley & Tyler, 2012). The final solution addressed in this paper is one that will aim to create both a sense of community and social environment outside of the ballpark. Marketing executives of the Braves should consider setting up off-site locations so non-game attendees
at Ray’s field. Ray built a baseball field to fulfill his unfulfilled dreams of the
bleachers in centerfield. Ivy was also planted on the walls by Bill Veeck to add
Baseball is one of the world's greatest sports and is played almost everywhere in the world. It is also one of the most historic games. The main historic part of baseball deals with the ballparks, the cities, and the teams that have been around for such a long time. Then you have the one and only Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. Fenway Park is the longest standing and is still being used of all the Major League ballparks in the United States. Throughout the 100 years of Fenway Park's existence it has been built, named, burned down, rebuilt, and a whole lot of adding on to the ballpark.
Rader states that baseball was founded by Abner Doubleday in 1839 at Cooperstown, New York. In the next couple decades, the game developed the simple concept of bases. After having bases introduced into the game, the kids in bigger cities started club based teams which played each other. These teams started to develop a personal passion and respect for baseball which led them to adopt written rules. He conveys the idea of fellowship within the team and how the players celebrated all aspects of the game. He gives an example of a club team called the New York Knickerbockers and how they celebrated with their opponents and teammates whether they won or l...
...mendation. ‘It's about time,’ Fine said. ‘If you destroy the landmark, you should be punished for it" (Dardick and Mendel). Many historic features were obliterated during the renovation. Only the exterior walls and a small seating portion at the south end of the field are historic remainders. Many new and modern extensions were added to the field.
Nemee, David. “100 Years of Major League Baseball.” Lincolnwood, Illinois: Publications Infernational, Ltd, 200. Print.
Baseball remains today one of America’s most popular sports, and furthermore, baseball is one of America’s most successful forms of entertainment. As a result, Baseball is an economic being of its own. However, the sustainability of any professional sport organization depends directly on its economic capabilities. For example, in Baseball, all revenue is a product of the fans reaction to ticket prices, advertisements, television contracts, etc. During the devastating Great Depression in 1929, the fans of baseball experienced fiscal suffering. The appeal of baseball declined as more and more people were trying to make enough money to live. There was a significant drop in attention, attendance, and enjoyment. Although baseball’s vitality might have seemed threatened by the overwhelming Great Depression, the baseball community modernized their sport by implementing new changes that resulted in the game’s survival.
Communitas can be considered an important value to the world of sports. However, some people do not understand the concept of communitas. According to Victor Turner (1969), communitas is “an unstructured community in which people are equal, or to the very spirit of community,” (New World Encyclopedia). Trujillo’s study of baseball showed what he thought of communitas. In his periodical, Interpreting (the Work and Talk of) Baseball: Perspective on Ball Ballpark Culture, Trujillo (1992) said that ballpark community results in the development of interpersonal relationships at yearly “family reunions,” known as employee orientation (Western Journal Communication). Communitas is thought differently by other writers and scholars. However, they all come to a Turner’s conclusion that it deals with a temporary community that is equal in every way and is there for single purpose.
Hines, Thomas S. "Housing, Baseball, And Creeping Socialism." Journal Of Urban History 8.2 (1982): 123. America: History & Life. Web. 5 Dec. 2011.
Tucker, Tim. "Unique Challenge of Braves Stadium Excites Architect." Atlanta News, Sports, Atlanta Weather, Business News. N.p., 27 Mar. 2014. Web. 23 Apr. 2014. .
After two seasons their financial outlook was greatly improving. With their money they put up a fence surrounding the fields so they could now charge admission for the game. With the income from admissions they had erected two large portions of the bleachers by the middle of October, so fans wouldn't have to watch the action while standing on the sidelines
Tygiel, Jules. 2001; 2000. Past time: Baseball as history. Oxford England; New York: Oxford University Press.
The opening pitch of the 1999 marks the start of the Toronto Blue Jays twenty third seasons in the American League. In 1998, the Jays brought in their first winning season since 1993. The Jays plays in the worlds most advanced retractable-roof stadium. It is luxuriously called the Sky Dome. With a winning record like this and a state of the art stadium, the Jays feel their tickets are a great value because of the satisfaction fans can expect to receive from the ball game.
Wrigley’s grass is lush and green. The ivy is flowing perfectly in the soft breeze. I can smell the hot dogs cooking on the grill, hear the vendors selling peanuts and Cracker Jacks, and feel the soft sun shining on a gorgeous day. The fans, team, and staff create a sense of belonging and pride that I have yet to experience at any other sporting event.