Search results
- Cole Shoemaker
- Coors Field (1995), Colorado Rockies: 8.5/10. Overall Ballpark Ranking: 7/27. After Camden Yards kicked off the retro era in 1992, you saw subsequent retro ballparks splinter into two distinct strands from an exterior architectural standpoint, generally speaking
- Petco Park (2004), San Diego Padres: 8.5/10. Overall Ballpark Ranking: 1/27. Despite some esoteric quibbles from an outside architectural perspective—as I said in the introduction, if you actually compare these ballparks to the best historic civic monuments, even some of the best fall short—Petco Park should be commended for being one of the only ballparks in baseball to constitute true “capital A” architecture.
- Globe Life Park in Arlington (1994), Texas Rangers: 8.5/10. Overall Ballpark Ranking: 19(t)/27. Globe Life Park in Arlington is an outlier at the top of our list, because it possesses that undesirable “faux-retro urban park in a suburban parking lot” sensibility, where the retro architecture and old-fashion treatment are not crafted around an urban or neighborhood context.
- Fenway Park (1912), Boston Red Sox: N/A. Overall Ballpark Ranking: N/A. For a city whose architectural legacy has always been dedicated to preservation, never content to destroy the past for the newest fad like New York, it is fitting that Boston has Major League Baseball’s oldest ballpark.
Oct 15, 2019 · Ballpark architecture was never about the gravitas of form." In his latest book, Ballpark: Baseball in the American City, published by Alfred A. Knopf, Goldberger contemplates the evolution of this quintessentially American architectural form and does a (mostly) satisfying job of tracing these larger themes across the centuries.
- Setting: X/10
- Architecture and Aesthetics: X/33
- Functionality: X/25
- Amenities: X/25
- Miscellaneous
- Bonus/Conclusion
Access/Location (x/5): A ballpark fitting in with its local surroundings is perhaps the foundation of the new retro aesthetic. This category also measures how easy it is to get to the park. I note the parking efficiency and the public transportation system. While sometimes the ease of getting to the park and the quality of the location do not coinc...
Exterior Design (x/10):While our nation’s venues aren’t held to the same standards as other public civic centers, this category really measures the structure as a piece of architecture. A ballpark’s outside appearance and façade should create an iconic image. The exterior design should separate itself from other retro ballparks and fit in with its ...
Sightlines (x/10):Every fan says their ballpark has the best sightlines. While improvement is obvious in an era of baseball-only facilities, we are going to systematically measure sightlines. While some are certainly better than others, it should be noted that there is not much range in the scores here: most baseball-only facilities have very simil...
Premium Seating/Clubs (x/5): Premium Seating is the driving force behind the building boom of the last 20 years. This is another category where there’s not much range between the scores, as the premium-seating model is fairly consistent from park to park. Considerations: 1) Conforming to the new trend, the shear number of luxury suites is no longer...
Atmosphere/Fan Support (x/5): History has told us that fan support can single handedly make a ballpark legendary. Since fans actually being in the ballpark influence the ballpark’s atmosphere the most, attendance is weighted higher than tradition. Important Note: This is probably a category that most think I undervalue. But remember, we are judging...
Bonus: Since bonus points theoretically put us over 100, I try to be relatively strict, but usually end up being pretty generous in awarding these points. It usually takes form in praising extraordinary features that deserve extra points beyond those originally allocated. Other important aspects of the ballpark that isn’t significant enough to warr...
May 22, 2019 · Published by Alfred A. Knopf, Ballpark draws an irrefutable link between the evolution of baseball park design and America’s shifting attitudes towards architecture and urbanism. But rather than treat every baseball park as worthy of study, Goldberger provides a handful of examples to arrive at a simple yet compelling thesis: “In the ballpark,” he writes, “the two sides of the American ...
Feb 29, 2016 · Architecture is a product of its time. The 1990s marked a sudden rise in wealth and prosperity, where globalization ruled and aesthetics were dictated by a national sentiment. Again, local architecture is harder to come by as everything is more streamlined. In the 1960s, people embraced imposing structures.
- Cole Shoemaker
Nov 21, 2023 · A Closer Look at the 8 Indoor MLB Stadiums. Indoor MLB stadiums, a marvel in baseball architecture, have dramatically transformed the game's landscape. These venues, including dome MLB stadiums and those with retractable roofs, are testaments to technological advancement and architectural innovation. This comprehensive list delves into these ...
People also ask
What is MLB ballpark architecture?
Is baseball a link between architecture and urbanism?
How many MLB ballparks have exterior architecture?
Is the ballpark building type a worthy design scholarship?
What is the role of baseball in the American city?
Is the ballpark in Arlington a Texas building?
Jun 3, 2019 · But next to Boston’s Fenway Park (1912), Chicago’s Wrigley Field (1914), and Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium (1962)—masterpieces all—Major League Baseball’s fourth-oldest ballpark is the worst kind of concrete-donut-era relic. Opened in 1966, the stadium served MLB’s Athletics and the NFL’s Raiders, the latter of which took priority.
