Old Stadiums & Facilities Still In Use Next To New Stadiums

[hofflalu]

I saw in the Veterans Stadium thread a suggestion that maybe we open a thread about stadiums (and, for that matter, any sporting venue) that had been abandoned by their prime tenant -- with a new facility being built next door, or nearby -- but was still used by another tenant, either permanently or at least for awhile before being demolished. So, to keep the Vet thread focused on the Vet (and, since I have some examples that came to mind), here's a thread for that topic!

A few jump out to me from the arena world:

-- The MECCA (now U.S. Cellular Arena) in Milwaukee is next door to the Bradley Center. Even though the Bucks, Admirals & Marquette have moved to the Bradley Center, the former MECCA remained in use for UW-Milwaukee games, plus was the site of the WISSA (Wisconsin's parochial high school league) state basketball championships before WISSA dissolved several years ago. It also underwent a major renovation a few years back.

-- The Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena stands next to the new Resch Center in Green Bay (both are across the street from Lambeau Field). Used to be the home of UW-Green Bay. Some basic arena events are still held there.

-- Kemper Arena is a few blocks from the new Sprint Center in Kansas City, but I believe it still going to be used for some events, like concerts.

And, in more of a football context, the Astrodome applies (still standing next door to Reliant Stadium).

In addition to the examples from the Vet Stadium thread, anyone have any other examples, especially from the baseball world?

[jimmyjimjimz]

Is Yankee Stadium gonna count when the new stadium opens? They better not tear the whole building down.

[Elvis]

Unfortunately, I believe there's nothing really baseball-related about this thread, simply because there are no baseball parks that this occurs in and that apply to the thread title, except perhaps the Astrodome, and even that has a very uncertain future. Baseball stadiums are either demolished or, in rare cases, converted into other facilities (See Jarry Park and Braves Field). Yankee Stadium will not remain as it is--perhaps a few seats and a diamond if we're lucky. I've seen at least 4 completely different designs of what will become of Yankee Stadium, so I'm not sure what exactly will remain.

Perhaps re-title/intent this thread to the working remains of old ballparks and it may survive the mod's wrecking ball. :nod:

[nymdan]

Perhaps re-title/intent this thread to the working remains of old ballparks and it may survive the mod's wrecking ball. :nod:

Well, I'm the mod here now, and I asked the original question in the Vet thread, so this thread is safe. Unless the admins have a problem with it.

Personally I don't even have a problem with re-opening the Meadowlands Stadium thread, but I'd probably be un-modded (not a word? it is now) if I did that, so I won't.

[Elvis]

Respectfully, I'm not so sure that opening up this (or any) section of BBF to non-baseball related discussions is a good idea. I like hockey arenas and stadia of all kinds as much as anyone here, but BBF is what it is and I kind of like it that way.

My :twocents:

[PeteU]

Well, if you're talking baseball parks, it's not right next door but, Durham Bull Athletic Park (the current home of the AAA Durham Bulls) is roughly a mile down the street from Durham Athletic Park (the former home of the Single A Durham Bulls), which is still used for softball games, I believe.

And Durkee Field, former home of the Jacksonville minor league baseball team, is about two miles from the Baseball Grounds at Jacksonville and is still wholly intact and used for recreational purposes.

Plus, while it still stands, Tiger Stadium is only a mile from Comerica Park. But it isn't in actual use, of course, and it likely will be demolished in the coming months.

Of course, none of these parks are right next door to the new park, but within a very short drive of one another, and still intact in their full form.

[nymdan]

Respectfully, I'm not so sure that opening up this (or any) section of BBF to non-baseball related discussions is a good idea. I like hockey arenas and stadia of all kinds as much as anyone here, but BBF is what it is and I kind of like it that way.

My :twocents:

Yeah, I understand what you're saying. I can see why the Meadowlands thread was closed.

As far as this thread, the question is whether or not a question/topic that applies to baseball and other sports is appropriate. But if people want me to close this thread, I'll close it.

[hsnterprize]

Well, New Comiskey Park/U.S. Cellular Field was built next to Old Comiskey Park. The land where the old ballpark was is now a parking lot, but there's one big memento from the old place people can still see...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/ff/Old_comiskey_park.jpg
Old Comiskey in all its modern glory. I used to ride by this place every time I went to see relatives.

http://www.mlbroadtrip.com/images/photos/june/week3/comiskyparkinghome.jpg

Here's all that's left after Old Comiskey was torn down. There's a batter's circle around the plate, and there are foul lines that extend left and right to where the outfield was used to be.

[POLO GROUNDS 1957]

Well, New Comiskey Park/U.S. Cellular Field was built next to Old Comiskey Park. The land where the old ballpark was is now a parking lot, but there's one big memento from the old place people can still see...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/ff/Old_comiskey_park.jpg
Old Comiskey in all its modern glory. I used to ride by this place every time I went to see relatives.

http://www.mlbroadtrip.com/images/photos/june/week3/comiskyparkinghome.jpg

Here's all that's left after Old Comiskey was torn down. There's a batter's circle around the plate, and there are foul lines that extend left and right to where the outfield was used to be.
The homeplate that is located in the parking lot that once was old comiskey park is not original. i am sure that it was sold back in 1991 or moved across the street.

[hsnterprize]

The homeplate that is located in the parking lot that once was old comiskey park is not original. i am sure that it was sold back in 1991 or moved across the street.It was moved across the street, along with the infield dirt.

My mistake...that plate is a plaque-like memento. The batters boxes to the side of the plate are also made of a plaque-like material.

[POLO GROUNDS 1957]

Here is that homeplate that is out in that parking lot today. as you can see its not the original homeplate. i took this photo back in 1995 when i was in chicago to see the old chicago stadium when it was being torn down. that was the last time i was there. i also recomind to anyone here to checkout a old thread here that covers the old stadiums and what today stands on there land.

[Gary Dunaier]

The plaque is misleading in that it says "HOMEPLATE," implying that it's the actual home plate. Too bad they didn't have it read "SITE OF HOME PLATE" or something like that. (You can tell that I spell it with two words, not one. :D )

Are people allowed to park their cars over the plaque, or is it set off somewhere/somehow?

i also recomind to anyone here to checkout a old thread here that covers the old stadiums and what today stands on there land.

Can you post a link to the thread?