Parks in football configuration

[AMDG]

Of all the parks built primarily for baseball, Tiger Stadium was by far the best for football.

It IS amazing that it took the NFL so long to build their own stadiums, or that it took them until the 70s before they got the BRIGHT idea of putting the goal posts on the endline, instead of the goal line...

I'd just like to see film of ONE full Lions' game at Tiger Stadium (late 60s, or early 70s), and the Bears at Wrigley. The latter seems so HARD to fathom...

I would vote for Fenway Park as the best park for football. With seats along the Monster there was a short distance between the sidelines and the seats on both sides of the field.

http://sportstemples.bpl.org/detail.asp?imageID=64

[RoastedPeanut]

First Jets game at Shea, from an angle I haven't seen before.

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2004/04/11/sports/1964nfl.jpg

I never noticed the fluke in the system.. Well.. It might not necessarily be a fluke, though if I were in the seats behind, it would be quite intersting not to oversee..

The foul poles for both Shea Stadium and the Astrodome never moved for their football configurations.. Curious.. Just.. Curious..

[Gary Dunaier]

I never noticed the fluke in the system.. Well.. It might not necessarily be a fluke, though if I were in the seats behind, it would be quite intersting not to oversee..

The foul poles for both Shea Stadium and the Astrodome never moved for their football configurations.. Curious.. Just.. Curious..

I can't speak for the Astrodome, but at Shea Stadium the foul poles are built into the Loge boxes, so it would be pretty tough to move them for other events, as you'd quickly learn if you were, indeed, sitting in the seats directly behind them...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2331/2404404315_d0ecf7310d.jpg?v=0
(Photo taken April 10, 2008. © Gary Dunaier)

...or trying to, as would most likely be the case...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2214/2280010248_98c1d08d5a.jpg?v=0
(Photo taken April 7, 2006. © Gary Dunaier)

[Transplanted Fan]

Is it just my imagination, or is there a distinct incline of the playing field down the right field line toward the foul pole?

http://dlxs.lib.wayne.edu/cgi/i/image/getimage-idx?viewid=77565;cc=vmc;entryid=x-77565;quality=1;view=image

Tiger Stadium's infield was oriented a few degrees off parallel to the rectangular grandstands. The "incline" is an illusion formed by the misalignment of the baseball foul line with the football goal line.

[RoastedPeanut]

I can't speak for the Astrodome, but at Shea Stadium the foul poles are built into the Loge boxes, so it would be pretty tough to move them for other events, as you'd quickly learn if you were, indeed, sitting in the seats directly behind them...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2331/2404404315_d0ecf7310d.jpg?v=0
(Photo taken April 10, 2008. © Gary Dunaier)

...or trying to, as would most likely be the case...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2214/2280010248_98c1d08d5a.jpg?v=0
(Photo taken April 7, 2006. © Gary Dunaier)

You would think, with all of the investment, that there'd be a way to dismantle them..

[Transplanted Fan]

You would think, with all of the investment, that there'd be a way to dismantle them..

The seat, or the pole?

[RoastedPeanut]

The seat, or the pole?

The pole that obstructs three tiers of seating.. lol

With another thought, in football configuration, Shea Stadium made for an interesting mock version of the Polo Grounds..

[sflnyc]

One of the most fascinating baseball/football configurations used to be the Oakland Coliseum, pre-Mount Davis. Why? Because there was not just one, but rather two football configurations.

For most of the football season after October, the Oakland Coliseum looked like this, with the football field being laid out across the baseball field from left field to right field:

http://www.stadiumsofnfl.com/afc/net101.jpg

However, from August to October, when baseball was still being played, the temporary sideline grandstand across the baseball outfield was too difficult to take down quickly for a baseball conversion. So, instead, they had the football field going from home plate to center field. I couldn't find any pictures of this layout, but I'm sure if I did deeper, I'll find them.

Of course, upon Mount Davis being built, the sideline grandstands were made easily retractable into the center field grandstands, so a much quicker football to baseball conversion was possible and the football field is now always from left field to right field.

I am curious though as to how it used to work for Raiders season ticket holders. Were the fans who paid for 50 yard line seats relocated for the August to October games? Or did fans purchase tickets for the same seats year round and thus got endzone seats the first few games and then 50 yard seats for the rest of the season?

Here is a copy of photo of the Home Plate-Center Field layout from my post in an older thread last October. Picture was from a Sports Illustrated 1983 article about opening day of the USFL. Teams were the Oakland Invaders and the Birmingham Stallions.

http://baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=30778&stc=1&d=1193083268

[sflnyc]

Seeing the immense size of the distance from the sidelines to the stands at Tiger Stadium, the Met, etc., makes you realize how the American Sports Fan has changed. The same goes for Yankee Stadium with its extreme “field too close” and “field too far” layouts, or any stadium with seats behind poles. That Tiger Stadium distance makes the one at Joe Robbie Stadium seem small in comparison, but everybody down here complains about it. I have no problem with it, and the Superdome is even further away from the field.

The fan today is/want to be more pampered and are not just interested in getting inside the gate like it was 30-40 years ago.

[btown12]

Seeing the immense size of the distance from the sidelines to the stands at Tiger Stadium, the Met, etc., makes you realize how the American Sports Fan has changed. The same goes for Yankee Stadium with its extreme “field too close” and “field too far” layouts, or any stadium with seats behind poles. That Tiger Stadium distance makes the one at Joe Robbie Stadium seem small in comparison, but everybody down here complains about it. I have no problem with it, and the Superdome is even further away from the field.

The fan today is/want to be more pampered and are not just interested in getting inside the gate like it was 30-40 years ago.

I wonder if they charged more or less for those "front-row" seats even though they were so far from the playing field. In other words, since the first row of the upper deck had a much better view of the action, did those seats cost more for a football game?

I've never understood why people would pay so much money to sit close to the field and not realize that being higher up and a little farther away is a much better vantage point, especially for football.

[Paul W]

this pix taken from the 600 level on the 3rd base/left field side. left field foul line is seen just above the lower left corner. home is about where the 15 yard line crosses between the 10 & 20 yard field markers.

[DaBigMotor]

Seeing the immense size of the distance from the sidelines to the stands at Tiger Stadium, the Met, etc., makes you realize how the American Sports Fan has changed. The same goes for Yankee Stadium with its extreme “field too close” and “field too far” layouts, or any stadium with seats behind poles. That Tiger Stadium distance makes the one at Joe Robbie Stadium seem small in comparison, but everybody down here complains about it. I have no problem with it, and the Superdome is even further away from the field.

The fan today is/want to be more pampered and are not just interested in getting inside the gate like it was 30-40 years ago.

In these particular pics, the football grid is off center, closer to the third base line than it needs to be, for some reason. I noticed that when these were first posted.

If you closely compare these shots to the later ones in the thread take from overhead, you can clearly see the difference. The football grid is perfectly centered on the field.

[sflnyc]

I didn't check to see if this one has been posted, but here is County Stadium in Milwaukee with the Packers playing.

[abelorfao]

Milwaukee County Stadium

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3038/2610781801_0d1dcb09bc_o_d.jpg

Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2020/2611616582_2a81b86ae9_o_d.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3166/2611616678_e863c04987_o_d.jpg

Rogers Centre

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3168/2610782087_cedf2cb285_o_d.jpg

[stumpmerrill]

I never noticed the fluke in the system.. Well.. It might not necessarily be a fluke, though if I were in the seats behind, it would be quite intersting not to oversee..

The foul poles for both Shea Stadium and the Astrodome never moved for their football configurations.. Curious.. Just.. Curious..


The pic below was from '83 and the foul poles were removed.

http://www.pigskin-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=85&d=1192230769

[Pelt]

Good pic of Roosevelt Stadium from digitalballparks.com:

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/2346/rooseveltstadiumaerialfzh5.jpg

[Chevy114]

We found out the trop will start on the third base side going from homeplate to 3rd and go straight toward the right field wall when they host that bowl game. Should be fun to see!

[DaBigMotor]

We found out the trop will start on the third base side going from homeplate to 3rd and go straight toward the right field wall when they host that bowl game. Should be fun to see!Is there a computer simulation of that layout yet?

[nymdan]

this pix taken from the 600 level on the 3rd base/left field side. left field foul line is seen just above the lower left corner. home is about where the 15 yard line crosses between the 10 & 20 yard field markers.
Was the Vet a good place to watch football? Seems like the round-rectangular setup worked pretty well for football... at least better than the truly circular cookie cutters.

[Chevy114]

Is there a computer simulation of that layout yet?

Not that I know of, my friends dad works there and told us thats what they did for the high school football games they hosted a few years ago. Which makes sense since you get about 75 to 80% of the seats right up on the action then you can add bleachers if need be.

[DaBigMotor]

Not that I know of, my friends dad works there and told us thats what they did for the high school football games they hosted a few years ago. Which makes sense since you get about 75 to 80% of the seats right up on the action then you can add bleachers if need be.
So then maybe there are pictures from those games?

[cdn_ball]

http://www.rdharch.com/community_recreation/exhibition_stadium/exhibition_01.jpg

Exhibition stadium, Toronto.
Showing baseball and football.

[Pelt]

I've been to the "X" in 1992 to see a concert. By then the Jays were already playing in the Skydome, which we also watched the Jays play the Twins.

When came back to the States, we came back through Detroit and caught a Tigers game at Tiger stadium.

[Milwaukee T]

1968 had one football game played at County Stadium that was a home game for Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Does anyone have a photo from that game?

[Pelt]

Futbol at old Comiskey from digitalballparks.com.

http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/7835/comiskeybehindthenettht4.jpg

[Milwaukee T]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3100/2592413503_223c41ac75_b.jpg

Here is a link to a photo from the first football game that was played at Shea

[Paul W]

here's what the baseball/football layouts looked like just after shea opened...

when the afl went to the current goal post design the support was directly under home plate.

[teamrap]

Boston Braves 1932 (Braves Field)
Boston Redskins 1933-1936 (Fenway Park)
Washington Redskins 1937-Present (Griffith, RFK, Redskins Stadium)

1936: After playing mediocre football most of the season, the Redskins win their final 3 games to capture the Eastern Division Championship with a 7-5 record. The stars of the 3-game Division winning streak is the Defense who allows only 6 points while the Skins out score their opponents 74-6. However, a big disappointment comes in their 30-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the next to last game of the season, when only 4,813 fans show up to watch them at Fenway Park. Owner George Preston Marshall is so enraged he gives up home field for the NFC Championship Game, choosing to face the Packers at New York's Polo Grounds. The Redskins were never really in the game as the Packers won the Championship with a 21-6 victory. The Redskins would go on to move to Washington following the season, due to lack of interest in Boston. After the Redskins departure the NFL would return unsuccessfully to Boston with a team called the Yanks that played from 1944-1948, as the city did not find a successful pro football team until the formation of the rival AFL and the Patriots in 1960.

The Redskins played at Braves Field in 1932 and were known as the Boston "Football" Braves ... because of a disagreement with the "Baseball" Braves ownership, they moved to Fenway Park in 1933 and changed their name to the Redskins.

The National Football League came back to Fenway Park in 1944. The owner of new franchise, Ted Collins, had named the club, the New York “Football” Yankees and wanted the franchise to play at Yankee Stadium, but leasing arrangements and a block by the existing New York “Football” Giants, caused him to shift the team to Boston. Here, Collins shortened to the team name to the Yanks.
How ironic, that a Boston based team was nicknamed after their New York rival in baseball. Until 1948 the franchise played their games at Fenway Park. That year, however, they merged with the Brooklyn “Football” Dodgers and split their home games in both Fenway Park and Ebbetts Field. Then, in 1949, Collins had the opportunity to move the team back to New York and did so. The franchise name was changed to the Bulldogs, but eventually folded in 1951. What was left of the franchise found its way to Baltimore in 1952, becoming the Colts.

Note the Boston Yanks' schedule on the left field wall

47957

In 1963 the Boston Patriots moved into Fenway Park. The Patriots finished tied for the Eastern Division title with the Buffalo Bills, and made it to the A.F.L. Championship game by beating the Bills 26-8 in a playoff, only to lose to the San Diego Chargers, 51-10. Again, in 1964, led by Gino Cappelletti, the Patriots went 10-2-1 only to lose their chance at a second consecutive A.F.L. Championship game by losing to the Bills, 24-14 on the last day of the season.

The Patriots started a downward spiral after this. Their only real bright spots during the rest of their stay at Fenway Park, were Hall-of-Famer Nick Buoniconti and running back Jim Nance. In 1966, Nance rushed for 1,458 yards, establishing an American Football League record.

Patriot’s owner, Billy Sullivan wanted his own stadium. He pushed to chair a commission for exploring the possibility to get the city to build a new 60,000 seat domed stadium, with a retractable roof in the South Station section of Boston. Red Sox owner, Tom Yawkey signed on to the idea, in hopes that a new stadium might fall on progressive ears that would listen, considering within the city’s aggressive plans for redevelopment in the early 1960s. But the city had no desire to fund a private stadium and again, the plan didn’t see the light of day.

The Patriots played at Fenway Park until 1968, and eventually moved to their own stadium in Foxboro in 1971.

For Patriots games at Fenway Park, a set of temporary bleachers was erected in front of the left field wall, and the markings on the auxiliary scoreboard above the right field bleachers, were altered to display football information.

47955

[tonypug]

Thats a great picture of Fenway Park. You can still see the baseball infield. It gives a good perspective of how the Football Field was laid out.

[Milwaukee County Stadium]

McAfee Coliseum
http://www.johnnyroadtrip.com/cities/oakland/images/oaklandcoliseum.jpg
http://www.nflfootballstadiums.com/images/McAfee-Coliseum-Seating-Chart.jpg
http://sparcs.kaist.ac.kr/~tenotika/tt/attach/1/860878.jpg
http://www.stadiumsofnfl.com/afc/images/mcafee08950.jpg
Dolphin Stadium
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/Dolphin_Stadium_baseball_diamond.jpg/800px-Dolphin_Stadium_baseball_diamond.jpg
http://everythingmiami.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/dolphin-stadium.jpg

[aqib]

As hard as it is to believe, Chicago's Soldier Field, even in it's current crazy configuration hasn't always been home to duh Bears. I remember watching Dick Butkus, Jack Concannon, Brian Piccolo. and Gale Sayers play at Wrigley Field. In those days, #40 returned kickoffs, punts, and was both the leading rusher and often the leading receiver. Small wonder his knees gave out before the rest of his body. Wrigley is far better suited for baseball, and I wonder if the advent of night football, and the lack of lights at Wrigley contributed to the monsters of the midway securing a new stadium. Any Chicago fans know?

What was the stadium built for? I realize the Bears moved in when Wrigley provved too small. Also what was JFK stadium in Philly built for? I don't thing there was ever a full time tenant there.

[aqib]

For many years the annual Army-Notre Dame game was at
Yankee Stadium. Also, in their early years the New York
Football Giants played at the Polo Grounds and later at
Yankee Stadium.

In the 1920s and 1930s Fordham and NYU were football
powers and Fordham played big games at the Polo Grounds
and NYU at Yankee Stadium.

In 1923, when Yankee Stadium and the Polo Grounds were
tied in for the World Series, the Army-Notr Dame game was
held at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn.

Birmingham's Rickwood Field hosted college games until
1927 when Legion Field opened.

Brownie31

This came up a while back, are there any pictures or info on NYU's main home Ohio Field anywhere? I saw a couple of pics of game action but nothing of the stadium or seating area

[jimmyjimjimz]

The Redskins played at Braves Field in 1932 and were known as the Boston "Football" Braves ... because of a disagreement with the "Baseball" Braves ownership, they moved to Fenway Park in 1933 and changed their name to the Redskins.

The National Football League came back to Fenway Park in 1944. The owner of new franchise, Ted Collins, had named the club, the New York “Football” Yankees and wanted the franchise to play at Yankee Stadium, but leasing arrangements and a block by the existing New York “Football” Giants, caused him to shift the team to Boston. Here, Collins shortened to the team name to the Yanks.
How ironic, that a Boston based team was nicknamed after their New York rival in baseball. Until 1948 the franchise played their games at Fenway Park. That year, however, they merged with the Brooklyn “Football” Dodgers and split their home games in both Fenway Park and Ebbetts Field. Then, in 1949, Collins had the opportunity to move the team back to New York and did so. The franchise name was changed to the Bulldogs, but eventually folded in 1951. What was left of the franchise found its way to Baltimore in 1952, becoming the Colts.

Note the Boston Yanks' schedule on the left field wall

47957

In 1963 the Boston Patriots moved into Fenway Park. The Patriots finished tied for the Eastern Division title with the Buffalo Bills, and made it to the A.F.L. Championship game by beating the Bills 26-8 in a playoff, only to lose to the San Diego Chargers, 51-10. Again, in 1964, led by Gino Cappelletti, the Patriots went 10-2-1 only to lose their chance at a second consecutive A.F.L. Championship game by losing to the Bills, 24-14 on the last day of the season.

The Patriots started a downward spiral after this. Their only real bright spots during the rest of their stay at Fenway Park, were Hall-of-Famer Nick Buoniconti and running back Jim Nance. In 1966, Nance rushed for 1,458 yards, establishing an American Football League record.

Patriot’s owner, Billy Sullivan wanted his own stadium. He pushed to chair a commission for exploring the possibility to get the city to build a new 60,000 seat domed stadium, with a retractable roof in the South Station section of Boston. Red Sox owner, Tom Yawkey signed on to the idea, in hopes that a new stadium might fall on progressive ears that would listen, considering within the city’s aggressive plans for redevelopment in the early 1960s. But the city had no desire to fund a private stadium and again, the plan didn’t see the light of day.

The Patriots played at Fenway Park until 1968, and eventually moved to their own stadium in Foxboro in 1971.

For Patriots games at Fenway Park, a set of temporary bleachers was erected in front of the left field wall, and the markings on the auxiliary scoreboard above the right field bleachers, were altered to display football information.

47955

did they end up adding decks onto Fenway? Cause I SWEAR when I went there to see the Yankees kick the red sox asses, which they did, tere was more than 1 deck.

[aqib]

Patriot’s owner, Billy Sullivan wanted his own stadium. He pushed to chair a commission for exploring the possibility to get the city to build a new 60,000 seat domed stadium, with a retractable roof in the South Station section of Boston. Red Sox owner, Tom Yawkey signed on to the idea, in hopes that a new stadium might fall on progressive ears that would listen, considering within the city’s aggressive plans for redevelopment in the early 1960s. But the city had no desire to fund a private stadium and again, the plan didn’t see the light of day.

Wasn't the stadium also supposed to include the Bruins and Celtics. It was the Bruins who owned the Boston Garden who killed the deal.

[DrBear]

What was the stadium built for? I realize the Bears moved in when Wrigley provved too small. Also what was JFK stadium in Philly built for? I don't thing there was ever a full time tenant there.

The Bears, according to George Halas in "Halas by Halas" went to the Cubs in the 1920s to rent their park and made a quick deal. Halas being Halas, he figured he wouldn't get a better one anyplace else, so he stuck with it. But by 1970, it was clear the NFL was going to require not only lights, but a minimum seating capacity of 50,000 (also aimed at the Vikings). So the Bears were pretty much forced to move. It wasn't so much because of Monday nights - in those days the blackout was still operative and Monday night games wouldn't have been shown in Chicago if played there - but the doubleheaders on Sunday that often required lights for the late game.

[teamrap]

did they end up adding decks onto Fenway? Cause I SWEAR when I went there to see the Yankees kick the red sox asses, which they did, tere was more than 1 deck.

Yes, the new Red Sox ownership has been adding to the ballpark, ever since they took over, the Budweiser deck in right field, the Coca Cola deck in left field, the Green Monster seats, as well as numerous luxury boxes ... you might remember seeing some of those additions when the Red Sox completed the greatest comeback in postseason history in 2004, against the (let me think now!!!!) oh yeah it was the Yankees, wasn't it?????

[MattD1972]

What was the stadium built for? I realize the Bears moved in when Wrigley provved too small. Also what was JFK stadium in Philly built for? I don't thing there was ever a full time tenant there.

JFK Stadium - 1926 Sesquicentennial (150th) exhibition. The Eagles were in and out for many years, mostly using it for big games (mst notably, the Browns' first NFL game, where they killed the defedning NFL champ Eagles). Army/Navy ans ND/Navy were also played there regularly.

One has to wonder why Halas stuck to a 35000 seat stadium where you couldn't use one corner of the end zone on the north side of Chicago when you had a centrally located 100,000 seat stadium perfectly built for football sitting vacant most of the year. The Bidwills tried it for a year with the Cardinals, but couldn't make a go of it. Even with the NFL less popular than it is now, Soldier Field held a football field a lot, lot better than Wrigley ever did.

[DrBear]

One has to wonder why Halas stuck to a 35000 seat stadium where you couldn't use one corner of the end zone on the north side of Chicago when you had a centrally located 100,000 seat stadium perfectly built for football sitting vacant most of the year. The Bidwills tried it for a year with the Cardinals, but couldn't make a go of it. Even with the NFL less popular than it is now, Soldier Field held a football field a lot, lot better than Wrigley ever did.

One big reason was the agreement the Bears and Chicago Cardinals had - the Madison Street Agreement - that the Bears would be the North Side team (north of Madison St.) and the Cardinals, who played in Comiskey Park, the South Side team. It's worth noting the Cardinals didn't play in Soldier Field either until 1959, by which time the owner was planning to head elsewhere (the team played in Met Stadium in Bloomington in the early season while the White Sox were in the World Series. If the Cards were going to move they would probably have done so after the 1948 championship season, but they couldn't - the AAFC Chicago Rockets were playing there.

[banko]

JFK Stadium - 1926 Sesquicentennial (150th) exhibition. The Eagles were in and out for many years, mostly using it for big games (mst notably, the Browns' first NFL game, where they killed the defedning NFL champ Eagles). Army/Navy ans ND/Navy were also played there regularly.

One has to wonder why Halas stuck to a 35000 seat stadium where you couldn't use one corner of the end zone on the north side of Chicago when you had a centrally located 100,000 seat stadium perfectly built for football sitting vacant most of the year. The Bidwills tried it for a year with the Cardinals, but couldn't make a go of it. Even with the NFL less popular than it is now, Soldier Field held a football field a lot, lot better than Wrigley ever did.

I believed the football capacity of Wrigley was about 46,000.

[Dougman59]

Here is a drawing of Busch Stadium layout for football. It is from the sporting news 3/13/60 p16. I apologize in advance if this image comes out super large.
Someone may have the full page of the publication that will show up better.
48326

[Pelt]

Interesting. I had no idea they put up temporary bleachers in right field. I thought they would have just used the parmanent ones and aligned the football field to them, while keeping the grid relatively in the middle of the overall field.

[Pelt]

Manhattan vs Villanova at Ebbets

[Pelt]

Brooklyn Dodgers vs Chicago Cardinals at Ebbets Nov 24, 1940.

48559

[aqib]

Of all the parks built primarily for baseball, Tiger Stadium was by far the best for football.

It IS amazing that it took the NFL so long to build their own stadiums, or that it took them until the 70s before they got the BRIGHT idea of putting the goal posts on the endline, instead of the goal line...

I'd just like to see film of ONE full Lions' game at Tiger Stadium (late 60s, or early 70s), and the Bears at Wrigley. The latter seems so HARD to fathom...

Call NFL Films, they are in Mount Laurel New Jersey. They would be able to sell you one.

[stlfan]

Photos from Corbis. The first is Griffith Stadium. The second is Wrigley Field. The caption for Wrigley reads.

"12/27/1943-Chicago, IL - Sid Luckman,(42 center) of the Chicago Bears, whose pass-tossing and work at quarter back made the star of the game, romps through a big hole for a 16-yard pass in the second quarter of the Bears-Washington Redskins pro-championship playoff at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The Bears won 41-21."

[Pelt]

Great shots, stlfan.

Here is the only football pic I've ever seen of Busch I, in 1962.

48575

[cgcoyne2]

Here it is smaller.

[DrBear]

Found this while looking for Packer photos on corbis, circa 1949... Live from (original) Comiskey Park.

http://pics.livejournal.com/drbear/pic/00041agd

Note the lack of the big scoreboard behind the bleachers in the corner, the big clock on the center field wall, and the scoreboards in the walls (when they were removed, Bill Veeck turned them into the Picnic Areas.)

It's also interesting to me they had the field so close to the third-base side rather than in the middle of the field so it would be closer to the outfield side. And it's funny to see the sidelines so wide open compared to today's games.

[nymdan]

Just merged the two football threads.

[Mario Mendoza...HOF Lock]

The third time this bloody pic has been posted in this thread, but it's such a great photo and this one is larger, clearer and makes great wallpaper (and it's good for the environment, too:cool:)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3055/2520274266_0a8b45f0de_b.jpg

A larger pic of one posted by efin98, Boston College vs Catholic Univ. 1925
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3005/2745853730_f25fe93d88_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2184/2745015237_eda8d092d8_b.jpg

Unsure of date or teams. 1930's??
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3186/2745851708_c4b781d8dc_b.jpg

Great Daily News shot of Columbia Univ game at YS
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2170/2464382477_19da92018f_o.jpg

More Columbia football 1920's
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2093/2471996935_dd90725414_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3204/2472820322_3fa9f1d62f_o.jpg

Forbes Field 1915 Univ of Pittsburgh
ENLARGE (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3106/2544861321_45a1184ff5_o.jpg)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3106/2544861321_9194e688a4_b.jpg

[Lpeters199]

Why the ugly temporary fences at Yankee Stadium? Did the fans try to stampede the field after every game?

[J.R.]

Found this while looking for Packer photos on corbis, circa 1949... Live from (original) Comiskey Park.

http://pics.livejournal.com/drbear/pic/00041agd

Note the lack of the big scoreboard behind the bleachers in the corner, the big clock on the center field wall, and the scoreboards in the walls (when they were removed, Bill Veeck turned them into the Picnic Areas.)

It's also interesting to me they had the field so close to the third-base side rather than in the middle of the field so it would be closer to the outfield side. And it's funny to see the sidelines so wide open compared to today's games.

Looks like Old Comiskey actually worked out pretty well for football.

[Pelt]

A larger pic of one posted by efin98, Boston College vs Catholic Univ. 1925
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3005/2745853730_f25fe93d88_b.jpg



Cool. That one is Braves Field.

[stlfan]

Love that football pic of Braves Field. Now that is football. Leather helmets, no pads and mud.

[Transplanted Fan]

Great Daily News shot of Columbia Univ game at YS
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2170/2464382477_19da92018f_o.jpg

That's all wonderful, except for the fact that it's obviously not a Columbia game. The goalposts are situated on the goal lines, and the letters "NY" can clearly be seen within the end zone's checkerboard. It's just a run-of-the-mill Giants game, but it's still an awesome photo of football at Yankee Stadium.

[TJH1923]

That's all wonderful, except for the fact that it's obviously not a Columbia game. The goalposts are situated on the goal lines, and the letters "NY" can clearly be seen within the end zone's checkerboard. It's just a run-of-the-mill Giants game, but it's still an awesome photo of football at Yankee Stadium.

According to the Daily News it is the 1956 NFL Championship Game.

[efin98]

Might interest some...football in Polo Grounds and Yankee Stadium, grainy but might pique some interest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URfkVLCtn8k

Bears vs. Cardinals in COmiskey Park in 1929 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SitUbhD_sw0&feature=related

This is interesting- two major English football clubs playing in Yankee Stadium in 1952... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oCjqj9ntuY

[Lpeters199]

From Corbis:

49476

[Milwaukee County Stadium]

Ok this Is The Offical:
Photos of Football In Baseball Stadiums Thread.
Here you can post photos of Football In Baseball Stadiums.
This is a list of Current Baseball Only MLB Stadiums Or MLB Stadiums (Past Or Present) That Had Or Have Football Games:
Current MLB Stadiums:
Chase Field/Bank One Ballpark
Insight Bowl NCAA Football 2000-2005

Safeco Field
Seattle Seahawks Football (Played A Few Games Between 2000 & 2002 Between When The Kingdome Closed & When Quest Field Opened in 2002)
Seattle Bowl Football 2001

AT&T Park/SBC Park/Pacific Bell Park
San Francisco Demons XFL Football 2001
Emerald Bowl NCAA Football 2002-Present

Nationals Park
Congressional Bowl NCAA Football 2008-Present

Rogers Centre/Skydome
Toronto Argonauts Football 1989-Present
Buffalo Bills Football (1 Game Per Year) 2008-Present

McAfee Coliseum
Oakland Raiders Football 1966-1981,1995-Present

Tropicana Field
St. Petersburg Bowl NCAA Football 2008-Present

Angel Stadium/Anaheim Stadium
Los Angeles Rams Football 1980-1994

Metrodome
Minnesota Vikings Football 1982-Present
Minnesota Golden Gophers NCAA Football 1985-Present

Dolphin Stadium
Miami Dolphins Football 1987-Present
Miami Hurricanes NCAA Football 2008-Present

Fenway Park
Boston Redskins Football 1933-1936
Boston Bulldogs Football 1926
Boston Shamrocks Football 1936-1937
Boston Yanks Football 1944-1948
Boston Patroits Football 1963-1968

Shea Stadium
New York Jets Football 1964-1983
New York Giants 1975

Wrigley Field
Chicago Bears Football 1921-1970

Yankee Stadium
New York Yankees Football 1927-1928,1936-1937,1940-1941,1946-1949
New York Yanks Football 1950-1951
New York Giants Football 1956-1973

[placount]

believe this thread exists, though it might not be "official"

[DaBigMotor]

Ok this Is The Offical:
Photos of Football In Baseball Stadiums Thread.
Here you can post photos of Football In Baseball Stadiums.
This is a list of Current Baseball Only MLB Stadiums Or MLB Stadiums (Past Or Present) That Had Or Have Football Games:
Nationals Park
Congressional Bowl NCAA Football 2008-Present
A football game at Nationals Park??

Why didn't they use RFK, not to mention....a cold weather site for a bowl game? :confused:

[JohnCropp]

Nationals Park
Congressional Bowl NCAA Football 2008-Present


Navy v. the 9th best team in the ACC

The ratings will be through the roof.

I mean in the toilet.

[DaBigMotor]

Over at the site, Stadiums of The NFL, (http://www.stadiumsofnfl.com/past/TigerStadium.htm) they apparently helpred themselves to several Tiger Stadium photos that wre put up in this thread (including the one that I posted.)

I guess I have no problem with that, except for the fact that I sent them the very photo, that they seem to have copied from here (the overhead shot of the Lions/Saints game from 1967...the only full stadium shot of football at Tiger Stadium from directly overhead that I've ever seen) at least a YEAR before I put it up here. They never bothered to reply when I sent it to them directly.

Strange.

[bdhact1]

Does anyone know where Shea kept all the extra seating ?

[six4three]

Here's a nice overhead drawing of Milwaukee County Stadium in its early football configuration:

[PeteU]

Navy v. the 9th best team in the ACC

The ratings will be through the roof.

I mean in the toilet.

A bowl for the 9th best team? Jeez, that's about as bad as the NBA playoffs.

[efin98]

A bowl for the 9th best team? Jeez, that's about as bad as the NBA playoffs.

No, at least they have to be at .500 or better to be in the game in the first place.

[Pelt]

Well, it is amazing how many bowl games there are now, with dreadfully mediocre teams playing in them. There are just way too many bowl games now - but, as with anything else, it's all about the $$$$$$$.

[placount]

Well, it is amazing how many bowl games there are now, with dreadfully mediocre teams playing in them. There are just way too many bowl games now - but, as with anything else, it's all about the $$$$$$$.

Bowl games of all varieties, super or college, are just long commercials. The nfl altogether has become a commercial and college ball is fast becoming it. This is why I no longer enjoy football.

[PeteU]

Well, it is amazing how many bowl games there are now, with dreadfully mediocre teams playing in them. There are just way too many bowl games now - but, as with anything else, it's all about the $$$$$$$.

The only time the lower tier bowls are any good are for smaller schools in smaller conferences who get to say they accomplished something in their season, because they sure as hell don't stand a chance of getting to the BCS.

Florida Atlantic University won the New Orleans Bowl (no, not the Sugar Bowl, that was nearly a month later) and you think they'd brought home the BCS title.

[Lpeters199]

A unique football facility!

52333

[GordonGecko]

A unique football facility!

It'll be even more unique when the Blackhawks play the Red Wings there this January

[teamrap]

It'll be even more unique when the Blackhawks play the Red Wings there this January

There are no degrees of uniqueness ... unique means one of a kind ... it's either unique or it's not ... nothing can be more unique than something else

The Word Police (LOL)

[aqib]

Safeco Field
Seattle Seahawks Football (Played A Few Games Between 2000 & 2002 Between When The Kingdome Closed & When Quest Field Opened in 2002)
Seattle Bowl Football 2001



You sure about that? I thought they played at U of Washington for a couple of years.

[GordonGecko]

There are no degrees of uniqueness ... unique means one of a kind ... it's either unique or it's not ... nothing can be more unique than something else

The Word Police (LOL)

Well obviously, just like you can't be a little pregnant or a lot pregnant. That statement was in the tradition of "It's like deja vu all over again" and "It's not over until it's over". Yogi is the man.

[efin98]

You sure about that? I thought they played at U of Washington for a couple of years.

You are right, they played in Huskey Stadium.

[Jaybird]

A football game at Nationals Park??

Why didn't they use RFK, not to mention....a cold weather site for a bowl game? :confused:


The Eagle Bank Bowl (Formerly Known as the Congressional Bowl) will be played at RFK Stadium (former home of the Nationals and Senators baseball teams and the Redskins football team) instead of Nationals Park.

[gooberkitty]

The enclosed illustrates how the football field for the Boston Patriots was squeezed into Fenway Park in the early 1960's.

Gooberkitty

[DaBigMotor]

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/ThicknBassy3/JetsAtShea.jpg

[DaBigMotor]

Here are some really interesting pictures I found of AT&T Park set up for a football game.

Use this thread to post pictures of other baseball stadiums in football configuration... either parks designed for baseball with football stadiums squeezed in, or cookie cutters designed for both.

http://www.emeraldbowl.org/images/EWSGfield.jpg

http://images.buildingthedam.com/images/admin/SernaShank.jpg

http://www.emeraldbowl.org/images/game_2006_sidebar.jpg

http://l.yimg.com/www.flickr.com/images/spaceball.gif

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2160/2147784120_8d5a69e260.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2280/2152609117_24eb47d803.jpg

http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/00/19/74/e0/caption.jpg

If the UFL ever gets off the ground, they will place a team here.

[DaBigMotor]

If you said that in Milwaukee you would be killed. Many people in Milwaukee were devastated when the Packers left, granted two games were set aside each year to be sold exclusively to Milwaukee residents, but there was something special about the Green Bay Packers playing in Milwaukee County Stadium. It was like a playoff game or something special. Not just the normal regular season game.

I wish they would find a way to get the Packers to play in Miller Park. even if it's a pre-season game. You have no idea how hard it is to get a freaking pre-season game in Wisconsin, let alone a regular season game. (20 year waiting listApparently, the geniuses that put over $400 million into Miller Park, didn't bother to insure that it could fit a football grid, even though, unlike all the other new ballparks that have a perfectly good football stadium nearby, MP is the only major league stadium in its area.

Supposedly, the Packers were considering a scrimmage there a few years ago..until they found out that the football field wouldn't fit.

Amazing.

[Padday]

In 1947 the All Ireland football final was played in the Polo Grounds but I couldn't find a picture anywhere on the Internet. There is a nice model of the Polo Grounds in Gaelic Football configuration in The G.A.A. museum in Croke Park but I couldn't find a picture of that either. I did however find a video of the game. It's not great quality but you can tell its the Polo Grounds.

http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=QYCJsKQYanc

[JT7]

Apparently, the geniuses that put over $400 million into Miller Park, didn't bother to insure that it could fit a football grid, even though, unlike all the other new ballparks that have a perfectly good football stadium nearby, MP is the only major league stadium in its area.

Supposedly, the Packers were considering a scrimmage there a few years ago..until they found out that the football field wouldn't fit.

Amazing.

I kind of find that hard to believe. Heck, if they can fit a football field inside wrigley or fenway, Miller Park has to fit one. A football field is 120 yards from pole to pole...and the dimenstions at MP of the power alleys are 370 and 374....conceivably it could fit....a foot ball field is about 360 feet.

[efin98]

I kind of find that hard to believe. Heck, if they can fit a football field inside wrigley or fenway, Miller Park has to fit one. A football field is 120 yards from pole to pole...and the dimenstions at MP of the power alleys are 370 and 374....conceivably it could fit....a foot ball field is about 360 feet.

The only angle that they could put the football field in is straight ahead which leaves almost all the fans far away from the field...

[teamrap]

The enclosed illustrates how the football field for the Boston Patriots was squeezed into Fenway Park in the early 1960's.

Gooberkitty

Not true ...

The end zone line was actually on the third base line and the side lines were parallel with the left field wall ... the diagram is skewed and not accurate

[Lpeters199]

In 1947 the All Ireland football final was played in the Polo Grounds but I couldn't find a picture anywhere on the Internet. There is a nice model of the Polo Grounds in Gaelic Football configuration in The G.A.A. museum in Croke Park but I couldn't find a picture of that either. I did however find a video of the game. It's not great quality but you can tell its the Polo Grounds.

http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=QYCJsKQYanc
Nice post, Padday. Maybe you should also post it on the Polo Grounds thread.

[JT7]

The only angle that they could put the football field in is straight ahead which leaves almost all the fans far away from the field...

But it would still fit...and come on now...which baseball stadium had great seating for football anyways? Candlestick has that gap on the 3rd base side, as did Anaheim Statdium, as well as McAffee prior to Mt. Davis. Any baseball stadium designed for baseball only converted to football never had great seats for football.

[DaBigMotor]

But it would still fit...and come on now...which baseball stadium had great seating for football anyways? Candlestick has that gap on the 3rd base side, as did Anaheim Statdium, as well as McAffee prior to Mt. Davis. Any baseball stadium designed for baseball only converted to football never had great seats for football.Tiger Stadium was probably the best of all the baseball parks for football. It was rectangular, (both the stadium and the field, no odd quirks) and it was the only baseball only stadium ever completely double-decked.

My dad used to say that many of the seats in Tiger Stadium were better for football than they were for baseball.

Because a grid could FIT in MP right up the middle, does NOT make it feasible, even if it could, which my origininal point was, based on what I said I've heard...it COULDN'T. IT'S TOO SMALL.

[J2K]

Because a grid could FIT in MP right up the middle, does NOT make it feasible, even if it could, which my origininal point was, based on what I said I've heard...it COULDN'T. IT'S TOO SMALL.

OF COURSE IT COULD. Are you not factoring in about 40 +feet of foul ground. How could it not fit??:banghead:

[Lpeters199]

Tiger Stadium was probably the best of all the baseball parks for football. It was rectangular, (both the stadium and the field, no odd quirks) and it was the only baseball only stadium ever completely double-decked.

My dad used to say that many of the seats in Tiger Stadium were better for football than they were for baseball.

Because a grid could FIT in MP right up the middle, does NOT make it feasible, even if it could, which my origininal point was, based on what I said I've heard...it COULDN'T. IT'S TOO SMALL.
Look at this picture from FLICKR and read the comment. You might change your mind a bit about Tiger Stadium being the best for football.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bob_roddis/870463023/

[pudgie_child]

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/ThicknBassy3/JetsAtShea.jpg
How did they cover the "dug out" portion of the dugouts during football games?

I suppose the same question could be asked of football games at Busch II.

[efin98]

Not sure if this was posted yet but here's a shot of Braves Field in football configuration

[DaBigMotor]

Look at this picture from FLICKR and read the comment. You might change your mind a bit about Tiger Stadium being the best for football.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bob_roddis/870463023/HOW does that change a statement that I clearly attributed to my DAD?

How, exactly, do I change my mind about HIS opinion?? :confused:

[DaBigMotor]

OF COURSE IT COULD. Are you not factoring in about 40 +feet of foul ground. How could it not fit??:banghead:

Which part of the PACKERS said that it would not fit....do you not understand?

[DaBigMotor]

How did they cover the "dug out" portion of the dugouts during football games?

I suppose the same question could be asked of football games at Busch II.

If I'm not mistaken, the dugouts at Bush II weren't really "dugouts," that is, the ENTIRE structure was ABOVE ground, as was the case in most of the cookie cutters, and if that was so, then they simply moved with the stands.

I believe that some of the Mets fans here have stated that the dugouts at Shea were simply covered over with what basically amounted to large lids.

[pudgie_child]

If I'm not mistaken, the dugouts at Bush II weren't really "dugouts," that is, the ENTIRE structure was ABOVE ground, as was the case in most of the cookie cutters, and if that was so, then they simply moved with the stands.

I believe that some of the Mets fans here have stated that the dugouts at Shea were simply covered over with what basically amounted to large lids.

Actually, the Busch Stadium dugouts were, indeed, dug out. But they were also notable because, during the Astroturf years, there was no warning track in front of the dugouts.

Courtesy of Redbird Nation:
http://redbirdnation.blogspot.com/buschturf371x316.jpg

You may be confusing the dugouts at Busch II for the dugouts at Three Rivers, which were at field level.

[pudgie_child]

Not true ...

The end zone line was actually on the third base line and the side lines were parallel with the left field wall ... the diagram is skewed and not accurate

Actually, this photo shows that the west goal line was not exactly parallel to the third base line (it is at an angle to the base path).

http://www.stadiumsofnfl.com/past/fenmain.jpg

Also, you can see from the photo that the "north" hashmarks at the center of the field are skewed from the path between 2nd base and 3rd base.

[stlfan]

Not sure if this was posted yet but here's a shot of Braves Field in football configuration

I'd never seen Braves Field in football configuration. Great find. I also noticed what appears to be a practice goal post behind the temporary seats in left field.

BTW-DaBigMotor, pudgie_child is correct. The dugouts at Busch II were always below field level and most likely covered over by a lid as the way it seems Shea had done.

[driver62]

I know a semi-pro team played at Crosley Field and, believe it or not, was called the Bengals. The father of Pete Rose played for them.

I haven't been able to find any pics of football at Crosley so if anyone can find one, please post it.

[Pelt]

Believe me, I've been looking and I can't find a thing. I know something has got to turn up though.

[efin98]

BTW-DaBigMotor, pudgie_child is correct. The dugouts at Busch II were always below field level and most likely covered over by a lid as the way it seems Shea had done.

Doesn't look like they had a lid from these photos (http://www.baseball-fever.com/showpost.php?p=1142018&postcount=169), simply filled in where it was below ground during the move.

[stlfan]

Doesn't look like they had a lid from these photos (http://www.baseball-fever.com/showpost.php?p=1142018&postcount=169), simply filled in where it was below ground during the move.

I said "most likely." I never said it was an actual fact. I'd still like to find out what was exactly done, especially in the early pre-astroturf years. My point was to refute DaBigMotor and point out that it is a fact that Busch II had dugouts below field level.

[efin98]

I said "most likely." I never said it was an actual fact. I'd still like to find out what was exactly done, especially in the early pre-astroturf years. My point was to refute DaBigMotor and point out that it is a fact that Busch II had dugouts below field level.

Not arguing that you were wrong, just that it doesn't look like it from the photos...there does looks like something is hanging above dugout if you look very close ;).

Also looks like a pit around the side of the dugout where it slid out with the stands.

[ri95171]

Apparently, the geniuses that put over $400 million into Miller Park, didn't bother to insure that it could fit a football grid, even though, unlike all the other new ballparks that have a perfectly good football stadium nearby, MP is the only major league stadium in its area.

Supposedly, the Packers were considering a scrimmage there a few years ago..until they found out that the football field wouldn't fit.

Amazing.

Dumb question: if they're just doing a scrimmage and not a full game, why couldn't they simply shave a few yards off the distances? Say a 90 or even 80 yard field? Like how some of the CFL USA teams got dispensation to play their games on regular NFL fields since their stadiums couldn't accommodate the CFL markups.

[efin98]

Ebbetts Field: http://s226.photobucket.com/albums/dd108/archival-photos/?action=view&current=E26.jpg

[sflnyc]

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/ThicknBassy3/JetsAtShea.jpg

I like how that photo compares to my personal postgame shot from the 10.16.83 Jets-Dolphins game.

[ericlc129]

Seeing the immense size of the distance from the sidelines to the stands at Tiger Stadium, the Met, etc., makes you realize how the American Sports Fan has changed.
The fan today is/want to be more pampered and are not just interested in getting inside the gate like it was 30-40 years ago.

Some of it, I think, also is press related. How many times have we heard that the Met, Municipal Stadium in KC, etc. are horrible football fields from the press. Yet football games there are more discussed than the baseball games.
It's the almighty dollar, and we as an American Sports People, walk into the new stadiums and go "WOW...This is WAYYYY better than sitting in wooden seats and cramped concourses! Where do I sign over my mortgage payments for season tickets?"

[efin98]

A shot of Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum with the endzones going from home to centerfield...

[nymdan]

Speaking of baseball parks in football configuration, here are some pictures I took today of the new Meadowlands Stadium:
http://www.metsrefugees.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=23729 (Go to the end of the thread)

[Mr.Prince24]

Speaking of baseball parks in football configuration, here are some pictures I took today of the new Meadowlands Stadium:
http://www.metsrefugees.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=23729 (Go to the end of the thread)

thanks again for the post. During today's Jets=Bengals game, some fade out shots had the stadium in the background. the upper deck's going to be huge!

[nymdan]

thanks again for the post. During today's Jets=Bengals game, some fade out shots had the stadium in the background. the upper deck's going to be huge!
Yeah? Pretty sure it's going to be smaller than the upper deck in the current stadium. Certainly looks that way.

[nymdan]

Which makes me think... are there any teams in baseball that during the ballpark boom have moved to ballparks with larger upper decks than their predecessors?

[jimmyjimjimz]

when is that new medowlands stadium opening? next year? and if the nets move to brooklyn, what are they gonna do with continental airlines arena? are they gonna keep it or knock it down? wait, can they knock it down? isnt there still ice under the floor from the devils, or did they melt that?

[Mr.Prince24]

when is that new medowlands stadium opening? next year? and if the nets move to brooklyn, what are they gonna do with Izod center (remember, the name changed! >_<)? are they gonna keep it or knock it down? wait, can they knock it down? isnt there still ice under the floor from the devils, or did they melt that?

This is what I've heard so far: Jets and Giants will move into the New Meadow lands starting the 2010 season. The Meadowlands will be knocked down. The Nets (if they cannot secure funding in Brooklyn) will stay at the Izod Center till 2011 and might*move. The Xanadu plans call for the Izod center to be remained standing. The ice might have moved with the Devils. Not too sure about that. If the nets move out OF there, expect a new NBA team in Jersey, either in Newark or east Rutherford. as for baseball there (minor or professional), forget about it!

Going back to the upper deck question, the Marlins and the Athletics are the only teams I can think of with an enlarged upper deck.

*=uncertainty.

[nymdan]

Going back to the upper deck question, the Marlins and the Athletics are the only teams I can think of with an enlarged upper deck.
Marlins plans haven't been announced yet, and the A's do have a large upper deck at the Coliseum... they just don't use it.

[jimmyjimjimz]

This is what I've heard so far: Jets and Giants will move into the New Meadow lands starting the 2010 season. The Meadowlands will be knocked down. The Nets (if they cannot secure funding in Brooklyn) will stay at the Izod Center till 2011 and might*move. The Xanadu plans call for the Izod center to be remained standing. The ice might have moved with the Devils. Not too sure about that. If the nets move out OF there, expect a new NBA team in Jersey, either in Newark or east Rutherford. as for baseball there (minor or professional), forget about it!

Going back to the upper deck question, the Marlins and the Athletics are the only teams I can think of with an enlarged upper deck.

*=uncertainty.


So if the Nets move to where the Devils play, would they still put a new NBA team in Jersey?

[nymdan]

The Nets don't draw all that well... why would they put another team in Jersey if the Nets move to Brooklyn? That's the first I've heard of this. Doubt it's true.

[mets16]

The Nets don't draw all that well... why would they put another team in Jersey if the Nets move to Brooklyn? That's the first I've heard of this. Doubt it's true.

It most likely is not. I really don't see them moving to Brooklyn. The most believable is them moving to Newark... They hardly draw for the Devils.

[DaBigMotor]

http://www.baseball-fever.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=53183&stc=1&d=1223686440
A shot of Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum with the endzones going from home to centerfield...Worst football sight lines that I've ever seen. The seats could not possibly be any further from the field.

How could they see anything??

[DaBigMotor]

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/ThicknBassy3/LI_10_1339_S.jpg

Largest photo I could find...

[Chuck The Mets Fan!]

This is the thread that made me want to be on this forum.

I work for the state and I know a couple of engineers that said that Citi Field despite being specifically made for baseball, that the stadium might entertain football in the future.

[MontanaJim74]

A shot of Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum with the endzones going from home to centerfield...

I wonder why the field was aligned that way? anyone know what year that photo was taken and when they switched to having the field the way it is now?

[banko]

I wonder why the field was aligned that way? anyone know what year that photo was taken and when they switched to having the field the way it is now?

As often mentioned here, the field was aligned that way while baseball season was still on...because it was impractical to set-up the stadium in its football alignment until the baseball season was over.

[DaBigMotor]

This is the thread that made me want to be on this forum.

I work for the state and I know a couple of engineers that said that Citi Field despite being specifically made for baseball, that the stadium might entertain football in the future.The planned UFL league actually approached the Wilpons about owning a team in the league and having them play there...they declined, partly out of concern for field conditions.

[Chuck The Mets Fan!]

The planned UFL league actually approached the Wilpons about owning a team in the league and having them play there...they declined, partly out of concern for field conditions.

Yeah I read that as well. :) My co-worker also told me that holding other sporting events on a ballpark cost a lot of money especially if the venue is grass. Re-sodding, importing and removing temporary bleachers
is very expensive, that it will probably be done once maybe twice a year for football.

We actually got to see how Shea's grass looked after the Billy Joel concert, the grass was chewed up a few areas.

Chuck

[Matito]

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/ThicknBassy3/LI_10_1339_S.jpg

Largest photo I could find...

Im fairly certain that it will look different than that come January for the St Petersburg Bowl. If I remember correctly, they had that set up for a few high school football games, so there will be lots of seating in the outfield. Also, I wouldnt doubt that the field may be moved closer to the right field seats for better views.

[MontanaJim74]

As often mentioned here, the field was aligned that way while baseball season was still on...because it was impractical to set-up the stadium in its football alignment until the baseball season was over.

it wasnt set up that way in August 07--when i attended a Raiders preseason game there. Then it was set up with the football field going from right to left.

[banko]

it wasnt set up that way in August 07--when i attended a Raiders preseason game there. Then it was set up with the football field going from right to left.

This was back before the modifications to the stadium. The temporary sideline stands had to be erected, and it was impractical to take them apart after a football game, and put them back up for the next.

This got me thinking about Wrigley's temporary stands. Did they play early-season football without them...or did they not schedule games during September?

[DaBigMotor]

This was back before the modifications to the stadium. The temporary sideline stands had to be erected, and it was impractical to take them apart after a football game, and put them back up for the next.

This got me thinking about Wrigley's temporary stands. Did they play early-season football without them...or did they not schedule games during September?It's my understanding that the Bears, like the Jets, played few if ANY home games until baseball season was done.

[efin98]

This was back before the modifications to the stadium. The temporary sideline stands had to be erected, and it was impractical to take them apart after a football game, and put them back up for the next.

This got me thinking about Wrigley's temporary stands. Did they play early-season football without them...or did they not schedule games during September?

First two to four games were always on the road, first home game was around the 5th-9th of October every year...

[Lpeters199]

Page 5 of this site shows AFL game clip from 1964.

http://www.efootage.com/masters/1964b/1964-Part-II

[Paul W]

found a clip of 11-8-64 jets - bills game @ shea on efootage...

http://www.efootage.com/stock-footage/68672/New-York-Jets-buffalo-bills-20-to

not bad!

[Paul W]

efootage has clip of colts - vikes @ memorial stadium

http://www.efootage.com/clip_list.php?sr=&sort=&list_id=&master_id=1964b&feat_clip_id=&cart_id=&cat_id=&license_id=&query=&search_cat_id=&clips=&page_num=8

notice the corners of the closed-end end zone, 20-30 seats removed from the plate side of the dugouts, anybody know much about this?

[PeteU]

efootage has clip of colts - vikes @ memorial stadium

http://www.efootage.com/clip_list.php?sr=&sort=&list_id=&master_id=1964b&feat_clip_id=&cart_id=&cat_id=&license_id=&query=&search_cat_id=&clips=&page_num=8

notice the corners of the closed-end end zone, 20-30 seats removed from the plate side of the dugouts, anybody know much about this?

Probably because of how the stadium was originally built without the field box seats--there used to be about 15 or more feet of room, which would have allowed for the full football field to be in there. When they added the field box seats, it reduced the field area and required the cut outs so that the corners of the end zones would fit.

Interestingly, when the Ravens played at Memorial Stadium, they actually moved the entire football field about 30 or so feet forward from where it had been when the Colts played there. As such, the Ravens didn't need to use the cut outs.

http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/237533.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF1934A2752006EF5F0ED49FD3E8CA090A45C 284831B75F48EF45

Courtesy of jamd.com

[JT7]

Im fairly certain that it will look different than that come January for the St Petersburg Bowl. If I remember correctly, they had that set up for a few high school football games, so there will be lots of seating in the outfield. Also, I wouldnt doubt that the field may be moved closer to the right field seats for better views.

I thought the trop had a low ceiling. Wouldn't that make any football game hosted at the trop more like Indoor Arena Football than a regulation football game....

[tdinan]

Probably because of how the stadium was originally built without the field box seats--there used to be about 15 or more feet of room, which would have allowed for the full football field to be in there. When they added the field box seats, it reduced the field area and required the cut outs so that the corners of the end zones would fit.

Interestingly, when the Ravens played at Memorial Stadium, they actually moved the entire football field about 30 or so feet forward from where it had been when the Colts played there. As such, the Ravens didn't need to use the cut outs.

http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/237533.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF1934A2752006EF5F0ED49FD3E8CA090A45C 284831B75F48EF45

Courtesy of jamd.com

I think that was called Orr-ville, for WR Jimmy Orr. Because the O's already moved to Camden by the time the Ravens came to town, they could move the entire field out beyond the old CF.

[WillMissShea]

I thought the trop had a low ceiling. Wouldn't that make any football game hosted at the trop more like Indoor Arena Football than a regulation football game....

It's high enough. They play baseball there. A baseball is hit way higher then a football can be kicked or punted. And they only hit the ceiling occasionally on fly balls.

[Matito]

It's high enough. They play baseball there. A baseball is hit way higher then a football can be kicked or punted. And they only hit the ceiling occasionally on fly balls.

As far as I know, a ball has never hit the ceiling. On a few occasions, they have hit the catwalks, but never the ceiling.

[PeteU]

If anyone is curious about seeing Tropicana Field in football configuration, the St. Petersburg Bowl is on right now on ESPN2.

[The House That Ruth Built]

Wow the turf looks horrible. It looks like frozen and dead grass. How on earth did it get so bad?

[OBomb]

It was nice, even somewhat nostalgic for someone like me who does not root for the Redskins, to see RFK Stadium back in a football configuration for the Eagle Bank Bowl earlier today.

I agree, the turf at Tropicana Field looks horrendous.

[efin98]

Wow the turf looks horrible. It looks like frozen and dead grass. How on earth did it get so bad?

Looks like they just slapped on temporary patches...

[efin98]

Im fairly certain that it will look different than that come January for the St Petersburg Bowl. If I remember correctly, they had that set up for a few high school football games, so there will be lots of seating in the outfield. Also, I wouldnt doubt that the field may be moved closer to the right field seats for better views.

Looked like they moved it just a a few feet to be in line with the first base line but otherwise it was the same configuration with just some additional turf added where the mound, plate, and base paths are.

[jC...]

Courtesy tampabay.com

http://www.tampabay.com/multimedia/archive/00050/b4s_spbowlbw121908_50123c.jpeg

[Chuck The Mets Fan!]

Courtesy tampabay.com

http://www.tampabay.com/multimedia/archive/00050/b4s_spbowlbw121908_50123c.jpeg

I watched yesterday's game and was amazed at how bad that stadium really is.

[GuitarPunk2512]

Courtesy tampabay.com

http://www.tampabay.com/multimedia/archive/00050/b4s_spbowlbw121908_50123c.jpeg

i was wondering my the regular turf for the file dlooked so light and dead while the temp grass where the dirt was so dark and green. th field is usually just as dark as where the dirt was.

[Anubis2051]

i was wondering my the regular turf for the file dlooked so light and dead while the temp grass where the dirt was so dark and green. th field is usually just as dark as where the dirt was.

It might be that the wear and tear on the rest of the turf has taken its toll, while the infield portion spends 364 days out of the year in storage somewhere.

[droozer]

I would like to see what Nationals Park would have looked like if they had followed through on their plan to put the EagleBank Bowl there.

[efin98]

i was wondering my the regular turf for the file dlooked so light and dead while the temp grass where the dirt was so dark and green. th field is usually just as dark as where the dirt was.

I think it was the lighting and the camera angles...they never have those closeup shots in baseball use, it was getting all the reflections off the turf that isn't seen from the high angle/center field/home plate shots...

[Lpeters199]

Fan snags football with a net.

http://archive.poyi.org/items/show/2646

[Lpeters199]

Unusual postgame activity.

http://archive.poyi.org/items/show/8524

[DallasGoon]

My father in law was at this game. He said it was just a few minutes after people left, they were walking to their car across the street at the old school. He said the strange part is nobody knew what happened outside until all the commotion started(emergency vehicles, etc.) because it really didn't make a loud crashing sound(from where they were standing).

[Milwaukee County Stadium]

Here are links to some photos on flickr of Tropicana Field during the St Petersburg Bowl http://www.flickr.com/photos/10104454@N04/3124362348/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10104454@N04/3124357436/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/boat-drinks/3129829128/in/set-72157611540748728/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/boat-drinks/3128997183/in/set-72157611540748728/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/boat-drinks/3129823756/in/set-72157611540748728/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/boat-drinks/3129813390/in/set-72157611540748728/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisgrosserphotography/3131910766/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10104454@N04/3124335166/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10104454@N04/3124362348/in/set-72157611396016501/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10104454@N04/3123336463/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10104454@N04/3123510073/

[Lpeters199]

Green Monster during 1951 football game.

http://archive.poyi.org/items/show/1146

[DaBigMotor]

Here are links to some photos on flickr of Tropicana Field during the St Petersburg Bowl http://www.flickr.com/photos/10104454@N04/3124362348/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10104454@N04/3124357436/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/boat-drinks/3129829128/in/set-72157611540748728/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/boat-drinks/3128997183/in/set-72157611540748728/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/boat-drinks/3129823756/in/set-72157611540748728/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/boat-drinks/3129813390/in/set-72157611540748728/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisgrosserphotography/3131910766/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10104454@N04/3124335166/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10104454@N04/3124362348/in/set-72157611396016501/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10104454@N04/3123336463/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10104454@N04/3123510073/

So STRANGE looking. You just don't see football in a purely BASEBALL stadium anymore.

And I'm thinking that that's actually GRASS filling in the diamond instead of turf...could I be wrong?

[efin98]

So STRANGE looking. You just don't see football in a purely BASEBALL stadium anymore.

And I'm thinking that that's actually GRASS filling in the diamond instead of turf...could I be wrong?

Been done in San Fransisco for a few years(last time was on the 27th) and was done in Arizona and Seattle as well so it's nothing new in recent times, just another use for the stadium in an otherwise empty time period.

If they ever decide to finally close RFK Stadium(if the DC United ever finally get their stadium built) Nationals Park should be the next one to host a bowl game.

[droozer]

Been done in San Fransisco for a few years(last time was on the 27th) and was done in Arizona and Seattle as well so it's nothing new in recent times, just another use for the stadium in an otherwise empty time period.

If they ever decide to finally close RFK Stadium(if the DC United ever finally get their stadium built) Nationals Park should be the next one to host a bowl game.

I completley agree with you efin98, I was so excited when I heard that the EagleBank Bowl was initally going to be held at Nationals Park, but then I heard it was going to be held at RFK and I got really sad:cry:

[vtbub]

So STRANGE looking. You just don't see football in a purely BASEBALL stadium anymore.

And I'm thinking that that's actually GRASS filling in the diamond instead of turf...could I be wrong?

Yep, it's under used field turf. The Trop's has always looked bad.

[efin98]

I completley agree with you efin98, I was so excited when I heard that the EagleBank Bowl was initally going to be held at Nationals Park, but then I heard it was going to be held at RFK and I got really sad:cry:

Blame the team and their lease troubles with the city for the game not being played in Nationals Park- they apparently invoked a clause in their lease that barred the city from hosting events that would use the infield...they would have had to "host it", and would have kept the money from it, which pushed the game out of their facility into RFK...

[Pelt]

Here are links to some photos on flickr of Tropicana Field during the St Petersburg Bowl http://www.flickr.com/photos/10104454@N04/3124362348/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10104454@N04/3124357436/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/boat-drinks/3129829128/in/set-72157611540748728/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/boat-drinks/3128997183/in/set-72157611540748728/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/boat-drinks/3129823756/in/set-72157611540748728/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/boat-drinks/3129813390/in/set-72157611540748728/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisgrosserphotography/3131910766/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10104454@N04/3124335166/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10104454@N04/3124362348/in/set-72157611396016501/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10104454@N04/3123336463/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10104454@N04/3123510073/

Wow, just as lousy for football as it is baseball.

[droozer]

Blame the team and their lease troubles with the city for the game not being played in Nationals Park- they apparently invoked a clause in their lease that barred the city from hosting events that would use the infield...they would have had to "host it", and would have kept the money from it, which pushed the game out of their facility into RFK...
Wow! I'm suprised I never knew that. Ack. I HATE Jim Bowden!

[JohnCropp]

Blame the team and their lease troubles with the city for the game not being played in Nationals Park- they apparently invoked a clause in their lease that barred the city from hosting events that would use the infield...they would have had to "host it", and would have kept the money from it, which pushed the game out of their facility into RFK...

Blame the city for overlooking the clause when they announced the event. Blaming the Nationals would be like blaming your brother for not letting you borrow his car after telling your buddies that you'd give them a ride even though he already told you that you couldn't borrow the car if you were going to give your buddies a ride.

Credit the Nationals for preventing yet another college bowl in a baseball stadium when there is a perfectly good football stadium in town.

[droozer]

Blame the city for overlooking the clause when they announced the event. Blaming the Nationals would be like blaming your brother for not letting you borrow his car after telling your buddies that you'd give them a ride even though he already told you that you couldn't borrow the car if you were going to give your buddies a ride.

Credit the Nationals for preventing yet another college bowl in a baseball stadium when there is a perfectly good football stadium in town.
You make a good point JohnCropp, it makes since to put it in a football stadium (that was actually built for baseball) but would that be ANY fun???

[efin98]

Blame the city for overlooking the clause when they announced the event. Blaming the Nationals would be like blaming your brother for not letting you borrow his car after telling your buddies that you'd give them a ride even though he already told you that you couldn't borrow the car if you were going to give your buddies a ride.

Credit the Nationals for preventing yet another college bowl in a baseball stadium when there is a perfectly good football stadium in town.

Greed deserves blame. No excuse other than greed for it not being held in Nationals Park.

[efin98]

You make a good point JohnCropp, it makes since to put it in a football stadium (that was actually built for baseball) but would that be ANY fun???

Nothing like seeing 20,000 empty seats for a football game when every seat would have been packed at Nationals Park...:rolleyes:

[PeteU]

Yep, it's under used field turf. The Trop's has always looked bad.

The Trop was one of the first stadiums to use Field Turf. If that's still the original turf they installed ca. 2000, it's probably either just a matter of it being worn or not having that older style of Field Turf available to match.

[redlegsfan21]

Photo of the dugout at Dolphin Stadium

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v1926/91/108/1133435897/n1133435897_227369_4551.jpg