View Full Version : Life span of new ballparks....
bandit12
05-04-2009, 09:12 PM
I have seen quite a few references like "30-40 years from now they can build a new park back here".
IMO I think the current crop of parks will see a shelf like like the golden era parks like Fenway, Wrigley, Tiger, Comiskey and last 60+ years. Unlike the cookie cutter era multi-use yards that were lucky to make it past 40.
I still think this but my opinion is not as strong as it used to be after what they did to the ancient Charlotte Coliseum. After 19 years:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SA6-7xo5K0
Or the 25 year old RCA Dome:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oy_cL1YwDME&feature=related
I wonder what is the shortest lifespan of a stadium that wasn't considered a temporary solution til the next "permanent" park was built (something like Colt 45 stadium wouldn't count).
BTW....I didn't count Yankee Stadium as a golden era park b/c of the dispute of the original vs. redone debate.
marlins739
05-05-2009, 05:52 AM
The Miami Arena is a good example of a building that was replaced before its time. The place opened in 1988, and the Panthers left for the Broward County/National Car Rental/Office Depot/BankAtlantic Center in 1998, and the Heat left for the AmericanAirlines Arena in 1999. The old arena was torn down recently after only about 10 years of service.
nymdan
05-05-2009, 06:00 AM
I think there's a similar thread here already, but I can't find it.
Anyway, as I've said before, it all depends on what the next big trend is. The "golden era" parks were replaced by cookie cutters when there was a perceived need for multisports facilities, and those cookie cutters were replaced when teams wanted luxury boxes and other sources of money.
DaBigMotor
05-05-2009, 09:26 PM
These parks will last the rest of our lifetimes. Can't think of one park built specifically for baseball that didn't/hasn't lasted for 50-60 years minimum. All this "30-40 years or so" talk is some wishful thinking on the part of some who want to turn back time and rebuild the old parks where they once stood. Ain't gonna happen.
Jbutta29
05-06-2009, 03:55 AM
The Miami Arena is a good example of a building that was replaced before its time. The place opened in 1988, and the Panthers left for the Broward County/National Car Rental/Office Depot/BankAtlantic Center in 1998, and the Heat left for the AmericanAirlines Arena in 1999. The old arena was torn down recently after only about 10 years of service.
To be fair though, the Miami Arena was an awful venue. After the Heat left I went back for a St. Johns and UM bball game and it was just pitiful. It was really not a good venue in anyway.
BeatEmBucs
05-06-2009, 05:09 AM
I wonder what is the shortest lifespan of a stadium that wasn't considered a temporary solution til the next "permanent" park was built (something like Colt 45 stadium wouldn't count).
I would vote for Bloomington's Metropolitan Stadium. Lasted just 20 years until the Metrodome was built. And now the Twins are going back to the "great outdoors" starting next season, with a stadium that doesn't even have a retractable roof. It's gonna be real nice to see the Twins freezing in those April games. While the Metrodome wasn't pretty for baseball, at least it had climate control, something the Twins new park can't claim.
metfan61
05-06-2009, 07:11 AM
What remaining parks are left to be replaced in our lifetimes?
I say Oakland, Wrigley, Fenway (after 100 anniversary), any others?
mdseverin
05-06-2009, 07:44 AM
What remaining parks are left to be replaced in our lifetimes?
I say Oakland, Wrigley, Fenway (after 100 anniversary), any others?
Tropicana will
mdseverin
05-06-2009, 07:47 AM
Those four for sure will. I'm only 28, so I think a lot more will. I would not be surprised if the Rogers Centre and US Cellular Field replaced in the next 20 years
metfan61
05-06-2009, 07:53 AM
Those four for sure will. I'm only 28, so I think a lot more will. I would not be surprised if the Rogers Centre and US Cellular Field replaced in the next 20 years
Forgot Tropicana but US Cell should last a long while.
metfan13
05-06-2009, 07:56 AM
Charlotte Coliseum 1988 - 2005
All the trends changed not long after it was built.
They built it out of town off the interstate. People complained it took too long to get out of the big lot and get home.
But then the trend changed to downtown arenas near bars and restaurants.
Built to a higher capacity 23,000 but few luxury boxes to fit the need for NCAA tournaments.
But the NCAA eventually went with the huge stadiums for final 4s. So then not suitable for the biggest college event (they did hold 1 final four) or the NBA, which needed fewer seats but more boxes.
So once the Hornets left town, they built a new downtown arena and knocked the Coliseum down.
Lafferty Daniel
05-06-2009, 08:12 AM
I would vote for Bloomington's Metropolitan Stadium. Lasted just 20 years until the Metrodome was built. And now the Twins are going back to the "great outdoors" starting next season, with a stadium that doesn't even have a retractable roof. It's gonna be real nice to see the Twins freezing in those April games. While the Metrodome wasn't pretty for baseball, at least it had climate control, something the Twins new park can't claim.
Pittsburgh, eh?
http://www.twinsballpark2010.com/_resources/avgtemps_mpls_pitt.gif
ChineseDemocracy
05-06-2009, 07:53 PM
Since there has been such a violent backlash against the Yankees and all their suites and premium seats, I wonder what the next trend in ballpark architecture will be?
BeatEmBucs
05-06-2009, 08:36 PM
Pittsburgh, eh?
http://www.twinsballpark2010.com/_resources/avgtemps_mpls_pitt.gif
Those are averages. I guess I'm used to crummy weather for April games, but we never had a dome, just a cookie cutter, and they probably could've gone for the retractable roof, but it would've added 200 mil to the cost, and the view wouldn't have been as pretty. Since I haven't seen October baseball here since PNC opened, I can only hope for "indian summer" conditions when the bucs make it to October sometime this millennium.
Lafferty Daniel
05-06-2009, 10:41 PM
Those are averages. I guess I'm used to crummy weather for April games, but we never had a dome, just a cookie cutter, and they probably could've gone for the retractable roof, but it would've added 200 mil to the cost, and the view wouldn't have been as pretty. Since I haven't seen October baseball here since PNC opened, I can only hope for "indian summer" conditions when the bucs make it to October sometime this millennium.
Of course those are average temperatures. It would be kind of silly to compare temperatures from this April since it's such a small sample size.
Do you understand why us Twins fans get sick of hearing non-Minnesotans say we need a roof over T.F.?
bandit12
05-06-2009, 10:56 PM
Of course those are average temperatures. It would be kind of silly to compare temperatures from this April since it's such a small sample size.
Do you understand why us Twins fans get sick of hearing non-Minnesotans say we need a roof over T.F.?
Maybe Target (the store) will start to carry the Snuggie and they will give Twins fans a discount.
http://www.bestweekever.tv/bwe/images/2008/12/Great%20For%20Outdoors.jpg
brewers08
05-06-2009, 10:57 PM
It depends. I can see PNC/ AT&T park lasting over 50 years, but all these retractable roof stadiums will not last past 30 years. Yes even my beloved Miller Park will probably not have a 2nd lease (Right now the lease goes through 2031). Some of these stadiums are already having problems with the roof. I also don't see GABP,The Trop, Rangers park, and the Rodgers Centre lasting as long as their intended too.
Lafferty Daniel
05-06-2009, 11:09 PM
Maybe Target (the store) will start to carry the Snuggie and they will give Twins fans a discount.
HA! And coming soon, the SnugWOW!
http://www.eguiders.com/img/video_stills/49cd4cc3-a858-4ee7-bc2e-7665cf3a8221_m.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXqtMkBipIs
marlins739
05-07-2009, 04:51 AM
These parks will all last until a new way to make money comes along that they couldn't renovate into the old stadium. Until then, they are aesthetically pleasing enough that people won't be calling for their replacement like they were with the cookie cutters.
Chevy114
05-07-2009, 06:24 AM
I strongly feel that these stadiums can last for years. They are going to run out of excuses. They all have good site lines now, lots of luxary boxes, and are outdoors. The ones that will probably be redone are the trop, skydome, and oakland. Maybe the retractable airplane hangers like minute maid and chase.
I would like to see a throw back stadiums where they try a concrete circle again in 30 years lol!
doctor_gogol
05-07-2009, 02:30 PM
Its really hard to judge how long new stadiums will last. Many people saw Yankee Stadium lasting forever and couldn't even dream of it being torn down. If Yankee Stadium is vulnerable, they all are. Even the new ones.
Who knows what new trends will pop up in the next few years and make the current stadiums obsolete? They didn't build the Metrodome with an expiration date. It was state of the art and they assumed it was permanent. Just like they do with very other stadium when they build it. Until some new way to build revenue emerges and antiquates all previous stadiums.
Bleeding Pinstripes
05-07-2009, 03:52 PM
the seattle kingdome was demolished before it was completley paid off. i woudl consider that being torn down before its time. how ever i belive its death sentince was partty due to the concret used to build the roof being sub standard and starting to crumble.
bandit12
05-07-2009, 08:39 PM
I wouldn't be suprised if Dodger stadium gets a major overhaul (a la Yankee Stadium) or they replace it in the next 10 years.
Edgar.Martinez
05-07-2009, 08:53 PM
I wouldn't be suprised if Dodger stadium gets a major overhaul (a la Yankee Stadium) or they replace it in the next 10 years.
Check out the "Next 50" plan..
http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/la/ballpark/next50/index.jsp
Chevy114
05-08-2009, 06:06 AM
You know who got the Sh*t end of the stick? Florida spring training parks built in the 80s and early 90s. Towns spent millions, one even changed their name (baseball city) to accamadate these teams, then super stadiums came along. So they were either not old and traditional enough or not enough and advanced enough.
Plant city was used from 1988-1998 and now host softball games.
Sarasota was built in 1989 and people are already demanding a new one.
Port Charlotte opened in 1989 was used up to 2001 and then had to be renovated for use this season.
Haines City aka Baseball city opened boardwalk and baseball in 1987 and closed in 1992 then it was slowly torn down for a mall.
Homestead opned in 1993 and was never used.
This is truley a sign of technology changing at the wrong time and everyone wanting batting cages under the stands and coverleaf practice fields like the dodgers have.
bandit12
05-08-2009, 09:56 AM
You know who got the Sh*t end of the stick? Florida spring training parks built in the 80s and early 90s. Towns spent millions, one even changed their name (baseball city) to accamadate these teams, then super stadiums came along. So they were either not old and traditional enough or not enough and advanced enough.
Plant city was used from 1988-1998 and now host softball games.
Sarasota was built in 1989 and people are already demanding a new one.
Port Charlotte opened in 1989 was used up to 2001 and then had to be renovated for use this season.
Haines City aka Baseball city opened boardwalk and baseball in 1987 and closed in 1992 then it was slowly torn down for a mall.
Homestead opned in 1993 and was never used.
This is truley a sign of technology changing at the wrong time and everyone wanting batting cages under the stands and coverleaf practice fields like the dodgers have.
You can put a lot of that blame on Disney and the Braves spring training camp. Gotta keep up with the Jones' (literally).
Chevy114
05-08-2009, 10:03 AM
You can put a lot of that blame on Disney and the Braves spring training camp. Gotta keep up with the Jones' (literally).
There were a couple IMO that kind of broke the mold like the Astros one in kissimee, Legends for the yanks in Tampa, and Hamond for the Twins in Fort Myers. After that everyone wanted to upgrade or go to AZ. Thats when you saw the phillies, braves, and Tigers either upgrade or get new ones.
mazaratirick07
05-08-2009, 10:36 AM
Really the "Twins need a roof " talk has to stop.. baseball has been played in the twin cities for over a hundred years without a roof.. nobody here like the thing..I think the Yankees need a roof! I have seen so many rain delays this first month of the season in NY is crazy...just cap NYS with a dome! Hey you can have ours!!!!
Lafferty Daniel
05-08-2009, 11:18 AM
Really the "Twins need a roof " talk has to stop.. baseball has been played in the twin cities for over a hundred years without a roof.. nobody here like the thing..I think the Yankees need a roof! I have seen so many rain delays this first month of the season in NY is crazy...just cap NYS with a dome! Hey you can have ours!!!!
Indeed. :applaud:
Those four for sure will. I'm only 28, so I think a lot more will. I would not be surprised if the Rogers Centre and US Cellular Field replaced in the next 20 years
God I wish. But it'll never, ever, ever happen. Not in Chicago. Our budget is so ******, we can't even pave streets, and parking meters were leased to JP Morgan for 99 years. And if the Olympics come here, there's no way we'll undergo another massive athletic project in that short of a time.
Just get rid of all the billboards and some of the other whorish things, and win a few more WS there. That's what makes a ballpark--memories. Not subtle tributes to Ebbets field and other ********.
Edgar.Martinez
06-12-2009, 12:54 AM
Just get rid of all the billboards and some of the other whorish things, and win a few more WS there. That's what makes a ballpark--memories. Not subtle tributes to Ebbets field and other ********.
DEAD on. This is the number one thing that makes a ballpark a ballpark, and nothing else.
Addendum: that, and not being the Metrodome.
Philtration
06-12-2009, 10:05 PM
God I wish. But it'll never, ever, ever happen. Not in Chicago. Our budget is so ******, we can't even pave streets, and parking meters were leased to JP Morgan for 99 years. And if the Olympics come here, there's no way we'll undergo another massive athletic project in that short of a time.
Just get rid of all the billboards and some of the other whorish things, and win a few more WS there. That's what makes a ballpark--memories. Not subtle tributes to Ebbets field and other ********.
Damn right!:applaud: