Stadium Eras
Classic (1900-1950)
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The classic ballparks are characterized by smaller stadiums with one main level and a much smaller upper level supported by I beams. This design was very typical and repeated across many stadiums back in the day. Sometimes referred to as a "Jewel Box" design, these stadiums offered the revolutionary upper level box seats for VIPs and press.
This was the original mainstream stadium design. Most of the stadiums from this ear have since fell by the wayside and been replaced. Only two classic stadiums still exist - Wrigely Field and Fenway Park.
This was the original mainstream stadium design. Most of the stadiums from this ear have since fell by the wayside and been replaced. Only two classic stadiums still exist - Wrigely Field and Fenway Park.
Modern (1950-1992)
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This era was characterized by a shift towards usability and away from aesthetic. These were practical stadiums which featured concrete and much larger seating capacities. Sometime pejoratively refereed to as "concrete doughnuts", these stadiums were mostly composed of concrete and were often times surrounded by vast parking lots. The stadiums are founded on practicality, and the weakness of their design is apparent.
These stadiums also featured a subset which served as combined Football/Baseball stadiums. In order to support the much larger scale of the modern stadium, many cities and teams decided it was practical to share a stadium between the sports to cut down on cost. This is now widely regarding as a faux pas of design that leads to a stadium which is inelegant and highly unusable for both sports. The combined stadium design trend was widely rejected, and many of them combined stadiums have been replaced. Qualcomm stadium in San Diego (pictured) was replaced by Petco Park in 2004. There are very few combined stadiums remaining, and many of those are scheduled for eventual replacement.
These stadiums also featured a subset which served as combined Football/Baseball stadiums. In order to support the much larger scale of the modern stadium, many cities and teams decided it was practical to share a stadium between the sports to cut down on cost. This is now widely regarding as a faux pas of design that leads to a stadium which is inelegant and highly unusable for both sports. The combined stadium design trend was widely rejected, and many of them combined stadiums have been replaced. Qualcomm stadium in San Diego (pictured) was replaced by Petco Park in 2004. There are very few combined stadiums remaining, and many of those are scheduled for eventual replacement.
Retro (1992-2012)
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Retro ballparks were a counter to the modernist ballpark movement. This era of design was characterized by a return to the roots of stadium design. The idea is to make the stadium feel antiquated, comfortable, and historic while offering modern amenities. These stadiums are not founded on practicality, rather they provide intricacy and detail. Often times these stadiums use an elegant combination of brick and steel - old meets new.
This movement is widely regarded to have started in 1992 with the construction of Camden Yards (pictured; even the name sounds cozy and quaint). Camden Yard is rated as one of the top stadiums by my dad and I because of its revolutionary and bold design. It is truly a masterpiece of stadium design.
There is another sub-movement within the retro category which sought to combine the intricacy and detail of retro stadiums with the usability of modern stadiums without appearing too mundane. This "Retro/Modern" movement created quite a few very elegant and beautiful stadiums. One of these retro modern stadiums is Coors Field - our second best stadium. This era features most of the contemporary stadiums, and embodies designs with which I am very fond.
This movement is widely regarded to have started in 1992 with the construction of Camden Yards (pictured; even the name sounds cozy and quaint). Camden Yard is rated as one of the top stadiums by my dad and I because of its revolutionary and bold design. It is truly a masterpiece of stadium design.
There is another sub-movement within the retro category which sought to combine the intricacy and detail of retro stadiums with the usability of modern stadiums without appearing too mundane. This "Retro/Modern" movement created quite a few very elegant and beautiful stadiums. One of these retro modern stadiums is Coors Field - our second best stadium. This era features most of the contemporary stadiums, and embodies designs with which I am very fond.
Post-modern (2012-??)
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It's a brave new world. In 2012 the Florida Marlins finished construction of their brand new stadium. This stadium is the counter to the Retro stadium movement which seeks to create a technologically modern and clean design free of the intricate detail. There is only one stadium which belongs to this era (currently), so it is hard to tell what comes next. Some baseball stadium experts are calling this stadium a signal that the Retro movement is dead. This might be the beginning of something magnificent.
As for our baseball adventure, we have not yet been able to visit this new stadium. The Marlin's old stadium was a modern and bland shared baseball/football stadium with no particular interests. I must admit, I am quite eager to visit this stadium and decide whether this stadium represent the birth of a amazing new era for baseball stadium design.
As for our baseball adventure, we have not yet been able to visit this new stadium. The Marlin's old stadium was a modern and bland shared baseball/football stadium with no particular interests. I must admit, I am quite eager to visit this stadium and decide whether this stadium represent the birth of a amazing new era for baseball stadium design.