Recent
Visits |
Arvest Ballpark, Northwest
Arkansas Naturals
There's still an unfinished feel to Arvest
Ballpark, the new home of the Northwest Arkansas
Naturals (Class AA; Texas League),
but it's
not that the Naturals were behind in making sure
things worked -- they did, perhaps a little
smoother than the average ballpark opening -- as
there's an unsettled
quality to the area, and
we're guessing the
ultimate feel of the ballpark will be shaped by
what happens in the area. While Arvest Ballpark is
certainly worth a visit today -- it's a sleek,
modern facility currently somewhat at odds with
the surrounding farms -- we're excited to watch
how the facility evolves with the rest of the
Springdale community.
Tempe Diablo Stadium, Los
Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The best ballparks in Arizona for Cactus League
baseball are by and large the old ones -- like
Scottsdale Stadium, Phoenix Municipal Stadium and
Hi Corbett Field. All have been significantly
updated through the years, but they still retain a
historic charm. Chief among these older ballparks
is Tempe Diablo Stadium, currently the spring home
of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. It opened in
1968 and was the spring home of the Seattle
Mariners between 1977 and 1993; it was then
renovated and then became the spring home of the
Angels. When it opened, one of the best things
about the ballpark was its scenic location next to
the buttes of Tempe; that's still true today
despite some dramatic renovations to the ballpark.
Modern Woodmen Park, Quad
Cities River Bandits
One of
the more notable ballpark transformations in
recent years came in Davenport, Iowa, when John
O'Donnell Stadium was transformed with a new
seating bowl, new protections against potential
flooding from the Mississippi River, and a whole
lot more. That transformation continues into the
2008 season, when the renamed Quad Cities River
Bandits (Low Class A; Midwest League) begin play
at the renamed Modern Woodmen Park. It's a fresh
start for baseball in the Quad Cities; our story
tells you what to expect.
|
Recent
Visits |
Arvest Ballpark, Northwest
Arkansas Naturals
There's still an unfinished feel to Arvest
Ballpark, the new home of the Northwest Arkansas
Naturals (Class AA; Texas League),
but it's
not that the Naturals were behind in making sure
things worked -- they did, perhaps a little
smoother than the average ballpark opening -- as
there's an unsettled
quality to the area, and
we're guessing the
ultimate feel of the ballpark will be shaped by
what happens in the area. While Arvest Ballpark is
certainly worth a visit today -- it's a sleek,
modern facility currently somewhat at odds with
the surrounding farms -- we're excited to watch
how the facility evolves with the rest of the
Springdale community.
Tempe Diablo Stadium, Los
Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The best ballparks in Arizona for Cactus League
baseball are by and large the old ones -- like
Scottsdale Stadium, Phoenix Municipal Stadium and
Hi Corbett Field. All have been significantly
updated through the years, but they still retain a
historic charm. Chief among these older ballparks
is Tempe Diablo Stadium, currently the spring home
of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. It opened in
1968 and was the spring home of the Seattle
Mariners between 1977 and 1993; it was then
renovated and then became the spring home of the
Angels. When it opened, one of the best things
about the ballpark was its scenic location next to
the buttes of Tempe; that's still true today
despite some dramatic renovations to the ballpark.
Modern Woodmen Park, Quad
Cities River Bandits
One of
the more notable ballpark transformations in
recent years came in Davenport, Iowa, when John
O'Donnell Stadium was transformed with a new
seating bowl, new protections against potential
flooding from the Mississippi River, and a whole
lot more. That transformation continues into the
2008 season, when the renamed Quad Cities River
Bandits (Low Class A; Midwest League) begin play
at the renamed Modern Woodmen Park. It's a fresh
start for baseball in the Quad Cities; our story
tells you what to expect.
|
|
Features |
2008 Ballparks
Billings
Forest City, N.C..
Lehigh Valley
Springdale, Ark.
Southern Maryland
Washington, D.C.
2009 Ballparks
Charlotte, N.C.
Charlotte County, Fla.
Columbus, Ohio
Fort Wayne, Ind.
Glendale, Az.
Goodyear, Az.
Kansas City
(renovations)
LSU
Madison, Wis.
(renovations)
New York Mets
New York Yankees
Pensacola,
Fla.
Reno
University of North
Carolina
University of South
Carolina
Winston-Salem
2010 Ballparks
Minnesota
Twins
2012 Ballparks
Oakland
Athletics
Tampa Bay Rays
Ballparks of the Past
Colt
Stadium
Crosley Field
Durham Athletic
Park
Ebbets Field
Griffith Stadium
Huntington Avenue
Grounds
Jack Russell
Jarry Park
L.A. Coliseum
Metropolitan
Stadium
Muehlebach
Field
Municipal Stadium
(Kansas City)
Sicks' Stadium
Tinker Field
War Memorial
(Greensboro)
Photo Galleries
Piedmont League
Book Excerpts
The Last Good Season
2007 Attendance
By average
By team
Affiliated - average
Affiliated - league
Affiliated - total
Indy - average
Indy - total
MLB - total
MLB - average
2006 Attendance
By average
By team
Affiliated - average
Affiliated - league
Affiliated - total
Indy - average
Indy - total
2005 Attendance
By average
By team
2004 Attendance
By average
By team
Indy by team
Indy by
league
Combined
overall
2003 Attendance
MLB attendance
By league
League overview
By average
By team
Indy by team
Indy by
league
Combined
overall
2002 Attendance
By league
By average
By team
Indy by team
Indy by
league
Combined
overall
|
The
Fine Print |
Obligatory legal information:
This site is copyright 1998-2008 Kevin Reichard/August
Publications. All rights
reserved. My wife is a lawyer, so she will come and chop off
your hand in a legal fashion if you rip off this site
in any form. All logos are the property of their respective
owners. |
Broadcasts |
Virtually every MiLB team now streams broadcasts over the
Internet, which makes it easy to follow your favorite team when
you're on the road. In addition, you can catch MLB game broadcasts at
MLB.com or via XM Radio.
More
on Internet radio and TV broadcasts here! |
|
Mets Ballpark / New
York Mets / 2009
Opening |
April 2009 |
Capacity |
45,000 |
Suites |
58 |
Architect |
HOK Sport+Venue+Event |
Ballpark Cost |
$550 million |
Location |
Next to current Shea Stadium |
The
New York Mets unveiled plans for a new ballpark to
be built next to
Shea
Stadium in Flushing Meadow. As has been
rumored for several months, the new ballpark will
evoke memories of
Ebbets Field. the former home of the Brooklyn
Dodgers and surely one of the best-remembered
ballparks in baseball history. Seating 45,000, the
new ballpark will be considerably more intimate
than Shea Stadium, a multipurpose stadium design
for both football and baseball, with 42 percent of
the ballpark's seating located in the concourse
(lower) level. Most pleasing for baseball fans:
the main concourse will
feature unobstructed views of the action, as
concession stands, restrooms and service areas
will be located next to the exterior walls of the
ballpark.
The ballpark will feature a retro design from HOK Sport; the
exterior brickwork will be the same color as the
Ebbets Field brickwork, while the seats will be a
traditional dark blue and the exposed steel
painted dark blue. Other amenities: wider seats; a
variety of sit-down restaurants and bars; multiple
picnic areas; and a permanent family-fun area. The
dimensions will be fairly neutral: 335L, 379LC,
408C, 391RC, 300R, about the same as the current
Shea Stadium dimensions. No work on the final
name: the team is calling it Mets Ballpark, and
while there's some popular sentiment to retain the
Shea Stadium name (though we're guessing few Mets
fans know who William Shea was), you can look for
some sort of naming-rights deal.
The concourses are designed to be the most open in
the majors, with concession stands, bathrooms and
service areas located along the outside wall.
The new ballpark
will be built next to the current Shea Stadium
site.
The view from
the main concourse.
The rotunda will
have the same exact measurements as the famous
rotunda at Ebbets Field.
The interior of
the rotunda.
New Construction
Pictures: June 2007
John Moist was on hand
for a Mets game at Shea Stadium, and he shared
these photos of the construction of Citi Field
beyond the right-field fence.
The circular
area will feature the rotunda and the grand facade
greeting visitors to the ballpark.
You can get a
sense of the concourse from this angle.
The view from
the right-field corner.
The branding has
already begun.
|
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