Latest Florida Marlins News

Latest Miami Dolphins News

	Capacity		36,331 (Baseball), 75,540 (Football)
	Opened		August 16th 1987
	Owner		H. Wayne Huizenga
	Cost		$115 million
	Architect		HOK Sport

Dolphin Stadium (the stadium’s original name, later named Joe Robbie Stadium and then briefly Pro Player Park before becoming Pro Player Stadium, and now back to being named for the team, first as Dolphins Stadium then to its original name) is a football and baseball stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, a suburb of Miami incorporated in 2003. Prior to 2003, the venue was inside an unincorporated part of Miami-Dade County but had a Miami address.

Dolphin Stadium was the first of its kind to be constructed entirely with private funds. The late Joe Robbie led the financing campaign to build Joe Robbie Stadium (JRS) for the Miami Dolphins of the NFL. JRS revolutionized the economics of professional sports when it opened in 1987. Inclusion of a Club Level, along with Executive Suites, helped to finance the construction of the stadium. Season ticket holders committed to long term agreements and in return they received first-class amenities in a state-of-the-art facility which is still used as a model for new facilities across the country.

In 1990, H. Wayne Huizenga, then Chairman of the Board and CEO of Blockbuster Video and Huizenga Holdings Inc., agreed to purchase fifty percent of Joe Robbie Stadium and became the point man in the drive to bring Major League Baseball to South Florida. That effort was rewarded in July 1991, when South Florida was awarded a National League expansion franchise. On January 24, 1994, Huizenga acquired the remaining fifty percent of the stadium to give him 100% ownership. Since 1991, several million dollars have been spent to upgrade and renovate the stadium. The improvement and revitalization of the building under Huizenga allowed the stadium to remain one of the finest sports and entertainment facilities in the United States.

In 1990, H. Wayne Huizenga, then Chairman of the Board and CEO of Blockbuster Video and Huizenga Holdings Inc., agreed to purchase fifty percent of Joe Robbie Stadium and became the point man in the drive to bring Major League Baseball to South Florida. That effort was rewarded in July 1991, when South Florida was awarded a National League expansion franchise. On January 24, 1994, Huizenga acquired the remaining fifty percent of the stadium to give him 100% ownership. Since 1991, several million dollars have been spent to upgrade and renovate the stadium. The improvement and revitalization of the building under Huizenga allowed the stadium to remain one of the finest sports and entertainment facilities in the United States.

The stadium has been home to the Miami Dolphins since 1987 and to the Florida Marlins since 1993, however stadium management has indicated that the Marlins must find a new venue by the end of their current lease. It has been the site of the FedEx Orange Bowl game since 1996, except for the January 1999 contest between Florida and Syracuse, which had to be moved due to a conflict with a Dolphins playoff game. Dolphin Stadium has played host to three Super Bowls in 1989, 1995 and 1999 with two more scheduled in 2007 and 2010, two World Series (1997 and 2003), and numerous concerts, featuring entertainers such as U2, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Elton John, Billy Joel, Chicago, Genesis, Gloria Estefan, Guns N’ Roses, The Who, Hall & Oates, Rod Stewart, Paul McCartney, and The Three Tenors.

Other events held at Dolphin Stadium have included international soccer matches, Monster Truck shows, Hoop-It-Up Basketball, RV and Boat Shows, the UniverSoul Circus, and Australian Rules Football exhibition matches and numerous trade shows. The Stadium also plays host to the yearly Shula Bowl, a game played between Florida Atlantic University and Florida International University, only when FAU hosts the game (FIU hosts the game at their own stadium, FIU Stadium, every other year). In 2005 and 2006, Dolphin Stadium will host the 3A, 4A, 5A, and 6A classification high school football state championships, sanctioned by the Florida High School Athletic Association.

Dolphin Stadium has been home to many commercials and feature films as well, including Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and the football-themed movie, Any Given Sunday, starring Al Pacino, Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx.

Behind the scenes, the facility underwent $10 million in renovations to accommodate Major League Baseball and the Florida Marlins before the 1993 season. The conversion included the installation of retractable seating on the north side of the stadium, the construction of the baseball press box in the southwest corner of the facility, the building of the baseball dugouts, the addition of 660 new lights for suitable night play and the installation of a hydraulic disappearing pitcher’s mound. The stadium also features a synthetic warning track designed to absorb water. At the time, the only other facility to feature this type of track was Oriole Park at Camden Yards, home of the Baltimore Orioles. The renovation also included the construction of the Florida Marlins clubhouse and other amenities to accommodate baseball at the stadium.

The stadium’s capacity for baseball was reduced to just over 47,600 seats. Even without the Marlins’ desire for a more intimate atmosphere, most of the upper-deck outfield seats would have been terrible. The stadium’s baseball capacity has been reduced even further in recent years, and it now seats just over 36,500.

Because of the need to fit a football field in the stadium, the field of play is larger than in most other new baseball stadiums. The 33-foot tall left field fence, nicknamed the Teal Monster (a play on the Green Monster at Fenway Park) further limits the ability of players to hit home runs. Foul territory is also fairly large in comparison with most new stadiums.

Since winning the World Series in 1997, Marlins’ management has regularly argued that the stadium is insufficient to host a MLB team on a regular basis, arguing that too many of the seats are too far from the field and angled for football rather than baseball, and that a retractable dome is needed to prevent rain-outs. The stadium did not prevent the team from winning a second world championship in 2003, however.

On the field, the stadium is equipped with a Prescription Athletic Turf (PAT) system which provides draining for its natural grass. At a cost of $1 million, the system ensures a firm, dry playing surface within half an hour’s time after as much as a three inch per hour rain fall.

(source .. wikipedia) reproduced under GFDL

[ Anything to add? Spotted an error? Click here to improve this entry ]

Dolphin Stadium website
Dolphin Stadium wikipedia entry
Miami Dolphins website
Florida Marlins website

[ Anything to add? Spotted an error? Click here to improve this entry ]

Latest Kansas City Royals News

Kauffman Stadium (formerly Royals Stadium) is a Major League Baseball stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri, and home to the Kansas City Royals of the American League. It is a part of the Truman Sports Complex (together with Arrowhead Stadium).

	Capacity		40,265
	Opened		April 10th 1973
	Owner		Jackson County
	Cost		$70 million
	Architect		HNTB

In 1968, Ewing Kauffman purchased the Kansas City Royals expansion team and on April 10, 1973 the Royals inaugurated Royals Stadium with a win over the Texas Rangers. On May 15, 1973, barely a month into the stadium’s existence, saw the first exciting game at the new stadium. Nolan Ryan, pitching for the California Angels threw his first of seven no-hitters, blanking the Royals, 3-0.

On July 24, 1973, Royals Stadium hosted its first (and so far, only) Major League Baseball All-Star Game. It hosted its first ALCS in 1976, and its first World Series in 1980. In 1985, Royals Stadium saw the Kansas City Royals defeat the St. Louis Cardinals for the only world championship it has hosted. On July 2, 1993, Royals Stadium was renamed Kauffman Stadium in honor of Ewing Kauffman, who died the following month at the age of 76.

On April 4, 2006, Jackson County voters approved a 3/8% sales tax increase to fund plans to renovate the Truman Sports Complex. The construction is planned to begin in 2008, and the stadiums are projected to be renovated by the year 2010, depending upon cost overruns. The team committed to a lease that will keep them in Kansas City until 2030, an extension of their current lease expiration of 2015.

Projected improvements to Kauffman stadium include:

- Create a 360º concourse.
- Move bullpens to left field and right field foul lines.
- Add 1,500 new seats “fountain view seats” in leftfield.
- Structural modifications and improvements.
- More fan amenities; restrooms, concession, retail, concession and retail storage areas.
- Double concession and restrooms.
- New ticket offices.
- Renovate press box.
- Renovate and expanded Luxury Suites.
- New food court.
- Increase number of restroom facilities.
- Providing better access to all fans to all levels with more elevators and escalators.

Also, since this measure passed, MLB has stated that Kauffman Stadium will host the MLB All-Star Game some time between 2011 and 2014.

A second proposal on the April 2006 ballot would have installed a rolling roof at the Truman Sports Complex. The roof would have been able to cover Kauffman Stadium, then be moved to Arrowhead Stadium when applicable. The measure failed at the polls, and although supporters say they’ll bring it up again in the future, support for the plan has mostly evaporated.

(source .. wikipedia) reproduced under GFDL

[ Anything to add? Spotted an error? Click here to improve this entry ]

Kauffman Stadium wikipedia entry
Kansas City Royals website

[ Anything to add? Spotted an error? Click here to improve this entry ]

Latest Angels News

Angel Stadium of Anaheim (originally Anaheim Stadium and later Edison International Field of Anaheim) is a baseball stadium located in Anaheim, California, and home to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of the American League. The stadium is often referred to by its unofficial nickname The Big A.

	Capacity		45,037
	Opened		April 19th 1966
	Owner		The City of Anaheim
	Cost		$24 million, $118 million (1997-1999 renovations)
	Architect		HOK Sport and Walt Disney Imagineering (Renovations)

Angel Stadium has been the home of the Angels since their move from Los Angeles. In 1964, ground was broken for Anaheim Stadium and in 1966, the then California Angels, moved into their new home after having spent four seasons renting Dodger Stadium (referred to during Angels games as Chavez Ravine Stadium) from the Dodgers.

The stadium was built on a flat land parcel of about 160 acres originally used for agricultural purposes in the southeast portion of Anaheim, near the intersection of three freeways. Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, home to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim National Hockey League franchise, was later built near the stadium.

The Angels played their first game at the new stadium, an exhibition game against the San Francisco Giants, on April 9, 1966. They played their first official game on April 19 against the Chicago White Sox.

The original seating capacity was 43,204, although about 3,000 bleacher seats were added in the outfield for the 1967 MLB All-Star Game (this was the longest All-Star Game of all time, won by the National League 2-1 in 15 innings on a solo home run by the Cincinnati Reds’ Tony Perez). The general shape of the playing field was very similar to their previous home, except for having somewhat less foul territory.

The seemingly over-precise dimensions (333 feet instead of 330, for example) were derived from a scientific study conducted by the Angels to try to formulate dimensions that were fairly balanced between pitcher, hitter and average weather conditions. The Angels tinkered with those dimensions several times, expanding or contracting parts of the outfield by a few feet here and there, to try to refine that balance.

None of this seemed to matter to their Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan, who threw 2 of his record seven no-hitters in this ballpark, and racked up 2,416 of his 5,714 career strikeouts in a mere 8 seasons with the Angels (Ryan stats from The Sporting News Baseball Record Book).

In the late 1970s, Los Angeles Rams owner Carroll Rosenbloom brokered a deal by which the Rams would move from Los Angeles to an expanded Anaheim Stadium. To add more seats (eventually about 23,000) for football games, the stadium was enclosed, with the mezzanine and upper decks extended completely around the playing field. An elevated bank of bleachers was built in right field, and temporary seats were placed underneath, to be pulled out for football games. Another bank of bleachers was built in left field. As a result, the view of the local mountains and State Highway 57 was lost.

Additionally, the 23-story, 240-ton Big A scoreboard that had stood in left field, and from whence the nickname for the stadium originated, was moved 1300 feet to the parking lot (it remains today, adjoining the Orange Freeway beyond the right-field stands). A black and white scoreboard/instant replay video board was installed above the newly constructed upper deck seats in left field, but was later deemed inadequate, especially during day games (in 1988 the scoreboard was replaced by a Sony Jumbotron color video board, with black and white matix scoreboards installed above the right field upper deck and the infield upper deck).

The expansion was completed in time for the 1980 NFL season, and the Rams played in Anaheim Stadium from then until their move to St. Louis after the 1994 season.

In 1996, the City of Anaheim and The Walt Disney Company, owner of the Angels at the time, agreed to a new deal that would keep the Angels in Anaheim until 2031, with an option to leave the facility early in 2016. As part of the deal, the stadium would undergo an extensive renovation, returning the stadium to its original role as a baseball-only facility. The section of the stadium behind the outfield wall was demolished, replaced by smaller outfield pavilions and a large water fountain. Disney briefly considered moving the Big A scoreboard to its original location, but decided against such a move, citing costs.

Despite the fact that much of the stadium was still a hard-hat zone, the demolition and construction being only half-completed, the Angels played their 1997 season in Anaheim. Fans arriving to the newly named Edison Field were greeted to a restored view of the San Gabriel and Santa Ana Mountains, the Brea Hills, and the 57 freeway beyond the outfield.

The field dimensions of the renovated stadium became somewhat asymmetrical, with the 8-foot high fence in right center field, which earlier hid a bank of temporary bleachers that were pulled out from under the upper levels for football games, replaced by a 19-foot high wall which contains a scoreboard displaying out-of-town scores of other games. A plaza was built around the perimeter of the stadium, and inside are statues depicting longtime Angel owner and chairman Gene Autry and Michelle Carew, daughter of former Angel Rod Carew (who also played for the Minnesota Twins), who died of leukemia at the age of 17.

Replacing the 20,000 seats in the outfield are bleacher seats, a video display board, an out-of-town scoreboard below the right field seats, a “California Spectacular” in which geysers erupt and a stream cascades down a mountainside covered with real trees, artificial rocks behind the left-center field fence, and new bullpens. All of the multicolored seats were replaced by green seats. The exterior of the stadium was also renovated. The concrete structure and ramps were painted a very Southern California combination of green and sandstone. Much of the facade of the stadium was torn down to create more open feeling for visitors.

The new main entrance includes two giant Angel hats and a complete-sized brick infield with a regulation pitchers mound. Many families enjoy a game of catch here before entering the ballpark.

In 1997, a sponsorship deal was reached with Edison International, giving it the naming rights over the stadium for 20 years, and during this time, the stadium was referred to as the Big Ed. However, after the 2003 season, Edison International exercised its option to exit the sponsorship deal. On December 29, 2003, the Angels announced that from then on the stadium would be known as Angel Stadium (in full, Angel Stadium of Anaheim), although locals still refer to the stadium as Anaheim Stadium, and its original nickname The Big A was restored.

The field was host to 1967 MLB All-Star Game (the first All-Star Game to be played on prime-time television, although two All-Star Games were played at night during World War II) and again in 1989. It hosted three American League Division Series (2002, 2004, and 2005) and five American League Championship Series (1979, 1982, 1986, 2002, and 2005). Most notably, it hosted the 2002 World Series, which the Angels won in dramatic fashion over the San Francisco Giants, finally winning one for their late and long-time owner, “Singing Cowboy” Gene Autry (and for his widow and business partner Jackie, who is also honorary president of the American League).

Famous individual baseball milestones attained here include Mickey Mantle’s last game-winning home run, Nolan Ryan’s striking out of nine straight Boston Red Sox, Reggie Jackson’s 500th career home run and Rod Carew’s 3,000th career base hit.

(source .. wikipedia) reproduced under GFDL

[ Anything to add? Spotted an error? Click here to improve this entry ]

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim website
Halos Heaven/
Halo Herald

[ Anything to add? Spotted an error? Click here to improve this entry ]

Latest Detroit Tigers News

Comerica Park is a baseball stadium located in downtown Detroit, Michigan. It was constructed as a replacement for the popular, but aging, Tiger Stadium for the Detroit Tigers. It is located next door to Ford Field, the home of the Detroit Lions and near Joe Louis Arena, home of the Detroit Red Wings. The park is also featured briefly in the movie Driven, as well as several rap videos.

	Capacity		40,950
	Opened		April 11th 2000
	Owner		Detroit-Wayne County Stadium Authority
	Cost		$ 300 million
	Architect		HOK Sport

Groundbreaking for a new ballpark to replace Tiger Stadium for the Detroit Tigers was held on October 29, 1997 and the new stadium was opened to the public in 2000. The first game was held on April 11. The new stadium is part of a downtown revitalization plan for the city of Detroit, which included the construction of Ford Field, adjacent to Comerica. In December 1998, Comerica Bank agreed to pay $66 million over 30 years for the naming rights for the new ballpark. Upon opening, there was some effort to try to find a nickname for the park, Mike Stone on WDFN tried “The Copa”, but none caught on it is most commonly referred to as “Comerica”, a major financial services firm in Detroit, and also name holders to Comerica Tower at Detroit Center at 500 Woodward Avenue.

Groundbreaking for a new ballpark to replace Tiger Stadium for the Detroit Tigers was held on October 29, 1997 and the new stadium was opened to the public in 2000. The first game was held on April 11. The new stadium is part of a downtown revitalization plan for the city of Detroit, which included the construction of Ford Field, adjacent to Comerica. In December 1998, Comerica Bank agreed to pay $66 million over 30 years for the naming rights for the new ballpark. Upon opening, there was some effort to try to find a nickname for the park, Mike Stone on WDFN tried “The Copa”, but none caught on it is most commonly referred to as “Comerica”, a major financial services firm in Detroit, and also name holders to Comerica Tower at Detroit Center at 500 Woodward Avenue.

One of the early complaints about the park was its expansive outfield dimensions, making the stadium a pitcher’s park initially. There was some debate about moving in the left field wall. The Tigers’ longtime broadcaster, Ernie Harwell, for instance, publicly supported the original dimensions. Nevertheless, the Tigers chose to bring in the left field wall, which would make the many long fly outs to left potential home runs. Thus prior to the 2005 MLB season, the bullpens were moved from right field to an empty area in left field created when the fence was moved in. In place of the old bullpens in right field, 950 seats were added for a new capacity of 40,950.

Comerica Park hosted the 2005 MLB All-Star Game and its related activities. On July 11, 2005 Comerica Park hosted the Home Run Derby, in this event Bobby Abreu slammed out 24 home runs in the first round, smashing the old record of 15 (David Ortiz also surpassed the old record by hitting 17) Abreu won the Derby over Tiger Iván Rodríguez and hit a record 41 homers during the event. The following night, the park hosted the 76th MLB All-Star Game. The American League won 7-5, with Miguel Tejada winning the game’s MVP award.

Comerica Park has played host to major recording acts in concert such as Eminem (2005), The Rolling Stones (2005) and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (2004). The first act to play the venue was the Dave Mathews Band in the summer of 2000. In full stage shows fans actually are seated on the infield diamond and the stage is in the outfield grass.

(source .. wikipedia) reproduced under GFDL

[ Anything to add? Spotted an error? Click here to improve this entry ]

Comerica Park wikipedia entry
Detroit Tigers website

[ Anything to add? Spotted an error? Click here to improve this entry ]

Latest Chicago White Sox News

U.S. Cellular Field (aka, “The Cell”, formerly New Comiskey Park) is a Major League Baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois. It is the home of the Chicago White Sox of the American League. The park opened for the 1991 season, after the White Sox had spent 81 years at Comiskey Park. The new park, completed at a cost of $167 million, also opened with the Comiskey Park name, but became U.S. Cellular Field in 2003 after U.S. Cellular bought the naming rights at $68 million over 20 years. It hosted the Major League Baseball All-Star Game that same year. A few sportscasters, though, continue to use the former name, New Comiskey Park.

	Capacity		40,615
	Opened		April 18th 1991
	Owner		Illinois Sports Facilities Authority
	Cost		$167 million USD, $118 million USD (1997-1999 renovations)
	Architect		HOK Sport

There is debate whether the stadium is in Bridgeport or Armour Square, two neighborhoods of the city. It is at 35th Street and Shields Avenue. It was built in the parking lot of old Comiskey Park, which was torn down and became a parking lot for the current field. A few design features from the old park were retained including the “exploding scoreboard,” which lights up in color when a White Sox player hits a home run and the sox shower where fans can cool off during games. To avoid obstructed viewing, the upper deck was set back over the lower deck. The lowest row of seats in the upper deck at the new stadium is actually farther from the field than the highest row of seats in the upper deck at the old stadium.

The stadium was the last built before the recent wave of new ‘retro’ stadiums. In response to fan complaints, the stadium has undergone numerous renovations since its opening in order to retrofit the facility to current architectural trends. These new features have included building a multi-tiered concourse beyond center field, adjusting the field of play to create asymmetrical fences and, most significantly the removal of the most distant seats at the top of the upper deck, and the addition of a new roof.

The uppermost story of the park now has a white and black screen behind the top row of seats and is topped by a flat canopy roof supported by poles that obstruct the view of a few seats. To give the park a “retro” feel the roof has black steel supports. The original blue seats are also being replaced by wider forest green seats. The new green and black color scheme more resembles the old Comiskey Park as well as other classic baseball stadiums.

The stadium contains 84 luxury suites located on two levels, as well as thousands of club seats on a mezzanine between the lower deck and upper deck. There is also a fan deck in the bleachers where you can find your pitching speed and cool off under a fountain.

(source .. wikipedia) reproduced under GFDL

[ Anything to add? Spotted an error? Click here to improve this entry ]

U.S. Cellular Field wikipedia entry
Chicago White Sox website
U.S. Cellular Field at whitesox.com

[ Anything to add? Spotted an error? Click here to improve this entry ]

Latest Cleveland Indians News

Progressive Field is a ballpark located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, and is the home of the Cleveland Indians of the American League. Along with Quicken Loans Arena, Progressive Field is part of the Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex.

	Capacity		43,345
	Opened		April 4th 1994
	Owner		Cuyahoga County
	Cost		$175 million
	Architect		HOK Sport

The ballpark bears the name of Progressive Corporation, an insurance company headquartered in nearby Mayfield Village. The ballpark had been known as Jacobs Field (informally called “The Jake”) since its inaugural season in 1994. The renaming of the park was announced on January 11, 2008, and removal of the iconic Jacobs Field sign on the front of the building occurred starting the morning of January 18. Progressive agreed to pay $57.6 million for the naming rights for 16 years. Originally named for former team owners the Jacobs brothers, the original naming rights expired at the end of 2006.

Progressive Field is one of the contributing factors to the revitalization of downtown Cleveland. Opening in 1994, it replaced Cleveland Stadium, which the Indians shared with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns, and which for the Tribe had become the archetype of the adjective “cavernous.”

In May 1990, Cuyahoga County voters approved a 15-year sin tax on alcohol and cigarette sales in order to finance the new sports complex. In June 1992, the ceremonial first pitch was thrown at the site of the new Progressive Field before construction of the building began. Finally, on April 4, 1994, the Cleveland Indians played their first baseball game at Progressive Field against the Seattle Mariners. Then-president Bill Clinton threw the ceremonial first pitch, and the Indians won 4-3.

In 1995, Progressive Field hosted its first World Series, where the Cleveland Indians lost to the Atlanta Braves. Progressive Field was the site of the 1997 MLB All-Star Game and the host of the 1997 World Series where the Cleveland Indians lost to the Florida Marlins.

Prior to the start of the 1997 season, Progressive Field had a slight addition as two sections of seating were added onto the ends of the bleacher section, increasing the capacity by about 1,000 to its current 43,345.

The Indians’ move to “The Jake” coincided with the coming of age of an outstanding young team, and the Indians soon became the hottest ticket in Cleveland. The ballpark set a major league record between 1995 and early 2001 by selling out 455 straight games. Demand for tickets was so great that they sold out all 81 home games before opening day on three separate occasions. The Indians “retired” the number 455 in honor of this outstanding record.

In 2004, Progressive Field’s scoreboard, the largest free-standing scoreboard in the United States, was modernized with the installation of the largest video display in the world at a sports venue, built by Daktronics of South Dakota. The video board measures 36 feet high by 149 feet wide. Also in 2004, a center field dining area located behind the seating, formerly occupied by auxiliary bleachers, was replaced with a bar area called the Batter’s Eye Bar.

(source .. wikipedia) reproduced under GFDL

[ Anything to add? Spotted an error? Click here to improve this entry ]

Jacobs Field wikipedia entry
Cleveland Indians website
TribeTalk fansite

[ Anything to add? Spotted an error? Click here to improve this entry ]

Latest Texas Rangers News

Rangers Ballpark in Arlington is a ballpark in Arlington, Texas, located between Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. It was known until May 7, 2004, as The Ballpark in Arlington when Ameriquest bought the naming rights to the ballpark and named it Ameriquest Field in Arlington. Even with the changed name, many fans continued to refer to it as simply “The Ballpark” or “The Temple.” On Monday, March 19, 2007, the Texas Rangers severed their relationship with Ameriquest and announced that the stadium would be named Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

	Capacity		49,115
	Opened		April 1, 1994
	Owner		Arlington Sports Facilities Development Authority
	Cost		$90 million
	Architect		David M. Schwarz/Architectural Services, Inc., HKS, Inc.

The stadium was constructed as a replacement for nearby Arlington Stadium. It is home to the American League’s Texas Rangers, and the Legends of the Game Baseball Museum.

The stadium is home to the Major League Baseball team, the Texas Rangers, and the Legends of the Game Baseball Museum.

Funding was approved for a new home for the Texas Rangers in 1991 by the City of Arlington. Construction began on April 2, 1992 a short distance away from Arlington Stadium, the ballpark it would replace, and the new Ballpark in Arlington was opened on April 1, 1994 in an exhibition contest between the Texas Rangers and the New York Mets. The first official game was on April 11 against the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Rangers chose to build a retro-style ballpark along the lines of Oriole Park at Camden Yards and Jacobs Field. However, unlike those stadiums, which were situated on irregular plots of land in crowded downtown areas, Ameriquest Field was built on one of the old Arlington Stadium parking lots. Thus, the irregular dimensions of the outfield were planned independently rather than forced by neighboring structures.

This stadium was the site of the 1995 MLB All-Star Game. It also hosted the first regular season interleague game on June 12, 1997, when the Rangers played the San Francisco Giants.

On May 7, 2004, Rangers owner Tom Hicks announced that he had negotiated a sale of the naming rights of the stadium to home mortgage company Ameriquest. The contract was worth $75 million over 30 years.

The home plate and foul poles were originally at the old Arlington Stadium.

(source .. wikipedia) reproduced under GFDL

[ Anything to add? Spotted an error? Click here to improve this entry ]

Ameriquest Field in Arlington wikipedia entry
Texas Rangers website

[ Anything to add? Spotted an error? Click here to improve this entry ]

Latest Rays News

Tropicana Field is a domed stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida which has been the home of the Tampa Bay Rays since 1998.

	Capacity		43,500
	Opened		March 3rd 1990
	Owner		The City of St. Petersburg
	Cost		$130 million
	Architect		Criswell, Blizzard & Blouin Architects

The ballpark originally began construction in 1986 in the hope that it would lure a Major League Baseball team. The stadium, built originally as the Florida Suncoast Dome, was first used in an attempt to entice the Chicago White Sox to relocate if a new ballpark were not built to replace the aging Comiskey Park. The governments of Chicago and Illinois eventually agreed to build a “new” Comiskey Park (now called U.S. Cellular Field) in 1989, and the White Sox owners ceased discussing the idea of moving the team to the Tampa Bay Area.

The stadium was finished in 1990, but still had no tenants. There were rumors of the Seattle Mariners moving in the early part of the 1990s, and the San Francisco Giants were reportedly very close to moving to the area, with Tampa Bay investors even announcing they were in a press conference in 1992. However, the sale was blocked by the then-owner of the Florida Marlins, H. Wayne Huizenga, and the move never happened. A local boycott of Blockbuster Video stores occurred for several years thereafter.

The Suncoast Dome did manage to gain a tenant in 1993 when the Tampa Bay Lightning made the stadium its home for three seasons. In the process, the Suncoast Dome was renamed the ThunderDome. Because of the large capacity of what was basically a park built for baseball, several NHL attendance records were set during their time there. The Arena Football Tampa Bay Storm also played there during the “ThunderDome” era, and set attendance records for that league as well.

Finally, in 1995, the dome got a baseball team when Major League Baseball expanded to the Tampa Bay area. Changes were made to the stadium and the name, which was changed due to the sale of naming rights, became Tropicana Field in 1996. A $70 million renovation then took place — to upgrade a stadium that had cost $115 million to complete only eight years earlier. The first regular-season baseball game took place at the park on March 31, 1998, when the Rays faced the Detroit Tigers, losing 11-6.

The park was initially built with an AstroTurf surface, but it was replaced in 2000 by softer FieldTurf, becoming the first major professional facility to use it.

Among the most cited dislikes about the stadium are the four catwalks that hang from the ceiling. The roof was slanted in order to reduce the interior volume and make the stadium cheaper to air-condition. Therefore, the dome is tilted toward the outfield, resulting in the catwalks being lower in the outfield. The upper catwalks are Ring A and Ring B; these catwalks are entirely in play and balls bouncing off them can be caught for outs, or drop for base hits. Ring C and Ring D are out of play; if they are struck between the foul poles (each one has a yellow post marking the relative foul line position), then the ball is ruled a home run. A few hits have been lost in them; for example, Jonny Gomes was called out during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays on May 12, 2006, when a ball he hit landed in Ring B and rolled off to be caught by third baseman John McDonald. By the time it was caught, Gomes was already headed for home plate. Although then-Manager Joe Maddon tried to argue that it should have been at least a ground rule double since it stayed in Ring B for a while before coming loose, umpires eventually ruled against the Rays and called Gomes out.

Another criticism of the stadium is the drab interior environment; although the stadium is located in a subtropical climate, one cannot tell from inside the dome.

The facility has also been used for rounds of the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament; it hosted the Final Four in 1999. Despite being built in 1990, the stadium is constantly rated among the bottom of MLB fields. The Kane’s Club is a premium seating area located at the lowest level right behind the home plate.

Nicknames include “The Trop”, “The Juicer” and “Slopicana Field”.

(source .. wikipedia) reproduced under GFDL

[ Anything to add? Spotted an error? Click here to improve this entry ]