Which park comes closest to an original?

[bandit12]

I remember reading an article about 12-15 years ago talking about how parks like Forbes and Crosley were sorely missed (thanks to the cookie cutters) and how teams were going to try an re-create their ambiance/intimacy (somewhat) with new parks. I don't think it happened with Cincy...but what new ballpark in your opinion comes closest to an earlier park?

[LI METS FAN]

I remember reading an article about 12-15 years ago talking about how parks like Forbes and Crosley were sorely missed (thanks to the cookie cutters) and how teams were going to try an re-create their ambiance/intimacy (somewhat) with new parks. I don't think it happened with Cincy...but what new ballpark in your opinion comes closest to an earlier park?

Well based on their Wikipedia entries the original capacity was 23,000 and 25,000 respectively so I don't think any new park was going for that type of intimacy. What MLB franchise could afford such a small park or risk alienating the fans from their city for that kind of intimacy? Would even a small market town approve a ballpark that small? Pittsburgh-no, Kansas City-no.

[DarioMet]

I think Bandit wasn't talking merely about ballparks capacity, but atmosphere and, maybe, venue design.

[Aviator_Frank]

The only one that comes to mind in terms of replicating its own heritage would be Yankee Stadium, with its exterior wrap and the return of the (albeit modified) frieze.

All the other new parks, while many boast a retro feel to them, pay little or no homage to their direct or distant replacements. And in the case of 3 Rivers and the Vet, that's probably a good thing.

[Sean O]

I remember reading an article about 12-15 years ago talking about how parks like Forbes and Crosley were sorely missed (thanks to the cookie cutters) and how teams were going to try an re-create their ambiance/intimacy (somewhat) with new parks. I don't think it happened with Cincy...but what new ballpark in your opinion comes closest to an earlier park?

None are even close. Every retro park is the exact same when you look at the structure, so not a single one makes it feel like a classic park.

[muckandgrind]

I shudder the thought of the Twins trying to re-create the ambience of the Metro Dome in Target Field!!!

[Sean O]

The only one that comes to mind in terms of replicating its own heritage would be Yankee Stadium, with its exterior wrap and the return of the (albeit modified) frieze.

[soup]

PNC is the most intimate modern ballpark I have been in, so that's my vote

[Sean O]

PNC is the most intimate modern ballpark I have been in, so that's my vote

Still, no below-deck concourses, but at least there are upper deck portals instead of a split.

[bandit12]

I think Bandit wasn't talking merely about ballparks capacity, but atmosphere and, maybe, venue design.

Bingo! I guess NYS was supposed to be that with the same dimensions of the playing field and the frieze and may come closest.

I know the "plans" that have been on ballparks.com for a long time concerning Fenway wanted to capture the original...but good luck with that being a reality.

[Sean O]

I know the "plans" that have been on ballparks.com for a long time concerning Fenway wanted to capture the original...but good luck with that being a reality.

That proposal was an absolute joke and an insult to Bostonians / Sox fans. The seats were miles away from the action (that bleacher section is an atrocity) and astonishingly didn't even fix the problem areas of the original down the RF line.

We are very fortunate not to have wasted hundreds of millions of dollars like NY did on a poor facsimile of the original.