Just an interestsing tidbit...

[Elvis]

This season will mark Dodger Stadium's 45th year of ML service, which means next year, Chavez Ravine will be older than Ebbets Field was in 1957 when it closed after 45 seasons.

What do you think the life expectancy is of the current batch of recently constructed ballparks? 40, 50, 80, 100 years? I wonder what the ballpark landscape will be 50 years from now, and just how many of today's stadiums will still be in exsistance. How long will Dodger Stadium be around? Wrigley Field? PETCO Park? Thoughts?

[riverfrontier]

Dodger Stadium seems to be aging well, and seems to be much more popular than its sister parks like Shea and Candlestick. I think it'll be around for a good while longer. The newer parks (which are just as interchangeable as the cookie cutters to me) will be around until the need comes for an entire stadium of luxury box seating, with pay-per-view tv sets posted outside the park for the real fans. That seems to be the way things are going (lol)

[Elvis]

Dodger Stadium seems to be aging well, and seems to be much more popular than its sister parks like Shea and Candlestick. I think it'll be around for a good while longer. The newer parks (which are just as interchangeable as the cookie cutters to me) will be around until the need comes for an entire stadium of luxury box seating, with pay-per-view tv sets posted outside the park for the real fans. That seems to be the way things are going (lol)

Yes, contrary to its detractors, Dodger Stadium is aging beautifully thanks in part to meticulous upkeep and maintanance for most of its history, and its classic baseball-only design. I can't wait to see the current renovations in April! The entire stadium's interior concrete surface was sandblasted and re-surfaced and all 50,000 grandstand seats are being replaced with new cup-holder seats in the stadium's original color scheme and she looks great so far! The new seats were really needed because the old seats made you "slide" forward.

McCourt has commited to playing in Chavez Ravine for at least the next 25 years, at which point OLCR will be 70 years old. More future stadium improvements that have been disscussed include more restaurants and clubs, and building a "Grand Entrance Plaza" in CF that will connect the grandstands and a new pavilion structure that includes a picnic area. These plans, however, are still just future talk.

I agree about the current crop of ballparks. None too inspiring. After the amazing success of Camden Yardds, it seems every stadium built since has tried to copy it in some way or another. Where's the originality?

[RuthMayBond]

This season will mark Dodger Stadium's 45th year of ML service, which means next year, Chavez Ravine will be older than Ebbets Field was in 1957 when it closed after 45 seasons.

What do you think the life expectancy is of the current batch of recently constructed ballparks? 40, 50, 80, 100 years? I wonder what the ballpark landscape will be 50 years from now, and just how many of today's stadiums will still be in exsistance. How long will Dodger Stadium be around? Wrigley Field? PETCO Park? Thoughts?

Hopefully the current batch lasts longer than Cinci's Riverfront

[riverfrontier]

well, let's be honest, we're all really baseball fans at heart, and any place is just as good as another to watch a ballgame. but this is the 'ballpark as cathedral' board, so i'll give the nod to the indians, not so much for the ballpark, but for having the opening of the new park coincide with the rise of a talented farm-grown team which went on to star as best supporting actor for two world series. anyway, riverfront stadium hosted second place twice too, so we at least have that in common.

[Chisox73]

When I think of Riverfront Stadium,the images that pop into my mind are those of The Big Red Machine of the 1970s,and the 2 Bengals AFC Championship teams of the 1980s.

I was there in '96,and I really enjoyed myself there.

[efin98]

Yankee Stadium is already on it's way out. Shea may be gone by 2009. Oakland Colliseum is supposed to be gone by 2010 or so. Fenway Park is growing old fast, I don't think it will last past 2012 or 2015 despite changes.. Same thing with Wrigley Field. And despite it's good looks, Kaufman Stadium may be gone in favor of a downtown stadium in the upcoming decade as well.

That just leaves two stadiums leading the league for the next few decades. That's a good thing IMHO. I'd rather that those be the showcases for the league rather than decaying "palaces" on their last legs...

[tycobbpark]

Interesting topic, one which I have thought about myself. Of the current crop of ballparks that will have staying power, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, will by far outlast the rest. It seems even today the ballpark which others are measured by. Cleveland's Jacobs field might be another that will go the distance. Jacobs and Camden were ballparks that genuinely created the formula of revitalizing their downtown areas. Jacobs also has some architectural character in that there really isn't anything else like it. It uses rock that is unique to the area, and rounded steel work and glass rather than the red brick that others use.

I do see this current crop of stadiums going past the standard 50 year life span that others in the past have established just because people are getting fed up with stadium construction and having them publicly funded. That is another can of worms.

[KCGHOST]

And despite it's good looks, Kaufman Stadium may be gone in favor of a downtown stadium in the upcoming decade as well.

There is zero chance of this happening despite the continued chirping of a local radio station. Well, I guess if David Glass would be willing to fund at least 50% of it it might happen.

The local taxpayers are in no mood to build a new stadium when the one we have is still wonderful.

[west coast orange and black]

whereas jacobs and oriole park rejuvenated their downtown areas, pac bell in san francisco ignited the spark for the china basin/south beach neighborhood in san francisco.

gone forever are the tumbleweeds rolling past rusting deserted warehouses. instead, high-rise condos, student housing, restaurants, and newly-created open space, all accessible by a new light-rail line.

another thing that pac bell has going for it is that it is privately funded.
the city has nothing to lose and everything to gain by permitting the area, and the ballyard, to prosper.

[Elvis]

whereas jacobs and oriole park rejuvenated their downtown areas, pac bell in san francisco ignited the spark for the china basin/south beach neighborhood in san francisco.

gone forever are the tumbleweeds rolling past rusting deserted warehouses. instead, high-rise condos, student housing, restaurants, and newly-created open space, all accessible by a new light-rail line.

another thing that pac bell has going for it is that it is privately funded.
the city has nothing to lose and everything to gain by permitting the area, and the ballyard, to prosper.

At&T

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