Presenters
Abstract
When Camden Yards opened on April 6, 1989, it ushered in a new era of baseball stadium architecture. From the early 1960’s through the opening of Camden Yards, virtually all new outdoor sports facilities were multi-use, high-capacity “concrete donuts” as Shea Stadium in New York, Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, and Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. Since 1989, most new MLB facilities have been of the baseball-only variety with smaller seating capacity, offering a more intimate experience for fans and ultimately larger profits for team owners. This presentation will trace the development of baseball architecture from the 1960’s through the present, with a particular emphasis on how the success of Camden Yards created a new era in ballpark architecture.