Roger Arrieta
If you’re a baseball fan, chances are you’ve seen Field of Dreams. A simple field groomed to perfection, a diamond perfectly laid out and constructed to exact measurements. The pitching mound an exact height and distance from the plate. Each base flawlessly spaced 90 feet away from one another and perfectly angled at each corner. A simple ballpark it was. Now a days, new ballparks are becoming more of an amusement park than what they originally were intended for; baseball.
The demand for bigger, better, more is increasingly becoming a trend in upgraded stadiums in the past decade. Traditional ballparks are criticized for their lackluster ambiance in comparison to the influx of minutiae that are being packed into new MLB stadiums. Ok, maybe it’s not all minutiae, but how does that add to what’s happening on the field? It doesn’t. Granted, the premise behind the additional entertainment is to heighten the experience for adults and children alike and perhaps draw larger crowds to their stadiums.
In the last two years, among all the stadiums I’ve visited were the three oldest and three of the newest ballparks in the MLB. By far, my best experiences have been had at Fenway, Wrigley, and of course Dodger Stadium. Each stadium unique in their own right, offer fans more than any other new ballparks can offer. These stadiums without distraction are infused with tradition. Fans in attendance can enjoy their experience and indulge in the ambiance these traditional stadiums offer. Could these stadiums use some upgrades? Sure! But that’s not why they’re the most visited and highly regarded stadiums in the world. These historical landmarks speak for themselves.
Not all about the newly built stadiums are bad, however. After mixed reviews from fans, the new Yankee Stadium turned out to be one of my favorite new ballparks, mainly because they replicated the old stadium and kept it traditional. Across town in Queens is Citi Field and despite the unnecessary big Apple that appears as if from nowhere after a home run, adds nothing to their ballpark, I was delighted to discover Shake Shack behind center field. My visit to the new Marlins Park was highly anticipated. There was where I found my most favorite and my least favorite pieces. My least favorite was the twirling dolphin statue in center field, a bit tacky for my taste. My most favorite by far is the Bobble Head Museum behind home plate. The museum houses over 600 bobble heads from each league.
There’s plenty to appreciate about new and old stadiums. Like everything in life, baseball stadiums have evolved and the truth of the matter is that people do want bigger, better, more. As long as baseball culture and tradition stay the same and the game that is played between the chalk stays the same, ballparks can continue to add whatever they want in their stadiums. In our own “field of dreams,” every baseball fan knows that if they build it we will come.
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