Fields of Dreams

New Park Ideas submitted by our visitors

Continued . . .

Written by:  DisFUNkt1@aol.com

Although I know that the Cubs will never move from Wrigley, and I hope they don't, I am a big Cubs fan. I didn't know who to make a stadium for, so who better to make a stadium for than my favorite team?  If I were to chose, though, I would transfer the man-operated scoreboard here and transfer the ivy-covered walls.

My field's dimensions: 350 feet to LF, 350 feet to Left Center. Center field is 410 feet away.  330 feet to RF, and 370 feet to Right Center. Foul territory:  normal.

I believe this park can be considered either a pitcher's park or a hitter's park, because there are places (CF-410') that are a long distance, places (LF-350') that are medium in length, and places (RF-330') that can be
considered short.  It's good to have a variety of distances.

Fences: LF corner is 10 feet high, Left-Center to Right center is 7.5 feet high. RF is 25' high where there is the scoreboard showing the scores of other games. Material:  dark blue padding except for in front of bullpens
where it is glass so fans can see who is warming up.

Capacity:  anywhere from 45,000 to 50,000

1. Beyond the Left Field bleachers there is a small, man-made lake (NOT a pool)

2. Down the left field line, in the second deck (a black section) there is a restaurant with a glass front so fans can eat and enjoy the game.

3. For the centerfield batter's eye, a variety of small trees will be placed.

4. In Right-Centerfield beyond the wall, the bullpens are right next to each other.  They mimic those of Detroit's new Comerica Park, where the second bullpen is raised a few inches above the first.

5. In centerfield there's a flagpole that is in play (a la Detroit's old Tiger Stadium)

6. Beyond the bleachers in Centerfield is a large scoreboard with a Jumbo Tron Screen and updates of the game (balls, strikes, outs, etc...)

7. In rightfield (thin, black lines) there are large ads (a la Yankee Stadium and Comiskey) and in one of them there is the large logo of the late, great Harry Carray.

8. In RF, from the ground up is an eight-story hotel with a large "C U B S" written on the roof.  It can be used for fans that want to spend the night or visiting players. The top level is a viewing level of the game and is all glass.  In front of it on the eighth story is a standing-only area.

9. Behind home plate is the most expensive seats in the park, held for wealthy season ticket holders.  They hold special privileges, such as vendors specifically for them, padded seats, etc.-- reminiscent of First Class in a plane.

10. 25 foot high fence in right field has a large electronic scoreboard. It shows scores of other NL games that day.

11. Pressboxes, dugouts would be the largest in the majors.

12. I worked hard to come up with a design that directs almost all seats toward the batter/pitcher matchup.

13. Inside the park there will be a tribute to the Cubs greats (Ron Santo, Ryne Sandberg, Harry Carray, etc..)

14. In the stadium there will be an Arcade and batting cages.

Overall, I think my stadium would be a good place to visit for anyone.  It combines the advantages of new, "retro" stadiums (a hotel, a restaurant, many skyboxes), yet the field is made of grass, is open-air, and has no tacky trains or pools, for the baseball purists out there.  The stadium is not made for the Cubs (they are just my favorite team, so I decided to make one for them), but would be best for any team in a large city.

Written by:  lloydbacon@interisland.net 

Written by:  jumbojimbo@prodigy.net 

Written by:  Bluedevil2810@cs.com 

If anyone needs a new stadium, it is the up-and-coming Oakland Athletics.  The new stadium would be near the bay like Pac Bell Park -- but there would be a slim chance of a homerun going into the bay.  It would have an open-view of the bay in rightcenter field.  Down the right field line it would be 335 feet.  Right center would have a sort of divot.  An invite for triples. Dead center would be 414 and left center would be a deep 380.  Left field would be a sleek 345.  These dimensions would create a pitchers' park.

All the seats would be green.  In front of the main gate there would be a statue of Reggie Jackson, and each of the four gates would have a statue.  The other three statues would be of Dennis Eckersly, Rollie Fingers and Connie Mack.  The playing field would be natural grass.  The wall would be 7 feet tall in left, 5 feet in left center, 8 feet in center.8 in right center and 25 in right.  The stadium would have a Jumbotron screen in center field up in peanut heaven.  And last but not least, along the 1st base line up a few levels, there would be a restaurant with a glass front, much like that of Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Stadium.  And at the entryway opf the restaurant would be an A's "Walk Of Fame."  By the time the stadium is completed, this Walk will include Rickey Henderson, Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, Dennis Eckersly, Rollie Fingers, Connie Mack, Reggie Jackson, Jason Giambi and Tim Hudson.

Joe's comments:  Anyone who has attended a baseball game at the Athletics' current stadium knows that there are some terrible sight-lines there, and that monstrous seating structure in the outfield (built to appease the football Raiders) is an eye-sore.  The baseball fans of Oakland deserve a better ballpark for their team -- but if their attendance doesn't pick up, many will wonder if the east side of the Bay should be hosting Major League Baseball at all.

Written by:  btown12@yahoo.com

This is my idea for a new ballpark, mainly for the city of Philadelphia.  Even if the Phillies can put a contender on the field within the next few years, the revenues will not compare to that of a new downtown stadium.  I have tried to incorporate a nostalgic style into the stadium, and taking parts of old Connie Mack Stadium as well (seats all along left field and an open view over the right field wall).  I think it is necessary for the Phillies to build a new stadium, but it can not be in the parking lot of the Vet.  That would be horrible and a stupid idea, plus the novelty would wear off in three years, thus making a new stadium not important anyway. 

Joe's comments:   There's no doubt the Phillies need a new park, but I was very, very disturbed when I heard that the city and the team had changed its mind about placing the new park somewhere in downtown Philadelphia.  Instead, they embraced the terrible idea of building the new facility in the parking lot of Veterans Stadium.  Ugh!  How short-sighted can they be?!?  

Written by:  RPBrennan@aol.com

I recently saw a design for a new park for the Cardinals.  There are some things I like about it and some I don't.  However, if I were building the park, I would make it more like a replica of old Sportmans Park:

1.  It would be called Sportsmans Park.
2.  It would NOT have Astroturf, swimming pools or a retractable roof.
3.  It would have club seats and luxury boxes (but not too many) because they make money and money wins pennants.
4.  All the seats would be red.  The club seats at Busch are green and they seem out of place.
5.  In center field there would be a small river, and a riverboat would float through it when the Cardinals hit a home run.  (Every park needs a little tackiness.)
6.  The dimensions would be the same as the old Sportsmans Park, except for left field, which would be the same as Busch.  We don't want people saying that if McGwire played here, it would or wouldn't have been a homer.  He will probably be retired when the new park is done. 
7.  Right field would be a pavilion, and the scoreboard would be above the building in center to keep left field open.
8.  A flagpole would be in play, but it would sit off the field.  Houston's new park is a dangerous place for outfielders. 
9.  The seating bowl would run from just past the right field pole around to a little farther past the left pole (more than in right).  This would allow a great area for getting home run balls. 
10. There would be bleachers in the outfield. 
11.  The corners would be extended to form a square at the first, third and home plate corners.   Big square rotundas would form grand entranceways. 
12.  All the ads would be the silhouettes and the same colors and be clever like they were in the 30s and 40s.
13.  The Hall of Fame and offices would be in a building north of the park, and the top level and roof would be high enough to see the field.
14.  A stadium club would be above the right field outfield seats.  This would form a pavilion over these seats.

The theme of this park is riverboats and the early 1900s -- fitting because when this ballpark is supposed to open in 2004, it will be the 100th anniversary of the St. Louis Worlds Fair.

Written by:  bas3q@virginia.edu

Thought I'd submit this plan for your New Park Ideas page.  Rumors have been circulating that the Northern League is working on moving the Catskill Cougars to Washington, D.C. for the 2003 season. The team would be called the Washington Senators, in memory of the original AL team, and would play at RFK Stadium in downtown Washington. Apparently, Mike Veeck (who has done wonders with the St. Paul Saints) is directly involved in this effort, as well as actor-comedian Bill Murray.

The wisdom being bandied about is that to succeed financially in Washington, the new Senators will have to draw 10,000 or more at 45,000+ seat RFK; this would obviously look very bad when you consider how many empty seats there would be for an average crowd.

I've come up with a plan for a semi-renovation of RFK for the new Senators, which would feature several seating sections, an asymmetrical field, and a more intimate atmosphere than is found there now. 

A couple of notes:

1.) The entire upper deck would be closed off and covered with dark blue tarp; the logos of all of the Northern League teams would be emblazoned on those tarps.

2.) Half the mezzanine level (stretching around the outfield) would be closed off. The remainder of the mezzanine (which is little more than a concrete boxed-off
area that has no permanent seating) could be sold as standing room, for anyone who didn't want to pay (or can't afford) a lower-tier seat.

3.) The field (which is symmetrical in the current RFK) would be shaped asymmetrically, its weird bend owing to the installation of a new outfield bleacher section
(the bleachers used when the Redskins were playing there), a CF picnic area with flagpole, and the bullpens.

4.) The old DC Lottery clock and Budweiser sign would be dragged out of storage and placed in their former positions over the bleachers in right field.

5.) The outfield back-walls (behind the field fences in left and centerfield) would be painted dark blue and covered in bunting and advertising, creating a profitable
advertising wall that most minor league parks have.

6.) Stands behind home plate would be cut out in order to bring the plate closer to the field boxes, so that fans at this level will feel as if they are right next to the
batter. This will help to create intimacy in the cavernous confines of RFK.

Joe's comments:  It would take quite an undertaking to convert cavernous RFK -- abandoned by both the baseball Senators and the football Redskins -- into a functional, aesthetically pleasing ballpark . . . but I think Byron is suggesting an excellent approach here.  And it's a good thing that the plan doesn't call for the franchise to move to Washington anytime before 2003, since it will take the city government in D.C. at least that long to get its act together!

Written by:  awyrauch@ix.netcom.com

Since I'm from Philadelphia, I'm a die-hard Phillie fan.  The new stadium situation here seems to be getting worse and worse with each passing day.  The new park will now be located in the Vet's parking lot, which is surrounded by rowhomes and food warehouses -- which means that any view over the outfield walls will be boring if not ugly. Here are my ideas to improve the situation:

1.  The all-important luxury boxes -- instead of surrounding the stadium in the middle level, should all be placed in a neat three- or four-story tower in
left field, ending the nightmare of seeing any rowhomes or factories outside the park.

2.  There are no shops around the Vet now, so the new park should include a little mall with a few shops and maybe a sports bar.

3.  Since the luxury boxes will be in the outfield, the foul pole to foul pole arrangements should only be two levels of seating, it will bring fans even closer to the game.

4.  The right field area should include both bullpens, a picnic area, and a little "Phillie" monument park like in Yankee Stadium.  And at the top, there should be a large sports bar with an outstanding view of the field, again ending hope of a view of the warehouses.  The scoreboard should be in center field above the batters' field of vision.

5.  Grass field, grass field, grass field. I can't stress that enough.

6.  The whole park -- seats, concourse, and scoreboard -- should all be painted red, white and blue, the Phillies' colors.

Joe's comments:  First, it's a terrible idea to put the new park by the Vet instead of downtown.  Second, why not incorporate these ideas to make that bad idea better?

Written by:  calorioles@yahoo.com 

As you may know, the Florida Marlins want a new ballpark, because Joe Robbie obviously isn't formatted for baseball. As an Oriole fan who moved down to Florida and who will be moving close to the Miami area after my college graduation, I definitely do not want the Marlins to move away. With my fiancée being a Yankee fan and myself being an Oriole fan, our children will have to be raised "neutral," and the Marlins provide that opportunity. I want a baseball park that I will enjoy taking my children to for years. So here is my plan.

Currently, the Marlins want to build a ballpark with a retractable roof. If I were planning the park, I would eliminate that idea. An open ballpark would be both less expensive to build and more authentic as a baseball experience. Personally I think Safeco would be a much better park if not for that hideous roof to the side.

Marlins Park would be located in downtown Miami, with an open view of the skyline. The Miami Skyline is one of the most illumiated in the country, so it would be a great spectacle at night. Fans from the upper deck would also be able to see Biscayne Bay and Miami Beach as well.

The seats at Marlins Park would be teal to match the team colors. The fences would be black (the secondary color) and 7 feet high, to give a feeling of intimacy. The only exception would be a small out-of-town scoreboard in right that would rise about 20 feet. The upper deck will wrap around the foul area, but open up in the outfield so that the skyline can be seen. A small portion of the club seats will wrap around to left field and become a covered pavilion. Bleachers will be in both left and right fields. Raised bullpens will be just beyond the fence in left center.

In center field, I propose they plant palm trees and other tropical plants around the batters eye to fully capture the Florida experience. The exterior of the park will be art deco to match the famous Miami Beach architecture. It also will be illuminated at night.

I wish that the Marlins would build a park of this sort. Going to Oriole Park in Baltimore and seeing fathers watching the game with their children on their shoulders really makes me want to have my own children experience that wonderful feeling themselves. A ballpark of this sort would really get Marlins fans to come out and enjoy a day at the park.

Joe's comments:  If you remove the weather element from this (and it does rain almost daily in South Florida during the baseball season, and when it's not raining it can be brutally humid), this is the perfect park for city it's in.  Lots of good ideas here.

Written by:  cleveland@mail.hartford.edu

I'm a student studying architecture at the University of Hartford.  Ever since my sophomore year I have been studying ballparks in order to prepare myself for my senior-year project.  Currently I am designing a new stadium for the New York Yankees.  I've been in touch with the team and New York Mayor Giuliani about my project.  I am using one of the actual sites that has been talked about for a new home for the Yankees. 

As we speak, top Yankee brass, business tycoons and politicians are all rushing to find a modern-day replacement for Yankee Stadium, a $1 billion state-of-the-art stadium in the heart of Manhattan for the Bronx Bombers.  Will New Yorkers be saying good-bye to an old friend?  Maybe they will be heartened when first setting foot into the new Ruth Park.  Fans will be able to stroll down Joe DiMaggio Drive and glance into the wide-open concourses, seeing the inviting action welcoming them to come inside. And with improved sight lines, and scores of other amenities, Ruth Park will have the look and feel of -- surprise! -- Yankee Stadium.

This ballpark will be located on Manhattan's West Side, over the Long Island railroad yards just south of the Javits Convention Center.  This project will also include developing the site and its adjacent areas.  Included for these areas are proposals for two 600-room hotels, three 200,000-square- foot office buildings, plus retail, restaurant and entertainment venues.

Other ideas are as follows:

1.  It will be named Ruth Park.  I believe this is only fitting since Yankee Stadium has been called The House That Ruth Built.
2.  The field dimensions will be the same as those at Yankee Stadium before its renovation 25 years ago.
3.  Monument Park will again be placed in play in the outfield to create an obstacle for center fielders.
4.  Along the outfield wall will be a building that I call the Yankee Village.  It contains a Yankee Hall of Fame, ticket offices, restaurants and gift shops.
5.  Along the outside of the stadium will be pedestrian walks with a "Yankee Walk of Fame" featuring retired numbers, pennants, world championship banners and mementos of other famous Yankee feats.
6.  I believe baseball should be played outside on a natural playing surface, so Ruth Park will be an open-air baseball-only stadium.
7.  Ruth Park will be a modern ballpark, but it will have a nostalgic feel.  It will contain many of Yankee Stadium's famous features.

Joe's comments:  Lots of good thoughts here.  The City of New York and the Yankees themselves could save millions of dollars by following your advice, instead of paying high-priced consultants to come up with similar ideas.  Now all that's standing in the way of making this project a reality is a measly billion dollars!

Written by:  apittenger@hotmail.com

This ballpark, which I call The Brickyard, is modeled after Safeco Field, Turner Field, Camden Yards, and The Ballpark at Arlington.   The design of this ballpark is meant for an urban area such as New York or Chicago and is intended for use in area with lots of old brick buildings.

Here are the features (note that the numbers correspond with the numbers on the drawing):

1).  The outside of the building will resemble an actual 8 story brick theatre from all sides.  The only way you would know that this was a ballpark would be from the air, since there is no roof and from the theater-like marquees on the home plate corner and the center field corner.  The outside is identical to an old style theatre with four theater-like entrances and with windows above making it look like the upper floors are office space.  Like Safeco Field and most theaters, there are more exits than entrances so leaving the park is easy.  The outer shell is about 20 feet taller than the highest seat and the lights are located below the rim.  Part of the charm of this ballpark is that it doesn't look like a ballpark on the outside.

2). Like Safeco Field, there is an upper deck uncovered commons/concourse area, however unlike Safeco Field, there are no spectacular views.  Fans can look out the windows on to the street below or sit at a picnic bench. 
Souvenir shops and concession stands are located all throughout this concourse that stretch from the NW corner all the way to the SE corner.

3).  The seating arrangement between the poles are almost identical to Seattle's Safeco Field except for the right field corner.

4). This area is intended for the rowdy fans.  It is intended for fans like the Wrigley Bleacher Bums.  Below this section (5) is a large bar.  Beer vendors are aplenty in this section.  Families are encouraged not to sit here but in the right field corner.

5).  The bullpen area is similar to Seattle's Safeco Field.  The bullpen dugouts are located above the wall so pitchers can watch the game and for safety reasons.  The out-of-town scoreboard is located below the pink section to the left of the bullpen.  The pink section is the upper section of a large bar (really large).  Fans can sit and watch from a counter here and see the ball game.   The counters are like stadium seating with about six rows of counters where fans can have a beer away from their seat or family and still catch the game.  Below the out-of-town scoreboard is the lower portion of the bar that resembles Safeco Fields Bullpen Pub with a little gap in the outfield wall where fans can check out the game.  The bar also has a view into the visitors bullpen through plexi-glass covered holes cut through the wall.

6). Like Safeco Field, there is an expensive club seating section with its own separate entrance and private banquet rooms and lounges below.

7). The Right Field corner is the family section.  Fans wanting to bring kids to the game are encouraged to sit in this here.  A kids concession stand, souvenir stand, and a playground are hidden behind the seats in this section.

8). Between the upper deck and the filed level in right field are two restaurants and three large group luxury banquet rooms and seating areas.

9). The playing surface is located 25 feet or so below the street level.  The Field level concourse is located at street level.

10). The back wall of the outer shell between the foul poles in the outfield will resemble the outside of a building much like the Camden Yards warehouse.  The outer shell in this part of the stadium is about 40 feet thick and house the team offices and meeting rooms.  Offices will have either a field view or a view of the outside streets and buildings.

11). This is the scoreboard.  It will look similar to the one in Phoenix.

12). The center field area is similar to Turner Field.  The section beneath the right field seats and the area under the scoreboard are filled with shops, cafes, sit-down restaurants, interactive games area, an arcade, and a museum.  This section and the bar located beneath the left field seats will open up to six hours before game time to provide fans with a place to relax and watch the grounds crew set up the field.

13). Across the street to the south will be a similar brick building (resembling a brick office building) that will mask a parking garage for players and season ticket holders.  On the far south entrance of the other building is an entrance for food service trucks and other delivery trucks to enter.  Beneath the second building is the receiving area.  Three tunnels under the street connect the second building to the ballpark.  One is for season ticket holders, one is for players and management, and one is for maintenance and receiving.

Joe's comments:  Wow, a lot of work went into this.  I especially like the way you've taken the best elements of several existing parks.

Written by: DaBums55@aol.com

I'm really interested in ballparks. I also like designing my own. I made this drawing on the computer.  Its called "Guetter Grounds" (my last name is Guetter). I tried to model it after the old Polo Grounds in Manhattan. It's basically a symmetrical ballpark with the bullpens jutting out into the field down the lines to cause some interesting plays and controversy. 

I think a ballpark should have a classic facade on the outside with a nice color brick and arches. I also think the entrance way to the upper level should be wide open for some air circulation and to provide a nice view and a wide walkway.  I don't really mind visible walkways on the outside of the stadium (which the new Comiskey Park has been criticized for, and one of my favorite ballparks Shea Stadium also has) -- although to make it more attractive I added pillars on each corner of the ramps, and the same color brick as Jacobs Field. 

As for the inside of the ballpark, the interior is wide open. The upper-deck seats (which are blue) go from one foul line to the other. The mezzanine level is green and wraps just around the foul lines. Right above the mezzanine in fair territory are the scoreboards, the one in left has the score and the in right is the Diamond Vision. The inside of "Guetter Grounds" also has an orange field level going foul line to foul line (this ballpark was designed for the Mets, by the way). Finally, in the outfield there are two sections of bleacher seats.  In between the the bullpens and the bleachers are the left and right field picnic areas. 

Joe's comments:  Since a couple of entries on this page describe features for a new home for the Yankees, it's only fair that the Mets are represented, too!  Good ideas, and a nice color scheme. 

I was immediately intrigued with the feedback the you've received from fans on your Fields Of Dreams page.  I think that it is great for fans of the national pastime to express themselves on our hardball shrines

My feeling on ballparks is that they should take a backseat to the action on the field.  After all, that's what you came for anyway, to see a baseball game.  The ballparks should play a part in the game, however, because this enlivens the on-field product.  But let's face it, a swimming pool at a ballpark, that's ridiculous.  I know that it gets hot in the bleachers sometimes, but a pool is completely unnecessary.  If you're that hot, call the beer man!  Ballparks should be shrines to the game they host, and anything after that is earned.

So, if I had to make a dream park, I probably would put it in a neighborhood, hemmed in by some body of water -- but no fake waterfalls!  The only water to fall in my stadium would be rain.  I also would have a bunch of tacky things (i.e. the Big A) in the stands as a sort of a target for the hitters.  Oh, and my field would be double-decked, like Tiger Stadium, have special sections that were sort of like opera boxes, but only for standees.  Also, I must have bleachers.  There is no better place to watch a baseball game.  Period.  Everything in my park would be geared toward the game of baseball, with little or no regard for ATMs or any corporate sponsorship.

Joe's response:  boy, you're a purist, aren't you!

In my opinion, the first step to a great park is the exterior.  After all, it's the first part of the park that you see upon arrival. A park's exterior should be elegant, and I hate to say it, but most of the new parks aren't so dazzling on the outside. However, Pac Bell Park (San Francisco) does look as if it's going to be pretty nice.

If I were building a park, it would have arches reminiscent of Ebbets Field, and an entrance reminiscent of Shibe Park, with the tower looming overhead. The exterior would be made of brick and glass, no visible steel or concrete.

Inside is where the game happens, so the interior shouldn't take your eyes off the game. I think the "BOB" is a sorry excuse for a ballpark. First of all, it's way too big and imposing. And second of all, a ballpark is no place for a pool! The interior of my park would be intimate, and modern,
but simple enough to keep the fans eyes on the game. I like the idea of three decks, the middle deck being the smallest, but I wouldn't make the middle deck more expensive than the other decks and name it the "club deck".

And no way would I have "personal seat licenses". I would make prime seats available to any fan, even fans of lower income, or fans who only visit the park once or twice a year. Personally, I hate calling early in the year for good seats on a game, and being told that the seats are held by season
ticket holders. Let's face it, even hardcore baseball fans don't always have the time to buy season tickets and see every game.

I would definitely put bleachers in my park. They would stretch from corner to corner, with sections cut out for bullpens and center field. I would put a big scoreboard above centerfield that could be visible from anywhere in the park. I would put odd, old-school dimension in my park, reminiscent of the Baker Bowl; 295 to right, 350 to right center, 416 to center, 385 to left center, 339 to left.

My park would be buried in a neighborhood, and would be right on the water. A shot over the bleachers could possibly land in water. The fences would be 12 feet all around, with an odd corner or two. I would plant ivy on the fences, a la Wrigley and Forbes. The press box wouldn't cut into any seats. It would be placed between the first and second decks. There would be 35,000 to 42,000 seats, depending on location. And last, but not least, I'd install a giant fountain outside the park, for a bit of tackiness.

Joe's comments:  more ideas from a purist -- right down to a little bit of tackiness.  Good work!

Written by:  migriff23@hotmail.com

I am glad to hear that you've started a new page at your site to debate topics like what the Yanks should do if they build a new stadium.  First of all, I just want to say that I would not mind if they stayed where they are now as long as they clean up the surrounding area and fix up the stadium so it is more fan-friendly.  As far as my thoughts for a new stadium, I think they should try to keep as much of the historical things as they can from the old stadium.

Here, now, are my Top Ten ideas for a new Yankee Stadium:

1. The new stadium should have a museum to honor past Yankee players and teams.  It would be nice to see all the World Series trophies in one place.  It would be a great place for both the young and old.

2. I think the field itself should be exactly like the one they currently have as far as dimensions go, and it would be nice if they could bring in the infield dirt from the old stadium just to save a little bit of history.

3. I think they should make a new monument park and bring all the monuments from the old park to the new one.   It would be nice if they added a little bit of a 90's touch by having a little mulitmedia
presentation next to each monument, too.

4. I think each seat sections should be named after a past Yankee great.  There may not be enough retired Yankees numbers to go around but, I guess they could make the sections bigger.

5. If the stadium is a modern stadium it would be nice to have a retractable dome and maybe even a hotel like the Skydome in Toronto -- but no swimming pool like in Arizona!  That is out of place in a baseball park.

6. The new stadium has to have grass.  No astro-turf!!!!

7. No multi-purpose stadium, either.  It should be baseball only....the Yanks deserve their own stadium.

8. I would like to see them get the stadium done without having to sell the stadium naming rights for money.....a corporate-sponsored stadium would take away from the nostalgia which the Yanks are all about.  "Yankee Park" is one name I would suggest.

9. A movie theater at the stadium would be an new idea.  It would be great to see movies like "Pride of the Yankees", "The Babe", etc.  It would be something to do before and after the games.

10. Some interactive baseball things such as batting cages, or pitching games would be nice......something even better would be if they convinced ESPN to build an ESPN Zone Restaurant/Bar at the stadium.

Joe's comments:  Those are ten great thoughts.  I agree that the current Yankee Stadium is by no means obsolete, but it's unfortunate that it's located in the neighborhood that it's in.  I'm sure our other visitors will have some thoughts of their own about a new Yankee Stadium -- so send me an e-mail!

I checked out your site (via Yahoo search) and you mentioned something about "benching the new Comiskey Park."  Mainly you said that because of the obvious:

1. Too many luxury boxes (on two levels);

2. Long distance dimensions (foul corners: 347; power alleys: 375; straightaway center field: 400);

3. The bland concrete structure;

and probably the most obvious:

4. The steep upper deck that takes a vertical mile walk to get to (it has a 35 degree pitch, so I learned).

As a Sox fan, I say that my favorite team deserves better.  See if you can picture this:  a new 45,000 to 50,000 seat ballpark that would have these aesthetics:

1. Lower level seats that can be accessed from the street. This is similar to the way to get to the       dugout seats at Wrigley Field.  The playing field itself would be 15-20 feet below street level (helps prevent swir-r-r-ling winds);

2. A not-so-steep upper deck that will give a panoramic view of the field and, in certain seats, the skyline of downtown Chicago. An intended location (55th and Lake Shore Drive) would give great
views of one of Chicago's great parks and museums and the famous Hyde Park neighborhood (on the southeast side);

3. Extensive grandstand right to the power alleys to create home-run roof shots and blasts to the upper deck (a la Mark McGwire at Busch Stadium and Greg Luzinski at the old Comiskey);

4. The ornamental exterior would resemble the Old Comiskey (red brick and limestone with grand scale arches) with a green metal upper-deck structure that will give it an old-school flavor;

I hope you like my sketch of "Comiskey Park III."

Joe's comments:  Yes, I intensely disliked New Comiskey -- and I saw it while it was under construction (I was very fortunate to see a game at the original Comiskey during its last season, so I was able to scrutinize the construction site next door) and a couple of years after it opened I saw a game there.  I was astonished that a brand-new stadium could be so bland and "antiseptic" -- especially since the original article next door had so much character.  Even the Orioles' play-by-play broadcaster called New Comiskey a "graveyard" in a recent e-mail to this site.

Your criticisms are also right on the money.  I did indeed sit in the upper deck on my visit, and I was surprised at the angle.

And your recommendations for a new park are outstanding!  In many respects, they sound very much like Camden Yards.  Considering what it took for the White Sox to get New Comiskey, though, I can't say that I expect "Comiskey III" to happen any time soon, but your ideas shouldn't be ignored.

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