MLB Building Boom

by soco on Feb 22, 2008 12:20 AM EST

The last realistic holdouts in the MLB Ballpark Construction Game, the two Florida teams, are nearing agreements to get new ballparks. Since 1989 (when the Blue Jays started play at Rogers Centre), there have been 20 new stadia built, and seven new parks in planning or construction.

The only remaining teams with no new parks or plans are, by age,: the Cubs, the Red Sox, the Dodgers, the Angels, and the Royals.

The proposed Rays ballpark looks pretty cool, though time will tell if it is feasible.

I also like the the design of Cisco Field the future home of the Oakland/Fremont/Silicon Valley A's.

Hopefully everything will be completely soon so I can go on a whirlwind tour of all the new parks. What new parks do you think you'd want to visit the most?

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Wow!

the Rays park looks amazing! It reflects the feel of the ocean a lot. I like the sail looking thing they have over it.

Tippecanoe and Pena too! (let's hope pena doesn't die after 30 days in office)

by seton hall snake pit on Feb 22, 2008 12:57 PM EST reply actions

I'd like Cisco Field..

Mainly because it's practically walking distance from my house. :D (Well, bus-ride distance.) But there are a lot of doubts about whether or not that's going to happen. The costs to the city are huge, they have to build a new school and Fremont already has overcrowding problems... it's really complicated here.

Plus, the name could possibly be the Oakland A's of Fremont. UGH!!

by snakecharmer on Feb 22, 2008 3:50 PM EST reply actions

That

might possibly be the worst name in all of sports.

It's also sad that the stadium situation in Oakland/Fremont/Silicon Valley is more tenuous than in Miami. That shouldn't even be possible.

Stay grindy, my friends.

by soco on Feb 22, 2008 6:35 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, it's got great potential

to be the worst name in all of sports. :/

by snakecharmer on Feb 24, 2008 5:17 PM EST up reply actions

I really doubt

That the final name for the Athletics after the move will have the name Fremont in it(even if that is part of the contract for a new stadium in Fremont right now.) I think, that despite the current territory rights owned by the Giants, Lew Wolf(the Athletics current owner) is really gunning for them to be called the San Jose Athletics. I personally hope they move north and take a look at the Sacramento area. The Sacramento Athletics still sounds more blue collar than having San Jose in the title, and I think there is a huge potential fan base for the team if they head north....

by Shippee33 on Feb 22, 2008 9:21 PM EST up reply actions

They won't head up north

There's not enough of a fan base (the Bay Area fans won't travel there), and Sacramento already holds the A's AAA team (Sacramento Rivercats). San Jose holds the Giant's High A team, the San Jose Giants, so unless a big deal happens with the Giants AND the city of Fremont (which I highly doubt), that won't be the name either. Lew has said that Fremont will somehow be in the name. Of course that could change, but right now, they're just focusing on transportation (a HUGE issue) and pleasing the public with plans (not an easy task in Fremont!).

by snakecharmer on Feb 24, 2008 5:16 PM EST up reply actions

What happens when it rains?

If it's windy and rainy, can they spread that sail out if it's windy? Would that be safe? Could they do it quickly, mid game if a sudden storm rolled in?

What about water runoff? Where does it all go?

Also, will it be hard to find fly balls in the "roof" ?

It's a cool looking concept, and I'm sure they've thought of these things. But they were the questions that came to my mind.

by shoewizard on Feb 22, 2008 8:13 PM EST reply actions