When Camden Yards opened in Baltimore in 1992, baseball changed forever.
Baseball architecture and ball-park aesthetic were transformed. Retro design touches were in. "Modern" multi-purpose, artificial-surface stadiums of the 1970s and '80s were out.
Camden Yards was so revolutionary that even a brand-new facility like the new Comiskey Park, which the White Sox debuted in 1991, felt outdated.
Every MLB team saw the need to create their own version of Camden Yards- and many did. In the 15 years between 1992 and 2006, a total of 14 new ballparks opened, nearly all of them with borrowed ideas from Camden Yards.
That building spree was nearly unprecedented in MLB history. In the 17 years since then, just seven MLB ballparks have been built. Only the Braves and Rangers have opened new parks in the past decade.
It's hard to find an independent economist who will agree that publicly funded stadiums drive larger revenue gains than the stadium costs themselves. Still, the sales pitch of the value of a publicly funded stadium has proved effective time and time again for baseball teams, in part because it appealed to the team's fans.
It was clear that the fan experience at a brand-new facility like Camden Yards was preferable to attending games at Veterans Stadium or Candlestick Park or Three Rivers Stadium.
As we head into the mid-2020s, what is apparent is that the opening of Truist Park in Atlanta may prove in the long run to be as significant to MLB owners as the unveiling of Camden Yards.
Denne historien er fra September 2023-utgaven av Baseball America.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra September 2023-utgaven av Baseball America.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Wood Has Towering Upside- Nationals rookie James Wood also stands 6-foot-7 and also has game-changing power.
Aaron Judge and Oneil Cruz are 6-foot7 sluggers who stand out for their power in this year’s MLB Best Tools voting. Wood spent half of this season with Triple-A Rochester before making his MLB debut on July 1. While he was in the International League, he captured managers’ attention. Wood unanimously won Best Power Prospect and also claimed Most Exciting Player in a survey of league skippers. Wood hit .353/.463/.595 with 10 home runs in 52 games for Rochester. His .242 isolated slugging was the best for a player 21 or younger at Triple-A this season.
ROAD BLOCK?
Scholarship expansion puts mid-majors at a major disadvantage on the road to Omaha
ROYALS REVIVAL
A revamped and rejuvenated farm system has Kansas City ready to rebound
SUMMER STANDOUTS
The top prospects in summer college leagues are poised to impact the 2025 draft
FLORIDA COMPLEX LEAGUE TOP 10
Last year’s Florida Complex League prospect crop has been beset by lengthy injuries to many of its top players, including Yankees pitchers Henry Lalane and Carlos Lagrange, Mets infielder Marco Vargas and Red Sox catcher Johanfran Garcia.
IN WITH THE NEW
The 2024 draft is in the books. The trade deadline is history.
WALCOTT BLASTS OFF
It took some time for Rangers shortstop Sebastian Walcott to find his footing at High-A Hickory.
A RECORD NIGHT FOR COLLEGIANS
Four key takeaways from the 2024 draft
K.C.MASTERPIECE
Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. wins games for the Royals with his bat, glove, speed and baseball IQ. He might be the most tooled-up player in the game.
HOW THE MAJORS HAVE CHANGED FOR YOUNG PLAYERS
When negotiating the 2022 Collective Bargaining Agreement, the MLB Players Association prioritized the earning power of young major league players, especially young stars.