Do collectors/fans in any other cities still mourn their ballparks demise?

[Gmrson]

I was recently reading about a new documentary that tells the story of a group of volunteers that care for the old Tiger Stadium site and it made me wonder if this was unique or if it goes on at other stadium "grave" sites.

Detroit fans love affair and court battles to save the beloved but crumbling ballpark have been well documented. I was only lucky enough to experienced 20 or so years of the place and it truly was a special ballpark. I don't cry for it's loss and really like Comerica Park, but the open wiring and chipping paint under the stands was part of its charm. Their was nothing like emerging from the tunnels that lead to your seats and being blasted with the bright green field as well. And the seats were right on top of the game...no wide foul territory-even in the sections that made up the bullpen mound and "underground" bullpen seating. I will admit, I really miss the place.

I don't hear much love loss about the demolition of the cookie-cutter stadiums in Cincy, Pittsurgh, St. Louis or Philly. Did they have any unique charm? The old Baltimore and Cleveland parks were cool when I visited, but left no great impression. Texas was...well, open. Are they or any others missed? Or is our experience unique, at least the first since Brooklyn who it seems is still mouning for 50+ years?

[jlzinck]

I would celebrate the demolition of Fenway but I can't happen. But I am in the minority.

[Gmrson]

I would celebrate the demolition of Fenway but I can't happen. But I am in the minority.

it's time? Any good about going there? I understand, our new place was a breath of fresh air...literally. It's just that people wanted to keep the old one around for posterity. They tried to save it for public use, a minor league team, apartment built with part or the structure and a park with the field. It was a hard fought battle to give it up. A friend would forward me pictures from a collecting friend of his, of daily demolition. He said the guy would drive 30+ minutes there everyday to mourn and watch the place get torn down. Sad....

[Ziveus101]

I don't think Brooklyn's mourning the loss of Ebbets Field anymore. I mean it's been decades since the Dodgers left and Brooklyn's reaction to their departure was always sort of exaggerated, plus since Jay-Z (and others) moved the Nets to Brooklyn they've had their first professional sports team and venue in a while. If they haven't moved on at this point then they need help.
Especially when just recently the Bronx and Queens saw Old Yankee Stadium and Shea Stadium get torn down and become a recreational park and a parking lot (haha), respectively, and they got over it in like 5 minutes.

[XL5]

Tiger Stadium was special. I remember sneaking onto the catwalks as a kid. I witnessed the riot in the bleacers in the mid-80s. Later in life I vivivdly finding an out of the way vendor deep in the tunnels selling 22 oz bottles of beer. My friends and I spend a few innings just sitting there chatting with staff and drinking beers, soaking in the dark, dank underbelly of the venerable old yard.

I went to the old Vet in Philly. Cookie cutter as they come, I don't think anyone is really mourning the loss of that place.

County Stadium had some character but Miller is a beauty.

Last time I went to Camden, we sought out the old stadium and it was just some rubble in a grass lot in a crappy neighborhood.

[Gmrson]

I don't think Brooklyn's mourning the loss of Ebbets Field anymore. I mean it's been decades since the Dodgers left and Brooklyn's reaction to their departure was always sort of exaggerated, plus since Jay-Z (and others) moved the Nets to Brooklyn they've had their first professional sports team and venue in a while. If they haven't moved on at this point then they need help.
Especially when just recently the Bronx and Queens saw Old Yankee Stadium and Shea Stadium get torn down and become a recreational park and a parking lot (haha), respectively, and they got over it in like 5 minutes.

I agree with you about the city not mouring, but when I see interviews with historians or sportswriters who grew up with that team/neighborhood, there is something in their gaze that seems to show they are still hurting if just a little. Now that I think about it...much of that is probably as much for the team as the stadium.

[Gmrson]

Tiger Stadium was special. I remember sneaking onto the catwalks as a kid. I witnessed the riot in the bleacers in the mid-80s. Later in life I vivivdly finding an out of the way vendor deep in the tunnels selling 22 oz bottles of beer. My friends and I spend a few innings just sitting there chatting with staff and drinking beers, soaking in the dark, dank underbelly of the venerable old yard.

I went to the old Vet in Philly. Cookie cutter as they come, I don't think anyone is really mourning the loss of that place.

County Stadium had some character but Miller is a beauty.

Last time I went to Camden, we sought out the old stadium and it was just some rubble in a grass lot in a crappy neighborhood.

I never got to County Stadium. Nothing stands out about Baltimore's Memorial Stadium other that it being out of the way of anything...

Ha! Those bleacher riots! Forgot about those and the 3.2 beer. I only ever sat their once...was too spoiled sitting up close. That seemed like a mile away.

[Bruvydsb]

The new parking lot is much nicer than Shea ever was

[Tugarpj]

I mourn the loss of Tiger Stadium, but not the area it was in. Dangerous to park on the streets. Comerica is downtown and much safer.

[Ziveus101]

I agree with you about the city not mouring, but when I see interviews with historians or sportswriters who grew up with that team/neighborhood, there is something in their gaze that seems to show they are still hurting if just a little. Now that I think about it...much of that is probably as much for the team as the stadium.

Yeah sure those who grew up rooting for the Brooklyn Dodgers are still hurt (same goes for those who grew up rooting for the New York Giants and the Montreal Expos) but for the most part they're the minority. Especially now as the number of people who saw the Brooklyn Dodgers start to dwindle and more and more people only associate the Dodgers with Los Angeles. Even people from Brooklyn.

[Keyser Soze]

Ask me again in a few weeks when the Astrodome is demolished. I doubt I'll miss it.

[duwal]

no one mourns not playing baseball at Candlestick park. It went from one of the worst places weather-wise to attend a game to AT&T park, one of the most attractive stadiums in baseball

[XL5]

no one mourns not playing baseball at Candlestick park. It went from one of the worst places weather-wise to attend a game to AT&T park, one of the most attractive stadiums in baseball

Three Rivers, Candlestick, the Vet, Riverfront (Cingergy), Busch and the rest of the cookie cutters were all that way. Built for dual-purpose, they lacked any kind of baseball character.

[Gmrson]

I mourn the loss of Tiger Stadium, but not the area it was in. Dangerous to park on the streets. Comerica is downtown and much safer.

never parked on the streets..usually at Firestone. I never felt any fear around there even after waiting for auto's late at night after the crowd cleared, but that was the mid-late 80's...probably was different by the time it closed.

I miss the place, but fondly. I don't mourn the loss. It is a shame the arrogant city didn't just give up the place and give someone a chance at doing something with it. Same @#$ bureaucrats that wouldn't give up the flagpole so it could be in play in Comerica Park as well...ha, just reminded me of that flagpole that was in-play :)

[TarjetasBéisbol]

Their was nothing like emerging from the tunnels that lead to your seats and being blasted with the bright green field as well.

That is EXACTLY how I remember my first trip to Tiger stadium. Went with my little league team and I remember being in this busy city that had all kinds of things going on and emerging out of the tunnel and seen the brightest grass I had ever seen. I loved that stadium and going there to watch Fidrych cuss out the umpires and watch fans go nuts throwing the chairs onto the field. The game got delayed by rain and I remember hearing the roar of the crowd as John Wockenfuss hit a grand slam. I also remember that since the rain started we left and ran back into the stadium to watch the game. We use to park at the church parking lot that was manned by the nuns.

The last time I was in Detroit I walked out to the mound at old Tiger stadium and was amazed at the size of the field. Without the huge walls of the stadium it looked so small. Those who are taking care of the field just loved the stadium and didn't like seeing the trash, to include needles used by druggies, laying all over the infield. I wish I could go help but being so far away from Detroit it is not likely to happen.

Here are some articles about the group:

Volunteers keep Tiger Stadium site ready for ballgame | Detroit Free Press | freep.com (http://www.freep.com/article/20130512/NEWS01/305120146/)

Anthony Castrovince: Keeping the memories of Tiger Stadium alive | MLB.com: News (http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110508&content_id=18834806)

[Triple B]

I miss Exhibition Stadium here in Toronto, but the SkyDome/Rogers Centre was a nice replacement.

[Tugarpj]

never parked on the streets..usually at Firestone. I never felt any fear around there even after waiting for auto's late at night after the crowd cleared, but that was the mid-late 80's...probably was different by the time it closed.

I miss the place, but fondly. I don't mourn the loss. It is a shame the arrogant city didn't just give up the place and give someone a chance at doing something with it. Same @#$ bureaucrats that wouldn't give up the flagpole so it could be in play in Comerica Park as well...ha, just reminded me of that flagpole that was in-play :)

Those a$$holes have now lost their power and are under a city manager. Suck on that city council. It was dangerous in the late 70's. My older brother wanted to save a few bucks so we'd park on the street across I-94. Kids would offer to watch your car. After paying the extortion fee, we could have parked in a lot near the stadium lol. Still, Corktown was hopping on game days. Miss that.

[RobbinsDynasty]

I don't think Brooklyn's mourning the loss of Ebbets Field anymore. I mean it's been decades since the Dodgers left and Brooklyn's reaction to their departure was always sort of exaggerated, plus since Jay-Z (and others) moved the Nets to Brooklyn they've had their first professional sports team and venue in a while. If they haven't moved on at this point then they need help.
Especially when just recently the Bronx and Queens saw Old Yankee Stadium and Shea Stadium get torn down and become a recreational park and a parking lot (haha), respectively, and they got over it in like 5 minutes.

I believe the restored a strairway that led down to ebbets field and placed a plaque. im not from the area but im pretty sure I read this somewhere

[centereacan06]

The new parking lot is much nicer than Shea ever was

The atmosphere will never be the same, though. There's so much to do a Coti Field, almost as if everything is distracting you from the game itself. At Shea, you HAD to watch the game.

Is Citi Field 1000 times nicer? Yes.
Is it more fun? That's debatable.

[wwejhardyrox]

I would celebrate the demolition of Fenway but I can't happen. But I am in the minority.
I love Fenway for the nostalgia however the seats are so small which would make me not miss it so much because whenever I go there it is somewhat uncomfortable.

[Melonhead1991]

I'm gonna miss Tropicana Field once the Rays move to Tampa, which I hope happens soon.

[dreamerfan]

I miss tiger stadium. Going up the ramps to the upper deck and just seeing how green the grass was just blew my mind. Comerica park just does not have the same charm.

[callou2131]

I never got to County Stadium. Nothing stands out about Baltimore's Memorial Stadium other that it being out of the way of anything...

Ha! Those bleacher riots! Forgot about those and the 3.2 beer. I only ever sat their once...was too spoiled sitting up close. That seemed like a mile away.

When memorial stadium was still open ot was nothing but a pile of rubble in a field in a bad neighborhood. I remember when my dad would take me there as a kid he always had a gun on him. I remember people selling their neighbors front yards to park in, then when the neighbor got home k he from work he would have all the cars towed. You would go to the pound to get your car and all the windows would be busted and everything gone. Charm city lmao. So glad I moved out of bmore. What a dump of a city.

[Abneric]

I do she's stadium was the most amazing place in the world

[briscogun]

I agree with you about the city not mouring, but when I see interviews with historians or sportswriters who grew up with that team/neighborhood, there is something in their gaze that seems to show they are still hurting if just a little. Now that I think about it...much of that is probably as much for the team as the stadium.

Yeah, that is spot on. The team really defined the neighborhood there, and when the Dodgers left they felt so abandoned and betrayed, there are still people that feel the pain to this day (my father-in-law included).

It's like if your wife left you for someone else and you miss the house? No, you miss the love of your life, not the place you hung out with her.

[Haze28]

Being from Chicago I can't say that I miss old Comisky but I shake my head at the travesty they built in its place. The Cell is one of the worst parks I've ever been to. I just hope they never get rid of Wrigley up north.

I miss Old County Stadium up in Milwaukee, the new park is amazing but it doesn't have that real baseball feel that the old park had. Going to County was like stepping back in time.

[mfw13]

no one mourns not playing baseball at Candlestick park. It went from one of the worst places weather-wise to attend a game to AT&T park, one of the most attractive stadiums in baseball

Gotta disagree with you to some extent. AT&T is much nicer, but it is also MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE.

I grew up going to games at the 'Stick, and yeah it was often cold and windy, but at least at the 'Stick ordinary people could afford to sit in the infield boxes close to the field. At PacBell/AT&T, upper reserve nosebleed seats are more expensive than infield boxes were at the 'Stick. These days, sitting anywhere in the lower deck is prohibitively expensive, and most of the seats are occupied yuppie geek bandwagon jumpers who don't even know who Jonnie LeMaster or John Montefusco were.

[celtics_fan_35]

Being a Red Sox fan I wish we could get a new stadium. I love Fenways nostalgia but it is time for a new park

[Stat Monsters]

R.I.P. Candlestick Park in San Francisco

No more SF Giants and now No more SF 49ers

It was located in the worst part of San Francisco, near Hunter's Point, and truly a ghetto. As a youngster, I remember my mom getting her purse snatched. I also know local neighborhood residents offer up parking and charge you to park in their driveway, others scout who's parking for the game knowing they have 2-3 hours to break into unattended cars.

It's near Burlingame, South of San Francisco and it's cold and the water seems stagnant, so can create a stench. There's nothing local to the park to do before or after the game other than get beaten or robbed.

So, in that case, I think PacBell/AT&T was an upgrade as will the new 49ers stadium. Even the SJ Sharks when temporarily housed at The Cow Palace when they debuted was in 'tha 'hood, but moved to a nice part of San Jose. I think the Warriors are probably next to move out of Oakland.

I think bigger cities are trying to be more fan friendly when it comes to live sports events, as an experience, of course there comes a price tag with increased ticket prices, but it may lead to a safer environment for fans to enjoy, and fans who can't can use that is motivation to save up or strive for a higher income or simply enjoy the games on TV at home. It's the harsh reality of capitalism and the economy. Personally, I actually like the games at home, my couch is the most comfortable seat, my 'fridge is the best concessions stand, and the walk within my home offers the most conveniences away from parking and traffic... plus, I get instant replays!