There are many factors that go into deciding what makes a baseball field the best from its gorgeous architecture to more specific things such as the baseball field’s drainage system. There are many gorgeous stadiums across the United States which makes it difficult to decide which one is better than another. While not a definitive list, five stadiums that are widely considered to be the best include:
- Fenway Park
- Dodger Stadium
- AT&T Park
- PNC Park
- Safeco Field
Fenway Park – Boston, Massachusetts
Fenway is the definitive classic baseball stadium. There’s no other stadium like it in the world. The Fenway Park baseball field began construction in 1911 and finished in 1912, making it the oldest active professional baseball stadium in the United States. Fenway has very distinct characteristics that separate it from the rest. “The Green Monster” sits 35 feet high in the left field, while the “Pesky Pole” stands tall in right field. Williamsburg, the nickname for the Fenway Park bullpen, was constructed for the sole purpose of giving left-handed hitters like Boston Red Sox legend Ted Williams and advantage at hitting home runs since it brings the right field wall in by 23 feet. In 2004 they updated the baseball field’s drainage system from the one that was originally put in place almost a century before. Fenway Park acts as a portal into the past and doubles as a museum. Fenway is one of the only stadiums that indisputably deserves to be on this list.
Dodger Stadium – Los Angeles, California
Despite its parking and traffic situation, Dodger Stadium is worth the visit. Construction for this baseball field began in 1959 and has withstood the wear and tear of the California heat. The perfect symmetry of Dodger Stadium is something that needs to be appreciated by every baseball fan. The absolutely stunning view of the mountains in the background makes Dodger Stadium worthy of being considered one of the greats. Dodger Stadium is considered a “pitcher’s park” due to the relatively far outfield wall in comparison to that of other stadiums. Dodger Stadium has hosted 12 no-hitters, second to Fenway Park which had been opened roughly 50 years before Dodger Stadium first opened its doors.
AT&T Park – San Francisco, California
When baseball field construction began for AT&T Park in 1997, it was given little wiggle room for where to build and how much room they could build on. The engineers and designers were able to take a potential downside and turned it into one of the best parts of the stadium. AT&T Park sits right on the beautiful San Francisco Bay with many kayakers waiting for home runs right behind the stadium in McCovey Cove. In Left field resides the Coca-Cola Fan Loft and the famous 80 foot Coca-Cola bottle that doubles as a slide.
PNC Park – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
PNC Park finds itself on this list purely for its jaw-dropping backdrop. The Pittsburgh skyline sits as the backdrop along with the Roberto Clemente Bridge, which was named in honor of the Pittsburgh Pirate legend. This baseball park was constructed with the idea of honoring the classic baseball stadiums of the past like Wrigley and Fenway that has come before it. PNC Park’s exterior wall was built using limestone from the Minnesota River along with blue steel to honor the city’s history. This stadium will surely go down in history as one of the most beautiful to ever be built.
Safeco Field – Seattle, Washington
Safeco Field makes this list for a number of reasons. Although the city of Seattle is known for how much it rains, Safeco Field shields its fans with a retractable roof. This is not only to protect fans and players from the rain but to avoid the field getting wet and making the conditions impossible for play. A failsafe to the retractable roof is the baseball field’s drainage system which usurps all other stadiums. Safeco Field is the perfect stadium for anyone solely interested in the food, as this stadium offers a wide array of both “baseball food” and other unconventional dining options such as sushi, burritos, and stir-fry. Safeco Field also offers a very gorgeous view of the Seattle skyline in the distance.
It’s hard to accurately rank every single professional baseball stadium. It’s widely considered that these five stadiums are some of the greatest. A lot of planning and effort goes into designing and constructing a baseball field, so it’s important the right people are hired for the job. When looking for a company to construct a baseball field or simply install a drainage system, consider Sports Turf One. They have the experience and expertise to construct an absolutely gorgeous stadium. To get a free quote today call 561-225-1113.