Why are they open instead of wrapping around like football or soccer stadiums?
2006-12-24 07:23:59 · 15 answers · asked by T P 1 in Sports ➔ Baseball
Mostly to help outdoor stadiums cool some in the summer with the wind swirling in. Also gives a nice view of the cities in some places.
2006-12-28 06:58:00 · answer #1 · answered by Gomez Addams 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe there are a few reasons...
1) In summer you would want the breezes to flow in and out of the stadiums, to cool the fans down some as they watch the games. In winter, you don't want to breeze to affect the fans as much, since it's normally a colder breeze. Many of the European nations also play soccer now versus in the summer like the MSL (Russia, Norway, and Sweden being the major UEFA exceptions... I imagine Finland might also, I can't remember off the top of my head). So pretty much the same for that as USA football.
2) Open ended stadiums allow for a configurable outfield wall. Many fans like the non-symmetrical outfields better. It allows for nooks to get the ball lost into and would allow for triples and possible inside the park home runs if the ball bounces the right (or wrong, depending on your point of view) way. That's much more fun for the fans and the players. The added unknown makes the game more thrilling!!!
3) Tradition, back in the old days, there weren't too many outfield walls. People would stand behind a roping in many of the first ball parks forming a human "wall" of fans. That's what separated it from football stadiums.
4) It just looks better. Seeing the blue skys on a summer day in the ballpark is so much nicer. Anaheim's stadium just went from a nice view outside the park to the artificial look of concrete backing when they were in "The Big A".
5) Sightlines. The majority of the action takes place between the pitcher and batter and on the basepaths. I've been to a few games where I sat in the outfield and the quality of what I could see was poor at best. The sightline of the majority of the action was over 200' away (at best!). It just wasn't as much fun as even being down the line where it is somewhat less of a distance. At least in the upper decks there's compensation that you can look down on the game. Besides, those seats don't sell normally in baseball. Football and soccer at least is end to end, so you will get at least some action up close to compensate for the action at the other end of the field that's harder to see.
IMHO, those are the most compelling reasons why baseball stadiums should all be open-ended (minus the domes).
2006-12-24 15:44:16 · answer #2 · answered by Joe Kap. 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I go to a lot of cardinal games. I can tell you that the old busch stadium had no open sides , it wrapped around. And the new busch stadium has a big open space in the outfield. I liked the old busch but I love the new busch. That open side allows you to see the city skyline and lets in a nice breeze when the wind is blowing the right way. It is much better for the players , fans and everyone.
2006-12-25 14:02:34 · answer #3 · answered by eightbraker 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They don't.
If I remember correctly, the following teams play their home games in such stadia (that's the plural of stadium):
Kansas City Royals - Kaufmann Stadium
Houston Astros - Minute Maid Park
San Fransico Giants - whatever it's called his week (although they have astanding room only area atop the wall that runs along McCovey Cove)
New York Mets - Shea Stadium
There are 30 major league teams.
And that's without going into the manor league stadia and various college stadia, etc.
2006-12-28 20:16:26 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not all stadiums have an open side. There are domes, such as the Metrodome (Twins), the Skydome (Blue Jays) and the Kingdome (Mariners old stadium).
2006-12-24 15:28:30 · answer #5 · answered by Carter 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Many of the retro stadiums were round without an open side. I prefer the open side, much better ventilation.
2006-12-25 01:24:57 · answer #6 · answered by jesus_mysuperhero 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some stadiums don't...Pro Player, Milwaukee's stadium, etc. And as for why that is, I don't know. Architectural tradition?
2006-12-25 15:40:33 · answer #7 · answered by omnislash7377 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
w0w !!! - well maybe its because in the summer it gets hott out and it allows the breeze to get in !!! umm and how do you know that all stadiums are like this ... thats just my guess - i don't know if that's the exact 'Scientific' reason .... kayy buhh byee i guess =]
2006-12-24 17:21:02 · answer #8 · answered by ForeverDancer 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ALL OUTSIDE STADIUMS DO NOT HAVE ONE SIDE OPEN.
2006-12-25 12:19:43 · answer #9 · answered by smitty 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I guess you have seen all the stadiums!!!!!
2006-12-24 15:31:17 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋