Do you think Chase is a "real" baseball stadium?

[Heucrazy]

Petco loses points just simply for being called Petco..

Petco is overrated and so is Chase on this board. There's a way to build a retractable roof baseball stadium without giving it the feel of a airplane hangar as evidenced by Safeco Field in Seattle.

Obviously never been to Petco.

 

[PHXSportsFan4]

Safeco Field is the best retractable roof stadium. It still has a traditional ballpark feel when the roof is open. I also like Chase and Minute Maid Park, but I don't like Miller Park. Toronto's is outdated and is obviously a dump. I guess it's considered a retractable roof stadium but it only opens up halfway.

Chase is no worse than a top 15 stadium IMO. I don't think it's among the best, but it's on par with most other stadiums.

 

[HooverDam]

Also keep in mind that a lot of these retractable roof stadiums were built after BOB/Chase, so they were able to learn from its 'mistakes.' Chase was the first 'domed' stadium to have natural grass, which is cool, but the downside to being first is that someone usually comes along and does it better later on.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

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Did a little crop job on the photo HooverDam took to turn it into wallpaper friendly size. Thanks again to HooverDam for providing the original photo used for this.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Obviously never been to Petco.

I lived in SD during Petco's inaugural summer and probably spend all combined 2-3 weeks there every Summer. I've been to Petco at least ten times, the area surrounding the stadium is fun but nothing about the city or the team reflects in the stadium. For a laid-back beach town Petco is far too distant and corporate and instead of using San Diego's natural setting we're forced to view overpriced condos from every seat in the house. Very overrated, easily the third best in the NL West and you can make an argument that Coors has it beat.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Also keep in mind that a lot of these retractable roof stadiums were built after BOB/Chase, so they were able to learn from its 'mistakes.' Chase was the first 'domed' stadium to have natural grass, which is cool, but the downside to being first is that someone usually comes along and does it better later on.

Yeah, I don't think Chase is all too horrible as far as casual fan experience goes. The lines are quick, the A/C is running, sightlines are pretty good, and it's pretty easy getting in and out. But I am one of those guys with baseball that believes less is more and there's way too much going on at Chase.

I just hope whenever they rebuild Chase or renovate or whatever it takes more into account the Arizona experience than stealing ideas from Jerry Colangelo's Chicago childhood baseball memories.

 

[Dback Jon]

One thing to keep in mind is the difference in purpose between the roofs in Seattle, Milwaukee and Arizona.

In Seattle and Milwaukee, the purpose is to keep the RAIN out. The sides do not have to be fully enclosed.

In Arizona, the purpose is to keep the SUN off the fans, and to keep them cool. Requires a totally different design. Seattle's and Milwaukee's design would not work in Arizona.

 

[PHXSportsFan4]

One thing to keep in mind is the difference in purpose between the roofs in Seattle, Milwaukee and Arizona.

In Seattle and Milwaukee, the purpose is to keep the RAIN out. The sides do not have to be fully enclosed.

In Arizona, the purpose is to keep the SUN off the fans, and to keep them cool. Requires a totally different design. Seattle's and Milwaukee's design would not work in Arizona.

Very good points.

 

[FORKTUNG]

I dont think Miller or Safeco is fully enclosed to be air conditioned.
That's a must here in AZ.

 

[Mulli]

Yeah, I don't think Chase is all too horrible as far as casual fan experience goes. The lines are quick, the A/C is running, sightlines are pretty good, and it's pretty easy getting in and out. But I am one of those guys with baseball that believes less is more and there's way too much going on at Chase.

I just hope whenever they rebuild Chase or renovate or whatever it takes more into account the Arizona experience than stealing ideas from Jerry Colangelo's Chicago childhood baseball memories.

Yep.

 

[82CardsGrad]

For us its either 1. stadium w/ a roof, or 2. no team. So it was a pretty easy choice to make.

I think Chase is rather ugly from the outside, it does look like an airplang hangar, but from inside its pretty nice. Even with the roof open, you never really feel outside though. I wish the black walls behind the vertical AL/NL scoreboard were glass like parts of the outfield walls are, that would let in more light and create a more open feel.

One thing I think would be fantastic is if the Garage Mahal on the north side of Jefferson was demolished. That thing has been a huge money pit for the city, and its rarely (if ever) full. It kills any sort of urban vitality or walkability in the area (since you have to walk around it, and there is no ground level retail or office space). If that beast could ever get knocked down and replaced with perhaps a couple of office towers or a hotel, it would not only increase foot traffic along Jefferson (and thus, the pregame atmosphere around the stadium), but being able to see a few towers out of the Chase Field windows would be really cool.

As far as anyone who calls themselves a 'purist' of anything, they are probably just a dunder head who is too rigid and stupid to change with the times and notice how things are improving around them.

This sums it up best... I too am a purist and grew up 20 miles from Yankee Stadium... So it's hard for me to accept anything less than an old-time feeling stadium... Love Camden Yards, Fenway, Wrigley... even the Ballpark in Arlington (Rangers Stadium) has an "older" feel to it though it's relatively new...
But, neccessity is the mother of invention and here in the desert, we got what we needed...

 

[PHXSportsFan4]

This sums it up best... I too am a purist and grew up 20 miles from Yankee Stadium... So it's hard for me to accept anything less than an old-time feeling stadium... Love Camden Yards, Fenway, Wrigley... even the Ballpark in Arlington (Rangers Stadium) has an "older" feel to it though it's relatively new...
But, neccessity is the mother of invention and here in the desert, we got what we needed...

I like the more traditional "older feeling" ballparks too but I don't have a problem with Chase at all. It's different, pretty unique, and serves its purpose. I haven't been to many of the retro ballparks but they all seem pretty nice. The only one I guess would be the New Busch Stadium and I loved it. It had an unbelieveable classic feel to it yet it has all of the modern things a stadium needs these days. I'm going to Rangers Ballpark next week, so I will see how it compares.

So far, Chase is probably my favorite I've been to, New Busch may barely beat it out.

Overall, without actually visiting all 30 ballparks, I'd say my top 5 would have to be SBC Park (Giants), PNC Park (Pirates), Fenway Park (Red Sox), Wrigley Field (Cubs), Camden Yards (Orioles).

I'd put Chase somewhere in the top 15 or so. It's not among the best, but as I've said before, it's on par with most other stadiums.

 

[82CardsGrad]

I like the more traditional "older feeling" ballparks too but I don't have a problem with Chase at all. It's different, pretty unique, and serves its purpose. I haven't been to many of the retro ballparks but they all seem pretty nice. The only one I guess would be the New Busch Stadium and I loved it. It had an unbelieveable classic feel to it yet it has all of the modern things a stadium needs these days. I'm going to Rangers Ballpark next week, so I will see how it compares.

So far, Chase is probably my favorite I've been to, New Busch may barely beat it out.

Overall, without actually visiting all 30 ballparks, I'd say my top 5 would have to be SBC Park (Giants), PNC Park (Pirates), Fenway Park (Red Sox), Wrigley Field (Cubs), Camden Yards (Orioles).

I'd put Chase somewhere in the top 15 or so. It's not among the best, but as I've said before, it's on par with most other stadiums.

Didn't mean to imply that I dont' like Chase. I do...

My top parks are:

1.) Yankee Stadium - still can't believe they're ripping it down next year... Nothing like it in sports.
2.) Wrigley
3.) Camden Yards
4.) PNC Park
5.) SBC Park
6.) Fenway (would've been in top 3, but I'm a Yankee fan...)
7.) Dodger Stadium
8.) Ballpark at Arlington (Rangers)
9.) The Astro's Park
10.) Chase (would be higher but the outside is quite unappealing...)

 

[PHXSportsFan4]

Didn't mean to imply that I dont' like Chase. I do...

My top parks are:

1.) Yankee Stadium - still can't believe they're ripping it down next year... Nothing like it in sports.
2.) Wrigley
3.) Camden Yards
4.) PNC Park
5.) SBC Park
6.) Fenway (would've been in top 3, but I'm a Yankee fan...)
7.) Dodger Stadium
8.) Ballpark at Arlington (Rangers)
9.) The Astro's Park
10.) Chase (would be higher but the outside is quite unappealing...)

I didn't think that you disliked Chase, I understand where you are coming from on the more traditional parks. I'm pretty much the same way. Not a bad top 10. I think Safeco Field is slightly better than the Astros' but thats just me.

We are thinking about a trip to PNC Park this year too which would be amazing to see. It looks so sweet on TV and in pictures, it's gotta be 10x better in person.

This whole ballpark thing is interesting, I might make a thread and have everyone post their top 10 ballparks. I'm interested to see what everyone else thinks.

Also, as far as Yankee Stadium, I can't believe they are tearing it down either. I'll never get to see it. I know for sure that I won't this year and it would be my last chance. I just hope I can see Fenway sometime in my lifetime (or its lifetime)

 

[82CardsGrad]

I didn't think that you disliked Chase, I understand where you are coming from on the more traditional parks. I'm pretty much the same way. Not a bad top 10. I think Safeco Field is slightly better than the Astros' but thats just me.

We are thinking about a trip to PNC Park this year too which would be amazing to see. It looks so sweet on TV and in pictures, it's gotta be 10x better in person.

Been dying to get to Safeco... Got family up in Seattle so hope to pull that off later this summer!
PNC is tremendous! Great layout and very fan friendly. And the setting is awesome!

 

[PHXSportsFan4]

Been dying to get to Safeco... Got family up in Seattle so hope to pull that off later this summer!
PNC is tremendous! Great layout and very fan friendly. And the setting is awesome!

Have you been to New Busch Stadium yet? I'd guess probably not since it's only been open for a year, but I'm curious to see how other people would compare it to the best stadiums in the league. I loved it but I haven't seen too many in person so I don't know if it's really THAT great or if I just haven't seen anything better. I definitly think it's a great ballpark either way, but I'm just curious to see if anyone would rank it among the league's best.

All I've been to are:
-Riverfront Stadium/Cinergy Field
-Great American Ballpark (one of the worst new ballparks IMO, and will end up being one of the worst in the entire league once everyone has their new ones)
-Comiskey Park (before they remodeled)
-Wrigley Field
-Old Busch
-New Busch
-BOB/Chase