Architect Breaks Down Iconic Baseball Stadiums | Architectural Digest

Hey, batter batter! Michael Wyetzner of Michielli + Wyetzner Architects returns to AD, this time breaking down the architectural details found in baseball stadiums around North America. From some of the earliest homes of the national pastime to current multi-billion dollar behemoths, Michael offers up expert insight on what makes each of them distinct.


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[BDP]

Would love a part 2 or even a series on all the stadiums

[Eightball]

I'm glad they've found a way to bring stadiums back to the city.

[SoCalFreelance]

I really enjoyed this overview. Notice in the Camden Yards photo all the row homes that surround the ball field. I live in one of them. Walking from your house to see a baseball or football game is one of the great pleasures of living in a walkable city. Walking in my neighborhood and hearing the roar of the stadium crowd adds so much atmosphere.

[BeepasGarage]

Camden Yards will always be my favorite. Such a classic look.

[ksmooththeengineeringdude]

Time Stamps for my Peeps!
0:28 - The Palace of the Fans - Cincinnati
1:53 - Shibe Park - Philadephia (Jewel Box Era)
3:37 - Negro League Discussion
4:34 - Rickwood Field - Birmingham (Negro League)
5:20 - General Baseball Architecture Constraints
6:20 - Fenway Park - Boston
6:46 - Yankee Stadium - New York (The Bronx)
8:20 - Municipal Stadium - Cleveland (The Land)
9:46 - Candlestick Park - San Francisco
11:35 - Astrodome - Houston
12:59 - Oriole Park at Camden Yards - Baltimore
14:43 - Citi Field - New York (Sorry Mets Fans)
15:06 - Ebbets Field - Brooklyn (Citi Field Bashing)
16:50 - Loandepot Park - Miami

[jackm]

Janet Marie Smith belongs in the Hall of Fame. She not only started the retro-designs with Camden Yards, but also saved Fenway Park, not to mention countless other designs of hers. She has made a lasting contibution to baseball not equalled by any of her contemporaries.

[SoSoMillie]

Never in a million years I would have expected Loan Depot Park would be the example of a great new stadium. I live near Little Havana and that stadium looks like a spaceship just landed there. I'm glad to hear positive things about it.

[brandonbuchner]

It's crazy to me that when i think of Camden Yards, I don't even think of the ballpark first. I IMMEDIATELY visualize the warehouse across the street. It's that iconic.

[jpsned]

Your point about the size difference between the exterior facades of Citi and Ebbets Fields helped me to better understand an experience I had with my dad when Citi Field opened in 2009. My dad grew up in Brooklyn and spent many an afternoon at Ebbets Field. He later adopted the Mets after the Dodgers moved west, and in 1970 he and I began going to Met games at Shea. When Citi Field was built, I remember all the hoopla about how the entrance was designed to resemble the one at Ebbets Field, and was thinking my dad was going to feel nostalgic and excited when we went to our first game there. When we did get to that first Citi game, Dad noted that our ticket taker just inside the entrance was about his age, and, with a knowing smile, said to the guy, "This doesn't look like Ebbets Field at all!" The ticket taker responded, "Ya got that right!" 🙂

[c-mar]

One thing in Citi Field's favor is the interior - I've sat all over that park, from pricey to the cheapest seats, and there's really no bad seats there IMO. It's a great experience actually *watching* the game. It would be cool if there was more things to do around it other than chop shops, but there is the World's Fair park, and the presence of the subway stop makes it feel like part of 'the city' to me. This really made me want to go take in a game in Miami, though!

[johnnyrokkit]

Petco Park in San Diego is a beautiful example of new retro design and is nicely integrated into the city grid downtown.

[johnwisniewski]

Very interesting! I’d love to see a series on collegial buildings. They don’t make buildings like that anymore and they seem to have their unique style of themselves.

[rod]

The amount of shade for CitiField feels personal lol. Ive been there a few times and the scale is actually very awesome, a great tribute to Jackie and Willy, and is connected to the city, very walkable and the subway is right there...

[claudiamann]

Fabulous!! Grew up going to Wrigley Field and will always love that stadium. I'm glad they are bringing stadiums back in the city. That's where they should be.

[williamkazak]

Wrigley Field in Chicago is in the midst of the city. Old Comisky park was built on the south side in more of a strictly residential area. Of course, change had to occur.

[PixelPundit]

I can't believe that arguably one of the most historic stadiums (Wrigley) wasn't shown. It never left it's city and has changed very little.

[Gambit]

I love Citifield, it's a great place to take in a game. The sight lines are great. Plenty of meeting/family points in the stadium. And the rotunda was "inspired" by ebbets it wasn't meant to be a carbon copy. It's honestly become its own thing. Watching fans come off the 7 train and filter into the rotunda has a certain ambiance to it. The only problem with the field is there is nothing walkable to do near by. Future development is coming to the area (chop shops are gone) so hopefully there is more to do around stadium in future.

[gibbersking]

I love how I'm being taught. How basics, function, style, structure, proportion, material, location and much more is being offered. And no pretentiousness. A big "thank you" for that. :)

[marryamakbaar]

We've missed you, Micheal 🤩
Thank God, your back 🙏🏻

[ChipJones]

I have no clue what he is speaking about with his descriptions of the details (yeah, I said it), but he clearly knows of what he speaks. But, it is the passion he has for it that I feel, and thus, find myself engrossed by this. Love the 4am YouTube rabbit hole!