Mallparks

T. Friedman Michael

Description

In Mallparks, Michael T. Friedman observes that as cathedrals represented power relations in medieval towns and skyscrapers epitomized those within industrial cities, sports stadiums exemplify urban American consumption at the turn of the twenty-first century. Grounded in Henri Lefebvre and George Ritzer's spatial theories in their analyses of consumption spaces, Mallparks examines how the designers of this generation of baseball stadiums follow the principles of theme park and shopping mall design to create highly effective and efficient consumption sites. In his exploration of these contemporary cathedrals of sport and consumption, Friedman discusses the history of stadium design, the amenities and aesthetics of stadium spaces, and the intentions and conceptions of architects, team officials, and civic leaders. He grounds his analysis in case studies of Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore; Fenway Park in Boston; Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles; Nationals Park in Washington, DC; Target Field in Minneapolis; and Truist Park in Atlanta.

Sujets

• Béisbol
• USA
• États-Unis
• Baseball

Informations

• Publié par: Cornell University Press
• Date de parution: 15 juillet 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781501769306
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 22 Mo

Extrait

MALLPARKS

MALLPARKS Baseball Stadiums and the Culture of Consumption

CORNELL UNIVERSITY PRESS

Michael T. Friedman

ITHACA AND LONDON

Copyright © 2023 by Cornell University

All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in a review, this book, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher. For information, address Cornell University Press, Sage House, 512 East State Street, Ithaca, New York 14850. Visit our website at cornellpress.cornell.edu.

First published 2023 by Cornell University Press

Library of Congress CataloginginPublication Data Names: Friedman, Michael T., 1970– author. Title: Mallparks : baseball stadiums and the culture of consumption / Michael T. Friedman. Description: Ithaca [New York] : Cornell University Press, 2023. | Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifiers: LCCN 2022049157 (print) | LCCN 2022049158 (ebook) | ISBN 9781501769290 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781501769313 (epub) | ISBN 9781501769306 (pdf) Subjects: LCSH: Baseball fields—Social aspects—United States. | Consumption (Economics)—Social aspects—United States. | Baseball fields—United States— Design and construction. | Cities and towns—Growth. Classification: LCC GV879.5 .F75 2023 (print) | LCC GV879.5 (ebook) | DDC 796.35706/8—dc23/eng/20221025 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022049157 LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022049158

To my partner in life, Sara, whose love and support are everything to me

Contents

Preface

Par t ICATHEDRALS OF CONSUMPTION  1. Leading Off  2. Producing Consumption Space

Par t IITHE SPATIAL PRACTICES OF BASEBALL STADIUMS  3. Grounds, Ballparks, and Superstadiums  4. The Spatial Practices of the Mallpark

Par t IIICONCEIVING MALLPARKS  5. Camden Yards: Forever Changing Baseball  6. eaC:hTzitadmnedgerdDodiumStaeFyawnraPnaknio of a Ballpark and a Superstadium  7. Nationals Park: A Mallpark of Magnificent Intentions  8. Target Field: Different in the Same Way

Par t IVTHE FUTURE OF BASEBALL STADIUM DESIGN  9. Truist Park: Supercharging the Mallpark 10. Making Baseball Great Again

Notes Bibliography Index

ix

3 22

43 63

95

120 145 165

191 218

229 273 301

Preface

Fathers, sons, and baseball. Images of males bonding through games of catch, days at the ballpark, and triviafilled conversations are cultural clichés. Yet that cliché is at the foundation of this book and the perspectives underpinning its analysis. Four men central to my mother’s life have shaped how I see baseball, consumption, shopping malls, and theme parks. The first is my father, Barry. This book is part of a journey that began when I was thirteen years old in June 1984 in the front seat of his Cadillac. Leaving after my brother’s high school graduation, the two of us spent six weeks trav eling to attend baseball games in twentyone major league ballparks. With my father driving the entire tenthousandmile trip, we passed through twentynine American states and two Canadian provinces, saw thirteen movies together, vis ited countless shopping malls, ate an unhealthy amount of fast food, experienced the hockey and football halls of fame (but not baseball’s), and cemented a bond between us. On that trip, I walked into Fenway Park, Yankee Stadium, and Wrig ley Field for the first time and attended my only games at Tiger Stadium and Comiskey Park. We saw the Detroit Tigers once as they moved toward a World Series title and the Chicago Cubs twice as they won a division crown—only to fail to reach the World Series after holding a 2–0 lead against the San Diego Padres in the bestoffive National League Championship Series. We saw the emergence of Dwight “Doctor K” Gooden with eight strikeouts in a complete game, followed the next night by another rookie pitcher, Roger Clemens, who struggled as he gave up six runs in three and twothirds innings. We saw many players who are now in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, including Steve Carlton, Don Sut ton, and Reggie Jackson at the very end of their storied careers; Eddie Murray, Mike Schmidt, George Brett, Ozzie Smith, Dave Winfield, Tim Raines, and Robin Yount in their primes; and Cal Ripken Jr., Ryne Sandberg, Tony Gwynn, and Wade Boggs as they were establishing themselves. I received autographs from Nolan Ryan, Dickie Thon, and Alan Ashby of the Houston Astros and failed, in twentyone ballparks, to catch a single foul ball. Looking back, much has changed since that summer of 1984. Of the twenty one ballparks we visited, only five remain in use. Our $8.50 box seats at Fenway Park now cost $190 apiece. The city we visited on June 14, Montreal, no longer hosts major league baseball. My father and I were sport tourists without knowing about the concept, and over the miles I became a sports geographer long before

ix