| It's major league baseball season again! And | | | | and traditional baseball parks. It was made with |
| whether we are baseball fans or not, experiencing | | | | hand-made brick and is asymmetrical. Should snow |
| the thrill of a live baseball game, coupled with the | | | | hit the field, an underground heating system melts |
| architecture of a particular stadium, you are | | | | the snow. Five inches of water can be drained per |
| bound to be in for a great time. | | | | hour from the natural grass. |
| So just what makes a great baseball park? I | | | | Ballpark at Arlington, opened in 1994, and home of |
| would argue that it would be the trend of modern | | | | the Texas Rangers, also uses a mix of |
| culture and technology, coupled with the | | | | state-of-the-art architecture with its brick and |
| atmosphere of early 20th century baseball parks. | | | | granite faade, asymmetrical playing field, and even |
| One needs to look no further than Oriole Park at | | | | a home-run porch in right field. The playing field is |
| Camden Yards, which opened in 1992, and is the | | | | also natural grass with the outfield dimensions |
| home of the Baltimore Orioles. This stadium is | | | | asymmetrical. Fans in the lower seats feel like |
| unique in that it blends right into the downtown | | | | they are part of the action, as the proximity of |
| culture of Baltimore, while still similar in design to | | | | the fans to the playing field is one of closet of all |
| many traditional baseball stadiums of the early | | | | baseball parks. |
| 1900s. For example, Oriole Park at Camden Yards | | | | Location and view is also critical for baseball parks. |
| gets the modern feel of stadiums with its sunroof | | | | Dodgers stadium, home of the Los Angeles |
| over the upper deck, arched brick faade, and | | | | Dodgers, offers an awe-inspiring view of |
| steel trusses. But to keep with such great early | | | | downtown Los Angeles to the south, hills to the |
| 20th Century stadiums as Fenway Park, Wrigley | | | | north and east, not to mention the San Gabriel |
| Field, and Yankee Stadium, Oriole Park uses | | | | Mountains as well. Likewise, seating at Safeco |
| natural grass turf and an asymmetrical playing | | | | Stadium, home of the Seattle Mariners, provides |
| field. | | | | fans with a magnificent view of downtown |
| Coors Field, opened in 1995, and home of the | | | | Seattle. |
| Colorado Rockies is also unique in blending modern | | | | |