Saturday, August 11, 2007

Stadiums That Didn't Happen (For Better Or Worse)

THE SHEA DOME?
Long before they designed the not-so-distant-future new home of the New York Mets, Citi Field, there was talk of slapping a roof on Chez Shea.  Sometimes ideaseven those with the best of intentionsshould just remain ideas...


 
FENWAY PARK II?
There was talk for a while about replacing venerable Fenway Park with a neo-modern replica just behind the original (complete with faux Green Monster and all), but that fell by the wayside in favor of just plain renovating Fenway I.  Good thing, or Bostonians might've wound up with this monstrosity instead.










WELCOME TO THE DODGER DOME...
Long before The Astrodome was ever conceived, this is what 'Dem Bums could've played in if Brooklyn Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley had his way in the late '50s before bolting for Californy.  Revolting, ain't it?  No offense to the good people of Brooklyn, but if this was the only alternative, it's just as well the Dodgers landed in L.A.

HOW MANY RIVERS DO YOU NEED?
Here be a mock-up of what eventually became the penultimate cookie-cutter stadium, Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh.  Looks kinda like a cross between R.F.K. Stadium in D.C. and Kauffman Stadium here in K.C., don't it?...




WRIGLEY FIELD WEST?
Here's an interesting tidbitthe original home of the Los Angeles/California/Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (by way of El Segundo) Angels, not to mention the original home of TV's "Home Run Derby" show, Wrigley Field in Los Angeles, had serious consideration for renovation at one point during the '60s.  The Major League Angels only played one season there before jumping ship to Dodger Stadium for a few years until Anaheim Stadium was finished in 1966, but this proposed renovation looked an awful lot like Chicago's Comiskey Park I crossed with the late '70s renovation of Anaheim Stadium to accomodate the L.A. Rams foosball team.

TOTALLY SICK!
Long before the dreaded Kingdome was envisioned, the expansion of Seattle's Sick's Stadium was considered to keep those dreaded expansion Pilots from jumping ship in 1970 to Milwaukee.  Sadly, too many of the new seats were located in the outfield, and the Pilots flew the coop.  Just as well, the team sucked anyway...

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I like CBP in Philly, although I miss the Vet sometimes.