Baseball park A baseball park , also known as a ballpark or baseball stadium , is a venue where baseball is played . A baseball park consists of the playing field and the surrounding spectator seating . While the diamond and the areas denoted by white painted lines adhere to strict rules , guidelines for the rest of the field are flexible . The term " ballpark " sometimes refers either to the entire structure , or sometimes to just the playing field . A home run where the player makes it around the bases , and back to home plate , without the ball leaving the playing field is typically called an " inside - the - park " home run . Sometimes a home run over the fence is called " out of the ballpark " , but that phrase more often means a home run that clears the stands and lands outside the building . The playing field is most often called the " ballfield " , though the term is often used interchangeable with " ballpark " when referring to a small local or little - league facility . General characteristics . The playing field . A baseball field can be referred to as a diamond . The infield is a rigidly structured diamond of dirt containing the three bases , home plate , and the pitchers mound . The space between the bases and home is normally a grass surface , save for the dirt mound in the center . Some ballparks , like Toronto ' s Rogers Centre , have grass or artificial turf between the bases , and dirt only around the bases and pitcher ' s mound . Others , such as Koshien Stadium in Hyōgo Prefecture , Japan , have an entirely dirt infield . Two white lines run out from the home plate area , aligned with first and third bases . These are the " foul lines " or " base lines " , usually differentiated by referring to them as the first base line , or the third base line . If a ball hit by the batter lands outside of the space between these two lines , or rolls out of this space before reaching first or third base , the ball is " foul " ( meaning it is dead and the play is over ) . If it lands between or on the lines , it is " fair " . At the end of the lines are two foul poles , which help the umpires judge whether a ball is fair or foul . These " foul poles " are actually in fair territory , so a ball that hits them on the fly is a home run ( if hit on the bounce , it is instead a ground rule double ) . On either side of home plate are the two batter ' s boxes ( left - handed and right - handed . ) This is where the batter stands when at bat . Behind home is the catcher ' s box , where the catcher and the home plate umpire stand . Next to first and third base are two coaches ' boxes , where the first and third base coaches guide the baserunners , generally with gestures or shouts . As the baserunner faces away from the outfield when running from second base to third , they cannot see where the ball is , and must look to the third base coach on whether to run , stop , or slide . Farther from the infield on either side are the dugouts , where the teams and coaches sit when they ' re not on the field . They are named such because , at the professional levels , this seating is below the level of the playing field so as to not block the view from prime spectator seating locations . In amateur parks , the dugouts may be above - ground wooden or CMU structures with seating inside , or simply benches behind a chain link fence . Beyond the infield and between the foul lines is a large grass outfield , generally twice the depth of the infield . The playing field is bordered by fences of varying height . The infield fences are in foul territory , and a ball hit over them isn ' t a home run ; consequently , they are often lower than the outfield fences to provide a better view for spectators . Sometimes , the outfield fence is made higher in certain areas to compensate for a close proximity to the batter . In professional parks , the field is surrounded by an area roughly wide made of dirt or rubberized track surface called a " warning track " . Originally used in Yankee Stadium in 1923 as an actual footrace track , it is now present in all major league ballparks . This change in terrain warns a fielder , who is watching a ball in the air , that the wall is near , avoiding possible injury . Beyond the outfield fence in professional parks is an area called the batter ' s eye . To ensure the batter can see the white ball , the batter ' s eye contains no seating , and is a darker color . This can be anything from a dark wall to a grassy slope . Seating . Today , in Major League Baseball , a multi - tiered seating area , a grandstand , surrounds the infield . How far this seating extends down the baselines or around the foul poles varies from park to park . In minor league parks , the grandstands are notably smaller , proportional to expected sizes of crowds compared with the major leagues . The seating beyond the outfield fence generally differs from the grandstand , though some multi - purpose or jewel box parks have the grandstand surround the entire field . This area could contain inexpensive bleacher seats , smaller grandstands , or simply inclined seating . In local ballparks , there are often simply a set or two of aluminum bleachers on the first - base and third - base sides . Variations . Distinctive from " goal games " such as football and soccer , which have fixed - size playing areas , the infield is the only rigidly laid - out part of the field . Like its English relative , cricket , there is significant flexibility in the shape and size of the rest of the playing area . To prevent " cheap " home runs , baseball leagues may specify a minimum distance from home plate to the outfield fences . Generally , the higher the skill level , the deeper the minimum dimensions must be , to prevent an excess of home runs . In the major leagues , a rule was passed in 1958 that compelled any new fields built after that point to have a minimum distance of from home plate to the fences in left and right field , and to center . ( Rule 1 . 04 , Note ( a ) ) . This rule was passed to avoid situations like the Los Angeles Coliseum , which was . down the left field line . However , with the opening of Baltimore ' s Camden Yards ( 1992 ) , the " minimum distance " rule began to be ignored . One factor may be that the quaint , " retro " look of Camden Yards , with its irregular measurements , proved to be very popular , along with a traditionalist backlash against the symmetrical , multi - purpose , " cookie - cutter " stadiums . Since the opening of Camden Yards , many other " retro " stadiums have been built , each with asymmetrical fences . These distances vary from park to park , and can even change drastically in the same park . One of the most famous examples is the original Yankee Stadium , whose odd - shaped plot of land caused right field to be over shorter than left , although this difference lessened over time . The rectangular Polo Grounds ( of the New York Baseball Giants ) had extremely short distance down the lines , . to right and . to left . In contrast , the deepest part of center field was nearly . from home plate . Older ballparks , such as Fenway Park , were " grandfathered " in and allowed to keep their original dimensions . Also , new parks have sometimes received special dispensation to deviate from these rules . For instance , the second Yankee Stadium , built 2009 , used the same dimensions as the original Yankee Stadium . The heights of the fences can also vary greatly , the most famous example being the - high Green Monster in Fenway Park ' s left field . Such tall fences are often used to stop easy home runs in a section of the ballpark where the distances from home are shorter , or where there is little space between the field and the street beyond . Some in - play scoreboards and high fences reached 50 to , whereas a few outfields were even lined with hedges rather than normal fences or walls . The Hubert H . Humphrey Metrodome , when set up for baseball , had a right field " fence " that was actually a relatively thin blue plastic sheet covering folded up football seats . It was often called the " Baggie " or " Hefty bag " . Some ballparks have irregularly shaped fences . Ballparks may have round swooping fences or rigidly angles fences , or possibly a significant change in direction or irregular angle . For example , the center field stands and the left field stands at Fenway Park meet at an uneven angle , creating an indentation ( called “ the triangle ” ) that angles sharply back into the stands . In Citi Field and AT & T Park , part of the right field fence juts unevenly into the outfield as if the builders were trying to create an unpredictable ricochet effect for balls hit against it . Some " retro " parks , such as Globe Life Park in Arlington , throw in a sudden and small inward turn ( often referred to as a jog ) just to give a little quirkiness to the design . Milwaukee ' s Miller Park was designed , with the help of former player Robin Yount , to promote extra base hit s . Originally ( mostly in the old jewel box parks ) these variations resulted from the shape of the property where the park was constructed . If there was a street beyond left field , the distance to the left field fence would be shorter , and if the distance was too short , the fence would be higher . For example , in the old Griffith Stadium in Washington DC , part of center field had to be built around a cluster of apartment houses and the result was a rather large angular indentation in the left - center field fence . Now , these variations are mostly influenced by the specifications and whims of the designers . New " retro " parks , which try to recapture the feel of the jewel box parks , are often designed to have these quirks . Etymology . Baseball was originally played in open fields or public parks . The genesis of modern baseball is conventionally connected with Elysian Fields in Hoboken , New Jersey , a large public park where the businessmen of New York City gathered from time to time to play organized baseball games and cricket matches , starting around the mid - 1840s . The name " Field " or " Park " was typically attached to the names of the early ballparks . With the beginnings of professional baseball , the ballfield became part of a complex including fixed spectator seating areas , and an enclosure to restrict access to paying customers , as with a fairgrounds . The name " Grounds " began to be attached to ballparks , starting with the Union Grounds in 1862 . The suffixes " Field " and " Park " were still used , but many professional ballparks were " Grounds " . The last surviving major league " Grounds " was the Polo Grounds in New York City , which was razed in 1964 . The term " stadium " had been used since ancient times , typically for a running track and its seating area . As college football gained in popularity , the smaller college playing fields and / or running tracks ( which also frequently had the suffix " Field " ) gave way to large stadiums , many of them built during the sports " boom " of the 1920s . Major league baseball enjoyed a similar boom . One of the first major league ballparks to be called a " stadium " was actually the Polo Grounds , which was temporarily renamed Brush Stadium from its reconstruction in 1911 until the death of owner John T . Brush in the 1920s . By then , the most famous baseball " stadium " of them all had been constructed : Yankee Stadium . From that point until the retro building boom of the 1990s , the suffix " Stadium " was used for almost every new major league ballpark , and was sometimes applied to the old ones , such as Shibe Park , which was renamed Connie Mack Stadium in 1954 . The suffix " Dome " was also used for the indoor stadiums constructed from the 1960s onward . The official names of those arenas also often included the word " Stadium " , such as the Houston Astrodome , whose formal name was " Harris County Domed Stadium " in 1965 ; the Kingdome , whose formal name was " King County Domed Stadium " , and the Metrodome , for which the Minneapolis highway signs directed the driver to " Metrodome Stadium " . The retro era of the 1990s and early 2000s saw a return to the original arboreal terms , even to domed structures such as Safeco Field and Miller Park . There is little consistency in the choice between " Field " and " Park " . Organizations appear to choose based on which suffix " sounds " better for a given ballpark name . For example , Houston ' s Minute Maid Park was originally named " Enron Field " . Settings . Organized baseball has been a popular spectator sport from its beginning . Seating area design is affected by many variables , including required capacity , audience access , and road traffic . Early ballparks like Elysian Fields were far from the city center . Each game was an event , and fans traveled by public transit to watch the game . With the growth of professional leagues , and consequent growth in the quantity of games , each game became less of an event , and fan convenience became more important . Many professional ballparks were built either near the city center , or in working - class neighborhoods , based on expected economic level of the average fan . Consequently , the classic ballparks typically had little space for automobiles , as it was expected that most fans would take mass transit to the games , a situation that still prevails at Boston ' s Fenway Park and Chicago ' s Wrigley Field , for example . Some early ballparks , such as Brooklyn ' s Eastern Park , were abandoned because the trolley lines did not go out far enough and the team was not performing well enough for people to tolerate the inconvenience . As fans became more affluent , and especially as they moved to the suburbs and bought cars , the lack of parking became an important issue . Some ballparks remedied this problem through the construction of parking garages in the vicinity , or building new ballparks with ample parking . Others built ballparks in the suburbs , typically with large parking areas . The ballpark / stadium thus became an " island " in an " ocean " of parking space . The modern " retro " trend seeks to cover all the bases : an urban location , with plenty of parking " and " public transportation available . Types of baseball parks . Wooden ballparks . The first professional baseball venues were large wooden ballparks with seats mounted on wood platforms . Although known for being constructed out of wood , they featured iron columns for better support . Some included one tier of inclined seating , topped with either a flat roof or , in some instances , a small upper tier . The outfield was bordered by tall walls or fences covered in advertisements , much like today ' s minor league parks . These advertisements were sometimes fronted with bleacher seats , or " bleaching boards " . Wood , while prone to decomposition , was a relatively inexpensive material , as there was no official governing body for professional baseball at the time . However , the use of wood as the primary material presented a major problem , especially as baseball continued to thrive . Over time , the wooden stands aged and dried . Many parks caught fire , and some were leveled completely . This problem , along with the popularization of baseball and expectations for long - term use of the parks were major factors that drove the transition to the new standard materials for ballparks : steel and concrete . Some famous wooden parks , such as the Polo Grounds III in New York and National League Park in Philadelphia , burned and were rebuilt with fire - resistant materials ( Polo Grounds IV and Baker Bowl ) . Others were simply abandoned in favor of new structures built elsewhere . These new fire - resistant parks often lasted for many decades , and ( retrospectively ) came to be known as " jewel boxes " . Jewel box ballparks . The ballparks built or rebuilt of concrete and steel ( albeit with wooden seats ) after the days of the wooden ballpark are now known as the jewel box ballparks or classic parks . These parks are said by many to embody the golden age of baseball . They are known for their green seats , large roofs , intimate feel , and major use of exposed steel , brick , and stone . The first of these was Shibe Park , which opened in 1909 in Philadelphia . Another Philadelphia ballpark , the Baker Bowl , which opened in 1895 , used steel and brick instead of wood as the primary construction materials , and is considered the forerunner of the jewel box parks . Two - tiered grandstands became much more prevalent in this era . These decks were typically held up by steel pillars that obstructed the view from some seats in the lower level . However , because of these supports , the upper decks could come very close to the field , giving the ballpark a more intimate feel . Two tiers was the standard for decades , until the New York Yankees built Yankee Stadium . To accommodate the large crowds Babe Ruth drew , Yankee Stadium was the largest ballpark in baseball , and was built with three tiers . This became the new standard until some recently built parks reverted to two . Most Jewel Box Parks were built to fit the constraints of actual city blocks , resulting in asymmetrical outfield dimensions . The exceptions were Shibe Park and Comiskey Park , which were built on rectangular city blocks that were large enough to accommodate left / right field symmetry . Other sports , such as soccer and football were often played at these sites ( the Polo Grounds and Yankee Stadium were , for example , designed to accommodate football ) . In contrast to the later multi - purpose parks , the seats were generally angled in a configuration suitable for baseball . The " retro " ballparks built in the 1990s and beyond are an attempt to capture the feel of the jewel box parks . The only jewel box parks still used by Major League Baseball are Fenway Park and Wrigley Field . Multi - purpose ballparks . From the 1960s until the arrival of retro parks in 1992 , baseball built many multi - purpose ballparks . Also derisively known as " concrete donuts " , " cookie - cutters " , or " giant ashtrays " , they were usually tall and circular or square structures made entirely of , usually bare , reinforced concrete . The parks were built to hold baseball as well as football , soccer , and other sports . One of the earliest baseball stadiums that incorporated this type of design was Cleveland Stadium ( built 1932 ) , which featured an oval grandstand that was more friendly to goal - centered sports like football . A park built to suit all sports well , which was co - owned by the teams or the city , seemed advantageous to all , especially because it was less expensive to maintain one stadium rather than two . Some parks that were originally built for one sport were renovated to accommodate multiple sports . The shape of the parks generally depended on the original use . Baseball parks that were renovated to accommodate football , like Candlestick Park and Anaheim Stadium , were usually asymmetrically shaped . Football stadiums that were renovated to accommodate baseball , like Sun Life Stadium and Mile High Stadium , were usually of a rectangular shape , though Mile High actually started its life in 1948 as a Minor League Baseball park known as Bears Stadium . Parks that were built to serve both were usually circular and completely enclosed on all sides . These were the parks that gained multi - purpose parks the reputation as bland cookie - cutter structures . The first of these parks was RFK Stadium ( named changed in January 1969 from the original DC Stadium ) in the District of Columbia . RFK is unique in that it hosted two different baseball teams , and that it was the first to " originally " be intended for multiple sports . It is currently in use for only Major League Soccer ' s D . C . United . A notable variant among the cookie - cutter stadia was Shea Stadium . One of the first parks designed and built for baseball and football , it did not feature an exterior of bare concrete , but was clad in steel . This steel was later painted blue , making Shea the only multi - purpose park to have an exterior that was not either gray or white . Also , the grandstand only extended just past the foul poles , and did not completely enclose the field . Plans were made to enclose the grandstand and build a dome , but engineers discovered that the structure could not handle the load of the proposed dome . Thus the stadium simply remained with the area behind the outfield fence open . One major innovation of the multi - purpose parks was the cantilever ed upper deck . In earlier ballparks , the columns used to support the upper decks obstructed the view from some seats in the lower deck . The upper decks were extended upwards and the columns removed . However , even though the extension counterbalanced some of the weight , the upper decks could no longer extend as close to the field and had to be moved back . Also , the roofs could no longer be as large , and often only covered the top 15 or so rows . This exposed fans to the elements . Besides the drawbacks of the cantilever design , there were other issues with these parks . With few exceptions , seating was angled to face the center of the field of play , rather than home plate . Luxury box es , which were a part of football culture , were now introduced to baseball , and were usually placed below the upper decks , pushing upper deck seating farther from the field . The furthest seats in these parks were or more from the plate . The capacities of these stadiums were staggeringly large , due to football ' s smaller schedule drawing a larger crowd per game . However , they were usually far too large for baseball , further diminishing their intimacy . Even crowds of 40 , 000 , a fair amount for baseball , seemed sparse . Often the only times they looked full were on opening day and playoff games . Due to the rectangular shape needed for football or soccer , outfield dimensions were generally symmetrical , and even seats at field level down the lines could be far from the action . Such stadiums weren ' t much better for football . The " cookie - cutters " with swiveling , field - level sections proved problematic . Because the front rows were too close to the field , the fans had difficulty seeing over the football benches . This was evident in the movable seating sections in RFK Stadium . The first ten rows of the football configuration were practically at field level , and fans in those sections often stood up on their seats to get a better view . Other stadiums overcame this simply by covering those seats , not bothering to sell them . Despite being cost - effective , these problems eventually caused the parks to become unfashionable . The multi - purpose architecture reached a climax when Toronto ' s SkyDome ( now Rogers Centre ) opened in 1989 . It had state - of - the - art amenities including a retractable roof , and a fancy restaurant where patrons could view the field behind glass . Only one of the purely open - air multi - purpose parks is still in use by baseball today : O . co Coliseum . The Athletics plan to move out of O . co Coliseum and build a new ballpark of their own in the future . " Note : To reduce redundancy , this table does not list the indoor stadiums of the multi - purpose era in this section . However , all of the indoor ballparks of North America , which are listed in their own section , were also built as multi - purpose stadiums . " < nowiki > * < / nowiki > A baseball - only ballpark converted to a multi - purpose stadium . < nowiki > * * < / nowiki > A football - only stadium converted to a multi - purpose stadium . Modern ballparks . While most teams turned to multi - purpose parks , some chose to build baseball - only parks . While these modern ballparks shirked some of the conventions of multi - purpose parks , they did include some of the new features . The most notable influences were the cantilevered upper decks , the use of seating colors other than green , and fairly plain concrete exteriors . The most important things , though , were that they had a more intimate feel to them , and they were built for baseball . While the multi - purpose parks have become all but extinct , some modern parks , such as Dodger Stadium and Kauffman Stadium , have been hailed for aging beautifully . Rather than build new parks , the teams have decided instead to renovate the current structures , adding a few newer conveniences . Several of the modern parks built as such have remained in use , with no indication of being demolished . While Cleveland Stadium is the ancestor to the multi - purpose ballpark , the ancestor of the modern ballpark is Milwaukee County Stadium . It was the first to feature a symmetrical , round outfield fence . It also featured the rounded V - shaped grandstand and colorful seats that are common among all modern parks . Coincidentally , it also would have been one of the earlier examples of a converted park as well . It was supposed to replace a minor league facility , and serve as home of the minor league team until a major league franchise could be lured to the city . However , the Braves came to Milwaukee earlier than expected , and the minor league team never played in the stadium . The first two truly modern ballparks were built by the two New York teams who moved to California , the Giants and the Dodgers . Candlestick Park was created first , but was converted to a multi - purpose park to accommodate the 49ers . Dodger Stadium has been upgraded a number of times , but remains baseball - only and its original design is still largely intact . Anaheim Stadium , which was initially modeled closely on Dodger Stadium , was expanded for football as was Candlestick , but once the Rams departed , most of the extra outfield seating was peeled back , returning the structure to more like its original design . The original Yankee Stadium is an exceptional case . Yankee Stadium was a jewel box park , albeit a very large one . It was showing its age in the 70 ' s , and the stadium was extensively renovated during 1973 - 75 , converting it into more of a modern style ballpark . Many of the characteristics that defined it as a classical jewel box were also retained , so the remodeled Stadium straddled both categories . New Comiskey Park ( now U . S . Cellular Field ) was the last modern ballpark to be built in North America . A series of renovations have been made to make it appear more like a retro - classic ballpark . Temporary and converted ballparks . With the 1960s came the first expansion teams . While some teams expanded in cities where there were established teams with facilities that could be shared , not all were as fortunate . This led to the emergence of two distinct subsets of parks in the major leagues : temporary ballparks and converted ballparks . In some cases , there are plans to build a new ballpark for the expansion team , but it will not be completed until a few years after the team is established . This may be for a few reasons , such as delays or a desire to hold off until the deal is settled . In this case , an established building is used as a temporary home , often a minor league park . The first temporary ballparks were not actually used by expansion teams but by established franchises . When the Dodgers and Giants moved to California from New York , they played in Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Seals Stadium respectively while Dodger Stadium and Candlestick Park were being built . The other case is when , rather than building a new park , the city renovates an existing minor league or college facility , expanding it to fit a major league team . These converted ballparks are different from football stadia that were converted to facilitate baseball in that converted ballparks were originally built to be baseball only , albeit for a non - major league level . Early converted ballparks were Memorial Stadium in Baltimore , Municipal Stadium in Kansas City , and Metropolitan Stadium in the Minneapolis - St . Paul metro area . All three were expanded minor league facilities , although Baltimore and the Met were constructed with the idea of expanding to major league level in mind . Kansas City was a true established minor league park that was substantially expanded to accommodate major league size crowds . These two types of ballpark are distinct because of their use , not their design . Because of this , a temporary or converted ballpark can also be any of the other types : jewel box , modern , multi - purpose , etc . Indoor ballparks . An important type of ballpark is the indoor park . These parks were covered with a fixed roof , usually a hard concrete dome . Reasons to build indoor parks were varied . The Astrodome , the first indoor sports stadium ever built , was built to escape the hot and very humid climate of Houston ; the Kingdome was built to escape Seattle ' s constant rains , and the Sapporo Dome in Japan ( which also hosts a soccer team ) was built to escape Sapporo ' s extreme snowfall . There is little to no natural light in these parks , necessitating the use of one of the most distinguishing aspects of an indoor park : artificial turf . Since there was not enough light to grow grass , artificial turf was installed , and this affected the game . Artificial turf was harder , and thus a ball hit on the ground moved faster and bounced high . This , coupled with the usually dull white or gray roofs that could camouflage a fly ball , caused what Twins fans called a " dome - field advantage " . A park of note is Olympic Stadium in Montreal . The park was designed with a large tower that loomed over top . Cables came down from the top of the tower to connect to the large oval center of the roof . This oval center was supposed to be lifted by the cables , opening the park up if the weather was pleasant . However , the mechanism never worked correctly , and what was supposed to be a retractable roof was initially never used and then later became permanently fixed , making the stadium a strictly indoor facility . Indoor parks faced many of the same problems of the multi - purpose parks , which was compounded with the added problem of playing an outdoors sport indoors . Tropicana Field is the only indoor - only or fixed - dome park left hosting a Major League Baseball team , and may be replaced in the near future . Retractable - roof ballparks . As mentioned above , the indoor parks were built for several different reasons , chief among those weather . However , as multi - purpose parks became unfashionable , so did the drab indoor parks . This led to the creation of retractable - roof parks . These allowed shelter from the elements , but still could be opened on a nice day . To be able to support the roof , most were closed in on all sides like multi - purpose and indoor parks , but as all retractable - roof parks except Rogers Centre are baseball only , every square foot does not need to be filled with seating , and there is plenty of room for open spaces or windows that look outside . Because the roof needs to go somewhere when not covering the field , a distinguishing characteristic of the retractable roof park is a large extension of the interior spaces to either one side of the field or both sides that the roof sits on when retracted . The only exception to this is Miller Park whose fan - shaped roof folds in upon itself and hangs behind the stands down the foul lines . Often , when retracted , the roof still hangs over the field , casting large shadows . This is countered at Miller Park by large panes of glass under the roof . While most seal up when the roof is closed , other are at least partially open , with large gaps that do not let in harsh weather , but don ' t give the feel of being inside . Except for Rogers Centre , all of these parks feature natural grass . Pittsburgh ' s Civic Arena was the first sports building in the world with a retractable roof , however the building was originally constructed for the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera , which moved out in 1969 due to dissatisfaction with the acoustics in the arena . The arena ' s long - term tenants , the NHL ' s Pittsburgh Penguins , never played with the roof open , and the arena itself was never used for baseball . While Montreal ' s Olympic Stadium was the first baseball park to have a retractable roof , the roof was plagued by numerous problems , and was never fully used . As a result , it is not generally considered to be a retractable - roof facility . This made Rogers Centre the first fully functional retractable - roof park . It managed to succeed where Olympic Stadium failed , building a multi - section roof that folded upon itself , retracting over the hotel in center field . Retractable - roof parks can vary greatly in style , from the utilitarian ( Rogers Centre ) , to those infused with retro elements ( such as Minute Maid Park ) , to the contemporary ( Marlins Park ) . The style of each park reflects the popular architecture of the era in which it was built . ( This differs from indoor ballparks — all of which were built during the time of multi - purpose parks , and thus reflected the same " flying - saucer " style . ) When Rogers Centre opened in 1989 , baseball was near the end of the modern and multi - purpose era . Chase Field , Safeco Field , Minute Maid Park , and Miller Park all opened in the middle of the retro era . When Marlins Park opened in 2012 , it introduced a new and different style , and perhaps the beginning of a new era . Therefore , the term " retractable - roof ballpark / stadium " is not a description of the overall architectural style of the building , but of the functional aspect of it . For this reason , retractable - roof parks are also dual - listed in style - based types of ballparks . For example , the 4 retractable - roof parks built during the retro era are also considered to be retro - modern ballparks . Retro - classic ballparks . In 1992 , Oriole Park at Camden Yards opened in Baltimore . Going in a different direction from the multi - purpose and modern ballparks , Camden Yards harkened back to the old jewel box parks . This began the building of a series of parks known as the retro - classic ballparks , or , simply , retro ballparks . The retro parks were built with all the luxuries of the newer parks , such as luxury boxes and more restrooms and concession areas , along with new additions , such as indoor concourses that are open to the field , allowing fans to always have a view of the game . However ( except for a few exceptions harkening back to the wooden ballpark era ) , the aesthetics shifted back to jewel box conventions , which included the use of green seats , bricks , stone , and green - painted exposed steel . A major divergence from jewel boxes was the layout of the grandstand . The focus was now on everyone in the park having a good view . Columns were missing as with the modern parks , but the upper deck was drawn back and shrunk , while the middle tiers grew in size , causing a stepped effect . The cantilevered upper deck was no longer a large necessity . However , since these new upper decks were drawn back , the shape of the inclined seating was clearly expressed on the exterior , a feature that is a hallmark of modern parks . Like the jewel box parks , the outfield fences were angled rather than the gradual curve of the newer parks , and often had quirky dimensions . The requirements for minimum distance to the outfield fences were rarely enforced during this time . Teams with multi - purpose and indoor parks longed for this beautiful and classic look , and began systematically demolishing them and moving to either retro - classic or retro - modern parks . Since Camden Yards opened , two - thirds of all major league teams have opened new ballparks , each of which contain unique features . The most important feature was that they were built primarily for baseball , although these venues have also hosted football , soccer and ice hockey games . Turner Field was originally constructed as Centennial Olympic Stadium for the 1996 Summer Olympics and was retrofitted to baseball the following year . U . S . Cellular Field has an unusual place in ballpark history . It was the last modern park built , built a year before Camden Yards . Just missing the retro movement , it was viewed as obsolete only a year into its life . The White Sox responded with a series of renovations to give the park more retro charm . This included the changing from a cantilever upper deck to a flat roof with columns , and the change from a symmetrical fence to a more unique - shaped asymmetrical fence . The most recent retro - classic ballparks were built in New York City . Queens ' Citi Field is modeled after Ebbets Field , and the Bronx ' s Yankee Stadium is modeled after the pre - renovation " House that Ruth Built " . Both parks opened in 2009 . Teams are now trending away from the retro - classic look and are instead building retro - modern and contemporary ballparks . Turner Field is the first retro - classic park scheduled to be replaced , as the Atlanta Braves plan to move to SunTrust Park after the 2016 season . Retro - modern ballparks . While Camden Yards influenced nearly every ballpark built after it , not all fully adhere to its design . Those that deviate to incorporate more modern - looking elements are called retro - modern ballparks . Progressive Field was built two years after Camden Yards , and featured the angular , asymmetrical fences of varying heights , a smaller upper deck , stepped tiers , and an unobtrusive singular color scheme . While the interior has all the hallmarks of a retro park , the exterior did not feature the look of the jewel box parks . It could not truly be called a retro - classic park . Many of today ' s parks have followed in this second school of retro . Rather than brick , the exteriors heavily feature white - or gray - painted steel . If there is any masonry , it is sandstone or limestone . Some feature progressive elements such as curtain walls , or retractable roofs . Angel Stadium has seen many changes throughout the years . It was originally a modern park , similar to the Angels ' previous home , Dodger Stadium . When the NFL ' s Rams left the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and set up shop in what was then Anaheim Stadium , the first round of renovations began . The grandstand was expanded to completely enclose the stadium , turning it into a multi - purpose park . The Rams left in 1994 , leaving the Angels alone in the large , 65 , 000 seat stadium . After a two - year renovation , the steel was painted green , and what concrete remained was painted sandstone , including the sweeping curve of the entrance plaza . The seating configuration was significantly altered , most notably by tearing out most of the outfield seating except for parts of the lower decks in left and right fields , to more closely resemble the original design from the park ' s first 15 years . The finished product in 1998 was a retro - modern ballpark . The same year , when Chase Field opened for the expansion Arizona Diamondbacks , it incorporated a retractable roof and a swimming pool — elements that did not exist in jewel - box ballparks . Despite the absence of MLB history in the Phoenix area and an overwhelming roof design , much of the interior was still built with all of the hallmarks of retro , similar to Progressive Field . Although Chase Field was not the first retractable - roof ballpark in history , it was the first in a wave of four retractable - roof ballparks ( opening within just four years ) to follow the retro - modern pattern . During the second decade of retro , PETCO Park and Kauffman Stadium followed the construction and renovation concepts of Progressive Field and Angel Stadium , respectively . Meanwhile , the period saw another subset of three new retro - modern stadiums that pushed away from classic parks even more . When Great American Ball Park opened in 2003 , it featured a contemporary - looking , glass - wrapped facade . Such prominent use of elements that were unfamiliar even to pre - 1992 modern stadiums signaled that some stadium planners were more willing to incorporate designs that looked into the 21st century as much as they did the 20th . Five years later , Nationals Park built off Cincinnati ' s design , making yet more liberal use of glass along with white concrete that would not clash with architecture in the District . Nationals Park became the first stadium to go green while still offering all of the amenities — another concept that looked ahead instead of behind . The retro - modern style climaxed in 2010 with the sculptured , contemporary exterior and canopy of Target Field , rendering it almost unrecognizable from the outside . Its cantilevered glass on top of a limestone base was designed partly to functionally fit the tiny 8 - acre plot in the middle of a bustling transportation interchange . But the principal architect of Target Field , Earl Santee of Populous , said that the exterior was also an artistic interpretation of the culture of Minnesotans : a dichotomy of cosmopolitan and natural . Designing the building as a metaphor for people was a different way of thinking about ballpark architecture . The exterior of the later retro - contemporary trio of ballparks progressively evolved farther and farther from jewel - box or even modern - style parks . Yet , in the stands and on the field they still have the familiar classic feel while implementing the marks of retro ( i . e . , unique - shaped fences , forest green or other singular color scheme , etc . ) . Contemporary ballparks . Prior to the start of the 2012 baseball season , " USA Today " noted that new Marlins Park " likely is the last major league ballpark to be built for another five to 10 years " , and speculated that it would " perhaps provide a coda to the postmodern Camden Yards era " . After 2 decades of the retro style dominating ballpark architecture , something radical occurred . A new type of design emerged in 2012 with the opening of Marlins Park , snapping the consecutive streak of 20 new ( plus 3 renovated ) MLB retro stadiums . This latest style ' s purpose is to make the fan experience the present - day culture of the stadium ' s surrounding city or area , and rejects the basic notion of retro . Stadium planners are calling the style contemporary . Unlike retro ballparks , neither the interior nor the exterior of a contemporary park feels nostalgic for historic stadiums of the early 20th century . Contemporary parks do not feature classic elements ( redbrick , forest green , etc . ) - - for that matter , they might not all follow a common material or color of any kind . However , contemporary design does retain the close - proximity seating to the field favored by ticket patrons , and retains some uniqueness to the outfield walls of the retro style — although the idiosyncrasies of the latter are not as contrived . Plus , a contemporary stadium is still specifically purposed for baseball with pageantry for the sport . Therefore , although the style could be considered neomodern , contemporary is also not included within the modern or multipurpose era of symmetrical , non - glass , or utilitarian stadiums built from the 1950s through 1991 . Instead of copying building materials and color schemes from other ballparks — past and present — a contemporary ballpark ' s design is primarily inspired by the unique features and forward trends of its own city . It immerses visitors in the city that the park represents by making bold use of contemporary materials ( such as glass ) , a sculptural exterior , dazzling bright colors , and artwork that create the look and feel of the particular city ' s contemporary décor — or an abstraction of it . It embraces new technologies . As part of its forward - looking design , a contemporary park is also a green building while still offering all of the amenities . Miami ' s new stadium is a contemporary ballpark " that is quintessentially Miami " both inside and out . Jeffrey Loria , the team owner who spearheaded the new Marlins Park project , mandated that the building look like it was built in the 21st century and specifically for South Florida . He explained , " I really didn ' t want it to be just another ballpark . I wasn ' t interested in a 1970 ' s or ' 80s doughnut . I wanted it to be a statement of what Miami is all about - - a contemporary city . . . " " When it all started , the architects came to me and asked what I had envisioned . Was I looking to have a retro stadium ? Did we have that in mind ? I said , ' No retro , no art - deco , no looking back . Miami is a spectacular city , looking ahead . We need to be looking forward . I ' d like to see us build a great , contemporary building , " Loria said . The Marlins hired Populous to design to their new vision — the same architectural firm that designed many of the retro stadiums , including Camden Yards . " We were waiting for a client willing to break the mold , " said Greg Sherlock , a Populous project designer for Marlins Park . " We wanted a Miami feel . We wanted to be immersed in that . That was No . 1 . I think it conveys that a ballpark doesn ' t necessarily have to be bricks and steel to translate a message about its location . It can be interpreted in a fresh way . " If you ' re looking for a label , I ' d say " contemporary , " " Sherlock continued . " In this particular case , we didn ' t adopt anything stylistically . It ' s sculpture quality , and with sculpture , there are no rules . We wanted an experience that connects the fan experience to the city of Miami and its people and its climate and culture . " When asked if the style was a one - off design to fit Miami , Sherlock replied , " I think there will be more contemporary ballparks in the future . I don ' t think the next one is going to be like … [ this one ] , because Marlins Park is all about Miami . It ' s consistent with the essence of the buildings that are down here - - white plaster and graceful forms , which are somewhat of an abstraction of the look and feel of Miami Deco . " Populous has already designed a contemporary stadium for Tampa Bay , but the project was cancelled . " The New Yorker " wrote regarding the new MLB architecture : " The retro mold has finally been broken , but this might be the last chance a new style gets for some time . " Current Major League ballparks . The numbers mean the number of feet from home plate to the wall of that part of the field . Left and Right Field normally refer to the distances along the foul lines . Left Center and Right Center are the approximate power alley figures . Center Field could mean straightaway center field or it could mean to the deepest part of the center field area . Backstop refers to the distance behind home plate to the backstop screen . These numbers are one researcher ' s opinion of the true values and may differ from the numbers marked on the wall / fence by as much as . Capacity figures may also vary . < nowiki > * < / nowiki > O . co Coliseum is expandable to 55 , 945 . < nowiki > * * < / nowiki > Tropicana Field is expandable to 42 , 735 . < nowiki > * * * < / nowiki > Fenway Park is 37 , 071 during day games . † Actual distance to center field is ; the markings are to the left and right of dead center . † † At Fenway Park , straightaway center is , but there is a corner in the fence just right of center that juts out to . † † † Distance to straightaway center field . Distance to deep center field is Unique features and quirks of current major league parks . Parks are ordered by date of construction .