Leading Off

This chapter introduces the mallpark, which is an emblematic cathedral of consumption and a space into which formerly distinct consumption sites have been brought together and merged with thematic elements. The chapter utilizes the theories of French philosopher Henri Lefebvre to examine the production practices and contextual conditions underpinning economic, political, cultural, technological, spatial, and social relations. It also references George Ritzer's “McDonaldization,” which suggests that the fastfood industry's rationalized consumption-oriented production practices define the provision of goods and services. The chapter combines George Ritzer's insights about the spectacularization of consumption spaces with Henri Lefebvre's theorization of the production of space to examine the logics that have shaped baseball stadium design since the 1990s. It discusses the contemporary context of late capitalism as the production and consumption of cultural products have become a central element in capital accumulation strategies.