Grounds, Ballparks, and Superstadiums

This chapter examines the development of spatial practices in terms of consumption amenities, aesthetic environment, and position within the urban landscape over the three generations of baseball stadiums before the mallpark. It traces the varied architecture, quirky features, and the events hosted over a half-century that idealized ballparks as the proper sites for watching baseball. It also recounts the replacement of ballparks by superstadiums in the 1950s due to aging structures, geographical changes, and new form of urban governance. The chapter highlights generic designs, poor sightlines, lack of intimacy with the game, and isolation from the surrounding urban fabric that alienated fans, causing superstadiums to age poorly. It examines the transition to the mallpark that expressed changes in consumer demands, aesthetic trends, and urban development and governance.