Retro-Modern Stadiums
Modern 21st century design and features with classic retro elements

Stadiums Retro-Modern Stadiums

Although Camden Yards influenced nearly every ballpark built after 1992, not all fully adhere to its design. Retro-modern ballparks still have the classic feel of the jewel box era, but incorporate more modern-looking elements. Exteriors heavily feature white/gray-painted steel with sandstone or limestone. Many feature progressive elements such as curtain walls, retractable roofs, swimming pools, or glass-wrapped facades. 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. There have been a few parks that 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. 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.).

Although Camden Yards influenced nearly every ballpark built after 1992, not all fully adhere to its design. Retro-modern ballparks still have the classic feel of the jewel box era, but incorporate more modern-looking elements. Exteriors heavily feature white/gray-painted steel with sandstone or limestone. Many feature progressive elements such as curtain walls, retractable roofs, swimming pools, or glass-wrapped facades. 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. There have been a few parks that 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. 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.).

F i l t e r & S o r t

Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX

Globe Life Field

Arlington, TX

2020-2021

Rangers (MLB)

Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, CA

Golden 1 Center

Sacramento, CA

2017-2021

Kings (NBA)

Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CA

Levi's Stadium

Santa Clara, CA

2014-2021

49ers (NFL)

Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, MB

Canada Life Centre

Winnipeg, MB

2012-2021

Jets (NHL)

PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA

PPG Paints Arena

Pittsburgh, PA

2011-2021

Penguins (NHL)

MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ

MetLife Stadium

East Rutherford, NJ

2010-2021

Giants (NFL)

2010-2021

Jets (NFL)

Target Field in Minneapolis, MN

Target Field

Minneapolis, MN

2010-2021

Twins (MLB)

AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX

AT&T Stadium

Arlington, TX

2009-2021

Cowboys (NFL)

Nationals Park in Washington, DC

Nationals Park

Washington, DC

2008-2021

Nationals (MLB)

Prudential Center in Newark, NJ

Prudential Center

Newark, NJ

2011-2012

Nets (NBA)

2008-2021

Devils (NHL)

State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ

State Farm Stadium

Glendale, AZ

2006-2021

Cardinals (NFL)

FedExForum in Memphis, TN

FedExForum

Memphis, TN

2005-2021

Grizzlies (NBA)

Petco Park in San Diego, CA

Petco Park

San Diego, CA

2004-2021

Padres (MLB)

Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, OH

Great American Ball Park

Cincinnati, OH

2003-2021

Reds (MLB)

American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX

American Airlines Center

Dallas, TX

2002-2021

Mavericks (NBA)

2002-2021

Stars (NHL)

Lumen Field in Seattle, WA

Lumen Field

Seattle, WA

2002-2021

Seahawks (NFL)

NRG Stadium in Houston, TX

NRG Stadium

Houston, TX

2002-2021

Texans (NFL)

American Family Field in Milwaukee, WI

American Family Field

Milwaukee, WI

2001-2021

Brewers (MLB)

Empower Field in Denver, CO

Empower Field

Denver, CO

2001-2021

Broncos (NFL)

Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN

Xcel Energy Center

St. Paul, MN

2001-2021

Wild (NHL)

FTX Arena in Miami, FL

FTX Arena

Miami, FL

2000-2021

Heat (NBA)

Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX

Minute Maid Park

Houston, TX

2000-2021

Astros (MLB)

PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC

PNC Arena

Raleigh, NC

2000-2021

Hurricanes (NHL)

State Farm Arena in Atlanta, GA

State Farm Arena

Atlanta, GA

2000-2021

Hawks (NBA)

2000-2011

Thrashers (NHL)

Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN

Bridgestone Arena

Nashville, TN

1999-2021

Predators (NHL)

Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA

Crypto.com Arena

Los Angeles, CA

2000-2021

Clippers (NBA)

2000-2021

Lakers (NBA)

1999-2021

Kings (NHL)

FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, FL

FLA Live Arena

Sunrise, FL

1999-2021

Panthers (NHL)

T-Mobile Park in Seattle, WA

T-Mobile Park

Seattle, WA

1999-2021

Mariners (MLB)

Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ

Chase Field

Phoenix, AZ

1998-2021

Diamondbacks (MLB)

Moda Center in Portland, OR

Moda Center

Portland, OR

1996-2021

Trail Blazers (NBA)

Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC

Rogers Arena

Vancouver, BC

1996-2001

Grizzlies (NBA)

1996-2021

Canucks (NHL)

Enterprise Center in St. Louis, MO

Enterprise Center

St. Louis, MO

1995-2021

Blues (NHL)

Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, OH

Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse

Cleveland, OH

1995-2021

Cavaliers (NBA)

Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, WA

Tacoma Dome

Tacoma, WA

1995-1995

SuperSonics (NBA)

Alamodome in San Antonio, TX

Alamodome

San Antonio, TX

1994-2002

Spurs (NBA)

Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH

Progressive Field

Cleveland, OH

1994-2021

Indians (MLB)

SAP Center in San Jose, CA

SAP Center

San Jose, CA

1997-1997

Warriors (NBA)

1994-2021

Sharks (NHL)

Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ

Footprint Center

Phoenix, AZ

1993-2021

Suns (NBA)

1997-2003

Coyotes (NHL)

Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA

Georgia Dome

Atlanta, GA

1998-1999

Hawks (NBA)

1992-2016

Falcons (NFL)

Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, UT

Vivint Arena

Salt Lake City, UT

1992-2021

Jazz (NBA)

Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, IL

Guaranteed Rate Field

Chicago, IL

1991-2021

White Sox (MLB)

Target Center in Minneapolis, MN

Target Center

Minneapolis, MN

1991-2021

Timberwolves (NBA)

Miami Arena in Miami, FL

Miami Arena

Miami, FL

1989-2000

Heat (NBA)

1994-1998

Panthers (NHL)