Table of Contents -  Feedback Old Comiskey Park

U.S. Cellular Field Formerly, New Comiskey Park Chicago, Illinois

Tenant: Chicago White Sox (AL 1991-present) Groundbreaking: May 7, 1989 1st American League Game: April 18, 1991 Surface: Natural Grass Architect: HOK Sport Construction: Gust K. Newberg Cost: $167 million Owner: Illinois Sports Facilities Authority Seating capacity: 44,321 (1991); 45,936 (2001), 40,615 (2004) Playing Field Dimensions: LF foul line: 347 ft (1991), 330 ft  (2001) Power alleys: 375 ft* (1991) Center field: 400 ft RF foul line: 347 ft (1991), 335 ft (2001) *Note -- From 1991-2000 the foul lines and alleys were marked 347 and 375 feet respectively.  In 2001 the fences were moved in to the current positions.  The LF and RF alley markers read 372 and 377 respectively from 2001-03.  In 2004 new markers reading 375 feet were put up approximately 25 feet closer to staight-away center field, as shown in our diagram, however, the placement of the fence at that time was not altered. At BallparkTour we strongly advocate a MLB appointed surveyor to measure outfield distance markers each season to ensure their accuracy.  As of now, we can only guess how truly accurate are major league ballpark measurements. Outfield Fences: 8 feet high Hosted World Series: 2005 Hosted All-Star Game: 2003

You know the phrase, "If you build it, they will come."  In Chicago's case it was, "Build it or we will leave."  That was White Sox Owner Jerry Reinsdorf's ultimatum to the city of Chicago: Build a new ballpark for the Sox or else.  The "or else" was moving the team to St. Petersburg Fla... and it almost happened. But, after much debate and nail-bitting,  Illinois voters decided to keep the White Sox by financing, in part, a new Stadium to replace the oldest park in the majors, Comiskey Park, built in 1910, by passing a 2% hotel tax for Chicago's visitors...  A new park was funded, and the Sox would stay in Illinois.    The new Comiskey Park opened in 1991, three years after the Illinois General Assembly passed legislation to build the park across the street from exsisting Comiskey. The new stadium featured an exploding scoreboard similar to the one installed by Bill Veek in the old park, an exterior facade complete with arches reminecant of old Comiskey, and over 40,000 unobstructed-view seats.  The seating featured a lower deck, two suite levels with a Club deck and an unusually steep upper deck.  In fact, the first row of the upper deck was farther from the field, than the last row of the upper deck in old Comiskey.    Though applauded when first unveiled, after the tremendous retro success of Camden Yards in Baltimore, new Comiskey seemed out of date and sterile by many, only a few short years after it opened.   Even so, the ballpark attracted a club-record 2,934,154 fans in its first year.    The early 21st century saw several changes to Comiskey in order to be more fan friendly.  The unattractive "tin roof" batters-eye in center field was replaced by a terraced deck with green landscaping and patio, called the "Fan deck".  In 2004, Eight rows (roughly one-third of the most notorious nose-bleed seats) were removed from the top of the ballpark's upper level, and the previously sloped canopy-style roof was replaced by an old-fashioned, flat roof, elevated 20 feet above the seating area. The new roof, featuring ornamental ironwork on the facade, extends over the back 13 rows of the upper level, leaving just the first eight rows uncovered.  Some seats in the back rows now actually have views obstructed by supporting posts... just like old Comiskey.    The upper level concourse was enclosed from the weather by a translucent wall and upgraded with a great many enhancements for fans. The walls and walkways of the new upper concourse take on a look similar to the main concourse, with ironwork beams and artwork highlighting the franchise's history. The Good: Recent and future renovations including the new flat iron roof with supporting colums (below),  forrest green seats, enclosed upper concourse and fewer sherpa-seats are improving the overall character of this once much maligned ballyard. The Bad: The first row of the upper deck here is higher than the last row of the upper deck at old Comiskey Park. The Ugly: Considering New Comiskey and Camden Yards were being designed and constructed at about the same time...  Baltimore got the "Wow!" and Chicago got the "ugly".

-- --------------------------------------------- -- Chicago White Sox 333 West 35th Street Chicago, IL 60616 (312) 674-1000

Radio: WMVP 1000 AM TV: WCIU-26, FSN, WGN In-park dining choices: CONNIE´S PIZZA, GO GO SOX GRILLE, SOUTH SIDE HITMEN GRILLE, CUERVO CANTINA, LOLLAR´S GUARD THE PLATE GRILL, TRIPLE PLAY CAFÉ, WINNING UGLY IS SWEET Concessions items include Funnel Cakes,  steak, chicken, & meatball sandwiches, cheeseburgers, funnel cakes, garden burgers, veggie dogs, jalapeño poppers, Popcorn chicken, burritos and deli sandwiches. Chicago Local Dining - Best Bets Directions & Parking Ballpark/Tour Vacation Packages

2005 Ticket prices Premium Club Box  $43 Club Box $41 Premium Lower Box $41 Lower Box $30 Lower Reserved $26 Bleachers $24 Premium Upper Box $20 Upper Box $18 Upper Reserved $14 Fri-Sun games add $4 to ticket price VS. Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers add $9 VS. Cubs add $14 Monday games half price Seating Chart Purchase Tickets

During the 1990 season, White Sox fans could see progress on their new ballpark as it rose next to old Comiskey. NOTES, FACTS AND FEATURES New Comiskey was the first new baseball-only stadium built in the American League since 1973. The 1,300,000-square-foot stadium has 12 escalators, 11 elevators, three industrial-strength garbage compactors, a fireworks launching pad beyond center field, and six outdoor pet-check kennels. Before the 2001 season, three rows of seats were added along the field between the dugouts and the foul poles. The bullpens were moved and replaced with additional bleachers. The distances to the outfield wall were changed, most noticeably down the foul lines, where the bullpens and a "bullpen club" are now located. The infield consists of dirt transported from the original Comiskey park. -- --------------------------- --

New Comiskey Park soon after its opening in 1991. --  ----------------------------- -- Recommended Article

Recommended Reading List: Click titles for more information Park Life: The Summer of 1977 at Comiskey Park by Peter Elliott Goodbye Old Friend: A Pictorial Essay on the Final Season at Old Comiskey Park by Frank Budreck Comiskey Park (Images of Baseball) by Irwin J. Cohen Take Me Out to the Ballpark: An Illustrated Guide to Baseball Parks Past & Present by Josh Leventhal, Jessica M. Macmurray The Ultimate Baseball Road-Trip by Joshua Pahigian, Kevin O'Connell Fodor's Baseball Vacations: Great Family Trips to Minor League and Classic Major League Ballparks Across America by Bruce Adams America's Ballparks by Kenneth Hogan Ballparks of North America: A Comprehensive Historical Reference to Baseball Grounds, Yards and Stadiums, 1845 to Present by Michael Benson Storied Stadiums: Baseball's History Through Its Ballparks by Curt Smith

Home Page -  Table of Contents -  Feedback © mmv ballparktour.com