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
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.


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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
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Chicago White Sox
333 West 35th Street
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 674-1000
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".
New Comiskey Park soon after its opening in 1991.
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