U.S. Cellular Field

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U.S. Cellular Field
(New) Comiskey Park

The Cell

U.S. Cellular Field U.S. Cellular Field in 2008
Location 333 West 35th Street
Chicago, Illinois 60616
Broke ground May 7, 1989
Opened April 18, 1991
Owner Illinois Sports Facilities Authority
Surface Bluegrass
Construction cost $167 million
$118 million (2001-2006 renovations)
Architect HOK Sport
Former names Comiskey Park (II) (1991-2003)
Tenants Chicago White Sox (MLB) (1991-present)
Capacity 44,321 (1991-2000) • 45,936 (2001-2002) • 47,098 (2003) • 40,615 (2004-present)
Field dimensions Left Field - 330 ft (100.58 m)
Left-Center - 375 ft (114.3 m)
Center Field - 400 ft (121.92 m)
Right-Center - 375 ft (114.3 m)
Right Field - 335 ft (102.1 m)
Backstop - 60 ft (18.28 m)
Outfield Wall Height - 8 ft (2.4 m)

U.S. Cellular Field (formerly Comiskey Park) is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois. It is the home of the Chicago White Sox of the American League. The park opened for the 1991 season, after the White Sox had spent 81 years at old Comiskey Park. The new park, completed at a cost of $167 million, also opened with the Comiskey Park name, but became U.S. Cellular Field in 2003 after U.S. Cellular bought the naming rights at $68 million over 20 years. It hosted the MLB All-Star Game that same year. Some sportscasters and fans, however, continue to use the former name, (New) Comiskey Park. Prior to the demolition of the Old Comiskey Park, Comiskey was the oldest in-use ballpark in Major League Baseball, a title now held by Fenway Park in Boston. The second oldest in-use ballpark is now Wrigley Field on the North Side of Chicago.

The stadium is situated at 35th Street and Shields Avenue in Chicago's Armour Square neighborhood adjacent to the Bridgeport neighborhood. It was built in the parking lot of old Comiskey Park, which was torn down and became a parking lot for the current park. It is owned by Illinois Sports Facilities Authority.

Contents

[edit] History

The stadium was the first new sports venue built in Chicago since 1929 (The United Center opened in 1994). It was also the first baseball-only park since Royals Stadium (now Kauffman Stadium) opened in 1973, and the last built before the recent wave of new "retro-classic" stadiums. However, a few design features from the old park were retained. Most notable among them is the "exploding scoreboard," which is a replica of the one installed by Bill Veeck at the old park in 1960.

As originally built, the park was criticized by many fans because of the high upper deck seats.[citation needed] To avoid overhang problems that were present in many stadiums built in the modern era, the upper deck was set back over the lower deck. However, this created one of the highest upper decks in baseball such as Yankee Stadium. The first row of seats in the upper deck at the new stadium is farther from the field than the highest row of seats in the upper deck at the old stadium. The new park's roof was much smaller than the old park's roof, and didn't completely cover the upper deck. Mike Veeck, son of the former White Sox owner Bill Veeck, once said, "It had everything but a soul."[1]

The early evening view from a 2006 White Sox game behind first base.
The early evening view from a 2006 White Sox game behind first base.

In response to fan complaints, the stadium has undergone numerous renovations since the 2001 season in order to retrofit the facility to current architectural trends. These new features have included building a multi-tiered concourse beyond center field, adjusting the fences to make the outfield less symmetrical and, most significantly, the removal of 6,483 seats at the top of the upper deck.

The uppermost story of the park now has a white and black screen behind the top row of seats and is topped by a flat canopy roof supported by poles that obstruct the view of a few seats. To give the park a "retro" feel the roof has black steel truss supports. The original blue seats were also replaced by forest green seats. The new green and black color scheme, upper level screen set back from the outer wall and canopy roof resembles the old Comiskey Park as well as other classic baseball stadiums. The White Sox have also added murals to the interior concourses, a prominent feature of the old stadium.

The stadium houses 84 luxury suites located on two levels, as well as thousands of "club seats" on 300-level mezzanine between the lower deck and upper deck. The club seats receive in-seat wait-staff and benefit from an enclosed concourse with multiple television viewing areas and bar-style concessions.

[edit] Ballpark Attractions

The bronze statue of Charles Comiskey at U.S. Cellular Field.
The bronze statue of Charles Comiskey at U.S. Cellular Field.
The bronze statue of Minnie Minoso and himself at U.S. Cellular Field.
The bronze statue of Minnie Minoso and himself at U.S. Cellular Field.
The bronze statue of Carlton Fisk at U.S. Cellular Field.
The bronze statue of Carlton Fisk at U.S. Cellular Field.
The bronze statue of Luis Aparicio at U.S. Cellular Field.
The bronze statue of Luis Aparicio at U.S. Cellular Field.
The bronze statue of Nellie Fox at U.S. Cellular Field.
The bronze statue of Nellie Fox at U.S. Cellular Field.
  • Fan Deck: A panoramic view of the playing field on the two-tiered Fan Deck atop the center field concession stands. Fan Deck packages include catered food and beverage service consisting of chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, hamburgers, potato chips, popcorn, beer, soda, and water (featuring Miller and Pepsi products). Fan deck can accommodate around 150 fans.
  • Miller Lite Bullpen Sports Bar: Located in right field next to the visitor's bullpen. Food, drinks and, for a nominal charge, sit in the two-tiered, open-air section, also used for group outings.
  • Rain Room: Near section 107 & 537.
  • Pontiac Fundamentals Deck: Located in left field. This 15,000-square-foot Pontiac Fundamentals area is devoted to young White Sox fans, providing them with the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of baseball from Chicago White Sox Training Academy coaches. It features a youth-sized wiffle ball diamond for coaching clinics, batting and pitching cages, batting "swing" boxes for proper batting techniques and areas for base running and skills instruction.
  • Majestic Custom T-Shirt Shop: The Majestic Custom T-Shirt Shop stocks various White Sox items from t-shirts and hooded sweatshirts to memorabilia and souvenirs. Customers have their choice of design, size and item to customize and make your own, printed while you wait.
  • Chicagoland Plumbing Council Shower: A carry-over from old Comiskey Park. Near Section 160.
  • United Scout Seats: Located directly behind home plate. Most comfortable location in the park with leather seating.
  • The Patio: Located just behind the right center field fence at field level. The patio serves for group outings such as the Bullpen Sports Bar and can accommodate from 50 to 100 fans.
  • White Sox Champions Brick Plaza: A brick plaza dedicated to White Sox fans and the 2005 World Series win by the White Sox, unveiled on April 11th, 2008. Phase II of brick sales are underway.
  • Diamond Suites: Accommodates 20 to 60 fans. Diamond Suite menus include pan-seared chicken with roasted potatoes, roast beef and turkey sandwiches, mixed green salad, hot dogs, dry roasted peanuts, a fresh fruit assortment, beer and soft drinks (featuring Miller and Pepsi products).
  • Miller Lite Extra Base/Upper Terrace Suite: Accommodates from 70 to 400 fans in either of the White Sox party rooms. Both areas offer climate-controlled interior space with banquet-style seating, flat-screen televisions, private restrooms, and an outside seating area. Packages include game tickets and catering.
  • Jim Beam Club: Located behind home plate. Features include a restaurant buffet, open bar, in-seat menu and wait service, concierge service, access to private lounge, open air seating in padded, extra-wide 22” seats, private restrooms, flat-screen televisions throughout the club and seating area, private elevator entrance behind home plate at Gate 4, invitations to private on-field events and member parties, early admittance into the ballpark for select games to watch White Sox batting practice from the outfield, priority presale opportunities and former player appearances in the Jim Beam Club lounge.
  • Minnie Miñoso Sculpture: Located behind Section 164.
  • Carlton Fisk Sculpture: Located behind Section 164.
  • Charles Comiskey Sculpture: Located behind Section 100.
  • Luis Aparicio Sculpture: Located behind Section 100.
  • Nellie Fox Sculpture: Located behind Section 100.
  • Billy Pierce Sculpture: Located behind Section 164.
  • Harold Baines Sculpture: To be unveiled July 20th on the center field concourse when the White Sox take on the Kansas City Royals

[edit] White Sox Champions Brick Plaza

Each Legacy Brick is inscribed with a personalized message has become part of a new baseball diamond-shaped plaza outside the main entrance to the ballpark. A life-sized white bronze and granite sculpture celebrating the 2005 White Sox World Series Championship will stand at the center of the plaza, with a historical timeline of the franchise along the diamond's base paths.

On April 11th, 2008 the White Sox paid tribute to the 2005 World Series championship squad by unveiling a new plaza and monument detailing the title run.

Prior to the game against the rival Detroit Tigers, team officials, local luminaries, former White Sox players and fans showed up to view the uncovering of the Champions Moments monument in Champions Plaza, located outside of Gate 4 at U.S. Cellular Field. The diamond-shaped plaza contains legacy bricks, which are inscribed with fan messages and memories. The plaza also chronicles the key moments in franchise history.

Among those in attendance were Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf and general manager Kenny Williams, as well as former White Sox greats Harold Baines, Ron Kittle, Billy Pierce and Joey Cora. Several current players also came out to witness the unveiling.

Catcher A.J. Pierzynski said of the structure: "It's awesome. You see the way they etched the players in and put the photos in it. It's going to be here for a long time. When my kids grow up, they can always come here and look at it."

Large bronze images of Joe Crede, Paul Konerko, Juan Uribe, Geoff Blum and Orlando Hernández stand out prominently on the monument. Each image symbolizes a key moment during the team's run to the World Series title.

"For the fans to come out and brave [the weather], it's a testament to what kind of fans they are," Pierzynski said of the number of fans in attendance.

Blagojevich, who is a fan of the crosstown-rival Cubs, was booed after being announced. But he took it all in stride during his speech. "I sure am glad this isn't an election year for me," Blagojevich quipped.

Proceeds from the sale of the legacy bricks went to White Sox charities. The organization says it soon will announce details for the second round of brick sales open to the public.

The white bronze and black granite monument was constructed by local sculptor Julie Rotblatt-Amrany of The Fine Art Studio of Rotblatt-Amrany.

Fans can still buy bricks for the plaza with phase II underway.

[edit] Renovations

In 2001, extensive renovations were started by HKS Sports & Entertainment Group to make the park more fan-friendly:

[edit] Phase I (2001 season)

  • Three rows of seats were added along the field between the dugouts and the foul poles.
  • Bullpens were moved and replaced with additional bleachers.
  • Distances to the outfield wall were changed, most noticeably down the foul lines, where the bullpens and the Bullpen Sports Bar are now located.
  • Batter's eye in center field was redesigned.
  • Restaurant was added in the outfield.

[edit] Phase II (2002 season)

  • Old backstop with netted roof was replaced with a new "roofless" backstop which allows foul balls to drop into seats.
  • Improvements were made to the main and club level concourses.
  • Scoreboard and video boards were upgraded.

[edit] Phase III (2003 season)

  • New center field video board and LED "ribbon" boards were added.
  • Outfield/Upper Deck Concourse upgrades were made.
  • Fan Deck in center field was added.
  • Ballpark was painted and stained black.
  • A life size bronze statue of Charles Comiskey located on the center field concourse behind section 100.
  • Phase III renovations cost approximately $20 million.

[edit] Phase IV (2004 season)

  • Upper Deck Seating Area - Eight rows and 6,483 seats were removed from the top of ballpark's upper deck.
  • A flat roof, elevated 20 feet above the seating area, has replaced the old roof, covering all but eight rows of seating.
  • Upper Deck Concourse was partially enclosed from the weather by a translucent wall.
  • Fan Deck in center field upgraded to feature tiered seating and standing room.
  • Lower Terrace balcony added to provide an additional party area and outdoor seating.
  • A life sized bronze statue of Minnie Miñoso located on the center field concourse behind section 164.
  • Phase IV renovations cost approximately $28 million.

[edit] Phase V (2005 season)

U.S. Cellular Field in 2005 before extensive remodeling was completed.
U.S. Cellular Field in 2005 before extensive remodeling was completed.
  • 314-seat "Scout" seating area directly behind home plate added.
  • FUNdamentals, an area for kids, was added above the left field concourse.
  • Green seats replaced the old blue seats in the Club level and some scattered areas around home plate. The bleachers in left-center field were painted green.
  • A life size bronze statue of Carlton Fisk that was unveiled on August 7th on the center field concourse behind section 164.

[edit] Phase VI (2006 season)

  • Green seats replaced the old blue seats in the entire Upper Deck and the Lower Deck between the dugouts.
  • Enclosed, ground level restaurant was completed, providing a lounge and dining area for the Scout Seats.
  • Life size bronze statues of Nellie Fox and Luis Aparicio placed on center field concourse behind section 100.
  • New banners were hung down on the outfield light towers. One for the 2005 World Series, one for the 1906 and 1917 World Series, one for all White Sox American League pennants, and one for all division championships.
  • The flags for these titles, now on the banners, were replaced with flags of all the Sox logos in club history.

[edit] Phase VII (2007 season)

  • Green seats replaced the old blue seats in the Lower Deck from the dugouts and the entire outfield seating area (including the left-center field bleachers which were previously renovated). The green seats between the dugout and the foul poles have been slightly turned, re-directing them toward the center of the field. (Visually Re-Directed Seats)
  • The seats where Paul Konerko's Grand Slam (left field) and Scott Podsednik's walk off home run (right center first row) landed in game two of the 2005 World Series are the same original blue seats in use at that game and stand out from the all green seats.
  • A new premium seating/restaurant named the Jim Beam Club is located in the former press box behind home plate on the stadium's Diamond Suites 200 Level.
  • A new press box located on the first base side on the Diamond Suites 400 Level.
  • A new custom T-shirt shop
  • The beginning of the White Sox Champions brick plaza in front of the stadium (Gate 4) and Phase I of the brick sales.
  • A life size bronze statue of Billy Pierce placed on the center field concourse behind section 164.
  • A Thome Ticker counting down to Jim Thome's 500th Career Home Run (Hit on September 16 against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim). The ticker was located in right field on the LaSalle Bank advertising board, now with Bank of America advertising. The ticker was then taken down after the 2007 season.
Champions Plaza, U.S. Cellular Field - Chicago, Illinois
Champions Plaza, U.S. Cellular Field - Chicago, Illinois

[edit] Phase VIII (2008 season)

  • The White Sox Legacy Brick Program unveiled its brick plaza outside U.S. Cellular Field (Gate 4) on April 11th. Each Legacy Brick is inscribed with a personalized message and has become part of a new baseball diamond-shaped plaza outside the main entrance to the ballpark. A life-sized white bronze and granite sculpture celebrating the 2005 White Sox World Series Championship stands at the center of the plaza, with a historical timeline of the franchise along the diamond's base paths. Players on the sculpture from the 2005 team is Paul Konerko, Joe Crede, Orlando Hernández, Geoff Blum and Juan Uribe. Phase II of brick sales are underway.
  • Plasma flat screen television sets throughout the outfield concourse and at the top of its beer concession stands.
  • A life size bronze statue of Harold Baines to be unveiled on the center field concourse on July 20th when the White Sox take on the Kansas City Royals.

[edit] Retired Numbers

There are nine retired numbers on the outfield wall at the park. Eight of them on the left center field wall and one on the right field wall. The one in right field is Jackie Robinson (42) which is retired throughout Major League Baseball. The ones in left center field are retired by the White Sox.
The players are:
2 Nellie Fox
3 Harold Baines
4 Luke Appling
9 Minnie Miñoso
11 Luis Aparicio
16 Ted Lyons
19 Billy Pierce
42 Jackie Robinson
72 Carlton Fisk

[edit] Accessibility

  • U.S. Cellular Field can be reached by using the CTA's "L" Rapid Transit system. The stadium's station stops are Sox-35th for the Red-Line and 35-Bronzeville-IIT (CTA) for the Green-Line. The Red-Line is also used by Cubs fans to reach Wrigley Field (Addison Station) on the North side of Chicago and when the White Sox take on the Cubs every year, usually in June, fans will call the series the Cross-Town Classic or the Red-Line Series. See White Sox-Cubs rivalry for more info.
  • U.S. Cellular Field is just west of the I-90/94 Dan Ryan Expressway. The "Dan Ryan" was under construction for the past few years in hopes of relieving traffic congestion.
  • The park has seven main entrances. Gate One is located on the South side of the park in right field, Gate Two is located on the Southwest side of the park down the right field line, Gate Three is located on the West side of the park on the 1st base side, Gate Four is on the Northwest side of the park behind home plate, Gate Five is located on the North side of the park on the 3rd base side, Gate Six is located on the Northeast side of the park down the left field line and Gate Seven is located on the East side of the park in left field.

[edit] Notable games

[edit] White Sox Record at Home


1991: 46-35, .567 (87-75, .537 overall) 2nd place in AL West.
1991: 50-32, .609 (86-76, .531 overall) 3rd place in AL West.
1993: 45-36, .555 (94-68, .580 overall) 1st place in AL West. Playoffs 0-3, .000 (2-4, .333 overall)
1994: 34-19, .641 (67-46, .593 overall) 1st place in AL Central. Season incomplete due to the Players strike.
1995: 38-34, .527 (68-76, .472 overall) 3rd place in AL Central.
1996: 44-37, .543 (85-77, .524 overall) 2nd place in AL Central.
1997: 45-36, .555 (80-81, .496 overall) 2nd place in AL Central.
1998: 44-37, .543 (80-82, .493 overall) 2nd place in AL Central.
1999: 38-42, .475 (75-86, .466 overall) 2nd place in AL Central.
2000: 46-35, .567 (95-67, .586 overall) 1st place in AL Central. Playoffs 0-2, .000 (0-3, .000 overall)
2001: 46-35, .567 (83-79, .512 overall) 3rd place in AL Central.
2002: 47-34, .580 (81-81, .500 overall) 2nd place in AL Central.
2003: 51-30, .629 (86-76, .530 overall) 2nd place in AL Central.
2004: 46-35, .567 (83-79, .512 overall) 2nd place in AL Central.
2005: 47-34, .580 (99-63, .611 overall) 1st place in AL Central. Playoffs 5-1, .833 (11-1 .916 overall)
2006: 49-32, .604 (90-72, .556 overall) 3rd place in AL Central.
2007: 38-43, .469 (72-90, .444 overall) 4th place in AL Central.
2008: 19-9, .679 (36-26, .581 overall) 1st place in AL Central.


Total: 773-595 .565 (1447-1300, .527 overall) Playoffs 5-6, .454 (13-8, .619 overall)
Average: 43-33 .565 (80-72, .526 overall) Playoffs 2-2, .500 (4-3, .571 overall)


Updated through June 8, 2008

[edit] Trivia

 Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines.
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.
  • Although most of the blue seats have been replaced with green seats, two blue seats remain in the outfield. One is in the left field section (section 159), while the other is in right-center (section 101). The seats are the very seats where Paul Konerko's grand-slam and Scott Podsednik's walk-off home run from the 2005 World Series landed.[2]
  • Major League Soccer team Chicago Fire were offered one of the adjacent parking lots by the city of Chicago to build their proposed 20,000 seater soccer stadium on the condition that the team funded the project themselves without any money from the city.[citation needed] Although the deal would have made the team the first absolute owners of a stadium in North American soccer it proved too costly and Fire located to their Toyota Park home in Bridgeview instead. Ironically, the Fire considered using the park as a temporary home while Soldier Field was being renovated.[citation needed]
  • In September 2004, the Florida Marlins, who were already in town playing the Cubs, used the stadium for two games against the Montreal Expos while Hurricane Ivan hit Florida.
  • The park "played the role" of Yankee Stadium and the stadium itself in the movie Little Big League, and that of Dodger Stadium in Rookie of the Year. The ballpark has also appeared in other movies such as Major League II and My Best Friend's Wedding.
  • The Chicago White Sox changed home games that start at 7:05 to 7:11, a campaign that costs 7-11 $500,000 for three seasons throughout 2007 to 2009.

[edit] Notes

  • Nathaniel Whalen, "Marked seats meaningful to Sox stars," Post Tribune, March 30, 2007

[edit] See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

[edit] References

  1. ^ Smith, Curt (2001). Storied Stadiums. New York City: Carroll & Graf. ISBN 0786711876. 
  2. ^ [1]

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Comiskey Park		 Home of the
Chicago White Sox
1991 – present		 Succeeded by
Current
Preceded by
Miller Park		 Host of the
All-Star Game
2003		 Succeeded by
Minute Maid Park

Coordinates: 41°49′48.29″N, 87°38′2.57″W

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