Whats a shame is that when Turner Field opened in 1997, you could tell they really tried. The Stadium was built new for the 1996 Summer Olympics and then partly torn down convert it into Turner stadium. On the field level concourse by the portals, there are pictures and display areas of past Braves teams. The best way to get to Truist Park is to plan ahead, arrive early and consider all the transportation options available to you. On October 23, 1999, the stadium hosted game one of the World Series, in which a crowd of 51,342 saw the New York Yankees defeat the Braves four to one. For having the most wide-ranging references to team history of any ballpark, including the team museum: +2 Its relatively more immune to the recent stripmallization of America. In fact, they actually used it as a rationale to claim everything inside the ballpark is the best. Thats not season ticket loyalty. Because of the need to fit a track within the stadium in its earlier configuration, the field of play, particularly foul territory, while not large by historical standards, was still larger than most MLB stadiums of its era. Of the 10 Braves whose numbers were retired prior to Turner Field's closure, nine (Spahn, Mathews, Aaron, Niekro, Cox, Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz and Jones) were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, while Murphy's eligibility expired without election. When I often use the vague phrase aesthetic vision you should now know what I mean. Along with an overabundance of glass in the middle of the archways, Turner Field consists only of the homogeneous red bricks seen in a 1990s suburban Mcmansion, with the occasional use of concrete. Coming from the West: Luckily for Atlanta, theyre able to reorient sections at an appropriate degree due to the open site, avoiding many of the problems in Cleveland. Almost all new ballparks feature statues of team greats, but Turner Field turned its entry plaza into a gorgeous exhibit of historical monuments. Of course, they didnt execute it well from an aesthetic point of view, unlike in Rangers Ballpark, as Turner just seems noncommittal. The first game played at Turner Field was an exhibition game against the New York Yankees on March 29, 1997; Braves starter Tom Glavine threw the first pitch, a swinging fastball strike, to Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter and the Braves won the exhibition game 20. But the location is still very poor. It really is a fun tradition. Then again, its Atlanta, can you blame the Braves that much? Its suburban in the sense that there isnt much going on around the ballpark, but its certainly in a distinct area. The goal was to take the advantages of a location close to downtown and a large plat of land and create what would basically be a new Atlanta neighborhood where people live, work and attend school. I always love to examine how the media and team officials presented a ballpark when it opened. Copyright 2001 - 2020 - Ballparks of Baseball is not affiliated with Major League Baseball or with any team mentioned. Even the batters eye is ugly. Replacing an earlier version made of various pieces of baseball equipment, the new bottle featured a HD display around the label, as well as LED lighting. But compared to say, San Diego, Houston, Phoenix, Seattle, etc, is it that much worse? Coming from the East: Turn left on Fulton Street. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Among the performers who performed at the stadium are the Dave Matthews Band, Metallica, Eminem, Paul McCartney and The Rolling Stones. Despite its drab appearance, the Braves utilize a duel concourse technique on the lower level, which is quite successful in controlling traffic. The walls in the premium concourse serve as a timeline for Braves history, and particularly great teams and players are highlighted. Centennial Olympic Stadium was rebuilt in 1997 as Turner Field. [52] The club area featured a waitstaff that catered to club members in their seats during the games. And then why not add a random brick restaurant beyondright-center field to look retro? [20] While Turner Field was designed from the ground up with the Braves in mind, Plant said that it required higher capital maintenance costs in the long run because it was value engineered for the 1996 Summer Olympics. WebOn November 11, 2013, the Braves announced that they would leave Turner Fieldat the time, the majors 17th oldest ballparkafter the 2016 season for a proposed new ballpark. Being in the middle of nowhere is one thing, but being in a raunchy area with no attractions is another. WebHome Turner Field Turner Field Directions & Parking 755 Hank Aaron Drive, Atlanta, GA 30302 Coming from the North or South: As you come into Atlanta on either Interstate 75 or 85, the two interstates will merge as you enter the city. 10 after winning a road series at Virginia, which falls eight places to No. The old stadium site served as a parking lot for Turner Field, which was located across the street at 755 Hank Aaron Drive. Way beyond what I expected, given my that I previously implied the city has mundane culinary tastes. 11/14/13 AT 2:25 PM EST. Being in the middle of nowhere is one thing, but being in a raunchy area with no attractions is another. My favorite is the statue of Phil Niekro, just because of how well you can see the knuckle ball motion. When the Braves moved to Truist Park and Cobb County in 2017, Georgia State took over the stadium (now called Center Parc Credit Union Stadium) and converted it into their home football venue. The best way to get to Truist Park is to plan ahead, arrive early and consider all the transportation options available to you. In terms of entertainment, they can and have been easily outdone, which is why in the aggregate, it scores the worst of the post-1991 ballparks. Just looking at the inside, you can tell it emphasizes an overabundance of amenities above aesthetics and contextual integration. New Georgia Encyclopedia, last modified Sep 17, 2020. https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/sports-outdoor-recreation/turner-field/, Starrs, C. (2006). The Braves had a forty-year lease$1 million per year until 2016, and $1.5 million thereafterto use the stadium. He was pronounced dead on scene from his injuries. While there are times I look at the unique curvature of the outfield design and appreciate that Atlanta tried to build a ballpark with elegant symmetrical interior lines, the finished product comes out more streamlined and confused. Dont believe me? Number of games seen: 25+ In 2013, the Atlanta Braves announced that the team would no longer be playing at Turner Field, their home stadium since 1997, and would be relocating to Cobb County. The longest game by time, and in Braves history, was played on July 2627, 2011 between the Braves and the Pittsburgh Pirates. 9, and Duke makes the biggest move of the week, vaulting 10 spots to No. Olympic Sites, Sports - Baseball - Pro. During its tenure, Turner Field was also used as a concert venue, with capacity of up to 60,000. Take a seven block hike south or west, and youre in for a nice adventure. In 2013, the Atlanta Braves announced that the team would no longer be playing at Turner Field, their home stadium since 1997, and would be relocating to Cobb County. Unfortunately, the park lacks the multiple bars and social spaces of many newer parks. [1] This was considered a good agreement for both the Olympic Committee and the Braves. Even the taste of the majors stand has been reduced to regular items, characterized by the Texas BBQ Nachos, Summer Dog, Grant Park Cheeseburger, or Signature PoBoy Sandwich. Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed said the city could not afford to support the kind of renovations the Braves desired. [36] Following a sweep of the Astros, the Braves went on to the NLCS, where Tom Glavine picked up the first NLCS win at Turner Field; however, the Braves lost to the eventual-World Series-champion Florida Marlins. The Braves made headlines in 2005 by being the first team in baseball to install a high definition video board, the worlds largest at the time. A Deli featured turkey, ham, and Italian subs. The Braves Chop House was one of the first accessible (non-club)restaurants in the majors to afford a complete view of the field from beyond the fences. It may look good, but its one of the weaker video boards in terms of being informative. The Braves new stadium, SunTrust Park (later Truist Park), opened in April 2017. In stark contrast to the rest of the ballpark, it includes Mexican, Italian, pasta, crepes, and even sushi. [51] SunTrust Club members also had access to an exclusive club area located under the Hank Aaron Seats (Section 101) that consists of free food and drinks for club members. Former home field of the Atlanta Braves. The Turner Field facility included more than a dozen attractions, including Coca-Cola Sky Field, the Braves Fun Zone, the interactive Scouts Alley, Turner Beach, Monument Grove (where the retired numbers of former Braves players were displayed), the Ivan Allen Jr. Braves Museum and Hall of Fame (named for former Atlanta mayor Ivan Allen Jr.), Tooner Field, and the My South Cooks Suite. Had an infield fly not been called, Simmons would have been credited with a single and Atlanta would have had the bases loaded with one out. Note the numerous historical photographs, quotes on the wall, and allusions to Boston Braves history by the concession stands. Another legitimate criticism is the complete lack of lighting in the outfield. New Hagerstown Atlantic League ballpark Luckily, the ballpark did just that in 2013 on multiple accounts. Through its extensive broker relationships, TREI was able to source the deal for this 8 unit, 176,000 SF industrial park in Anaheim. It has a striking lack of regional flare seen in almost all other retro ballparks. Instead of enhancing the contextual space, they artificially created a neutral space and filled it with diversions and gimmicks. The references to team history are perhaps Turner Fields strong point. The giant video board is nice, but it looks awkward and out of place in center field. Turner Field. After a several-year decline, average attendance at Turner Field increased each year from 2005 to 2007, when the average attendance was 33,891 per game, and 2.75 million for the season. Excellent attention to detail with facial expression. Whats hilarious is that I dont necessarily have anything against that. Its almost like they knew there was no way to give the ballpark any type of distinct regional feel because of the area, so they compensated with tons of team history. Every great ballpark finds some way to represent its region or city. 8 Building Industrial Business Park. Despite being closed from the concourse and lacking in seat service, the club level is probably worth it for the substantial upgrade in food selection. No aesthetic purpose. Location: Cobb County, north of Atlanta and a much shorter drive away from the bulk of the Braves fan base. All ballpark seats are usually indistinguishable from city to city, because most parks are designed by HOK (Populous), but you can tell a different manufacturer designed Turner Fields seats. Instead of stadium seats, patrons faced the field in chairs around semicircular tables. Whats funny, is when people take a step back from whats in vogue, theyll realize that this simple symmetrical look is actually pretty attractive. The 755 Club restaurant has long been a symbol of Turner Fields classy high-end vibe. Turner Field gets the obligatory high score, but subjective deductions for creating the ultimate baseball theme park. While being far removed from downtown Atlanta, the ballpark could hypothetically feature some decent views. Additionally, a new baseball field would be built on the former AtlantaFulton County Stadium site, incorporating the outfield wall where Hank Aaron hit his record-breaking 715th home run. The continuity of the pleasing curvilinear dimensions is strongly contradicted by the fragmented features beyond the outfield. Georgias Own Credit Union Club and the Superior Plumbing Club have 152 premium seats adjacent to each side of the press box. AtlantaFulton County Stadium opened in 1966 and hosted its final game on October 24, 1996, when the New York The Atlanta Braves started playing their home games at Turner Field in 1997. baseballpilgrimages.com. With all the distractions they have out there, no lights? Despite the loss of the Atlanta Braves, the Turner Field site is turning out to be exactly what Atlanta leaders expected: a successful mixed-use community anchored by Georgia State University. Coming from the East: With built-in TV monitors and only 150 seats, The SunTrust Club is the most exclusive space in baseball. The large playground area is quite elaborate as well, highlighted by a small room filled with neon lights and video screens. Every corner of the club level is packed with some sort of historical reference. Most teams succeed to some degree here, providing maybe a museum, a team plaque area, or multiple allusions on the concourse, but Turner Field succeeds across the board. Coming from the North or South: And from an aesthetic point of view, Tooner Field is the tackiest thing Ive ever seen, so Im glad it got replaced with a new sponsor in 2012. [58] The Club Level was another indoor premium concourse level located on the second deck of the ballpark. Its really refreshing because now you have wonderful people walking their dogs and having strollers and going up to the ice cream shop. Take Exit #56B- Windsor Street/Spring Street/Stadium exit. WebTurner Field (19972016) Georgia State Stadium (20172020) Address: 755 Hank Aaron Drive SE: Location: Atlanta, Georgia: Coordinates: Coordinates: Owner: Georgia State University: Operator Web3-Hour Private Atlanta MCU Comic Book Inspired Film Locations Sightseeing Tour 18 Bus Tours from $158.98 per adult The area 755 Hank Aaron Dr SW, Atlanta, GA 30315-1120 Full view Best nearby Restaurants 1,022 within 3 miles Bullpen Ribs & BBQ 308 0.2 mi$$ - $$$ Quick Bites American Bar Wood's Chapel BBQ 29 Being an Olympic stadium in the middle of nowhere, I love that the Braves chose to keep the dimensions pretty symmetrical. The stadiums parking lot hosted vehicle ride-and-drive events, road races, and acircus. The atmosphere, service, and food are all unparalleled in baseball, but with the intimacy lacking in a place like the Legends Suite at Yankee Stadium. The stadium was used as a central location in many films and television series, including Flight, The Change-Up, Trouble with the Curve and the 19th season of The Amazing Race, which took place outside of the stadium.[67][68][69]. Since that time the company has grown from a single employee working out of a home to a diversified publishing firm featuring Websites, books and other merchandise. Not only is Turner Field a ballpark without a community, its in the ghetto. [55][56] The 755 Club became the University Club as part of the Georgia State football stadium. Good design still endures. The Braves won the game 203. Turner Field places an emphasis on amenities above all else, and premium seating is no exception. It also hosted many non-baseball events each year, including music concerts, weddings, receptions, holiday parties, product launches, and student proms. Being in the middle of nowhere is one thing, but being in a raunchy area with no attractions is another. Like most new ballparks, the Braves let you into the lower bowl before game time to get autographs. 10 after winning a road series at Virginia, which falls eight places to No. There is even a mini-dugout. But again, we see no attempt at neighborhood integration. Turner Field was the home stadium of the Atlanta Braves baseball team from 1997 to 2016 and was named for former Braves owner Ted Turner. The 755 Club (named in honor of Hank Aaron's home run record) was the stadium's predominant suite location. Most recent game:October 2. In 2017, the team moved northwest to SunTrust Park. You here in the media that Turner Field is downtown, but thats very misleading. 9, and Duke makes the biggest move of the week, vaulting 10 spots to No. [47], On August 13, 2013, Ronald Lee Homer, Jr., a fan attending the game against the Philadelphia Phillies, fell 85 feet (26m) to his death after leaping over the fourth level wall in the rear of the stadium and landing in the player's parking lot. The Top of the Chop is a new public patio area located outsidethe club level above the existing restaurant. The dcor of the concourses is a bit 1990s blandish, highlighted by red, white, and blue bathroom tiles. 9, and Duke makes the biggest move of the week, vaulting 10 spots to No. Turner Field was the home stadium of the Atlanta Braves baseball team from 1997 to 2016 and was named for former Braves owner Ted Turner.. But for a completely enclosed ballpark, it risks coming off as a functional cookie cutter stadium. You can disagree with what Im writing, but theres no doubting Turner Field feels way to big, with a capacity of about 50,000. Near his office, there are new stores and restaurants and across from the stadium, huge new residential buildings in what used to be Turner Fields Gold parking lot. WebTurner Field was a baseball stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia. The stadium hosted the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball from 1997 to 2016, following a multimillion-dollar renovation to retrofit the stadium for baseball by removing the temporary stands that had made up nearly half the stadium and building the outfield stands and other attractions behind them. Instead, it greatly muddles a very honest structure with tons of gimmicks and distractions. [15], After negotiations broke down, the team began planning a new stadium, SunTrust Park. New Tennessee Smokies ballpark. 21. WebTurner Crossing Anaheim. Historical Exhibits, Memorabilia, Art, & Other Displays, golden era of retro ballpark architecture. WebOn November 11, 2013, the Braves announced that they would leave Turner Fieldat the time, the majors 17th oldest ballparkafter the 2016 season for a proposed new ballpark. Before the Braves left, the neighborhood was more unruly, he said. From 2003 to 2016, the NCAA baseball teams of Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia, which had previously played two games on each school's campus, replaced one of the home and home pairs in favor of a third game at Turner Field. Once, I was allowed to leave and re-enter under certain conditions, as the lady actually said, be back in 15 minutes. As if thats enforceable. The Gas South fireworks station is particularly annoying as well. In 2013 the Braves announced that they would move out of downtown Atlanta and into Cobb County. [21] On August 13, 2015, the Braves officially gave notice to the city of Atlanta and Fulton County that the team would not exercise the option to extend their lease at Turner Field and would vacate the stadium by December 31, 2016, allowing the Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority to move forward with any redevelopment plans. This $6 million addition was completed in 2008 and its 143 premium seats were just 43 feet (13m) from home plate, closer than seats in any other MLB ballpark of the era (and closer to home plate than the pitcher's mound). Georgia State was considered the front-runner for the property as the other two bids submitted were from little known entities with no documented redevelopment experience. Constant renovations in the last 15 years have maintained Atlantas positionas a generally decent place for premium seating. Considering what they were given, the architects primarily valued packing numerous amenities into the outfield, overlooking any consideration for aesthetic appeal. Lets look at some of the positives first. The Braves organization, ready to be rid of the obsolete AtlantaFulton County Stadium, arranged with ACOG to become the tenants of Centennial Olympic Stadium when the summer games ended. Another open concourse is located on top of the terrace level, providing good visibility of the field. They place an emphasis on the visuals over the information, showing only a giant picture of the batter, along with a few stats, and the batting teams lineup. Its even difficult to upgrade in the upper deck, as they even diligently check tickets to make sure general admission fans arent going to the seats behind home plate in the upper deck. Most fans enter through the attractive center field plaza (Monument Grove), only to be greeted by Cartoon Network and Johnny Bravo. The address honors Braves player Hank Aaron, who broke Babe Ruths home-run record in 1974 at AtlantaFulton County Stadium and ended his career with a total of 755 home runs in 1976. In the golden era of retro ballpark architecture, Camden Yards, Progressive Field, and evenRangers Ballpark features some of the most distinct and well-executedinterior aesthetic visions weve seen. 2023 MiLB Best of the Ballparks, Triple-A vote reaches Final Four, Is 2025 a firm deadline for teams to meet MiLB facility upgrades? If youre a ballpark trekker like me, one of the first things youll notice about Turner Field is the seats. Truist Park 755 Battery Avenue Southeast Atlanta, GA 30339 Driving Directions Public Transportation Rideshare WebFacility Reservations Staff 1 Civic Center Plaza Irvine, CA 92606 Phone: 949-724-6620 Hours of Operation: Mon.- Thur. The skyfield murals are certainly a nice feature, but end up cluttering the structure too much. San Diego has fish tacos, Colorado has Rocky Mountain Oysters, and Baltimore has crab cakes. Using the term local scene when talking about Turner is a total joke. Rogers Centre renovations On the other hand, the upper deck is appropriately cantilevered over the club level and particularly low to the ground. Its changed a lot.. The particularly large canopy is interesting. I guess the shrimp po boy is a nice enough gesture, but Turner Field severely lacks a true signature or regional item. Former home field of the Atlanta Braves. You see teams randomly put statues throughout the exterior of their ballpark, but Turner Field made it the focal point. [33] The first regular season game played at Turner Field was on April 4, 1997, against the Chicago Cubs, with Denny Neagle making the start for the Braves. Turner Field was a baseball stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia. Is it deserved? Ty Cobb sliding into home plate is also decently done. From the time of its opening in 1997 until the 2012 season, the retired numbers were commemorated by the number as pictured below hanging from the facade in left field. Turner Field, the home of the Atlanta Braves baseball team, was built as a track-and-field stadium for the 1996 Olympic Games. Atlanta has long been maligned as one of the worst baseball towns in America. The club features a minimalist stone colored dcor, with plenty of whites, blacks, and grays. Defunct ballparks in Major League Baseball, Comparison with AtlantaFulton County Stadium, 100 Things Braves Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die: Revised and Updated, Jack Wilkinson, Triumph Books, Chicago, 2019, ISBN 978-1-62937-694-3, p.140. In 2017, the team moved to the newly constructed SunTrust Park (now called Truist Park), located in nearby Cobb County. Unfortunately, the Braves lack any cool standing room areas in the outfield. The stadium was .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}34 mile (1,200m) from the nearest Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) stop, and many fans were unwilling to brave Atlanta's infamous congestion to attend games; plus, the team could not secure more parking spaces. Atlanta doesnt seem to have the effective sunken exterior landscaping of others. Doak Field at Dail Park upgrades (NC Wolfpack) Club level patrons enjoy a huge increase in variety and quality of food, so it might be worth the upgrade. Turner Field also featured the Georgia's Own Credit Union Club and Superior Plumbing Club, consisting of 152 collective premium seats located directly adjacent to each side of the press box. WebTruist Park is located 10 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta in the Cumberland neighborhood of Cobb County. Out of the open-air parks, its similar to theinside as Citi Field, which is both 100% derivative and hopelessly muddled to the point where it has no redeeming qualities (but at least Turner doesnt have those contrived dimensions). In Monument Grove, youll definitely note the mural emphatically reminding you that the Braves are the longest continuously operating franchise in major league baseball. Make no mistake: the architects intended for the fans to be contained inside the ballpark. "Turner Field." WebFacility Reservations Staff 1 Civic Center Plaza Irvine, CA 92606 Phone: 949-724-6620 Hours of Operation: Mon.- Thur. An intimate setting of 41,000 seats is designed to maximize sightlines, making every seat feel like the "best in the house". Its hard to find a metropolis more characterless and derivative than Atlanta. It doesnt even try, even if you grantits qualities are derived from the fact thatits in Atlanta. The numbers were on display at the Monument Grove section of the ballpark, as well as on display inside the actual stadium. In 2013, the Atlanta Braves announced that the team would no longer be playing at Turner Field, their home stadium since 1997, and would be relocating to Cobb County. Former baseball stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, This article is about the former baseball stadium. Coming from the East: As a result, the mezzanine club level feels like the farthest from the field in the majors. But it doesnt stop there. Innovative Field (Rochester Red Wings) upgrades For the United States Marine Corps airfield known by this name, see. Of course, we have Hank Aarons home run ball in center field. WebTruist Park is located 10 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta in the Cumberland neighborhood of Cobb County. Take a close look at every other apparently generic red brick baseball stadium built in the last two decades, and youll see some kind of distinctive architectural design flare (except maybe Camden Yards, which gets a free pass because its the first and has some interesting qualities). More details Connecticut climbs one place to No. But the point is, even if I reward that, Turner still scores remarkably low. There seems to be something everywhere you look. Its really the worst of both worlds: bland and gimmicky. Starrs, Chris. New Georgia Encyclopedia, 25 August 2006, https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/sports-outdoor-recreation/turner-field/. I guess I like the color scheme as well, especially the blue seats. Top Dog Express serves a variety of regional hot hogs, while not at all uncommon for a major league park. Turner Field kisses the highway in an impoverished neighborhood on the extreme periphery of downtown Atlanta. The franchise allowed its lease on the facility to expire at the end of the calendar year. 10 after winning a road series at Virginia, which falls eight places to No. Web3-Hour Private Atlanta MCU Comic Book Inspired Film Locations Sightseeing Tour 18 Bus Tours from $158.98 per adult The area 755 Hank Aaron Dr SW, Atlanta, GA 30315-1120 Full view Best nearby Restaurants 1,022 within 3 miles Bullpen Ribs & BBQ 308 0.2 mi$$ - $$$ Quick Bites American Bar Wood's Chapel BBQ 29