Cellular Field Stadium

Located in Chicago , Illinois , U.S. Cellular Field is a ballpark facility that houses the Chicago Sox, a MLB team placed in the American League. The park was inaugurated in 1991, and was given the same name as its predecessor. The Cubs played in the old Comiskey Park for more than eight decades. Built at a cost of $167 million it is one of the most high-tech stadiums in the game. The ballpark hosted All Star Game in 2003. On May 2, 2002 , Seattle Mariners outfielder Mike Cameron hit four homeruns in one game in the ballpark. On July 25, 2003 , Frank Thomas hits his 400th homerun in the ballpark. The ballpark hosted 2,934,154 fans in its first year, which still remains a club-record.

After getting a negative response from Illinois voters to build a new stadium, the White Sox threatened to move the team to Tampa , FL. However Illinois Governor James R. Thompson managed to arrange the revenues for a stadium to be built. The architects and contractors studied every baseball stadium to put in the best ideas for the construction of the new ballpark. On May 7, 1989 , the ground breaking ceremonies of the U.S. Cellular Field took place. The new ballpark was built adjacent to Comiskey Park in the parking lot of old Comiskey Park and the old Comiskey Park was bulldozed to make a parking lot for the current field. The new Comiskey Park opened on April 18, 1991 ; Governor Thompson threw the ceremonial first pitch. More than 44,000 fans came to see the home-opening game. When opened, the Comiskey Park was highly-praised for its new looks, but once Oriole Park at Camden Yards opened people hypothesized why U.S. Cellular Field lacks that traditional feel to it. People also criticized the ballpark because of the steepness of the upper deck (a 35-degree angle), with some seats high enough to view Lake Michigan . The lowest level of seats in the upper deck is actually farther from the field than the highest level of seats in the upper deck at the old Comiskey Park . The stadium has 84 luxury skyboxes on two levels. Thousands of club seats are located on a mezzanine level and the ratio of washroom fittings in the ballpark is one of the best in baseball.

Built of a concrete structure with a pre-cast concrete facing, the new ballpark features super-wide concourses, deluxe concessions, comfortable seats with cup holders, plenty of bathrooms and a sports bar. It has an exploding scoreboard, which lights up in color when a White Sox player hits a home run. It is an old-style framework with front elevation with arches over 40,000 unobstructed-view seats. Since the stadium was built before the concept of new 'retro' stadiums came into being, the stadium underwent renovations in five phases from 2001 to 2005 to retrofit to the contemporary architectural trends. Several rows of seats were added along the foul lines, along with the replacement of bullpens with additional bleachers. Three rows of seats were added along the field between the dugouts and the foul poles. A multi-tiered concourse beyond center field was built, adjusting the territory of play to create irregular fences. The most distant seats at the top of the upper deck were removed. Distances to the outfield wall were changed, distinctly down the foul lines, where the bullpens and the Bullpen Sports Bar are now located. The outfield fences were moved in 17 feet down the left-field line12 feet down the right-field line and three feet in right-center field. Left-center field was increased by two feet whereas the straightaway center was not fiddled with. Batter's eye in center field was redesigned. Old backstop was replaced with a new one that allows foul balls to drop.

The Comiskey Park became U.S. Cellular Field in 2003 after U.S. Cellular bought the naming rights at $68 million over 20 years. The money acquired in deal was used to improve the stadium. Eight rows of the upper deck were demolished that lowered the height of ballpark. A flat roof was installed, that encloses the upper deck concourse. A sector of seating behind the homeplate in the lower deck was replaced with new luxury scout seats. The color of the 14-year-old ballpark's seating area was changed from blue to forest green. A fully renovated U.S. Cellular Field is expected to be completed by Opening Day 2006.