Baseball in America can be traced back to the New York metropolitan area during the 1850s. In 1857, the beautiful game of baseball was considered the national game which consisted of 16 clubs that formed part of the governing body, known as the National Association of Baseball. In 1919, the beautiful game managed to seep so far into the culture of America that a philosopher dubbed it as the national religion of America.
Since then, the game of baseball has expanded at a rapid pace which led to a significant increase in popularity as well as size, hence the enormous stadiums that you will find across the United States. The baseball stadiums in America vary greatly in both size and shape. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the biggest baseball stadiums that you will find in the USA.
Dodger Stadium
Situated in Los Angeles, California with a 56,000 seating capacity, the Dodger Stadium is the third oldest stadium in the entire U.S. It’s considered the first MLB stadium to have been constructed with 100% private financing. The stadium was initially constructed on 17 September 1+959 and was completed in 1962. The construction cost was a staggering $23 million at the time which amounts to around $182 million in 2019. The stadium will also expand over the next few years to comfortably seat around 85,000 spectators.
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Commonly known as the Oakland Coliseum, it’s considered the last stadium in America that is used for both football and professional baseball. The stadium was initially constructed in 1966 and is home to both the Oakland Raiders and the Oakland Athletics, and was home to the former San Jose Earthquakes. Construction was initially set to start in 1962, but due to delays it only started in 1964. The overall cost of construction was around $25.5 million which is equivalent to $192 million in 2019. The stadium has a capacity of 47,170 which can also expand to seat 55,940, making it the second biggest baseball stadium in America.
Yankee Stadium
Situated in New York City, the Yankee Stadium boasts with a 47,309 capacity which makes it the sixth biggest stadium in America. Construction ended in 1923 and was initially home to the Bronx Bombers. During 2009, a new stadium was built to replace the older stadium with a 52,325 seating capacity that cost around $2.3 million. The old stadium was converted into a public park, while the new stadium is located a block north of the old stadium.
Turner Field
Situated in Atlanta, Georgia, the Turner Field stadium was home to the Atlanta Braves spanning from 1997 through to 2016. It boasts with a 50,095 seating capacity and is considered the third biggest MLB stadium in America until 2016. The stadium was initially constructed to play host to the Summer Olympic Games in 1996. It initially had an 85,000 capacity, but after the Olympic Games, it was transformed into a baseball stadium where the capacity was reduced.
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