Top 5 MLB Stadiums of the 21st Century

Posted on by Jim Smarts

When it comes to stadiums, teams across Major League Baseball (MLB) boast some mesmerizing structures. Ranging from Fenway Park in Massachusetts to Oracle Park in San Francisco, we have some eye-catching stadiums to choose from when it comes to this list.

But which are the ones that made our Top 5 list? Read further to find out.

  • Fenway Park (Boston Red Sox)

The Fenway Park is not exactly the biggest stadium in the MLB. Founded in 1901 as one of the first set of American League team, the Red Sox’ home ballpark has been Fenway Park since 1912.

 

Fenway Park is a baseball park located in Boston, Massachusetts, near Kenmore Square. It has an average attendance of somewhere between 37,400-37,750. They are consistently one of the top MLB teams in average road attendance. The highest attendance recorded at Fenway Park was 47,627. Apart from baseball, this venue has played host to football, soccer, boxing and even hockey events. It is also a popular concert hotspot. 

  • PNC Park (Pittsburgh Pirates)

PNC Park is the 5th home of the National League (NL) franchise, the Pittsburgh Pirates. It was opened during the 2001 MLB season, after the controlled implosion of the Pirates’ previous home, Three Rivers Stadium.

PNC Park features a natural grass playing surface and has a seating capacity of 38,747 people for baseball. The stadium cost a whopping $216 million to construct. The PNC Park is considered one of the best ballparks in America because of its location, views of the Pittsburgh skyline and Allegheny River, timeless design, and clear angles of the field from every seat.

  • Camden Yards (Baltimore Orioles)

Baltimore Orioles have called Camden Yards their home since April 6, 1992. It is the first of the “retro” major league ballparks constructed during the 1990s and early 2000s. It was completed in 1992 to replace the previous Memorial Stadium.

The park is situated in downtown Baltimore, a few blocks west of the Inner Harbor in the Camden Yards Sports Complex. Camden Yards was the centre of Billy Joel’s concert in 2019. In addition to that, Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass at Camden Yards as part of his visit to Baltimore back in 1995.

  • Wrigley Field (Chicago Cubs)

Charles Weeghman’s Chicago Whales played at the Weeghman Park in 1914. After acquiring a controlling interest in MLB franchise Chicago Cubs, chewing gum mogul William Wrigley Jr. changed its name to ‘Wrigley Field’ in 1926.

The popular stadium located on the North Side of Chicago, Illinois. The stadium was also previously the home of NFL franchises, Chicago Bears and Chicago Cardinals (now Arizona Cardinals). It has a maximum seating capacity of 41,649 and boasts some fine architecture.

  • Oracle Park (San Francisco Giants)

The Oracle Park is constructed along the San Francisco Bay, a segment of which is named McCovey Cove in honour of San Francisco Giants legend Willie McCovey. It was opened to the public on April 11, 2000.

 

The Oracle Park boasts a maximum seating capacity of 44,046. Stadium construction costs are approximated at $357 million (which amounts to $537 million as per 2020 inflation rates). Additionally, the stadium contains 68 luxury suites, 5,200 club seats on the club level, and an additional 1,500 club seats at the field level behind home plate.