The grass is green, the lines are chalked and fans are buying their peanuts and cracker jacks all across the country as the 2009 baseball season gets underway. But for 140,000 lucky fans in New York, Missouri and Indiana, this baseball season has been one of new beginnings. Yankee Stadium, Citi Field, Kauffman Stadium and Parkview Field – all designed by Populous (formerly HOK Sport Venue Event) – have been embraced and adored by fans as the newest venues designed to contain the emotions and unforgettable experiences of thousands of baseball fans.

Yankee Stadium – New York, New York

New York is one of the world’s greatest cities, and the Yankees are a national treasure. Populous designed Yankee Stadium to capture the revelry and the pride that will carry the most storied franchise in American sport into the next generation. Yankee Stadium serves as a tribute to the game, a testament to a team and a city, and a showcase for memories past and potential.

Illustrated in glass, steel and limestone, the ballpark’s skin is highlighted by a four-story limestone and granite façade inspired by the 1923 Bronx Stadium. The signature frieze from the original ballpark has been recreated as a crowning element of the seating bowl, and the same field geometry that served as framework for yesterday’s legends will challenge tomorrow’s heroes.

“Yankee Stadium is a ballpark for the future with a soul of the past,” said Earl Santee, AIA, Populous senior principal. “ Monument Park, the outfield bleachers, a new Great Hall – these are all special places where fans can gather and share the experience of what it means to be a Yankee fan.”

Citi Field – New York, New York

Citi Field is a blend of modern-day amenities and historic charm. Brick arches, exposed steel and granite combine to create a striking presence.

Defining the entry experience is the soaring, 65-foot-tall Jackie Robinson Rotunda, the ballpark’s main entry. Steel trusses throughout the ballpark reflect the bridges connecting the New York boroughs. Changes in the ballpark’s geometry create unique views to the field at every level, and multiple entertainment and dining options create a modern ballpark designed to draw fans together to support the Amazin’ Mets.

“Citi Field is a direct reflection of Mets fans,” said Ben Barnert, Populous senior principal. “It’s a warm ballpark, an intimate ballpark full of references to what makes New York such a grand city that creates an energy that will draw Mets fans back time and again.”

Kauffman Stadium – Kansas City, Missouri

Kauffman Stadium has remained one of the nation’s premier Major League Baseball stadiums since its inception in 1973. Its 2009 renovation retained the revered seating bowl and sculptural form loved around the country, but it added much needed fan amenities, thereby creating a modern ballpark experience.

Outside the ballpark, fans are greeted by a new mesh skin covering portions of the ballpark that creates a new expression for the iconic exterior. Two of the famed circulation ramps were demolished to create more room for a grander entrance space. Inside, wider concourses and more restrooms and concession stands improve fan comfort. The new Outfield Experience reimagines the entertainment value at Kauffman, featuring everything from a kids’ carousel to a new sports bar and party deck. Fans can stroll along the famed fountains for a refreshing view from the outfield as well. The ballpark’s new scoreboard – the largest in all of Major League Baseball – is topped by a sculptural metal crown, fitting for baseball royalty in Kansas City.

“Today’s Kauffman still has the magic captured by Royals fans over the past 35 years, but we’ve created a like-new ballpark – a modern classic – that will draw people together for the modern era,” Santee said. “The ultimate test of our work will be if fans, by the second or third time they visit, find it impossible to imagine what Kauffman was ever like before.”

Parkview Field – Ft. Wayne, Indiana

Parkview Field is one of the first openings in a new downtown development for Ft. Wayne that will eventually include residential, retail and hotel space. A grand plaza space beyond the ballpark’s outfield connects the ballpark with a recently opened convention center as well; this space can be programmed for events year round. Fans of the Ft. Wayne Tin Caps (San Diego Padres’ Single A affiliate) can experience a game from 14 different seating sections, from an outfield grandstand to berm seating or a private box / dining terrace along the first base line after entering the ballpark through a grand entry complete with an iconic masonry tower, architecture inspired by downtown Ft. Wayne.

“Projects like Parkview Field are at the heart and soul of our practice,” said Martin DiNitto, Populous associate principal. “It’s a fantastic ballpark on the pulse of the city. Ft. Wayne’s long love affair with baseball will continue for fans at Parkview Field – a place where memories will be made to continue the legacy of the sport.”

For further information please contact
Gina Leo Stingley at Populous (Kansas City)
Telephone: +1 816 221 1500
Facsimile: +1 816 221 1578
 
Email media@populous.com

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About Populous

As one of the world's leading design practices, Populous creates exceptional spaces and venues that draw people together and serve as a point of reference for entire communities. Our buildings range from iconic stadia and arenas, to convention centers and amphitheaters, with recent projects including the new Yankee Stadium and Citi Field in New York; the Olympic Stadium for the London 2012 Olympics; Nanjing Sports Park in China; Suncorp Stadium in Australia; the Phoenix Convention Center in Arizona and the Florida Marlins' new baseball stadium under development in Miami. We used to be known as HOK Sport Venue Event and are celebrating a rebranding to Populous following our successful management buyout in 2008 from HOK Group.

Populous’ architects and event managers are some of the world's most experienced designers, drawing from the combined expertise of more than 1,000 projects with construction value exceeding $20 billion. The company’s client list is diverse and comprehensive; it includes 24 Major League Baseball franchises, 30 NFL franchises, 80 professional and civic arena clients, 40 soccer and rugby teams, 120 colleges and universities, 40 convention and performing arts center clients and 30 major events. With 500 employees in offices in Kansas City, London, Brisbane, Singapore, Hong Kong, Auckland, Denver, Nashville, Knoxville and New York, we share and drive global best practice in our fields of expertise and most importantly, we use the power of design to draw people together and become a point of reference and rejuvenation for communities.

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