Summer, 1996 - Atlanta, Goergia

The initial construction costs were heavily subsidized by NBC and other Olympic sponsors, and the cost of converting the stadium into a baseball specific facility was handled by the ACOG. Following the completion of the 1996 Paralympic Games, the stadium was leased to the Atlanta Braves. The North stands were removed, and the outfield bleachers were install just prior to the 1997 baseball season. The original pillars that supported Centennial Stadium’s north end grandstands are still standing, outlining the shape of the stadium’s original layout.

The fate of many Olympic facilities is a few weeks of glory followed by a long life of vacancy; too often these facilities are built without a plan for the future. Centennial Olympic Stadium is a prime example of how Olympic facilities should be handled. By devising a plan that considered the future needs of the community, the Centennial Olympic Stadium project was a success beyond just the Olympics. Although Turner Field's run is coming to an end*, it still stands as a reminder of a great Olympic success story.

Notes: This website offers a great side-by-side illustration of the stadium’s original Olympic layout and newer baseball configuration. Give it a visit at: http://www.andrewclem.com/Baseball/TurnerField.html

*The Braves are scheduled to move to a new stadium in Cobb County, Georgia following the 2016 season. 

Indianapolis, Indiana  - 1931-2001

The story of Bush Stadium is not a typical one. Once the epitome of small, middle-American ballparks, this Indiana stadium was eventually abandoned and left to decay. But Bush Stadium made a 9th inning comeback, finding new life through a unique redevelopment effort. Although the stadium does not exist exactly as it did in its heyday, it has managed to retain some of its former glory.

The stadium was originally named Perry Stadium after James Perry, brother of Indianapolis Indians owner Norm Perry. After selling the team in 1941, the ballpark was renamed Victory Field. In 1967, the park was renamed again, this time after baseball great and Indianapolis local Owen “Donie” Bush. The new name, Bush Stadium, would stick with the stadium for the rest of its days.

From 1931 until 1996, the Indianapolis Indians played their home games at Bush Stadium. Also playing games at Bush Stadium were the Indianapolis Clowns, the Negro American League team who Hank Aaron made his professional debut for. During the 1960s, two different minor league football teams played a handful of games at the ballpark. And in 1987, Bush Stadium hosted the baseball tournament portion of the Pan American Games.

When the Indians left for a new-and-improved downtown ballpark in 1996, Bush Stadium faced almost certain demise. In 1997, Bush Stadium was repurposed into a dirt race track for midget car auto racing. Unsurprisingly, the racing venture soon failed, and Bush Stadium quickly fell into disrepair. The low point of the ballpark’s life occurred between 2008 and 2011, when the park was used as a storage facility for cars that were traded in as a part of the government’s “Cash for Clunkers” program.

In 2013, however, Bush Stadium found new life. Facing possible demolition, a redevelopment effort which aimed to repurpose the ballpark was launched. Bush Stadium was converted into an apartment complex which preserved much of the ballpark's atmosphere. Many of the ballpark’s original elements were left incorporated in the new design, including the stadium’s grandstand structure, outer facade, and the iron turnstiles which graced the main entrance to the stadium.

Just inside the former main entrance of the stadium is the building’s lobby, which is lined with the seats from the original stadium. Former ticket windows have been incorporated into the apartment rooms as closets, and the walls of common areas are lined with relics of the building’s baseball past. Although no longer covered in ivy, portions of the brick outfield wall are still intact, and the original field lights still stand tall, overlooking the former playing field. The infield dirt has been replaced with red-colored concrete, but the spirit of the field is still present.  

Although no longer in its original form, the fate of Bush Stadium is better than that of most abandoned ballparks. The spirit of the stadium has been preserved, and for fans of this stadium, this is certainly a better fate than demolition. Perhaps this project will even serve as a blueprint for the repurposing of other historic facilities. As for Bush Stadium, thanks to this creative effort, its legacy will continue to live on.

 

Pontiac, Michigan - 1975-2013

Once the home of the Detroit Lions, the Pontiac Silverdome now resides in ruins, a ghost of its former self. The stadium’s fabric roof has fallen from the sky, littering the inside of the stadium with long, white streamers. The AstroTurf field is gone, and the stadium is now empty; but it’s not hard to imagine players like Barry Sanders running across the stadium, dazzling the fans that used to fill those (now faded) blue seats.

The Lions played at the Silverdome from 1975 until 2001, before moving to Ford Field prior to the start of the 2002 NFL season. The Lions, however, were not the only team to ever call the Silverdome home. The Pistons also played there for several years (1978-1988), as did the Detroit Express of the NASL (1978-1980) and the Michigan Panthers of the USFL (1983-1984).

The stadium was also the site of many prestigious events during its time. The ‘Dome was host to college football’s Motor City Bowl and Cherry Bowl, and was the venue for many concerts, featuring the likes of Elvis Presley, The Who, and Led Zeppelin, among others. In 1979, the NBA All-Star game was played at the Silverdome, and in 1982, Pontiac was the site of Superbowl XVI, perhaps the most important football game ever played in the stadium.

The most well attended event at the Silverdome, however, may surprise you. It was not a concert or a sporting event, but a church service. In 1987, Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass in front of 93,682 people, setting the stadium’s attendance record.  

Perhaps the last great event to take place at the stadium was the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Soccer fans got to see four group-stage matches, including a 1-1 draw against Switzerland by the U.S. Men’s National Team. On January 6, 2002, the Lions effectively gave the Silverdome its sending off, beating the Cowboys 15-10 in their final game at the stadium. The Silverdome remained operational for several more years, but without the Lions as a permanent tenant, it was clear that the venue’s best days were behind it. The Silverdome played host to a handful of events following the Lions departure, but in 2013, the stadium finally closed its doors for good.

Today, the Silverdome sits vacant and in ruins. The roof is completely missing, leaving the stadium exposed to the elements. Most of the stadium’s interior has been stripped and auctioned off by the current owners, an investment group who bought the stadium in 2009 for a mere $583,000. Many of the stadium’s seats are gone, sold along with the scoreboards, much of the field turf, copper wire, and anything else of value. The investors, who once stated they would like to restore the stadium to its former glory, are now attempting to offload their purchase for an asking price of about $30 million.

Although nothing is confirmed, the Silverdome’s days are likely numbered. The owners are currently exploring options for redeveloping the 127 acre property the stadium sits on, and when that does finally happen, the Silverdome will likely be demolished. But until then, we can sit back and look at what remains of this once extravagant stadium, and reminisce about the action and excitement that once took place on that field.