This research will trace the historic progression of venues that served to change the sports landscape in profound ways. It will open with an analysis of Harvard Stadium (1903), the first fully concrete and steel outdoor sports venue to be built in North America. From there, other transformative ballparks and/or stadiums will be examined including, but not limited to Forbes Field and Yankee Stadium, with a conclusion of this research focusing on Houston’s famed Astrodome, a facility that introduced extreme and unique luxury to the spectator experience. The research will serve to peel away contemporary stereotypes that might be held but are potentially inaccurate regarding some of these transformative venues. As one example, although Forbes Field may be regarded today as a quaint, simple, and intimate venue, when initially constructed in 1909, it was the first ever million-dollar stadium. Furthermore, counter to contemporary stereotypes regarding Forbes Field that is was an old-fashioned and soon-to-be antiquated facility, when initially unveiled, this ballpark was regarded as a thoroughly futuristic large venue that contained an array of ultra-modern amenities now commonly present in ballparks. Its construction inspired a new era in modern sports-related construction, contributing to the end of wooden ballparks. Surprisingly, the New York Yankees were the last major league team to move out of a wood-based ballpark into Yankee Stadium, yet another deeply transformative sports facility. This paper will provide a comprehensive presentation that isolates a select group of transformative 20th Century sports venues, explaining in detail why each of these facilities was unique in recalibrating sports infrastructure in North America.
About the presenterBob Trumpbour
Bob Trumpbour researches the intersection of media, sport, and society. He is Professor of Communications at Penn State Altoona, co-author of The Eighth Wonder of the World: The Life of Houston’s Iconic Astrodome and author of The New Cathedrals: Politics and Media in the History of Stadium Construction. He has authored book chapters and articles in a variety of venues. Prior to teaching, Trumpbour worked in various capacities at CBS in New York.