Ground rules:
- you have to have seen at least part of an actual game there. Exhibition events, concerts, empty stadium tours, etc. do not count
- only "major league" (MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, MLS, NASCAR - no others) venues and events count. Minor league and college venues and events do not.
My tally is as follows (with year of first visit)
Baseball:
- (old) Yankee Stadium, New York Yankees (1994)
- Shea Stadium, New York Mets (1995 or 96)
- Fenway Park, Boston Red Sox (2002)
- Jacobs Field, Cleveland Indians (2004)
- Citizens Bank Ballpark, Philadelphia Phillies (2004)
- Coors Field, Colorado Rockies (2006)
- RFK Stadium, Washington Nationals (2007)
- Oriole Park, Baltimore Orioles (2009)
- CitiField, New York Mets (2010)
- PNC Park, Pittsburgh Pirates (2010)
- Rogers Centre, Toronto Blue Jays (2011)
- Great American Ballpark, Cincinnati Reds (2011)
Total: 12, having seen 11 of the 30 teams at home
Football:
- Giants Stadium, New York Giants (2003)
Basketball:
{none}
Hockey:
- Prudential Center, New Jersey Devils (2011)
Soccer:
{none}
Racing:
{none}
Grand total: 14
I have seen baseball games in the following parks.
Veterans Stadium (Phillies)
Citizens Bank Park (Phillies)
Memorial Stadium, Baltimore (Orioles)
Camden Yards (Orioles)
Alameda County Coliseum (A's) -- can't keep track of all the name changes . . .
AT&T Park (Giants)
Citi Field (Mets)
Fenway Park (Red Sox)
NBA games in the following (old) arenas
Spectrum (76ers)
Capitol Center (Bullets - now Wizards)
I have also seen international soccer friendly matches, some including MLS teams. I plan to count these!
Lincoln Financial Field (Union - Manchester Utd.)
(old) Giants Stadium (Red Bulls - Barcelona)
MB&T Park, Baltimore (Chelsea - AC Milan)
(as of July 30) FedEx Field (Manchester Utd. - Barcelona)
Omni/Philips Arena: Atlanta Hawks vs. their opponents; Atlanta Thrashers vs. their opponents
Turner Field: Atlanta Braves vs. their opponents
Georgia Dome: Atlanta Falcons vs. their opponents; Atlanta Hawks vs. their opponents
Be well,
Bryant
Baseball:
Wrigley Field (Cubs)
Miller Park (Brewers)
Nationals Park (Nationals)
That's it. So far.
Major League Baseball:
-(old) Milwaukee County Stadium
-Miller Park
-Wrigley Field
-(old) Comiskey park
-(old) Metrodome
NFL:
-Lambeau Field (family has two front-row south end zone seats on a season basis there)
NBA:
-(old) MECCA Arena (Bucks)
-Bradley Center
-(old) McNichols Arena
Mike
MLB
Fenway Park (Red Sox)
PNC Park (Pirates)
SkyDome (Blue Jays)
Three Rivers Stadium (Pirates)
NBA
Gund Arena (Cavaliers)
NFL
Heinz Field (Steelers)
Three Rivers Stadium (Steelers)
NHL
Civic/Mellon Arena (Penguins)
Consol Energy Center (Penguins)
HSBC Arena (Sabres)
Nationwide Arena (Blue Jackets)
RBC Center (Hurricanes)
United Arena (Blackhawks)
PAHighways: You actually went to a Cleveland game??? :wow:
Me:
MLB: Milwaukee County Stadium (Brewers vs opps), Miller Park (Brewers vs Pirates), Metrodome with a roof (Twinkies vs Mariners)
NFL: Lambeau Field (5x) Packers vs opps (latest was Vikings (during Moss's first run))
NBA: Bradley Center (Bucks vs opp)
I do want to go to Wrigley at some point for a Cub game.
Baseball
Veterans Stadium (Phillies)
Football
Lincoln Financial Field (Eagles Football)
LSU Stadium (Saints football, after Katrina closed the Superdome)
Racing
Cleveland Grand Prix
24 hrs of Nelson (Sports Car endurance racing and because my grandparents owned the track)
I think this is accurate. Can't really give dates for the DC-area venues because I've been to them so many times.
NFL
RFK Stadium (Redskins in 1987 and 1990)
FedEx Field (Redskins in 2000)
Ericsson Stadium (Panthers in 1996)
MLB
RFK Stadium (Nationals many times; also various MLB preseason games before the Expos moved to DC)
Nationals Park (Nationals many times)
Memorial Stadium (Orioles several times)
Camden Yards (Orioles several times)
Three Rivers Stadium (Pirates in 1989 on a high school trip)
Turner Field (Braves in 1997 when I was working in Montgomery, office day trip to the game)
NHL
Capital Centre (Capitals many times)
Verizon Center (Capitals many times, we have season tickets)
Greensboro Coliseum (Hurricanes in 1998 during their first season in North Carolina)
FU Center (Flyers v. Capitals in 2008)
Heinz Field (2011 Winter Classic, Capitals v. Pittsburgh)
I've been to Madison Square Garden for several non-sports events.
NBA
Verizon Center (Bullets whenever it was that Michael Jordan played for them; also the Globetrotters once)
Capital Centre (Harlem Globetrotters, not sure if that counts under the OP's rules or if it's "exhibition")
Soccer
RFK Stadium (DC United several times; MLS Cup a few years back when New England played Houston; also saw the old NASL Washington Diplomats play there several times, as well as the US Men's national team against Ireland I think in 1992)
FedEx Field (DC United v. Chelsea, don't remember when that was)
NASCAR
Martinsville Speedway (Virginia, Goody's Headache Powder 500 in 1998)
I've also been to the following current or former NFL venues but for college football games; I'm listing them separately because they are, or were, NFL venues.
Georgia Dome (Atlanta, Peach Bowl in 1995 and 1998)
Miami Orange Bowl (UVA v. Miami in 2005)
Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, formerly known as Ericsson Stadium, Continental Tire Bowls in 2002 and 2003)
Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, UVA v. Temple in 2004)
The Coliseum (Nashville, now known as LP Field, Music City Bowl in 2005)
Heinz Field (Pittsburgh, UVA v. Pittsburgh in 2006)
Jacksonville Municipal Stadium (now known as EverBank Field, Gator Bowl in 2008)
So if I count just the pro games (and I omit the Globetrotters), I get 18; if I add the NFL stadiums for college events and the Globetrotters, I get 26.
Quote from: Master son on July 25, 2011, 12:17:40 AMPAHighways: You actually went to a Cleveland game??? :wow:
Yeah right! I was just in the building.
MLB
Veterans Stadium (1990, many times)
Candlestick Park (1993)
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum (1993)
Oriole Park at Camden Yards (1998, twice)
Citizens Bank Park (2005)
Petco Park (2004, 2005)
Tropicana Field (2007)
Dolphins Stadium (2008)
NFL
Dolphins Stadium (2008)
NHL
St. Pete Times Forum (2007)
BankAtlantic Center (2008)
NBA
--
NASCAR
Dover International Speedway (1993, practice)
I went to a Cleveland Indians game back in 1998, it was naned Jacobs Field at the time.
I think I probably mentioned this back when we discussed which teams we've seen, but here are mine:
MLB
Tiger Stadium (couple times in late 80s)
Wrigley Field (couple times late 80s)
Comerica Park (Aug 2005 v. Athletics)
NHL
Joe Louis Arena (Jan 2010 v. Blackhawks)
NASCAR
Michigan International Speedway (June 2009 Cup race)
Plus I've been to Ford Field when Western Michigan hosted Illinois in college football. I've also been to events at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum and Louisville Gardens, obviously years after their professional tenants had moved (the latter becoming defunct).
MLB:
Only the old Cinergy Field in Cincinnati (Reds)
NBA:
The old Amway Arena in Orlando (Magic)
Soccer:
Raymond James Stadium - USA v Panama and Canada v Guadaloupe (CONCACAF Gold Cup)
Cotton Bowl - Dallas MLS team (I believe they were called the Burn then)
Soldier Field - Pre-renovation (Chicago Fire)
Columbus Crew Stadium (creative name! - also saw them when they were playing at OSU)
I'm hoping to make it over to London for an Arsenal game in Emirates Stadium at some point in the near future.
MLB - current:
Dodger Stadium - Dodgers (1985)
US Cellular Field - White Sox (1991)
Ameriquest Field - Rangers (1998)
Turner Field - Braves (1999)
Coors Field - Rockies (2002)
Oriole Park at Camden Yards - Orioles (2005)
Great American Ballpark - Reds (2008)
AT&T Park - Giants (2008)
MLB - retired
Riverfront Stadium - Reds (1978)
Comiskey Park - White Sox (1982)
Astrodome - Astros (1996)
Tiger Stadium - Tigers (1996)
Yankee Stadium - Yankees (1998)
County Stadium - Brewers (1998)
Metrodome - Twins (2000)
RFK Stadium - Nationals (2005)
NFL - current
Soldier Field - Bears (1984)
Ford Field - Lions (2002)
NFL - reitred
RCA Dome - Colts (1991)
Silverdome - Lions (2001)
NBA/NHL - current
Palace at Auburn Hills (1997)
United Center - Bulls (2000) and Blackhawks (2000)
Verizon Center - Wizzards (2006)
NBA - retired
Market Square Arena - Pacers (1985)
Chicago Stadium - Bulls (1990)
MLS - retired
Soldier Field - Fire (1998)
NASCAR - none, but three Indy 500s
I've never counted.
Extant venues:
Metrodome
US Cellular Field
Wrigley Field
Qualcomm Stadium
Superdome
Dolphins Stadium
The Coliseum (whatever it's called now - the one in Nashville)
Target Center
Xcel Energy Center
Rangers Ballpark in Arlington (not sure of the current official name)
No-longer-extant:
Metropolitan Stadium
Met Center
St Paul Civic Center (hey, the WHA was major league)
Minneapolis Auditorium
Extant-but-no-longer-major-league
Sun Devil Stadium
I guess that makes 10 current and 5 old.
An Arsenal game at Highbury, back in the day - I guess the Premier League, being more 'major league' than MLS, counts.
I really ought to do more live sports - I was very tempted to go and watch the Cricket at Lords today, but prior commitments meant that I didn't. I might look at going to a Middlesex game there, but I doubt it would be as cheap as they offered today, nor the cricket as good. I settled for the radio commentary. As it's so easy to get to (ditto Wembley), being a 15 minute walk and a 50 minute train journey with one easy change (half an hour with no changes for Wembley). I wish I had made some use of it when I was a child - I could have got into Lords for free today (though I'm not sure they've done that before), and Wembley for £5 a few months back (that was for an England friendly, rather than a game that matters) - international sport at my fingertips and cheap. Sadly the prices are quite a bit higher, as an adult, though I'm sure there's some reasonable deals if I look out for them.
I'm planning on watching something of the Olympics live, but the whole ticket lottery didn't appeal, so it'll have to be one of the events going around the streets of London.
Silverstone is literally at the 'end of the road', however the road in question is the A413 and I'm about an hour away. However the thought of F1 live bores me and the cost of it is well out of my reach.
Quote from: english si on July 25, 2011, 04:45:32 PM
An Arsenal game at Highbury, back in the day - I guess the Premier League, being more 'major league' than MLS, counts.
....
I think it's reasonable to interpret the OP's rules as meaning "top-level in that sport in your country or region" even though he gave a specific list of leagues. He didn't include the old NASL, but it was as "major league" as MLS, perhaps more so if you consider the New York Cosmos, so I counted it, though in my case it was irrelevant since our MLS team play in the same ground that our NASL sides used 30+ years ago.
I would think F1 and IndyCar would count even though he didn't mention them (and I'm still kicking myself for never making it to a US Grand Prix when F1 ran at Indianapolis).
NHL
Joe Louis Arena (Great Lakes Invitational)
United Center
Nationwide Arena (Columbus)
NFL
Raymond James Stadium
Pontiac Silverdome (Cherry Bowl)
MLB
Wrigley Field
Comiskey Park (old)
US Cellular Field
Tiger Stadium
Comerica Park
Never watched pro basketball or soccer in person.
Quote from: 1995hoo on July 25, 2011, 04:58:12 PM
I think it's reasonable to interpret the OP's rules as meaning "top-level in that sport in your country or region" even though he gave a specific list of leagues.
You know, I simply didn't consider the idea of people not from North America.
I suppose for soccer anything FIFA would be valid. Other sports... kinda tough. I don't think professional baseball, football, basketball, or hockey exists in Europe. Racing does, I suppose things like Le Mans would count.
I dunno what else there is, then. Is there "major league" cricket? How does it work?
Comiskey Park (old White Sox stadium; ironically, I'm a Cubs fan and hate the White Sox, but my cousin had free tickets)
Philips Arena (Atlanta Hawks)
Liberty Bowl (Memphis, the one season the Tennessee Oilers played there)
Qualcomm Stadium (San Diego--not for a game, but for a Billy Graham service)
Quote from: Duke87 on July 25, 2011, 08:27:55 PM
I suppose for soccer anything FIFA would be valid. Other sports... kinda tough. I don't think professional baseball, football, basketball, or hockey exists in Europe. Racing does, I suppose things like Le Mans would count.
I dunno what else there is, then. Is there "major league" cricket? How does it work?
I counted an international soccer game. It felt like it was within the spirit of the rules. And also, when you think European racing, I'm surprised you thought of Le Mans before F1
There are a few basketball leagues outside of the US. Turkey has one of the biggest if I remember correctly. And don't forget that baseball is huge in Japan, in case anyone thought to list that.
Quote from: english si on July 25, 2011, 04:45:32 PM
I really ought to do more live sports - I was very tempted to go and watch the Cricket at Lords today, but prior commitments meant that I didn't.
Cricket is one of those games I've never been able to figure out. And by "go watch the Cricket at Lords today", don't you really mean "go spend an entire week watching the Cricket at Lords"? :sombrero:
I intend at some point in my life to go watch an Australian Rules Football game in Australia. Those guys make Rugby look tame.
As I get older this list should grow much higherI hope to have gone to each team's MLB Stadium at some point.
Baseball(no other sports):
Turner Field
Nationals Park
RFK Stadium(I'm glad the Nationals moved away from there, I could not stand watching a game there)
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Quote from: Duke87 on July 25, 2011, 08:27:55 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on July 25, 2011, 04:58:12 PM
I think it's reasonable to interpret the OP's rules as meaning "top-level in that sport in your country or region" even though he gave a specific list of leagues.
You know, I simply didn't consider the idea of people not from North America.
I suppose for soccer anything FIFA would be valid. Other sports... kinda tough. I don't think professional baseball, football, basketball, or hockey exists in Europe. Racing does, I suppose things like Le Mans would count.
I dunno what else there is, then. Is there "major league" cricket? How does it work?
Top-level hockey definitely exists in Russia (and the other former Soviet republics), Sweden, and Finland; there are a number of other countries where there are notable leagues as well (the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Germany are three), but the Russian, Swedish, and Finnish leagues are the big three in Europe.
I think basketball is the US's main contribution to global sports. readjd mentions Turkey, and indeed several NBA players have agreed to play there if the NBA lockout extends into the regular season.
Quote from: realjd on July 26, 2011, 07:46:48 AMCricket is one of those games I've never been able to figure out. And by "go watch the Cricket at Lords today", don't you really mean "go spend an entire week watching the Cricket at Lords"? :sombrero:
Nope, it was the fifth day of the test and tickets are for one-day (you might be able to buy tickets for every day at a discount, though).
Also, most games played are 1-day, however you do get 4- and 5- day games, the latter only done in Test matches, which only ten national sides do. I'd count first-class cricket (4- or 5- day games and it only counts if between certain teams), the Indian Premier League (Twenty20 - played in an evening, 180 balls per innings, has all the money) and the World Cup (50-over one day game - 300 balls per innings) as 'major league' equivalents. The longer, multi-day, forms of the game are much more technical and battle-like and are one of things that sound really unappealing but actually aren't, especially to an American audience (like how the English view American football as "some guys dress up in body armor and spend most of their time planning the next few seconds of play/waiting for that play to happen"), whereas the shorter versions, especially T20, are much more "slog it and hope you don't get caught".
Aussie rules was started by cricketers wanting something to do in the off season (hence the oval pitch, just like cricket). Then again, they are Australian, so it was never likely to be tame!
Basketball is the US's only real export, sport wise, though I did play softball at high school, during the summer for Games (alongside Tennis and Cricket, with winter being Rugby (as the pitches were normally waterlogged, that should read Basketball), Soccer and (field) Hockey). On top of taking Rugby's place, we played Basketball in PE, which is a separate subject (doing things like Athletics, Badminton, Circuit training, Cross Country, Gymnastics, interspersed with some Sport science on stretching, aerobic/anaerobic excercise, heart rates, etc).
Quote from: english si on July 26, 2011, 09:08:31 AM
....
Basketball is the US's only real export, sport wise ....
I rather think Japan and Latin America prove this statement to be wrong. I think it's definitely fair to say that basketball is the US's greater contribution on the
global stage since it's played everywhere (and is perhaps one of THE ideal sports for small places or for places where buying equipment is a problem), but to say that baseball has not been a significant US export is incorrect. If anything, the imported talent in the major leagues (Latin American players) might be predominant over the homegrown talent. But I understand that since you're from Europe you probably tend to look at it from a European perspective and thus you'd overlook baseball in those parts of the world.
Quote from: 1995hoo on July 26, 2011, 10:23:12 AM
Quote from: english si on July 26, 2011, 09:08:31 AM
....
Basketball is the US's only real export, sport wise ....
I rather think Japan and Latin America prove this statement to be wrong. I think it's definitely fair to say that basketball is the US's greater contribution on the global stage since it's played everywhere (and is perhaps one of THE ideal sports for small places or for places where buying equipment is a problem), but to say that baseball has not been a significant US export is incorrect. If anything, the imported talent in the major leagues (Latin American players) might be predominant over the homegrown talent. But I understand that since you're from Europe you probably tend to look at it from a European perspective and thus you'd overlook baseball in those parts of the world.
There's quite a few Japanese 'Basabaru' players playing in North America's Major Leagues right now, too.
Also, if I posted this satellite image as a 'guess the city', would you correctly come up with 'Prague, Czech Republic'?
http://maps.google.com/?ll=50.034513,14.430993&spn=0.008215,0.021973&t=k&z=16
Or 'Bologna, Italia' for this one:
http://maps.google.com/?ll=44.462762,11.382523&spn=0.009204,0.021973&t=k&z=16
Ditto 'Haarlem, Netherlands' for this one:
http://maps.google.com/?ll=52.408133,4.631928&spn=0.003737,0.010986&t=k&z=17
OTOH, how many would at first blush say 'Lauderhill, Florida, USA' (in the Fort Lauderdale, FL area) for this one?
http://maps.google.com/?ll=26.140086,-80.198865&spn=0.011095,0.021973&t=k&z=16
:spin:
Mike
NFL:
Dolphins Stadium and Orange Bowl (defunct, later demolished...to be rebuilt as future "Marlins Stadium")
NBA:
American Airlines Arena and Miami Arena (demolished)
NHL:
Bank Atlantic Center (whatever they call it now)...also, Miami Arena
MLB:
Fenway Park (also, Dolphins Stadium)
Racing:
Daytona International Speedway
Sebring International Raceway
Circuito de Catalunya (outside Barcelona, Spain)
Also have been to Lockhart Stadium, which was the former home of the defunct MLS Miami Fusion; but I've visited it in its capacity as an exhibition baseball stadium and college football stadium. That's probably the smallest standing venue that will make it to this thread.
As most of you may know, the Miami area was famous for multi-use facilities until around 2000. Now they all get their own facilities...what a waste of money, as most stadia are empty 200-300 days of the year. Baseball parks are kind of the exception with their 81 regular-season home games. That said, I suppose most race tracks lay dormant most Mondays through Fridays.
I've been to:
NBA
Old MECCA Arena (Bucks)
Bradley Center (Bucks)
MLB
Old Milwaukee County Stadium (Brewers)
Miller Park (Brewers)
NFL
The Frozen Tundra of Lambeau Field (Packers)
Auto Racing
Milwaukee Mile (IndyCar)
I'd like to make it to Wrigley sometime, but not to root for the Cubs. Just for the experience. Can't stand the Cubs otherwise.
NFL:
LP Field (Titans)
Edward Jones Dome (Rams)
NHL:
Bridgestone Arena (Predators)
St. Petersburg Times Forum (Lightening)
MLB:
old Riverfront Stadium (Reds)
Great American Ball Park (Reds)
PNC Park (Pirates)
Never been to an NBA game or a NASCAR race.
None. Until recently there were no pro sports here, and I haven't bothered going to a Thunder game.
Since I've lived in Milwaukee, I've been to Miller Park more times than I can remember. I think I've been to 9 games this season already.
Saw a few games as a child at the old County Stadium.
Only been to one Bucks game there at the Bradley Center. NBA doesn't do it for me.
Been to five games at Lambeau.
Seen both baseball and football at the Humpty Dome there in Minneapolis.
I've seen college hoops in the old MECCA (now the US Cellular Arena; or "The Cell"), but that doesn't count. It is shocking that pro ball was played there, though. It's so tiny and there's all of two restrooms.
I've never been to a professional sporting event, but I did go to the Silverdome (former home of the Lions) for a George Strait concert in roughly 1998 and the Palace of Auburn Hills for a Bon Jovi concert in 2005.
Football
Lambeau Field Green Bay
Soldier Field Chicago (both old and new)
Metrodome Minneapolis (dump!)
County Stadium Milwaukee (last home opener for Packers vs LA Rams)
Silverdome Pontiac
Ford Field Detroit
New Jersey Meadowlands Rutherford NJ (old)
Baseball
MLB:
Wrigley Field Chicago
Old Comiskey Park Chicago
New Comiskey Park Chicago (i refuse to call it US Cellular)
County Stadium Milwaukee
Miller Park Milwaukee
Old Yankee Stadium New York
Shea Stadium New York
Fenway Park Boston
Camden Yards Baltimore
Metrodome Minneapolis
Target Field Minneapolis
Comerica Park Detroit
Citizens Bank Ballpark Philadelphia
Riverfront Stadium Cincinnati
Ameriquest Field Arlington TX
Minor League:
Dodd Stadium Norwich CT
MCU Park (formerly Keyspan Park) Brooklyn NY
Ephstrum Stadium (Kane County) Genvea IL
Silver Cross Field Joliet IL
Basketball
Chicago Stadium Chicago
United Center Chicago
Bradley Center Milwaukee
Target Center Minneapolis
Hockey
United Center Chicago
Madison Square Garden New York
Arranged geographically:
Fenway
Hartford Civic Center (for NCAA games - I was in the band at Georgetown. But it counts as professional because the Whalers played there at the time).
Shea Stadium
Yankee Stadium (the original)
MSG
The Meadowlands arena, or whatever it's called this week (if it's still there at all)
Giants Stadium
The Vet
Citizens Bank Park
The Spectrum
Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)
Camden Yards
Capital Centre (which tells you how long ago I was in the band at Georgetown)
Was it called the Omni?
The Kingdome.
And lots of college arenas but I can't think of any more that have or had pro teams playing in them.
I've been to all of the current Philadelphia sports complex area's including the recently torn down Wachovia Spectrum. I've also been to Boston's Fenway Park and the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA.
Le Forum (when it still existed; former Canadiens venue, went to see some figure skating back then),
Bell Centre (formerly Molson Centre; current Canadiens venue; I went there many times, but never to actually watch Hockey),
Montreal's Olympic Stadium (former Expos venue, now used by many different events).
MLB: All 30 current stadiums plus 9 former (Comiskey, Shea, Old Yankee Stadium, Riverfront, Old Busch, Metrodome, Olympic, The Vet, RFK). If I started working hard on this a couple years sooner, I could have had several more former ones. This thread isn't about the minors, but I just got my 37th minor league park last week.
NFL: Orange Bowl, Rich Stadium, Joe Robbie, LA Coliseum (preseason LA Raiders).
NHL: Boston Garden, Nassau Coliseum, NJ Meadowlands, Fleet Center, St. Pete Times Forum, Philips Arena.