US CELLULAR FIELD

After 80 years at one ballpark, the White Sox became the first team to open a new ballpark in the 1990s. With an aging Comiskey Park, the White Sox wanted a new facility. In the mid 1980s, talk began on building a new stadium. Planners spent the better part of the 1980s studying every baseball stadium to get the best ideas for a new ballpark. The study also gave architects and contractors a guide as what not to include in the stadium. As early as 1985 the City of Chicago and the White Sox began discussing locations for a new ballpark. The city offered a location for a 50,000 seat stadium at Roosevelt Road along the Chicago River. In December 1986, the White Sox pitched a ballpark in a west suburban Addison location. A site next to Comiskey Park was also a possibility. Studies were also conducted by the White Sox Stadium Authority to renovate Comiskey Park. However, this was determined to be to expensive and the team preferred a new ballpark.

After Illinois voters rejected building a new stadium, the White Sox began making threats of moving the team to Tampa, FL. However Illinois Governor James R. Thompson was key in getting enough revenue for a stadium to be built.  After deciding on a location to build the new ballpark, next to old Comiskey Park, construction began May 7, 1989. Built of a concrete structure with a pre-cast concrete facing, the new stadium rose much higher than its neighbor, old Comiskey Park. It took just two years for the new ballpark to be completed. Originally, it was given the same name as its predecessor, Comiskey Park. However in January 2003, U.S. Cellular purchased the naming rights for $68 million over 23 years in order to name the stadium U.S. Cellular Field.

Opening day came on April 18, 1991, when Governor Thompson threw the ceremonial first pitch. Over 44,000 fans filled U.S. Cellular Field's blue seats that day. Only one thing was transferred from old Comiskey Park to U.S. Cellular Field, the dirt from the infield. The ballpark was praised when it opened, but that changed one year later when Oriole Park at Camden Yards opened. Once fans saw the nostalgic appearance of Camden Yards they were disappointed that US Cellular Field was not built in a similar manner. The ballpark was also criticized because the steepness of the upper deck. With all the retro ballparks built after the construction of US Cellular Field in 1991, the team decided to improve and enhance the stadium to give it a retro appearance in an effort to attract more fans to games. After the 2000 season U.S. Cellular Field underwent several renovations. Several rows of seats were added along the foul lines, the bullpens were relocated, a two-tier outdoor terrace area for the Bullpen Sports Bar was created and the outfield seating area was extended down to the fence in several sections. The outfield fences were moved in 17 feet down the left-field line (330 feet from 347), 12 feet down the right-field line (335 from 347) and three feet in right-center field (372 from 375). Left-center field increased by two feet (377 from 375), while straightaway center field remained the same (400ft.). Renovations continued after the 2001 season. They included a new multi-tiered batter's eye in center field, a vertical screen behind home plate, improvements to the main concourse and upgrading the club level.

With the money acquired in the deal with US Cellular for the naming rights to the stadium, the White Sox continued to make additional improvements to the stadium. After the 2003 season the White Sox demolished eight rows from the top of the upper deck eliminating 6,600 seats and lowering the height of the ballpark. A flat roof was installed, covering two-thirds of the upper deck and enclosing the upper deck concourse. A translucent wall connects the roof to provide further protection from the weather and offers a distinctive look to the park.  After the 2004 season, a section of seating behind homeplate in the lower deck was removed and replaced with new luxury scout seats.

Today fans from all over Chicago travel to US Cellular Field to watch the White Sox play. Numerous parking lots surround the stadium and the CTA red line train makes a stop at Sox/35th, providing public transportation to the stadium. Once inside US Cellular Field, fans

US CELLULAR FIELD ATTRACTIONS & SEATING CHART

Fundamentals Fan Deck Old Comiskey Park Shower Sculpture Plaza The Chicago Sports Depot

 must go up either ramps or escalators to access any of the four main levels of the stadium. Four levels of seats extend from behind homeplate to both of the foul poles. Included on two levels, are 85 private suites and four party suites. A two tier stadium club restaurant is located down the right field line. Bleacher seats stretch across the outfield, with the exception of in straightaway centerfield. A replica of the old park's famous exploding scoreboard, first conceived by Bill Veeck is located over the centerfield bleachers. Numerous amenities can be found at US Cellular Field They include the multilevel interactive FUNdamentals skills deck in left field, and the two level fan deck in center field, providing a panoramic view of the playing field. There are many great locations throughout the outfield concourse for fans to mingle, buy concessions or merchandise. One of the most popular areas in the summer is the Rain Room where a cool mist relieves the summertime heat. Throughout the 2005 season and by the start of the 2006 season, fans will notice a gradual change as the blue seats are replaced by green ones. For the first time since 1959 White Sox fans saw World Series baseball played on the south side as the team won the 2005 World Series.